Architecture Commons^™

Development And Validation Of Heat Transfer Model To Predict Indoor Air Temperatures In Roofpond Buildings, Afzal Hossain

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Roofponds mimic the ways in which nature tempers and controls the global climate; they utilize higher heat capacity of water to passively control the temperature of the interior space. From a thermal standpoint, roofponds are strong performers, providing high solar savings fractions, interior temperature stability, enhanced thermal comfort and very low operational power requirements. Moreover, due to convective heat transfer within the water bags, heat gains or losses are quickly distributed throughout the roofpond to create a very homogeneous distribution of heat throughout the floor area covered by the system.

Research by Harold Hay and John Yellott (Hay & Yellott, …

The Best Brick House In All The Country: Documenting The Structural Evolution Of Medway, Mount Holly, South Carolina, Neale Canter Nickels

All Theses

This thesis represents the assembly of physical architectural analysis, archival investigation, and the study of the work of previous historians on the subject of the main house at Medway Plantation. Medway is a property whose origins can be traced back to the seventeenth century. Since then, it has changed form many times. A great amount of research has been conducted on Medway by historians, both amateur and professional. Few, however, if any have ever been able to study Medway with the stucco removed from the exterior and walls and floors exposed on the inside.
This was the impetus for researching …

Color Theory: The Effects Of Color In Medical Environments, Sarah E. Babin

Honors Theses

The relationship between color and the environments we live in is one of great dynamics. It not only helps us to define our personal spaces, but it can also affect our temperaments and our reactions. In the medical field, color is equally as important, as it has the ability to heal and to comfort. A combination of literature review and a short survey were utilized in order to find out exactly how color can influence our mood. While previous studies and other research have been conducted, the use of a new survey helped to confirm the findings. In previous studies, …

Popularity Of Virtual Reality Immersion In Theme Park Attractions Of North America, Jessica A. Jelinski

Honors Theses

Theme parks continually change to incorporate new technology. Since the development of virtual reality, designers of theme park attractions have utilized several different immersion technology systems. Most of the current attractions are based on the Head-Mounted Display system and the Cave Automatic Virtual Environment system. To date, few studies or papers have been published concerning the effect virtual reality and the accompanying immersion technology may have on theme park attractions. One hundred and seventy-eight attractions from eight theme parks were categorized based on level of immersion and then analyzed for this study. Wait times for these attractions were used to …

Landscape Architecture Foundation Case Study Investigation And The Case Of The Streetscape, Pamela Blackmore

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

The demonstration of landscape performance benefits has become increasingly important in landscape architecture practice and in communicating to interdisciplinary audiences. This project introduces four built streetscape projects investigated in the 2012 Landscape Architecture Foundation Case Study Investigation (CSI) program, including a large-scale permeable pavement project in Charles City, Iowa, and American Society of Landscape Architects' award-winning projects in Missouri, California, and Colorado. Following the case studies, several compelling performance benefits of these projects are presented, such as safety and accessibility and water and energy conservation. The paper specifically illustrates the economic benefits and the data source used for performance assessment …

A High-Performance Concrete Design For The Charenton Canal Bridge On La. 87, Philip Alan Goppelt

Honors Capstones

No abstract provided.

Wasteland To Wonderland:Sustainable Brownfield Redevelopment Projects In Low-Income Areas Of Los Angeles, Rachel L. Warburton

Pitzer Senior Theses

The conversion of industrial waste sites, also known as brownfields, into sustainable green space can impact the surrounding community in a number of ways. This thesis is a compilation of three case studies in low-income areas of Los Angeles which have all experienced a brownfield to green space conversion. All three projects are dictated by various stakeholders and are located at the intersection of economic and environmental issues. I examine how the stakeholders of these projects affect the process and design and in turn how the process and design affects the community surrounding the site. Additionally this thesis sheds light …

Designing Affordable Housing For Adaptability: Principles, Practices, & Application, Micaela R. Danko

