Architecture Commons^™

Assessing Student Satisfaction Using Courses Generated By Artificial Intelligence, Althaf Hussain Kallamadugu

All Theses

This research explores the effectiveness of using Artificial Intelligence (AI)-generated voice-over presentations as an alternative to traditional human-narrated lectures in online education. The study focuses on students preparing for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Part 107 exam for Commercial small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUASs). By comparing AI-generated lectures with human-narrated content, the research aims to assess the impact of AI on student satisfaction, engagement, and performance. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining quantitative analysis of exam scores and survey data with qualitative insights from student interviews. The methodology includes the creation of AI-generated voice-over presentations, survey distribution to both control …

Preserving Historic Houses: An Analysis Of Cleaning Methods For The Removal Of Fire Extinguisher Discharge On Historic Finished Plaster, Jessica Lynn Ridder

All Theses

Fire extinguishers are a necessity within any publicly accessible building, and their use is regulated by codes for public safety. When a fire extinguisher is used, the discharge residue can cause damage to the materials it comes into contact with. This potential damage presents an issue for many house museums, as the loss or removal of damaged material may affect the historic integrity of the site. With the ultimate goal of preserving the material integrity of historic sites, the ability to quickly and easily remove fire extinguisher discharge residue can allow materials, such as historic finished plaster, to remain in …

After Midnight: Analyzing Legacy Business Programs' Potential To Capture Patron Perspectives Through A Case Study Of Four Charleston, Sc Nightlife Spaces, Shawnya Peterson

All Theses

Within historic preservation, Legacy Business Programs (LBPs) are increasingly popular initiatives to support and celebrate businesses that have contributed to the history and culture of their communities and reached a certain operational age. LBPs are important to their communities and are part of a growing trend towards vernacular study and democratization within the preservation field. In particular, LBP application processes have the potential to document significant aspects of these important community businesses. Different LBP application questions can capture different types of business information from a range of perspectives. Within the movement towards greater inclusivity in historic preservation, understanding and documenting …

Silence In The Sound: Impacts Of Sound Exposure In Greenville, South Carolina, Grace Bowar

All Theses

The known environmental and health concerns have always been air, water, and dirt. Over time, human settlement introduced sound, impacting the environment and those within it. Transportation and daily interactions have continued to contribute to generated noise that is now an ever-present force. With urban planning grounded in health, safety, and well-being, the impact of sound on public health remains under recognized. This research explores the relationship between sound, health, and residential land use, with a focus on Greenville, South Carolina. This study seeks to address the gap between these variables by investigating whether elevated sound levels are present in …

Displacement And Dreams: The Loss Of Home In A New South Town, Dora Helen Impson

All Theses

Despite much research regarding the experience of white city dwellers of Greenville, South Carolina, in the twentieth century, telling the stories of the city’s Black neighborhoods still remains to be done. This thesis chronicles the Black neighborhood of Little Texas, which was found northeast of the city’s central business district from its inception in the 1870s to its demise in the 1970s. By situating the city’s efforts to restrict and limit Black spaces within the historical framework of nationwide efforts of residential segregation ordinances, racially restrictive covenants, and city planning, this thesis argues that Greenville followed many other cities in …

Bim-Based Automated System For Carbon Emissions And Construction Costs Estimation (Bas-Cc) In Modular Design And Production, Roshan Bandiwadekar

All Theses

Modular construction adopts a manufacturing-like construction process, enhancing the management of embodied carbon emissions in production and construction phases. However, estimating these emissions presents challenges due to the involvement of diverse stakeholders across various lifecycle stages. Additionally, cost considerations often influence design choices and material selections in modular constructions, neglecting the impact of embodied carbon emissions. To address these challenges, we present a proof-of-concept for an automated Building Information Modeling (BIM)-based system to estimate both carbon emissions and construction costs. This system automates the calculation of embodied carbon and cost implications of different modular designs and materials, enabling informed decision-making. …

Public Building Accessibility: An Expanded Access Analysis Metric, Carolyn Wilkinson

Honors Theses

Quality accessibility features significantly impact the user experience in public service facilities; however, much of the research in this area tends to focus on code compliance, limiting the ability to analyze accessibility quality in depth. Additionally, studies often concentrate on common mobility challenges, leaving less focus on other disabilities, such as cognitive and visual impairments. As a public institution, the University of Southern Mississippi depends on students' abilities to access its services, directly linking the institution’s value to the quality of its accessibility. To address this, we developed a set of survey questions to evaluate the accessibility features of campus …

