Architecture Commons^™

Behind The Walls: The Implications Of Assisted Living Building Codes On Resident Safety, Adam Pennavaria, Lindsey Smith, Paula Carder, Cassandra Hua, Eric Jutkowitz, Kali Thomas

OHSU-PSU School of Public Health Annual Conference

As the US population collectively ages, issues related to assisted living (AL) resident safety have become an increasingly pressing issue for the general public, reflected by major media reporting in the last year. The building codes that govern ALs play an important role in mitigating the risks associated with falls, wandering, and other hazards, especially for residents living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. We sought to understand how states vary in their approaches to building code regulations that might impact resident safety. We used search term-based text retrieval to identify areas of text relevant to locks, alarms, and egress …

Farmstead Therapy: Intergenerational Connection And Sense Of Place Via Equine Therapy, Kaleb Griffeth

Student Research Symposium

Therapy has become a crucial element within society. It has offered relief, understanding, and hope for a changed future to hundreds of millions of people just in the last five years (SAMHSA, 2004).

On another front, division between generations seems to be growing by the month. Political, social, and economic differences between generations “X”, “Z”, Alpha, and Baby Boomers make it appear that there is no connection whatsoever across age gaps.

Because equine therapy has proven a succesful branch, especially for those of a younger demographic, Farmstead Therapy was a project designed to bring together the skills of the older …

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.

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.

Understanding Dementia Friendly Features Of Public Bathrooms: Dementia-Friendly Bathroom Design Explored + Checklist, Sarah Stegge, Elsie Aslesen, Gowri Betrabet Gulwadi, Denell Henninger, Janice Blevins

INSPIRE Student Research and Engagement Conference

Our Study Objectives:

• Identifying Dementia-Friendly Public Restrooms Elements
• Creating a Checklist of Features

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?

Maldi-Mass Spectrometry Imaging To Investigate Distribution Of Per- And Polyfluoroalkyl Substances In Exposed Poplar Tissues, Tonglin Zhou, Varuni Abhayarayne, Joseph Akor, Honglan Shi, Paul Ki-Souk Nam, Joel Gerard Burken, John Yang

Miners Solving for Tomorrow Research Conference

No abstract provided.

Foster Grandparents, Claire M. Bunnell, Robin Puttock

Symposium of Student Scholars

A connection between independent living homes and foster care homes will result in an increase of companionship, physical and mental health of the lives of older adults as well the foster care children. Children between the ages of 6-15 make up 44% of the children in the foster care system in the United States. Providing older adults the opportunity to have a mentoring role in the foster children's lives will give them a sense of purpose and give the foster children an advisor. This thesis strives to focus on improving the physical and mental health of older adults and foster …

Understanding The Effect Of Intercity Roads On The Evolution Of Urban Form, Fiona Duvall, Ermal Shpuza

Symposium of Student Scholars

Cities are key to sustainability, social cohesion, public health, and energy use. Successful urban planning relies on understanding the effect of the roads that connect the city with the neighboring settlements, which act as a scaffold for urban growth. The project develops representations and analytical tools for understanding urban evolution.

The research is based on the following analytical methods: 1) Digitally drawing the arterial roads for twenty Adriatic coastal cities in Italy based on historical maps surveyed in 1819; 2) Categorizing the cities into two main groups: those whose arterials have remained mostly unchanged and those whose arterials have been …

Weaving Of Spaces: “Designing Spaces That Create Opportunities For Communication And Freedom Though Ease Of Access”, Fiona Duvall, Ehsan Sheikplharam Mashhadi

Symposium of Student Scholars

The Kennesaw State University campus has much to offer its students and the community, but it has a periphery, disconnecting it from neighboring communities. Marietta square has amazing opportunities for food and community. The main problem here is that the only way to access the square and Kennesaw State University is by car and that these two locations are isolated.

Through the research of the psychological aspects of space, cast studies and psychological research articles. I've found the main problems found in these urban areas are the low walkability, lack traffic safety and lack access to anyone regardless of Finacial …

Pathways To Possibilities: Crafting A Montessori School For Economically Disadvantaged Children, Melanie Nin, Robin Puttock

Symposium of Student Scholars

This thesis analyzes the correlation that exists between Montessori educational methods and low-income students. To answer this question, I researched 15 different sources, which included case studies, surveys, and interviews that gave me detailed information on my topic. The results of my research showed there was a positive correlation on the effects of low-income students in Montessori Education, but a negative correlation to the number of low-income students who attend Montessori schools. There are around 15,000 Montessori schools around the world, but only 570 Of them are public. This creates a lot of barriers for low-income students, denying them access …

Reimagining Recovery: Architecture's Role In Sobriety, Teagan Littleton, Robin Puttock