Pitzer Senior Theses

While environmental and economic sustainability have been driving factors in the movement towards a more resilient built environment, social sustainability is a factor that has received significantly less attention over the years. Federal support for low-income housing has fallen drastically, and the deficit of available, adequate, affordable homes continues to grow. In this thesis, I explore one way that architects can design affordable housing that is intrinsically sustainable. In the past, subsidized low-income housing has been built as if to provide a short-term solution—as if poverty and lack of affordable housing is a short-term problem. However, I argue that adaptable …

The Grand Paris Express: An Analysis Of Social And Political Trends Towards Mass Transit Planning In The Île-De-France Region, Charlotte M. Leasia

Scripps Senior Theses

This thesis examines the Grand Paris Express project currently underway in the Île-de-France. The basis of this project is a series of new and renovated railway lines to connect and span across the entirety of the region. They are being planned with the hopes to improve urbanization for the outlying suburbs. The Île-de-France is the wealthiest region in France, but it has high economic inequality between its departments. One hard hit area is Seine-St-Denis. This is the area I will be focusing primarily on. Department number 93, its urban landscape holds histories of rioting, unemployment, and large immigrant populations. In …

Master Planning For The Arts: Identifying The Skills And Roles For Landscape Architects, Jack Randal Phillips

Landscape Architecture Masters & Design Theses - Archive

Thіs rеsеаrch еxаmіnеs thе skills and experiences of lаndscаpе аrchіtеcts appropriate to lеаd thе dеsіgn аnd dеvеlopmеnt of аrts mаstеr plаns for communіtіеs, by assessing current arts master plan practices in major metropolitan areas in the United States. It first identifies thе requirements of thе arts master planning procеss through systеmаtіc documеntаtіon of еxpеrt opіnіons. A comparison is then made to thе scopе of mаstеr plаnnіng for thе аrts. Thе scope includes prеrеquіsіtеs аnd profеssіonаl аptіtudеs nееdеd to complеtе аn аrts mаstеr plаn for lаrgе cіtіеs іn the United States аnd to аssеss lаndscаpе аrchіtеcts rolе wіthіn those needs. An …

Identifying Perceptions Of The Creative Class Regarding Lost Space In Downtown Dallas, Yao Lin

Landscape Architecture Masters & Design Theses - Archive

This thesis deals with perceptions held by members of the "creative class" (Florida 2004) regarding lost space (Trancik 1986) in downtown Dallas, Texas. Data from this study come from face-to-face interviews with end-users (the creative class) of lost space, and the results of the study offer insight on design and use of these spaces, so common to contemporary human communities. Trancik (1986) argues that lost space consists of undesirable and seemingly useless urban spaces, which because they are problematic, need to be redesigned. Trancik contrasts the urban voids of lost space with positive urban spaces which he defines as those …

Professional Service Dependencies Between Landscape Architects And Architects, Alexandra Lorraine Romero

Landscape Architecture Masters & Design Theses - Archive

This thesis examines the professional service dependencies between landscape architects and architects practicing in single discipline private practice firms. Its intent is to determine the presence (or lack of presence) of dependencies within this subset of professional practice of both landscape architecture and architecture and the reasons dependencies exist. The primary hypothesis of this study is that dependencies exist between these two types of single discipline practices.Bornstein (1993) describes dependencies in a working definition as motivational, cognitive, affective and behavioral. Specifically, the term dependency has "no universally accepted operational definition" (Bornstein 1993, p. 18). It is, in the case of …

Stakeholders' Perceptions On The Design And Feasibility Of The Fused Grid Street Network Pattern, Hong Anh Mang

Landscape Architecture Masters & Design Theses - Archive

The fused grid is a newly developed street network pattern for laying out neighborhoods and districts (Grammenos 2002). It uses the fusion of two traditional North American street designs: the traditional nineteenth-century grid and the conventional curvilinear pattern of looped streets and cul-de-sacs utilized in modern suburbia (Grammenos 2004). In the twenty-first century, two cities in Canada -- Calgary, Alberta and Stratford, Ontario -- adopted this model for their neighborhoods. The site in Calgary have been adopted, implemented and is currently under construction. The site in Stratford have been adopted but not implemented. Although the two sites adopted ideas and …

