Architecture Commons^™

One Small Step: An Analysis Of International Space Law And How It Effects Historic Preservation, Joseph Patrick Reynolds

All Theses

From 1969 to 1972 NASA's Apollo Program successfully completed six separate manned lunar landings. Since 1972 there has been no human presence on the Moon. The lunar landing sites of Apollo's 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, and 17 have sat in situ for forty years in the absolute zero vacuum of outer space. As the next phase of lunar exploration draws closer, it is important to protect the Apollo Lunar Landing Sites from exploration and damage because of their importance to human cultural heritage. This thesis assesses the international treaties that govern outer space, the Moon, and other celestial bodies …

Fort Drive: Reestablishing Its Significance Within Washington, D.C.'S Park System, Kathryn Kelly Finnigan

All Theses

This thesis is an in-depth examination of Fort Drive, a 20th century proposed parkway connecting the principal Union Army fortifications which encircled Washington, D.C. The goal of the work is to determine if the landscapes acquired for Fort Drive are eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. This paper answers two questions: what role did Fort Drive play in establishing the Nation's Capital's park system; and are the remnants of the Fort Drive endeavor significant? These questions were answered through analysis of the National Capital Planning Commission's records, a comparison of the standards set by current National Register designations, …

Castle Pinckney: Past, Present, Future, David Weirick

All Theses

Castle Pinckney is one of a few surviving 'castle' style forts. At the time of Castle Pinckney's construction in 1811 these all masonry, circular, casemated fortifications were a revolutionary experiment in military architecture, inspired by the theories of the foremost military engineers in the world. The southern theater of the War of 1812 never materialized, and Castle Pinckney was not called upon to demonstrate its superior tactical capabilities. As military technology progressed during the nineteenth century, Castle Pinckney became increasingly outdated, but its strategic location in Charleston Harbor caused its continued use as an important military post during the Nullification …

Detroit's Field Of Dreams: The Grassroots Preservation Of Tiger Stadium, Rebecca M. Long

All Theses

From 1987 until the time of this writing, several grassroots organizations have fought for the preservation of Detroit's Tiger Stadium and its historic field. The goal of this thesis is to chronicle those efforts, examine how these organizations fit into the history of preservation movements, and delve into what continues to draw people to this historic site: its `power of place.' In order to accomplish these objectives, this thesis will detail the history of the site from its storied time as the home of Major League Baseball's Detroit Tigers from 1896-1999, up to the preservation efforts which have been the …

Dendrochronology: A Status Report For The Eastern United States, Elyse Harvey

All Theses

Architectural historians and historic preservation practitioners have turned with increasing frequency to dendrochronology to determine dates of construction for houses and other timber structures for which the application of traditional dating techniques, chief among them historical documentation and stylistic analysis, failed. Since the advent of modern, statistically-driven tree-ring dating, analysis of the application of dendrochronology on the eastern region of the United States reveals that the use of this scientific technique has been unevenly applied and is most often used in New England and the Chesapeake. While the techniques used by American dendrochronologists are generally similar, practitioners have failed to …

Value Add And Sustainable Parking Strategies: A Financial Evaluation And Real Estate Developer Perspective, Ryan Letzeiser

All Theses

Innovative techniques for parking lot design over the past 15 years have resulted in new approaches which address stormwater concerns on commercial real estate sites. A mixed method approach was taken to establish financial value in these new techniques being used. Sheraton Station, a proposed mixed use Transit Oriented Development (TOD) site with multi modal transportation in Hollywood, Florida was used as a research and demonstration project to evaluate ways to make sustainable parking lots more cost effective for real estate developers. After conducting interviews and a survey to evaluate real estate developers' perceptions on the use of sustainable features …

Little Houses, Big Expenses: A Financial Study Of Small House Museums In New England, Marie Elise Haremski

All Theses

This thesis is examines the finances of house museums in New England with annual receipts under $250,000. It discusses the need to compile and evaluate data of this nature and the steps that were taken to obtain and present that data. This study maps how house museums behaved during this period. It will also present recommendations for practices that can be implemented to either drive revenue up or costs down.
It analyzes the various income and expense categories as they have been reported to the Internal Revenue Service for the filing years 2000 through 2009. The income categories analyzed include: …

Exploring German And American Modes Of Pedagogical And Institutional Sustainability: Forging A Way Into The Future, Lindon N. Pronto

Pitzer Senior Theses

Rooted deep in Germany's past is its modern socio-political grounding for environmental respect and sustainability. This translates into individual and collective action and extends equally to the economic and policy realm as it does to educational institutions. This thesis evaluates research conducted in Germany with a view to what best approaches are transferable to the United States liberal arts setting. Furthermore, exemplary American models of institutional sustainability and environmental education are explored and combined with those from abroad to produce a blueprint and action plan fitting for the American college and university.

