Architecture Commons^™

Frontier - A Bus Rapid Transit System In Frisco, Tx, Matthias Berry

City and Regional Planning

This study explores the increasing inaccessibility produced by reliance and catered infrastructure to mass ownership of personal vehicles. Accessing employment, service, and activity destinations has become extremely difficult for those who cannot possess, afford, or operate personal vehicles; even cyclists have a more difficult time navigating roads due to limited infrastructure and accommodations. Public transit has often become an afterthought within cities, with local routes competing with other cars on the road and adding to overall traffic volume. Bus-Rapid Transit (BRT) systems are an expanding concept within car-centric regions, often being called the "subways, but on wheels", that not only …

Sustainability In Concrete Masonry With Natural Pozzolans, Ceiley L. Davis

Architectural Engineering: Graduate Reports

To achieve greater sustainability in masonry construction for the Western market it is common to replace masonry grout's partial cement content with waste pozzolans. As waste pozzolans are in limited supply, as the coal burning market in the West diminishes, this research investigates viable grout mixtures which replace cement with Natural Pozzolans, a more plentiful sustainable replacement. The present work investigated the percentage of Natural Pozzolans that can be partially substituted for cement for grout mixtures to achieve an axial compressive strength of 2000psi within 28 and 56 days of curing. To determine efficacy per ASTM 476-22, “Standards Specifications for …

Mbesese Build 2023, Ben Stewart, Matthew Chung, Ian Mcconnell

Architectural Engineering

In collaboration with the Mbesese Initiative for Sustainable Developments, the senior project group from California Polytechnic State University of San Luis Obispo, researched, designed, and created construction documents for the Same Polytechnic College project in the town of Same, Tanzania. This project aims to combat poverty in the Kilimanjaro Region of Tanzania by providing education and infrastructure development. In 2023, the senior project group focused on completing a communal and educational space and addressing clean water scarcity through a rainwater collection system on the site of the future college.

Crescent: Proposed Arboretum Shade Structure, Hayle Jones, Ian Kelly, Emilie Phuong, Brooke Heitman

Architectural Engineering

This is a sunshade structure that uses shells as the facade to create the enclosing of this structure.

Xenabloom, Sophia Maglabe, Ryer Lauth, Elizabeth Shaw, Sheyna Rongong

Architectural Engineering

Proposal for an architectural and structural design of a shade structure at the Leaning Pine Arboretum, employing the Xenaform typology of Poly Shells, LLC.

Investigation Of Natural Pozzolans: Analyzing The Practicality Of Natural Pozzolans As A Partial Substitute For Cement In Grout Production, Jadyn I. Breien, Andrew J. Baro, Logan T. Marino

Architectural Engineering

This senior project aims to investigate whether natural pozzolans are more sustainable than fly ash and a sufficient substitute for cement in the production of grout. By following the intent of the ASTM (American Society of Testing and Materials) standards, a conclusion will be made to determine if natural pozzolans can contribute comparable strength in compression. The objective is to prove that natural pozzolans should be utilized in the production of grout rather than alternatives such as fly ash because it can provide similar strength while being more economical and more sustainable.

Polymöbi: Single-Surface Timber Polyshell Shade Structure, Ryan Khieu, Tom Sesin, Gabriel Garfias, Evan Brooks

Architectural Engineering

Overall design process of incorporating Polyshells into a sunshade structure, while addressing client needs, materiality, constructability, and life safety.

Arce 415 Portfolio: The Green Bird Of Paradise, Kristofer R. Rickansrud, Ryan Chan, Brendan Peers, Joel Santoyo

Architectural Engineering

A design project creating a Polyshell sunshade structure for the Leaning Pine Arboretum.

The Center For Centering Dome, Olek Piechaczek, Ryan M. Scharf

Architectural Engineering

The Center for Centering seeks to create a large-scale healing center, conducive to individual centering of the mind and body. This mobile installation provides a relaxing, enclosed space while still maintaining a connection to the outdoors. The clients liked the idea of having a pop-up installation that could be easily set up as a touring display. With a deadline for installation looming in June 2022, a team of students had five months to design and manufacture the structure.