Precursors To Context Sensitive Design (Csd) In Non-Csd Projects, Xiwen Feng

Landscape Architecture Masters & Design Theses - Archive

This study searches for planning and design strategies required in Context Sensitive Design (CSD) transportation projects executed prior to the establishment of CSD standards. CSD is &ldquo a collaborative, interdisciplinary approach in which all stakeholders develop transportation facilities that fit their physical settings and preserve the aesthetic, scenic, historic and environmental resources, while maintaining safety and mobility&rdquo (Center for Transportation and Environment (CTE), 2007).There were five pilot states which were Connecticut, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, and Utah, agreed to implement the CSD approach in 1998. In the following years, many states looked to CSD as a more effective approach for improving …

Master Planning For The Arts: Identifying The Skills And Roles For Landscape Architects, Jack Randal Phillips

Landscape Architecture Masters & Design Theses - Archive

Thіs rеsеаrch еxаmіnеs thе skills and experiences of lаndscаpе аrchіtеcts appropriate to lеаd thе dеsіgn аnd dеvеlopmеnt of аrts mаstеr plаns for communіtіеs, by assessing current arts master plan practices in major metropolitan areas in the United States. It first identifies thе requirements of thе arts master planning procеss through systеmаtіc documеntаtіon of еxpеrt opіnіons. A comparison is then made to thе scopе of mаstеr plаnnіng for thе аrts. Thе scope includes prеrеquіsіtеs аnd profеssіonаl аptіtudеs nееdеd to complеtе аn аrts mаstеr plаn for lаrgе cіtіеs іn the United States аnd to аssеss lаndscаpе аrchіtеcts rolе wіthіn those needs. An …

Identifying Perceptions Of The Creative Class Regarding Lost Space In Downtown Dallas, Yao Lin

Landscape Architecture Masters & Design Theses - Archive

This thesis deals with perceptions held by members of the "creative class" (Florida 2004) regarding lost space (Trancik 1986) in downtown Dallas, Texas. Data from this study come from face-to-face interviews with end-users (the creative class) of lost space, and the results of the study offer insight on design and use of these spaces, so common to contemporary human communities. Trancik (1986) argues that lost space consists of undesirable and seemingly useless urban spaces, which because they are problematic, need to be redesigned. Trancik contrasts the urban voids of lost space with positive urban spaces which he defines as those …

Stakeholders' Perceptions On The Design And Feasibility Of The Fused Grid Street Network Pattern, Hong Anh Mang

Landscape Architecture Masters & Design Theses - Archive

The fused grid is a newly developed street network pattern for laying out neighborhoods and districts (Grammenos 2002). It uses the fusion of two traditional North American street designs: the traditional nineteenth-century grid and the conventional curvilinear pattern of looped streets and cul-de-sacs utilized in modern suburbia (Grammenos 2004). In the twenty-first century, two cities in Canada -- Calgary, Alberta and Stratford, Ontario -- adopted this model for their neighborhoods. The site in Calgary have been adopted, implemented and is currently under construction. The site in Stratford have been adopted but not implemented. Although the two sites adopted ideas and …

Precursors To Context Sensitive Design (Csd) In Non-Csd Projects, Xiwen Feng

Landscape Architecture Masters & Design Theses - Archive

This study searches for planning and design strategies required in Context Sensitive Design (CSD) transportation projects executed prior to the establishment of CSD standards. CSD is &ldquo a collaborative, interdisciplinary approach in which all stakeholders develop transportation facilities that fit their physical settings and preserve the aesthetic, scenic, historic and environmental resources, while maintaining safety and mobility&rdquo (Center for Transportation and Environment (CTE), 2007).There were five pilot states which were Connecticut, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, and Utah, agreed to implement the CSD approach in 1998. In the following years, many states looked to CSD as a more effective approach for improving …