Revitalized Streets Of San Francisco: A Study Of Redevelopment And Gentrification In Soma And The Mission, Lucy K. Phillips

Scripps Senior Theses

San Francisco's South of Market (SoMa) neighborhood and the Mission District are facing new forms of redevelopment. The deindustrialization of SoMa has posed an opportunity for a 'new model' of gentrification to create a mixed-use, mixed-income neighborhood from an area previously occupied by abandoned warehouses and vacant lots. In the Mission, awareness of the threats of gentrification and increased community participation are fighting to preserve the neighborhood and eliminate displacement. The innovative approaches to urban revitalization in these two neighborhoods demonstrate how redevelopment may occur without gentrification.

The Gesamtkunstwerk Of A Reunifying Metropolis: Berlin’S Kunsthaus Tacheles, Emma Camille Scheidt

Scripps Senior Theses

After the fall of the Berlin Wall, the city of Berlin was faced with the challenge to reunify in both political and cultural realms. Berlin is noted throughout history as a metropolis that is characterized by flux; the Post-Wende [Post-Wall] era is another remarkable transitional phase in Berlin’s history. During this era, the city was extremely porous and susceptible to cultural forces that could easily define the city’s malleable future. This essay discusses such forces and events that were planned by the city government, as well as an organic grassroots force that was especially significant in the cultural reunification. This …

Evaluating The Design And Planning Services Of The Arlington Urban Design Center: Clients' Perspectives, Yunhui Zhou

Landscape Architecture Masters & Design Theses - Archive

In North Texas, recognizing the potential benefits of combining community service and outreach, three design centers, the Arlington Urban Design Center (AUDC), the Dallas City Design Studio (DCDS), and the Oak Cliff Storefront (OCS) were established since 2009. A fourth design center is also in the process of being established in Waco. Similar to their counterparts across the U.S., these centers were established to provide design and planning services to cities, communities, institutions, and private owners. Although they are widely reviewed in a broad expanse of scholarly literature (Hardin, Eribes, & Poster, 2006; Forsyth & McGirr, 1999) very little is …

Assessing The Impacts Of Converted Rail-Trails In North Texas Communities: Learning From The Stakeholders' Perspectives, Bhavana Kidambi

Landscape Architecture Masters & Design Theses - Archive

Converting abandoned rail lines to trails is a strategy to enhance green infrastructure and provide recreational amenities for large metropolitan area dwellers. Literature on rail to trail conversions emphasizes several factors that influence this change. Some of the factors listed are environment, transportation, recreation, economy, historic preservation, community identity, health and wellness, conservation, livability and revitalization (Trails, 2005-2011; Conservancy, 2007; & Connecticut, 2011). The purpose of this research is to evaluate the stakeholders' perspectives on the impacts of rail-trails in North Texas on five recurring themes in the literature: environmental, recreational, transportation, health and wellness and historic preservation identified as …

Landscape Practices On Gas Well Sites In North Texas: Perceptions Of Selected Industry Representatives And Regulators, Sarah Kuehn

Landscape Architecture Masters & Design Theses - Archive

Fossil fuel extraction, a principal industry in Texas, has turned toward natural gas exploration in the Barnett Shale, altering the landscapes of urban and rural communities alike. Improvements in technology have caused dramatic increases in the concentration of gas wells being drilled in large metropolitan areas, such as the Fort Worth area of North Texas. The result is an increase in awareness about urban drilling and its impact on regional environment (BSEEC 2011). In response, individual municipalities have amended their natural gas well ordinances and now mandate the implementation of regulations, such as permitting processes and the reclamation of sites, …

Mobile Device Usage On Campus Spaces: Implications On Design And Behavior, Grace A. Herman