In winter 2022, the students developed custom geometry to minimize the number of individual parts and built a ¼ scale model of …

The Integration Between Housing And Transportation In Contemporary City And Regional Planning: Transit-Oriented Development For The San Luis Obispo Station, Aidan Zachary Clark, Keigo Justin Yamamoto, Owen Deane Troy

City and Regional Planning

This transit-oriented development will help mitigate the housing crisis in California starting with San Luis Obispo at the local level by developing housing for all demographics. The project will be beneficial towards increasing the livability and connectivity of current residents, commuters, and visitors of the San Luis Obispo region. The project will also activate the spaces by providing a walkway and commercial development for people that were previously not present. The proposed development is projected to activate the area, with new amenities, while promoting the site’s existing uses; The existing cafe and restaurant within the project site will not be …

Urban Design On A Global Scale: A Comparison Of Four Cities, Avery Grace Crower, Shane N. Strunk

City and Regional Planning

This senior project encompasses an analysis of urban design on a global scale. The authors chose four cities to analyze using eight different urban design elements. The cities chosen were Los Angeles, Paris, Rio de Janeiro, and Tokyo. Understanding how each city exemplified the urban design elements, assisted the authors in conducting a compare and contrast of the most and least desirable design attributes within each city. The authors were able to conclude with important takeaways and lessons from the analysis and comparison.

The Grand Entrance: A Faculty And Staff Housing Development, Emily M. Ladue, Susana T. Toner

City and Regional Planning

The team chose this project because it is one of many upcoming projects detailed for California Polytechnic State University (University) in the 2035 Master plan. The University has a capacity of over 21,000 students and 3,000 employees, including 1,400 faculty. Many students and faculty from the University live within city limits, with students making up a majority of the rental market in the city. In a typical four-bedroom house, four students with four separate incomes can rent out a house together and pay a much higher rent than a faculty member with one to two incomes could. Additionally, The City …

Investigating Cost-Effective And Time-Efficient Ways To Speed Up Transit, Joe Yin Jo Tam

City and Regional Planning

With the emphasis on cities worldwide prioritizing more environmentally friendly forms of transportation, along with a new focus on equity to ensure that underserved and disadvantaged communities are served equitably and receive services that enable economic opportunity, access to recreation opportunities, and social services, equitable and sustainable forms of transportation are required. This study explores potential methods for enhancing and strengthening transit as a reliable and sustainable means of transportation. This study evaluates cost-effective methods for achieving significant gains in improving transit reliability and speed.

Three Rivers: Plan Analysis And Recommendations Including An Environmental Justice Addendum, Gerardo Arregui

City and Regional Planning

This document examines the existing Three Rivers Community Plan in order to find shortcomings, missing information and to recommend appropriate format and content for future iterations. The final section of this document has been designed to be a model for the Environmental Justice section for the Three River’s future community plan update because the current plan is silent on this topic.

Bike Share: A Discussion And Case Study Analysis Including Recommendations For Cal Poly And The City Of San Luis Obispo, Gabrielle N. Delavallade

City and Regional Planning

Since 2015, micromobility has swiftly expanded to new cities across the United States. Micromobility is defined as a category of transportation services that are shared-use, lightweight, and personal use such as electric scooters (escooters), shared bicycles, and electric bicycles (e-bikes). Micromobility vehicles can be person powered, electrically powered, or a combination of the two (CRCOG, 2022; BTS, 2022). One form of micromobility that is gaining popularity is known as bicycle share. In 2020, the North American Bikeshare and Scootershare Association (NABSA) 2020 State of the Industry Report found that an estimated 83.4 million trips were taken in North America alone …

Estimating The Impact Of Infill Housing On Reduction In Vehicle Miles Traveled, Peyton Marie Ratto

Master's Theses

Vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and its relationship with the built environment has been extensively studied. Most notably, five D variables of the built environment including density, diversity, design, destination accessibility, and distance to transit are the key variables included in this research to explain VMT generation from housing developments. This thesis uses prior research that developed robust statistical models and findings to create a framework to estimate VMT reduction affected by infill housing developed using incentives provided by the state compared to a regional comparator. The regional comparator is typically a suburban single-family housing development in the region. The models …