Native Plant Palettes: Perceptions Of North Texas Homeowners In Upper-Income Suburbia, Amber Michelle Davis

Landscape Architecture Masters & Design Theses - Archive

This study examines the perceptions of upper-income homeowners in North Texas regarding their knowledge of native plant palettes and their commitment to using them in their residential landscapes. Literature on the topic highlights different perspectives on the actual definition of `native' plants. However, for the purpose of this study a `native plant palette' refers to the use of a plant species that "occurs naturally in a particular region, ecosystem or habitat without direct or indirect human intervention" and in return helps support its surrounding ecological community (Tallamy 2009; US National Arboretum 2006, pg. 1)."Current literature on homeowners' perceptions of native …

Professional Service Dependencies Between Landscape Architects And Architects, Alexandra Lorraine Romero

Landscape Architecture Masters & Design Theses - Archive

This thesis examines the professional service dependencies between landscape architects and architects practicing in single discipline private practice firms. Its intent is to determine the presence (or lack of presence) of dependencies within this subset of professional practice of both landscape architecture and architecture and the reasons dependencies exist. The primary hypothesis of this study is that dependencies exist between these two types of single discipline practices.Bornstein (1993) describes dependencies in a working definition as motivational, cognitive, affective and behavioral. Specifically, the term dependency has "no universally accepted operational definition" (Bornstein 1993, p. 18). It is, in the case of …

Developing Methods To Measure Naturalness Of Stream Restoration Projects: Learning From Johnson Creek, Nhasala Manandhar

Landscape Architecture Masters & Design Theses - Archive

The purpose of this research is to develop methods to assess the naturalness of restored stream environments by studying user perceptions and preferences in the Johnson Creek project in the Dallas and Fort Worth (DFW) metropolitan area. This research specifically concentrates on measuring three indicators of naturalness: greenness, openness, and visual access to water as they are recognized to be critical in components of naturalness in pertinent literature (Hepcan et al., 2004; Dramstad et al., 2006; Kaplan and Kaplan, 1978). This research also examines the suitability of geographic information system (GIS) tools to measure naturalness in order to conduct similar …

Semiotics And New Urbanism In North Texas: Comparing Designer Intention And User Perception, Chia-Yin Wu

Landscape Architecture Masters & Design Theses - Archive

Design is a means of communication and the conduit for transmitting a message between designers and users of their built work (Fiske, 1990). The design work resembles the cultivated construction and carrier of a message as a language. The designer encodes the message or information into design elements through his/her built work, and the user decodes it. Therefore, designers convey their intentions by incorporating them into the patterns of shape, structure, material, and landscape of the site (Krieger and Saunders, 2009). A design element has no intrinsic meaning. According to Manning (2004), a design element "is something that makes sense …

Public Perceptions Of Urban Community Park Benefits: A Study In Arlington, Texas, Leonelle Vincia D'Souza

Landscape Architecture Masters & Design Theses - Archive

This thesis is a study of the public perceptions of urban community park benefits and the identity they foster among people. It addresses the conjecture that parks, by encouraging self-expression through interaction and use, contribute to the identity of a place(Garvin 2000). Identity is a way of organizing information about the self (Clayton and Opotow 2003) and perception is an experience which is occasioned by the stimulation of sense organs (Dennis 1951). These have practical implications on research. Understanding people's response to their surroundings leads to an understanding of perceptions of self and community. Park benefits are gained through interaction …

The Influence Of A Marketing Plan On The Professional Practice Of Small Landscape Architecture Firms, Lynne M. Carpenter

Landscape Architecture Masters & Design Theses - Archive

This thesis examines the marketing practices of small landscape architecture firms to determine whether a marketing plan enables small firms to focus their practice and thereby gain business opportunities in North Texas. A firm's business growth is evaluated according to the development, implementation, and regular review of goals set forth. The results of the study address the professional practice of landscape architecture by identifying recent small firm marketing practices for use as a guide. The literature review details the development of a marketing plan for three main purposes: to review a firm's strengths and weaknesses, to focus its vision and …