Landscape Architecture Masters & Design Theses - Archive

This study explores the relationship between place, behavior, and technology in order to identify how users interact with the physical features of public space while interacting with mobile technology. The introduction of digital media has altered the way in which individuals engage socially within places (Gergen 2002; Hampton 2009; Humphreys 2005; Kleinman 2004; Louv 2011; Paulos 2003; Small 2008). The private nature of mobile device use modifies the social atmosphere in public spaces (Caballero-Munoz 2006; Eriksson 2007; Humphreys 2005; Paulos 2003; Srivastava 2005). For example, mobile phone users often block out others within their vicinity both physically and mentally in …

Landscape Practices On Gas Well Sites In North Texas: Perceptions Of Selected Industry Representatives And Regulators, Sarah Kuehn

Landscape Architecture Masters & Design Theses - Archive

Fossil fuel extraction, a principal industry in Texas, has turned toward natural gas exploration in the Barnett Shale, altering the landscapes of urban and rural communities alike. Improvements in technology have caused dramatic increases in the concentration of gas wells being drilled in large metropolitan areas, such as the Fort Worth area of North Texas. The result is an increase in awareness about urban drilling and its impact on regional environment (BSEEC 2011). In response, individual municipalities have amended their natural gas well ordinances and now mandate the implementation of regulations, such as permitting processes and the reclamation of sites, …

Evaluating The Design And Planning Services Of The Arlington Urban Design Center: Clients' Perspectives, Yunhui Zhou

Landscape Architecture Masters & Design Theses - Archive

In North Texas, recognizing the potential benefits of combining community service and outreach, three design centers, the Arlington Urban Design Center (AUDC), the Dallas City Design Studio (DCDS), and the Oak Cliff Storefront (OCS) were established since 2009. A fourth design center is also in the process of being established in Waco. Similar to their counterparts across the U.S., these centers were established to provide design and planning services to cities, communities, institutions, and private owners. Although they are widely reviewed in a broad expanse of scholarly literature (Hardin, Eribes, & Poster, 2006; Forsyth & McGirr, 1999) very little is …

A Model Of Housing Design And Neighborhood Planning In Abuja - Nigeria, Ekanem Amba

Master of Technology Management Plan II Graduate Projects

The need for shelter is one of the most important necessities for mankind after sustenance. Over the years, the term ‘shelter’ has undergone series of modification either in shape, space, location or the materials used in constructing them but one thing remains the same; the need for a roof over one’s head is as vital to survival as time in itself.

A Carbon Dioxide Comparison Of Open Cut And Pipe Bursting, Akshay Joshi

Master of Technology Management Plan II Graduate Projects

This study focuses on the environmental aspect of the underground utility construction methods namely open-cut and pipe-bursting. The research is aimed at determining the CO2 emission due to the use of construction machinery as well as the excess CO2 emission due to the obstruction to traffic during the construction process. A Gravity sewer project in Bowling Green, OH was used as a case study. Open- cut method was implemented on this project and for the purpose of this research the pipe-bursting method was simulated. A 5100 feet long, 8 inches diameter pipeline was considered at a depth of 10 feet …

On Growth And Development: Housing Environment Impacts On Children's Development And Its Relevance In Interior Design Solutions, Karyn Mckey-Paz

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The role of housing quality and housing location in children’s development are of great importance, as these issues may affect their outcomes later in life. Housing and neighborhood conditions include but are not limited to housing costs, residential layout, and neighborhood surroundings. These characteristics could determine whether or not the physical condition of the house is healthy and safe, and if the neighborhood in which the house is located is free from danger, all of which have an effect on their development.

This research paper goes into a detailed examination of how the characteristics of children’s home and neighborhood conditions …

Kreative Outlets, Travis Crist, Steve Clark, Jason Peressini

Computer Engineering

With the widespread use of smart phones and the advancement of WiFi technologies, people now have the Internet at their fingertips at all times. Home automation and control has the possibility of becoming the next big technology that can utilize the abundant availability of the Internet. This paper documents the findings and results of a project aimed at developing the infrastructure needed for a home automation system that is accessible anywhere. We implemented a system that utilized a web enabled ethernet connection and RF wireless technology to control AC outlets and provide the user with feedback information about the status …

Quantifying The Life Cycle Benefits Of Performance-Based Design In Sustainable Design, David Isaac Carmona

Master's Theses

ABSTRACT

Quantifying the Life Cycle Benefits of Performance-Based Design in Sustainable Design

David Carmona

For this thesis, a method is developed and tested for use with performance based design to quantify the sustainable and financial benefits of designing buildings to a structural performance level higher than Life-Safety. This paper starts to answer the question, “which would be a better investment: build structures to a performance level of Immediate Occupancy (IO) with the likelihood of less damage and downtime after an earthquake or continue to build to the building code’s implied minimum performance level of Life-Safety (LS)?”