The Oaks Vs. Other University Dining Facilities: Does Architecture Affect Food Waste?, Sydney Bezich

Honors Projects

The purpose of this study was to find a connection between food waste and architecture and determine how food waste can be mitigated using architectural solutions and methods. Food waste is an important issue worldwide and is present in university dining facilities. This study focuses on university dining facilities’ preventable food waste at both the pre-consumer and post-consumer levels. Architecture, in this project, is defined as all aspects of the built environment. This includes, but is not limited to, design and layout, materials, systems, building operations, marketing displays, and sustainability. Methods for this study included researching sustainability, architecture, and food …

How Biophilic Design Impacts Office Spaces, Addison Carter

Honors Projects

Many working individuals experience burnout and dissatisfaction in their jobs. Although is this a result of individual mental strain, or are there other environmental factors contributing to the problem? This study investigates the impact of design on well-being and examines how biophilic design can serve as a solution to the negative effects certain architectural features may have on occupants. A literature review was conducted; it analyzed existing research on topics such as office design, biophilic design, and the influence of architecture on comfort and wellness. To explore how biophilic design can be applied in all settings, not just new construction, …

Shelving Stigma: A Grocery Store Client Choice Pantry Model - A Solution To Food Insecurity In Young Adults Of Marginalized Communities While Eradicating The Stigmatization Of Food Pantry Services, Anna C. Buckley

Honors Theses

An increasing number of young adults, age 18 to 35, are becoming food insecure across America, but disproportionately in urban and people of color communities. However, food pantries have remained a social stigma causing food insecure persons to avoid using a food pantry for hunger relief. Research has shown that the grocery store model for food pantries is most beneficial for staff, while also minimizing the stigma and increasing accessibility for pantry clientele. The purpose of this program proposal is to highlight the feasibility of implementation of a client choice grocery store pantry model at the NY Common Pantry (NYCP) …

Vacationing In The City: The Local Impacts Of Contemporary Tourism In Three European Cities, Julia Clarke

College Honors Program

This thesis critically analyzes the local impacts of urban tourism in contemporary Venice, Italy, Lisbon, Portugal, and Valencia, Spain. The analysis focuses on the cities’ varying stages of over-tourism crises and hones in on one aspect of tourism’s impacts on each city. Venice serves as a case study of an evident over-tourism crisis with specific consideration for Venice’s economic dependence on tourism. Lisbon acts as an example of an imminent tourism crisis with an emphasis on the social consequences of tourism. Finally, Valencia showcases proactive tourism management as a means to prevent tourism-induced crises altogether, with particular focus on the …

The Translucent Fortress: Improving The Design Of Rural Domestic Violence Shelters, Owen Baker Phillips

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

Domestic violence is a nationwide social plague that effects millions of women each year and has increased in severity since Covid-19 (2020-2022). In the state of Georgia, 37.4% of women report experiencing some sort of physical violence by an intimate partner (NCADV, 2020). Severity and frequency of domestic violence increases drastically if the victim is living in a rural location. Qualitative studies conducted in Iowa, North Carolina, and Virginia all report that on average, women living in rural areas report 150% more domestic violence experiences at a higher severity than their urban counterparts and must travel on average 300% further …

The Impact Of Visual Stimuli And The Properties Of Green Walls On Human Well-Being In Built And Immersive Virtual Environments, Alireza Sedghikhanshir

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The built environment significantly influences human well-being, particularly in the context of stress recovery and cognitive restoration. This dissertation investigates the impact of visual stimuli, particularly green walls, on human responses related to stress, restoration, and thermal comfort. The research is guided by three primary objectives: (1) examining the role of visual stimuli and their properties in promoting stress recovery and restoration, (2) evaluating the potential of Immersive Virtual Environments (IVEs) as tools for delivering and studying restorative environments, and (3) investigating the influence of green walls on indoor environmental conditions.

A series of experimental studies were carried out to …

Beyond Barracks: Addressing The Psychological Impacts Of Military Housing Through Design, Malia Hunt

Interior Design Capstones

Military personnel sacrifice their lives to safeguard the country yet often return to inadequate living conditions that fail to support their needs after facing the rigors of duty. Beyond Barracks explores the impact of military housing on the mental health and well-being of service members.Prevalent concerns such as insufficient privacy, limited space, and poor facility conditions can exacerbate the physical and emotional challenges already faced by those in service, diverting their energy from service duties to unnecessary complications.

