Architecture Commons^™

Can Walkability Solve Utah's Housing Shortage?, Jordan Taft

Student Research Symposium

52,000

Housing Units Short (2022)

1,445,808

Projected New UT Households (by 2023)

$510,867

Median Home Price

Goodwater Elementary School, Sara Jones

Student Research Symposium

Goodwater Elementary School is designed as a replacement for the existing Castle Dale Elementary School that the community has outgrown. Serving multiple small towns in the area, this elementary school plays an important role in both education and socialization as the area is sparsely populated.

An Ai-Driven Framework For Assessing Intersection Infrastructure And Accessibility, Logan Liddiard, Joel Pierson, Brent Chamberlain, Keith Christensen, Xiaojun Qi

Computer Science Student Research

Background: Intersections serve as vital nodes within transportation networks, facilitating the movement of pedestrians. However, their effectiveness often hinges on the quality of their infrastructure and accessibility. Furthermore, it is expensive and time-consuming to collect infrastructure data, yet is crucial for creating a safe and efficient urban landscape.

Objective: Develop an AI-driven model that leverages Google Street View to provide detailed information about intersections, helping city planners identify infrastructure and accessibility issues and supporting improvements to create safer, more accessible intersections for people of all abilities.

Biophilic Design And The Human Experience, Brooklyn Erickson

Student Research Symposium

Biophilia is the idea that humans possess an innate tendency to seek connections with nature and other forms of life. It stems from the Greek meaning "love of life." Biophilic design is an innovative approach to architecture and interior design that integrates natural elements into built environments to enhance human well-being. This design philosophy seeks to create spaces that promote physical, mental, and emotional health by incorporating elements such as natural light, greenery, water features, and organic materials. This research examines the benefits of biophilic design and how implementing these principles affects the "Human Experience". In this project the research …

New Beginnings Behavioral Health, Mckenna Spens

Student Research Symposium

This project is the 2025 IIDA Student Competition. The objective of this project is to design the Lobby/Reception and Inpatient area of a behavioral health clinic. The design must consider the safety and well being of the patients as well as the staff. This project is in partnership with OFS and Carolina and at least 50% of the furnishings shall be sourced from them. The Lobby/Reception must contain a reception desk for 4 staff, a waiting area, and a minimum of 4 lockers for guests. The Inpatient area must contain the following: a sallyport at the entrance; 2 consultation rooms …

Concrete Grove Biophilic Hotel, Kieran White

Student Research Symposium

Located in Eugene, Oregon, the Concrete Grove Hotel is a modern biophilic retreat inspired by the state tree, the Douglas fir. Influenced by Louis Kahn's architecture, the design combines concrete and glass with natural materials to harmonize strength and tranquility.

Designing To Harmonize With The Environment, Demi Harmon

Student Research Symposium

Architecture has the power to either disrupt or harmonize with the natural environment. This research explores how buildings can be designed to blend seamlessly with their environment through three key principles: form integration, material integration, and site-adaptive design. By studying how natural landscapes shape architectural form, how locally sourced materials create harmony, and how buildings can work with rather than alter topography, this project highlights strategies for designing spaces that feel like an organic part of their surroundings. Through case studies of successful projects, this research demonstrates that thoughtful design can enhance both the built and natural worlds, proving that …

Effects Of The Built Environment On Intergenerational Interaction, Hyrum Worth

Student Research Symposium

What are the effects of intergenerational interaction? Who do they impact, and how?

Bird Richness As A Mediator Between Greenspace And Mental Health Relationships, Sihao Chena, Huaqing Wang, Wenyan Xu

Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning Faculty Publications

Neighborhood greenspaces are widely known to benefit bird diversity and human mental health. However, whether bird richness mediates the relationship between greenspace and mental health is unknown. We ascertain such mediation effects in 294 census tracts in Los Angeles City. We obtained greenspace data from one-meter resolution satellite imagery, bird species data from eBird citizen science datasets, and prevalence of poor mental health from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Mediation analysis combined with spatial error models was used to assess the mediating effects while controlling for geographic, demographic, and socio-economic factors. We found that the higher greenspace …

Toward A Construct-Based Definition Of Urban Green Space: A Literature Review Of The Spatial Dimensions Of Measurement, Methods, And Exposure, Doo Hong Lee, Brent Chamberlain, Hye Yeon Park

Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning Student Research

Interdisciplinary research has significantly advanced our understanding, benefits, and measurements of Urban Green Space (UGS). Further, the rapid expansion of research on this topic has resulted in a diverse array of definitions, which can rely on implicit assumptions without a formal definition. This variability highlights the need for a carefully structured framework to refine and combine these definitions. This narrative review examines constructs underlying UGS, particularly focusing on the spatial aspects of how we spatially measure UGS, the measurements of UGS, and how we define exposure; the latter focuses on two methods: viewsheds and image segmentation. Our findings reveal a …

Cache County Has 2500 Acres Of Highly Walkable Urban Land, With Potential For 4935 New Housing Units, Jordan Taft

Research on Capitol Hill

Utah faces a housing crisis – with rapid internal population growth compounding the issue.

The Restorative Design Scale (Rds) An Assessment Guide: Measuring The Potential For Mental Restoration In Urban Green Spaces, Corinne Bahr

All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present

Mental health is a growing national priority, and green space has been proven to benefit mental health. There is a massive amount of recent research studying the influence of green space characteristics on mental health improvement and restoration. However, professional landscape architects, designers, and planners involved in creating physical spaces have not been able to assess and therefore prioritize mental health in their designs due to the sheer quantity of information that has not yet been synthesized and applied efficiently. The Restorative Design Scale (RDS) Assessment condenses this material into a scientifically inspired resource for professionals to easily understand and …

Reframing The Landscape: Robert Smithson's Spiral Jetty, Amy Reid

All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present

This thesis project recognizes Robert Smithson’s contribution to the fields of art and landscape architecture with a nomination to the National Register of Historic Places for Spiral Jetty. The nomination was completed with support from the Utah State Historic Preservation Office, Dia Art Foundation, and Holt/Smithson Foundation.

Spiral Jetty is considered a highly influential work of the Land art genre. At Rozel Point Smithson constructed a 1,500-foot-long and 15-foot-wide earthwork of site-sourced basalt rock and soil. It extends from the shore approximately 600 feet before collapsing twice in a counterclockwise spiral. Smithson carefully selected the site where the earthwork would …

Examining Support By Residents For Community Scale Wildfire Mitigation Strategies In The Wasatch Front, Conner R. Smith

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Current development trends along the Wasatch Front are causing a greater threat of wildfires to the Utahns who reside there. Research indicates that although studies meant to examine wildfire mitigation strategy preferences do exist, their findings are not applicable to the Wasatch Front. This thesis addresses the lack of applicable data and the resultant lack of understanding of the Wasatch Front residents' preferences. In my project specifically, I will be looking at what wildfire mitigation strategies, at the community scale, residents of the Wasatch Front prefer. Additionally, I will be comparing the preferences of residents living in areas with above …

Physical Activity In Play Environments Inclusively Designed For Children With And Without Disabilities, Mckall E. Vigil

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

This study examines physical activity within inclusively designed play environments for children with and without disabilities. The purpose of this study is to determine to what extent children in the third grade with and without disabilities differ in physical activity across various behavior settings of an inclusively designed play environment. Of the 50 third-grade students, 34 participated in eight weeks of observations conducted during lunch recess. Accelerometers and GPS units were utilized to collect data during the observations. The majority of settings on this playground were identified as inclusive. Children with disabilities didn’t engage in organized games as often as …

Practitioners' Needs For Addressing The Challenges Of Sea-Level Rise—A Qualitative Assessment, D. Hirschfeld, K. M. Archie, E. Mateo, J. C. Arnott, J. A. Vano

Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning Faculty Publications

Practitioners at the local and regional scale are under increased pressure to reduce risks to people and property posed by the threats of sea‐level rise (SLR) and associated impacts. To achieve this, a dialog between practitioners and scientists is imperative. Current research documents impacts of SLR, evaluates local SLR adaptation activities, identifies barriers to action, and works to assess local adaptive capacity. Despite this work, there has been little qualitative assessment of practitioners' needs when it comes to translating SLR science into local changes. To fill this gap, we used a combination of semi‐structured interviews and surveys. The interviews revealed …

Overview For Exploring The Multisensory Landscape, Brent Chamberlain, Richard Smardon

Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning Faculty Publications

Land use change has had a fundamental impact on the livelihoods of people throughout the world. This Special Issue focuses on the research being conducted at the intersection of this land use change and the importance of maintaining landscapes that enrich humanity and our engagement with nature. Within this Special Issue, we explored the value of landscapes that heighten the senses. Visual Resource Stewardship is an area of research that closely aligns with understanding how changes in the environment may be perceived and experienced. Understanding the tools, processes, and theories involved helps us to better understand how land use change …

In Pursuit Of Eye Tracking For Visual Landscape Assessments, David Evans, Brent Chamberlain

Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning Faculty Publications

Visual quality and impact assessments have historically relied on experts to formally evaluate the visual properties of a landscape. In contrast, environmental psychologists have studied subjective landscape preferences using ratings and surveys. These two approaches represent, respectively, the “objectivist” and “subjectivist” paradigms within visual landscape research. A gap, however, exists between these approaches: actual observation behaviors. In this paper, we argue for the inclusion of eye-tracking research in visual landscape assessments as a critical bridge between objective landscape qualities and subjective visual experiences. We describe the basics of eye-tracking methods and data types to introduce the role of eye movements …

Evaluation And Improvement Of The Design 4 Every Drop Course, Kenzy Fogle

All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present

Utah and the greater Intermountain West are experiencing a water crisis. Many factors are contributing to this situation, including an arid climate exacerbated by climate change, rapid population growth, and a high-water-demanding landscape typology. Landscapes currently consume an estimated 60-80% of Utah’s potable water, representing a significant opportunity for water savings. However, changing the traditional water-dependent landscape typology requires educating the public regarding water-wise landscape design processes, best practices, and implementation approaches. Utah State University is the land grant university for Utah and home to one of the oldest Landscape Architecture departments in the Intermountain West. Utah State University’s community …

The Sustainable Sites Initiative As It Applies To Existing Parks In Logan Utah, Randall Smith

All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present

The Intermountain West of the United States consists of a variety of climates and landscapes. Despite their diversity, all of these regions face similar issues, such as water shortage, lack of biodiversity, invasion of non-native plant species, land development, and population growth. The pursuit of sustainability has become imperative in order to meet the needs of the present, while simultaneously safeguarding the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Many influential landscape architects have advocated for sustainable design; namely, Frederick Law Olmsted, Ian McHarg, and Laurie Olin. However, sustainability is used too often as a generic buzzword, diminishing …

Introduction To Landscape Architecture State Standards And Curriculum For Utah High Schools, Joseph Pancoast

All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present

Utah State University (USU) offers a successful Introduction to Landscape Architecture class for college students; this class increases awareness and understanding of landscape architecture as a profession. Though this is a wonderful resource offered at the college level, high school is a key time for career awareness. Unfortunately, there is a lack of student awareness surrounding the profession of landscape architecture. In Utah and the rest of the United States, there are currently no in-person Introduction to Landscape Architecture classes available in a high school setting to increase awareness and understanding for students in a high school setting. Providing a …

The Influence Of Business Development Areas On Leadership Positions Within Landscape Architecture Professional Practice, Catherine E. Frost

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Landscape architecture is a discipline that connects natural, physical, and human sciences, and which operates as a professional design practice. While technical skills and design proficiency have historically been the focus of landscape architecture programs, the literature indicates a recognition of the indispensable role of entrepreneurial skills alongside design expertise (Marsh, 1928; Pray, 1911; Rice, 2017; Shepphard et al., 2018). However, there remains a scarcity of research specifically investigating business development skills within landscape architecture practice (Evans & Leccese, 1991; Gobster et al., 2010; Granet, 2021; Littlefield, 2015; Powers & Walker, 2009).