Symposium of Student Scholars

Alcoholism recovery housing, such as a sober living house, often overlooks the profound impact that architecture and the environment created from the built world can have on the therapeutic process of rehabilitation. The physical space where individuals receive mental health treatment plays a crucial role in their recovery journey, yet many facilities fail to consider how design elements can support or hinder the healing process. A well-designed sober living house should provide a safe, comforting, and inspiring environment that promotes continued recovery and therefore enhances the effectiveness of therapy and other treatments. There is a large gap between the physical …

Reviving Humanity Towards Rehuminizing Prisons, Ana Gomez, Robin Puttock

Symposium of Student Scholars

The surge in female incarceration rates in the United States has heightened concerns about the mental health challenges faced by women within correctional facilities. This thesis research explores the intersection of women's incarceration, mental health, and sustainable architectural design aimed at improving outcomes for female inmates. Factors contributing to the increase in female incarceration rates, including changes in sentencing policies and socioeconomic disparities, are discussed. Research indicates a high prevalence of mental health disorders among female inmates, often linked to past trauma and exacerbated by the prison environment. Despite this, the prison system often fails to adequately address the mental …

Locally Stranded - Addressing Rural Cases Of Domestic Violence, Owen Phillips, Robin Puttock

Symposium of Student Scholars

Domestic violence is a nationwide crisis affecting millions of women each year and saw an increase in severity during the Covid-19 pandemic (2020-2022). In Georgia, 37.4% of women report experiencing physical violence by an intimate partner. The situation is especially dire in rural areas, where women experience 150% more incidents at a more intense level than their urban counterparts and must travel three times farther to access resources. Rural women are also nearly twice as likely to be turned away from services due to a lack of space, staffing, and resources. Existing shelters often fail to meet victims' needs because …

Thresholds Of Healing: Rethinking Inpatient Mental Health Facility Design, Emily Simms, Robin Puttock

Symposium of Student Scholars

Along Martha Berry Boulevard in the City of Rome, Georgia, is the proposed Tax Allocation District (TAD), which slates redevelopment for blighted areas, including motels that have been a hot spot for criminal activity in the area. Coupled with this blighted area is the need for mental health facilities to serve the needs of the community, specifically long-term facilities for patients with depression and/or self-harm concerns. Suicide is the 2^nd leading cause of death for those aged 10-24 in Georgia according to the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD). A new long-term facility is proposed within the …

Creating Safe Spaces: Evaluating Residential And Day Facilities For Vulnerable Populations, Carrigan Watson, Alaina Hess, Caroline Burton, Madison Miller

Posters-at-the-Capitol

For our senior capstone, we designed facilities to offer therapy services and residential facilities to marginalized groups. These projects consisted of a school that serves Deaf children, a juvenile rehabilitation center for criminal offenders, and two additional rehabilitation centers; one for domestic violence survivors, and one for substance abusers. Each facility's design intentionally optimizes access to services and creates a feeling of safety and community. We researched how visual cues were tied to the psychological sense of safety and created a more accessible means of communication. We incorporated design aspects that reinforce familiarity and a home-like environment. We incorporated universally …

Ultrabaroque Grandeur: Examining The Churrigueresque In Spanish Architecture From The Seventeenth And Eighteenth Centuries, Sarah Staeben

Capstone Showcase

Following the Protestant Reformation, Spain was in a unique position compared to the rest of Europe. The importance of Catholicism was intrinsic to Spanish society by this point, as it was under King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, aptly dubbed the Catholic Monarchs, that the Christians reconquered the Iberian peninsula in 1492, after an eight century rule by Arab-Muslims. In the centuries that followed, Spanish architecture reached new levels of grandeur in the wake of reformed Catholic doctrine. Following the motto “docere, delectare, movere”(to teach, to delight, to move), architects were urged to convey the Church’s power and garner new supporters. …

Reviving Neurodivergent Workplace, Nayeli Gonzalez, Robin Puttock

Symposium of Student Scholars

The post-pandemic era has left the United States with nearly one billion square feet of vacant office space, creating significant economic and social challenges. Alongside this, many employees continue to work from home, often experiencing adverse effects on their physical and mental well-being due to environments that are not conducive to long-term productivity. Addressing these issues, this thesis explores how outdated and underutilized office spaces can be revived, reinvented, and renovated to not only attract employees back to the workplace but also to accommodate the unique needs of neurodivergent individuals. Neurodivergent people, representing millions globally, often encounter sensory overstimulation and …

Roots Of Resilience: Designing Culturally Informed Healing Spaces For Asylum Seekers, Michelle Guzman, Robin Puttock

Symposium of Student Scholars

This thesis explores the role of culturally sensitive architectural design in immigration asylum centers, focusing on how these spaces can better support the well-being, dignity, and cultural identity of Hispanic/Latino asylum seekers. Current asylum centers often prioritize efficiency and functionality over the emotional and psychological needs of their occupants, resulting in environments that feel institutional, impersonal, and disconnected from the cultural identities of displaced individuals. This lack of consideration for the cultural background and emotional recovery of asylum seekers exacerbates the challenges they face, including isolation, trauma, and disorientation.