This body of research and design examines the shortcomings and successes of current military housing to provide a comprehensive overview and identify …

The Internal Flame, Bailey Robydek

Interior Design Capstones

This body of research and design explores the vital relationship between interior environments and the well- being of firefighters. Challenging the traditional assumptions about how fire station design impacts their health and recovery. Firefighters endure significant physical exertion, psychological stress, and exposure to traumatic events, yet many fire station interiors remain focused primarily on operational functionality rather than personal wellness.

This research underscores the urgent need for fire station design to transcend traditional assumptions and evolve into a model that actively supports holistic recovery. Firefighters require spaces that address the cumulative impacts of their profession, both physical and mental taxation. …

Building Better Communities, Abby Simandl

Interior Design Capstones

This project explores how innovative design strategies can build better communities by enhancing mental health, physical well-being, and social engagement, ultimately creating a sense of belonging and growth in cities.

Motivated by the challenges of affordability, accessibility, social isolation, and environmental degradation, this project emphasizes the transformative power of design. By integrating community-centered design (CCD) and human-centered design (HCD) principles, the project aims to learn about resilient, inclusive, and sustainable communities. These approaches involve active community participation, ensuring that solutions are culturally relevant, inclusive, and responsive to local needs.

Key strategies include promoting social connectedness, improving public access to health …

To Build A Home, Liset Diaz-Cortes

Interior Design Capstones

Multigenerational housing allows for a more compassionate and whole-hearted alternative to other forms of elder care while addressing the needs of vulnerable groups. The multigenerational housing model emphasizes dignity and comfort, while increasing the quality of life overall. It is crucial to focus on living as individuals gain years of “living in place”. Living in place provides more than just physical care—it cultivates a life enriched with meaning, purpose, and the comforting familiarity of home. This research demonstrates how individuals can thrive within the home environment, enriching quality of life and preserving independence through intergenerational support. The COVID-19 pandemic underscored …

Implementing Biomimetic Technology In Today’S Architectural World, Emily Behm

Honors Projects

An interdisciplinary project exploring the correlation between nature and the built environment. This project provides a comprehensive overview of biomimicry principles and their application to architecture. D’Arcy Wentworth Thompson, the pioneer of mathematical biology, will emerge as a central research figure in the exploration of biomimetic technology. With inspiration drawn from Thompson’s accomplishments, contemporary architects have been more thoroughly integrating these approaches into their own architectural designs. The following research addresses a fundamental limitation in contemporary architectural practice: the insufficient integration of biomimetic principles into architectural design approaches. This project proposes a systematic methodology to more effectively integrate biomimetic technology …

Alvar Aalto: Past. Present.Future, Matthew Collins

Interior Design Capstones

Alvar Aalto serves as a timeless guide for architectural and design principles. These principles are not of universal rigidness but are flexible based on the givenconditions of site, culture, and people. His traditionalmethods of sketching and drawing create a hand to mind connection to the design process. This process, much like his work, develops a mindful and thoughtful outcome of decisions. With computer technology become more increasingly apart of our lives, it is important that we not forget the human point of view rather than purely a rational mode of thinking. This capstone project address how it is possible to …

Architecture Of Union: Exploring Community-Supported Wedding Venues, Erica Keillor

Interior Design Capstones

Weddings, as deeply symbolic rituals, often rely heavily on the venue to set the tone and enhance the emotional resonance of the event Yet, the rising cost of wedding venues often excludes couples from lower-to-middle income backgrounds, creating a barrier to access for many. This design project explores the potential of a community-supported greenhouse wedding venue—a model that not only offers affordability through shared community investment but also enhances the symbolic resonance of weddings through its nature-integrated architecture. The design investigates how intentional spatial planning within a greenhouse structure can serve both the practical needs of wedding ceremonies and the …

Food, Design & Desire, Emily Harnden

Interior Design Capstones

The research presented in Food, Design, and Desire examines the impactful role of interior design in shaping the connection between humans and food, with a focus on fine dining environments. Grounded by the thesis, the ideal dining experience creates a profound connection to oneself and the environment around you. This project investigates how built environments influence diners’ emotional and physical experiences, enhancing their intimacy with food. The research addresses the interplay between space, desire, and the human relationship with culinary experiences, aiming to develop design strategies that increase customer retention and deepen the human connection to food.