To bridge this gap, this study engaged in …

A Framework To Unveil Design Decisions In Ecological Urbanism, Addison C. Martin

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Ecological urbanism offers a framework for landscape architecture to address the challenges posed by dynamic infrastructure projects in the face of changing climates and human impacts. As Nature-based Solutions (NbS) become more prevalent, the role of aesthetics in these solutions becomes increasingly important. However, there has been a lack of systematic approaches to assess the design aesthetics of landscape architecture in practice. This study aims to fill this gap by providing a rapid assessment framework tailored for landscape architecture practitioners. Drawing from the concepts of regenerative design and ecological urbanism, the framework comprises three sections: Ecological Function (EFx), Anthropocentric Function …

Workflow And Best Practices Of Planting Design In Virtual Reality, Becca L. Springer

All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present

The purpose of this study is to develop a technical workflow and deliver an instructional module for teaching planting design in Virtual Reality (VR). The developed workflow and instructional model will be presented to students enrolled at Utah State University in the Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning (LAEP) Department. The first objective of this thesis project is to explore and create a successful workflow of basic planting design principles and apply them in virtual reality with the use of new technology. The virtual reality and planting design software that were explored were Twinmotion, VR Sketch, SketchUp, AutoCAD, Land FX, Gravity …

Storytelling In Interior Design: A Hospitality Case Study Based On Avatar: The Last Airbender, Katelyn Isaacson Bauer

All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present

Storytelling can function as a crucial element in interior design, offering a powerful means to captivate and engage individuals within a space. The allure of storytelling lies in its ability to evoke emotions, convey messages, and create memorable experiences. Humans are naturally drawn to narratives that transport them to different worlds, evoke nostalgia, or inspire. This fascination with storytelling has led to a notable increase in themed spaces across various industries, from amusement parks and hotels to restaurants and retail spaces. The integration of storytelling into interior design not only enhances the aesthetic appeal of a space but also serves …

Artificial Intelligence In Landscape Architecture: A Survey Of Theory, Culture, And Practice, Phillip J. Fernberg

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

This dissertation explores the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in shaping the landscape architecture profession. It looks at how AI has evolved in the field, its current influence, and its potential to change research, teaching, and professional practice. The research includes a detailed review of existing literature to identify trends in AI applications and gaps in knowledge. It also examines landscape architects' attitudes towards AI, revealing a mix of enthusiasm for its benefits and concerns about its impact on creativity and design processes, and proposes new ways of thinking about and working with AI. The work brings a unique perspective …

Social Justice In Design, Baylee Paskett

Student Research Symposium

Access to Healthy Food:

Ensuring that this grocery market offers affordable and high-quality fresh produce will make nutritious food accessible to all residents regardless of income levels. Implementing programs or partnerships that provide subsidies, discounts, or vouchers for low-income individuals or families will provide the locals with healthy food options that are more affordable.

La Bella English School, Rachael Barlow

Student Research Symposium

Mexico's transition to a globalized economy necessitates a proficient grasp of the English language. In an era marked by international trade, technology, and cultural exchange, English proficiency is no longer a luxury but a fundamental skill. In today's interconnected world, English has become the lingua franca for international communication, diplomacy, and business. It is the most widely spoken second language worldwide, opening doors to global opportunities and cross-cultural interactions. Access to English education equips students with the skills and qualifications to compete in a global workforce. Establishing English schools in Mexico promotes educational equity. The proliferation of English schools in …

Designing For Wellness: Enhancing First Responder Well-Being Through Fire Station Interior Architecture, Caimbre Bunton

Student Research Symposium

Firefighters face numerous health risks from physical and psychological stressors inherent in their profession. Occupational hazards include exposure to toxins, respiratory issues, cardiovascular and musculoskeletal diseases and heightened cancer risk. They are also at risk for mental health challenges like PTSD, anxiety, depression and sleep deprivation. Interior design interventions focusing on acoustics, thermal comfort, indoor air quality, health amenities, and containing and elimnating contaminants within the station are essential for mitigating these risks. These design strategies create a supportive and health focused environment for first responders so they can continue to support our communities. Station 45 is a model for …

A Review On Recent Deep Learning-Based Semantic Segmentation For Urban Greenness Measurement, Doo Hong Lee, Hye Yeon Park, Joonwhoan Lee

Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning Student Research

Accurate urban green space (UGS) measurement has become crucial for landscape analysis. This paper reviews the recent technological breakthroughs in deep learning (DL)-based semantic segmentation, emphasizing efficient landscape analysis, and integrating greenness measurements. It explores quantitative greenness measures applied through semantic segmentation, categorized into the plan view- and the perspective view-based methods, like the Land Class Classification (LCC) with green objects and the Green View Index (GVI) based on street photographs. This review navigates from traditional to modern DL-based semantic segmentation models, illuminating the evolution of the urban greenness measures and segmentation tasks for advanced landscape analysis. It also presents …