An ASCE 7-05 designed …

Planning In A Troubled Economy, Brian Spaunhurst

City and Regional Planning

No abstract provided.

Los Osos Valley Road Urban Design Plan, Stephanie Shaffer

City and Regional Planning

No abstract provided.

Villa “Rita”, Rita Arapi

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Objekt Banimi Individual, Gëzim Krasniqi

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Monetary Policy In The Organization Of Eastern Caribbean States: How Important Is The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank In Crafting Policy, Moses Pologne

Planning Dissertations - Archive

The research examines the effectiveness of monetary policy in improving standards of living at the local level in the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States. The study postulates that monetary policy should not be viewed strictly as the responsibility of the national government, instead, under specific conditions it can be viewed as a local economic development strategy. A combination of interviews and econometric techniques are applied to determine whether monetary policy is as useful as other more widely discussed variables in urban planning and policy making. The findings support monetary policy as a local economic development strategy in situations where certain …

Sustainability In The Private And Public Sectors: A Comparison Of Motivators, Actions, Barriers And Reporting Of Results, Lisa London

Planning Dissertations - Archive

The concept of sustainability has developed over the past 40 years and continues to advance as organizations implement sustainable practices, quantify sustainability results, and communicate their accomplishments to key stakeholders. Despite these advances, sustainability remains an emerging field in need of clear definitions and goals; development of best practices; and effective tools for measuring, reporting, and benchmarking results. The literature suggests that the private sector is more advanced than the public sector in addressing these challenges. The purpose of this study was to discover if the public sector lags in pursuing sustainability, and if so, to identify some of the …

Variation In Commercial Property Tax Appraisal Accuracy In Texas, James Howard Johnson

Planning Dissertations - Archive

Article 8 of the Texas Constitution requires property taxation to be "equal and uniform," and state law requires nearly all real property to be assessed at 100% of market value. Despite these requirements, evidence exists that the appraisals of some high-value commercial properties, specifically downtown class A office buildings, vary widely from market value. According to the state Comptroller's Property Value Studies, residential property tends to be fully valued for tax purposes. An equity issue arises from the apparent undervaluation of high-value commercial properties, which typically are owned by wealthy individuals and institutional investors.While residential property tends to be homogeneous …

Impacts Of Transit Oriented Developments (Tod) And Mixed Use Centers (Muc) In Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex On Housing Values And Demographic Composition, Narasimha Pratap Mandapaka

Planning Dissertations - Archive

Suburban sprawl was attributed to be the cause of number of problems such as traffic congestion, depletion of natural resources, and decreasing air quality. Over the past two decades, policy makers and smart growth proponents encouraged Transit-Oriented Developments (TOD) and Mixed Use Centers (MUC) to increase transit ridership and development density; revitalize inner-city neighborhoods; improve environmental quality and livability; and to counteract suburban sprawl and real estate market forces in various communities in the U.S. Though many policy makers, urban planners, environmentalists see significant opportunities in sustainable development, there have been concerns related to affordability of housing combined with transportation, …

Housing, Capitalism And Underdevelopment In Sub-Saharan Africa: An Analysis Of Sierra Leone's Housing Market And Its Developmental Challenges, Steven Nabieu Rogers

Planning Dissertations - Archive

The issue of available and affordable housing in Sub-Saharan Africa poses an overwhelming problem, and yet receives weak policy responses. Since independence, housing policies have shifted from ambitious schemes of state intervention to increasing emphasis on the private market. This shift coincided with the global economic trend that advocated for escalating privatization. The 1993 World Bank's housing "Enablement" policy became the blueprint for planning in developing countries. Despite decades of policy shift, housing outcomes foreshadow derelict housing structures, poorly structured mortgages and increased unaffordability for the urban poor. Critics have highlighted that the approach is biased towards the market, exclusionary …