Attainable And Sustainable Home Building Solutions, Katrina Matthews

Construction Management

Sustainability has fortunately been a recent concern in the construction industry as climate change continues to impose potentially insurmountable threats to the global environment. Although many new methods have been adopted in efforts to lessen the adverse environmental effects of construction-related activities, as a society, we still have much room for growth as the built environment accounts for almost 50% of global emissions. Many changes and standards must be adopted to make these solutions efficiently beneficial. To set industry standards, we must start with the most basic form of construction- residential building. This report covers two attainable framing solutions for …

Development Of The New Hasslein Caed Collaborative, Catie Dines

Construction Management

This paper outlines the development and execution of the new Hasslein CAED Collaborative student competition which engages students of all five majors in the College of Architecture and Environmental Design in a Request for Proposal style competition. CAED houses students studying Architecture, Architectural Engineering, City and Regional Planning, Construction Management, and Landscape Architecture. There is little opportunity for interdisciplinary collaboration within the CAED, despite our future career paths being heavily intertwined. This competition followed research by Greta Stout, class of 2022, on the benefits and support of interdisciplinary collaboration at Cal Poly SLO in CAED. The competition is named after …

City Farm Slo Educational Pizza Oven, Koby J. Ramage

Construction Management

City Farm SLO is a nonprofit that educates the public about growing food, and they donate the produce to food banks and communities in need. Their mission is to promote healthy living through sustainable agriculture and farm-based education. This senior project is to build them an educational pizza oven for them to use in their classes. With it they will give lessons where they cook pizzas using ingredients that they grow on site. To do this, the builder had to make it lightweight and able to move around the property to different meeting places and outdoor classrooms. It is also …

Floating Dock At Santa Rita Ranch: A Design And Cost Estimate Package Prepared For The Land Conservancy Of San Luis Obispo, Sophia Ann Federico

Construction Management

The purpose of this project is to provide the Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo with three design options for a floating fishing/boat dock system that they want to build on a small lake located on a plot of land that they own and preserve called Santa Rita Ranch. The design package that I created includes drawings, weight and buoyancy calculations, a cost estimate, and product specs. My approach was to utilize my estimating skills that I have acquired from my construction management classes and from my work at a general contractor’s office in the preconstruction department. The design and …

City Farm Slo Garden For All Accessible Planter Beds, Allison C. Wild

Construction Management

This paper outlines the design, coordination, and construction efforts to build the Accessible Planter Boxes for the City Farm SLO’s Garden for All. The Garden for All was a concept created by the City Farm SLO staff to meet the need for an accessible learning space for students. The full design for the Garden for All also included mobile benches and tables, a shade structure, and decomposed granite pathways that were completed by other students. This project included the construction of 6 raised planter beds of differing heights and designs. Each planter bed was approximately 10 feet long and varied …

The Viability Of Electrification For Industrial Off-Road Vehicles In Construction, Caden Patrick Stoker

Construction Management

Federal and State legislation has been passed limiting the prospective propulsion options for heavy industrial off-road vehicles that general contractors can operate on the jobsite. The interest behind this research project is the viability of introducing fully electric off-road construction vehicles into the heavy civil construction industry and if the timeline for implementation is realistic or optimistic. As new rules and regulations pertaining to the future emissions requirements of civilian and commercial vehicles effect the country, the construction industry is spending billions in order to develop (and are currently developing) fully electric off-road industrial vehicles (dozers, front loaders, scrappers, dump …

Exploring The Potential Of Pavegen’S Kinetic Energy Generating Floor For Sustainable Energy Solutions: A Proposal For Cal Poly Slo, Brandon J. Cuneo

Construction Management

This paper proposes the installation of Pavegen's kinetic energy generating floors at Cal Poly’s campus as a sustainable energy solution. Pavegen has developed a pioneering technology that converts footsteps into clean and renewable energy. The versatility of these floors is demonstrated through successful implementations in various settings, such as transportation hubs and public spaces, generating power from foot traffic. Collaborations with Schneider Electric, installation at Dupont Circle, and integration at Heathrow Airport showcase the potential for sustainable urban infrastructure. This paper outlines research conducted on Pavegen and similar solutions, including communication with company representatives and examining proposed installation locations at …