Native Plant Palettes: Perceptions Of North Texas Homeowners In Upper-Income Suburbia, Amber Michelle Davis

Landscape Architecture Masters & Design Theses - Archive

This study examines the perceptions of upper-income homeowners in North Texas regarding their knowledge of native plant palettes and their commitment to using them in their residential landscapes. Literature on the topic highlights different perspectives on the actual definition of `native' plants. However, for the purpose of this study a `native plant palette' refers to the use of a plant species that "occurs naturally in a particular region, ecosystem or habitat without direct or indirect human intervention" and in return helps support its surrounding ecological community (Tallamy 2009; US National Arboretum 2006, pg. 1)."Current literature on homeowners' perceptions of native …

Developing Methods To Measure Naturalness Of Stream Restoration Projects: Learning From Johnson Creek, Nhasala Manandhar

Landscape Architecture Masters & Design Theses - Archive

The purpose of this research is to develop methods to assess the naturalness of restored stream environments by studying user perceptions and preferences in the Johnson Creek project in the Dallas and Fort Worth (DFW) metropolitan area. This research specifically concentrates on measuring three indicators of naturalness: greenness, openness, and visual access to water as they are recognized to be critical in components of naturalness in pertinent literature (Hepcan et al., 2004; Dramstad et al., 2006; Kaplan and Kaplan, 1978). This research also examines the suitability of geographic information system (GIS) tools to measure naturalness in order to conduct similar …

Semiotics And New Urbanism In North Texas: Comparing Designer Intention And User Perception, Chia-Yin Wu

Landscape Architecture Masters & Design Theses - Archive

Design is a means of communication and the conduit for transmitting a message between designers and users of their built work (Fiske, 1990). The design work resembles the cultivated construction and carrier of a message as a language. The designer encodes the message or information into design elements through his/her built work, and the user decodes it. Therefore, designers convey their intentions by incorporating them into the patterns of shape, structure, material, and landscape of the site (Krieger and Saunders, 2009). A design element has no intrinsic meaning. According to Manning (2004), a design element "is something that makes sense …

The Influence Of A Marketing Plan On The Professional Practice Of Small Landscape Architecture Firms, Lynne M. Carpenter

Landscape Architecture Masters & Design Theses - Archive

This thesis examines the marketing practices of small landscape architecture firms to determine whether a marketing plan enables small firms to focus their practice and thereby gain business opportunities in North Texas. A firm's business growth is evaluated according to the development, implementation, and regular review of goals set forth. The results of the study address the professional practice of landscape architecture by identifying recent small firm marketing practices for use as a guide. The literature review details the development of a marketing plan for three main purposes: to review a firm's strengths and weaknesses, to focus its vision and …

On The Environmental Factors That Alleviate Relocation Stress Syndrome In Residents Of Long-Term Care Facilities, Amber Lois Williams

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This study intends to investigate the stress experienced by the elderly during the relocation process. Relocation stress syndrome occurs when a senior is moved from a familiar environment to an unfamiliar environment. The shock of the transition causes medical conditions to worsen, which can result in serious illness, possibly death. "Moving to a nursing home entails a complete lifestyle change, the trauma of which is compounded when the patient is ill or in pain and the move is unanticipated" (Morse, 2000, p. 24AAA). I have researched reasons why seniors relocate to long-term care facilities in order to better understand the …

Survey Of Suitable Plants For Cal Poly's Green Wall, Katrina Burritt

Horticulture and Crop Science

Green wall technology is a growing industry in the United States and has been very successful for a several years throughout Europe. The objective of this survey was to study the success of several different species of plants on a vertical wall facing south at Cal Poly’s Horticultural Department Unit. At first the focus was aimed at using California native species, because it was thought that natives would be better acclimated to the exposure in this specific location. It became apparent that plants should not be selected for the wall based just on the fact that they are California natives. …