The research in this thesis seeks to address these issues by …

Engaging Our Elders: Reprograming The Architecture Of Continued Care Facilities To Engage The Community, Mercy Koehler, Robin Puttock

Symposium of Student Scholars

The elderly are one of the most overlooked groups in our population. The poor attention to the design of their living spaces is a sad testament to this reality. Designed like hospitals and prisons, nursing homes are sterile environments, uninviting to guests and suffocating to residents. The person-centered care of new assisted living communities is an improvement, but often the design of these institutions is governed by economic factors and architectural code requirements that continue to create isolated environments. To create truly inclusive spaces for our growing elderly population, care-centered design must go a step further and find programmatic ways …

Variant Minds - Designing For Neurodiversity In Offices, Maya Schiltz, Robin Puttock

Symposium of Student Scholars

High-functioning adults with cognitive disorders such as ADHD, Autism, and Anxiety are often overlooked when considering solutions to help neurodiverse individuals thrive. While low-functioning neurodiverse adults often receive support through specialized programs and care facilities, high-functioning neurodiverse individuals are expected to integrate into traditional work environments, which can severely impede their ability to succeed. Despite growing awareness around creating neurodivergent-friendly workplaces, many office designs continue to follow a “one-size-fits-all” approach, typically featuring open desk arrays, a few private offices, and meeting rooms. This setup fails to provide adequate separation from distractions such as noise, smells, visual glare, and other sensory …

Automating Modular Construction Manufacturing For Affordable Housing, Enaam Mohammed Ouda

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

In recent years, there has been an increase in the frequency and intensity of natural disasters worldwide, resulting in loss of life, displacement, and extensive property damage. According to the UNHCR's report, 89.3 million individuals were displaced in 2021, highlighting that the speed and volume of displacement exceeds the availability of solutions for those affected. To address the urgent need for affordable housing solutions, modular construction is preferred over traditional construction methods as it tackles limitations such as long project durations, high costs, and safety and environmental concerns. Integrating advanced technologies in modular construction can further enhance its benefits and …

Evaluating The Feasibility And Efficacy Of 3d Printing Versus Traditional Construction Techniques: A Study Of Cost, Time And Energy Of A New Lowrise Office Building On The Uaeu Campus, Hala Mohammed Basel

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

In line with the forward-looking vision of the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), this research evaluates the feasibility and effectiveness of 3D printing technology compared to traditional construction methods, focusing on cost, time, and energy efficiency for a new low-rise office building on the UAEU campus. With the growing number of PhD students in the Architectural Engineering Department, expanding office space has become a priority. This study explores how 3D printing technology, known for its sustainability, reduced material waste, and accelerated construction, can address these challenges more efficiently than conventional methods.Guided by the UAE Vision 2030, which promotes innovation and …

From Classroom To Cloud: Why Cybersecurity Education Is Crucial For Tomorrow's Learners, Kiori Edwards

Cybersecurity Undergraduate Research Showcase

This paper examines the transformative impact of cloud computing on education, highlighting how cloud technologies are reshaping teaching and learning environments, making education more accessible, flexible, and collaborative. It also explores the critical importance of incorporating cybersecurity education into school curricula. As digital devices and cloud-based platforms become integral to students' daily lives, they are increasingly vulnerable to cyber threats. This paper argues that early cybersecurity education, starting at the elementary level, is essential for equipping future generations with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate the digital world safely, protect their personal information, and avoid cybercrime.

The Dynamic Landscape: Design, Ecology And Urban Green Spaces, Nexhat Balaj

UBT International Conference

During the covid-19 pandemic urban green spaces were a significant source of leisure activities. In this study are presented some urban solutions and proposals for a design of the city park, with plants, playground for children, walking paths, lighting, sating areas, water areas, ect. Green spaces are important landscapes in an urban structure that provide a natural environment and recreation space. Urban green spaces are well documented for socioeconomic and environmental benefits in urban areas by enhancing the natural environment and human health. The purpose of this paper is to present how quality of urban public spaces and urban vegetation …

Observations Regarding Building Placement And Site Planning In Contemporary Architecture In Prishtina, Egzon Bajraktari

UBT International Conference

Many buildings have been erected in Kosovo’s urban landscape since 2000, especially in the capital city Prishtina. These buildings differ in shape, materials, colors and many other aspects. Quite often the construction of individual buildings was not fully supported with appropriate infrastructure, e.g. roads, pavements, public space etc. Altogether there is concern about the quality of the architecture being delivered. In this regard one particular aspect is the placement of the building on site and site planning. Many problems have been observed in the placement of new buildings leading to fractured spaces around buildings, difficulties accessing buildings etc. There are …