Reexamining The Functions Of Urban Bridges With Nature And People In Mind: A Vision For North Main Street Bridge Fort Worth, Texas, Amanda Hinton

Landscape Architecture Masters & Design Theses - Archive

How can nature be incorporated into infrastructure bridges to promote connections in urban landscapes? The Paddock Viaduct, known today as the North Main Street Bridge in Fort Worth, Texas was formally opened on July 3, 1914. Designed by Brenneke and Fay to improve transportation to the North Fort Worth district, the bridge was the first reinforced concrete arch bridge in the nation to use self-supporting reinforcing steel and ball and socket joints (Paddock Viaduct - Main - Historic Fort Worth, 2017). Fort Worth in the mid-1900s, like many growing cities, was experiencing the repercussions of heavy flooding issues that come …

Reorientation, Soleil Nguyen

Masters Theses

A non-linear narrative to understand the place and character of my neighborhood.

On The Power Of Attainable Architecture Community Engagement And Interaction Through Architecture: A New Approach To Architectural Exhibitions, Jianing Yang

Masters Theses

This thesis explores the potential of architecture exhibitions as a medium to make architecture more accessible and relevant to the public. Drawing inspiration from an article titled "6 Small Scale Projects with Large Social Impact", it highlights the significance of small-scale architectural interventions that foster social responsibility, public engagement, and sustainability.

The prevalent architectural elitism often overlooks attainable, small-scale architecture, which advocates for a broader appreciation of architecture, including the everyday built environments that shape our communities and everyday lives.

The thesis proposes a new approach to architecture exhibitions emphasizing authentic immersion and engagement. It introduces a unique 1:1 experience …

A Day Stood Still, Yuting Sun

Masters Theses

The Brooklyn Navy Yard is an important industrial historic site in New York City. It was established in the 1810s as a private shipyard and became a military property in the late nineteenth century. It provided significant production capacity for the Pacific battlefield during World War II. After the war, the entire campus closed in the 1960s as military orders declined and transportation changed. The Brooklyn Navy Yard was later sold to New York City and repurposed.

After the city government took over the park, unlike other industrial sites that were developed as real estate, manufacturing is still the main …

Recipes For Building Relationships, Adriana Lintz

Masters Theses

This thesis explores the history of women's access to education and the issues of gender disparity in education. I focus on single-gendered schools as I write from personal experience to describe the benefits for individuals in single-gender educational systems. I cite conflicting research on how men and women learn regarding biological, cognitive, and developmental differences. I illuminate some of the benefits of single-gendered education through research, experience, and personal communications. I write about the controversies and disparities regarding education and single-gender schools. I document research on the issues women face in education and the politics of women’s bodies and minds …

Cultivating Charismatic Landscapes: Designing For Preservation And Resilience Of Texas’S Natural Swimming Holes, Jessie Hitchcock

Landscape Architecture Masters & Design Theses - Archive

The swimming hole landscape provides a unique, immersive interface between humans and the natural world within a riparian corridor. Distinct characteristics of local watersheds and regional ecological systems result in an expression of the natural environment specific to each Texas swimming hole. These environmental components, along with human culture and settlement patterns, are all interrelated, underscoring the importance of health and harmony within and between each one. Overuse, urban expansion, watershed management, and climatic factors have negatively impacted the environmental quality and user experience of these landscapes. The purpose of this study is to better understand the cultural and environmental …

To Open A Clearing: Cultivating Spaces Of Endurance In The Upper Amazon, Brunno De Melo Meirelles Douat

Masters of Environmental Design Theses

To effectively challenge the policies of extraction implemented by late liberal regimes, the Waorani communities from Upper Amazon have devised spatial strategies to defend their traditional territory. By re-examining the concept of the contact zone and unfolding settler and Indigenous literature, spatialities, and worldviews, this thesis suggests the concept of forest Clearings as a means to explore spatial forms of endurance.

Clearings emerge within the Amazon in sites where encounters between divergent worldviews embody otherwise modes of existence. Through a series of fieldwork reflections, these Clearings are perceived as spaces where ontological negotiations are more likely to occur, strategies of …