This project utilizes …

Enhancing Pedestrian Safety Around Jacksonville State University: A Gis-Based Perception And Crash Analysis, Husain O. Alegimenlen

Theses

This study uses a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) based approach to assess pedestrian safety around Jacksonville State University (JSU) by combining vehicle crash data with perception surveys from 111 pedestrians and 97 drivers. The research identifies high-risk areas, explores contributing factors, and recommends targeted safety improvements.

A total of 209 geocoded crash records (2021 to 2024) were analyzed using Kernel Density Estimation (KDE) and hotspot analysis in ArcGIS Pro. Crash clusters appeared along Pelham Road North and Mountain Street, marking key vehicular risk zones. Three major pedestrian danger areas were found: (1) Nisbet Street NW and Cardinal Lane NW, (2) …

Sustainable Roots: Utilizing Historic Technologies For Modern Housing, Abigail Yeagley

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

Viewed through a post-humanist lens, this thesis explores the reconciliation of indigenous, historic, and contemporary climate technologies to design housing that exists in harmony with the environment. Addressing the dual crises of housing scarcity and climate change, the project challenges Western post-industrial approaches, embracing Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) as a sustainable alternative. This thesis uses the AIA Framework for Design Excellence as a foundational guide but simultaneously critiques its scope, seeking to adapt and extend its principles to better align with Posthumanist housing principles. The design responds to specific climate conditions, analyzed using the Koppen-Geiger model, to ensure resilience, community …

Imperial Crosshairs: Grand Marronage At Negro Fort Along The Apalachicola River, Colby J. Williams Ii

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Grand marronage describes the process whereby Africans sought to liberate themselves from enslavement through means of escape to establish permanent communities and create a truly free society. The Southeastern region of the modern United States was once a geopolitical arena where European and Euro-American empires sought to spread their power and influence over both the Indigenous and African inhabitants. Following the American Revolution was the War of 1812, fought between the former colonial master and the recently formed United States. Commonly referred to as the Second War of American Independence, and infamously known for the burning of the White House. …

Urban Planning For Regional Food Equity, Miriam Caroline Sullivan

City and Regional Planning

47 million people, including 14 million children, face food insecurity in the United States of America annually. Defined by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) as: when people don’t have enough to eat and don’t know where their next meal will come from. Food insecurity is a systemic issue caused by systems greater than any individual failure. Poverty and unemployment, lack of affordable housing, chronic public health issues, racism and discrimination all play a role in the state of American food security (Feeding America, n.d.). A tenet of this research and project development is the right of all people, …

Student Planners, City Futures: A Crp Documentary, Natalie Kate Venable

City and Regional Planning

Student Planners, City Futures, is a documentary following Professor Dave Amos and 22 students as they prepare a draft of Grover Beach’s General Plan Circulation Element update. Students in their final year in Cal Poly’s City & Regional Planning program take CRP410 – Community Planning Lab I and CRP 411 – Community Planning Lab II during fall and winter quarter as their capstone planning studio. Each studio completes a different project each year. For the 2024-2025 school year, Professor Amos’s section was tasked with completing a General Plan Circulation Element update for the City of Grover Beach. The film …

Religious Spaces Reimagined: Adaptive Reuse And Community Integration In Suburbs, Emily Fischer

City and Regional Planning

Tucked away in a quiet pocket of Los Angeles adjacent to Downtown known as Pico Union, a historic synagogue sat mostly empty, its congregation having long since moved on. But in 2013, the building was given a new purpose. The Pico Union Project transformed it into a multifaith and cultural center, turning what was once an underused space into a thriving community hub. Guided by the Jewish principle of ‘love your neighbor as yourself,’ its mission is to uplift and empower diverse communities through arts, social justice, and service. Now, on any given day, families stop by to pick up …

Case Study: Cal Poly Housing Program (Cphp) - Student Housing Project At California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo, Aidan Michael Toole

Construction Management

Full volumetric modular construction is a building technique that involves the off-site prefabrication of three-dimensional modular units, which are later transported and assembled on-site. California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo and general contractor, Whiting-Turner, are building new on-campus student housing by utilizing full volumetric modular construction techniques. The buildings will be produced in modules that, when put together, reflect the identical design and intent of a site-built building. This paper will analyze the effectiveness of modular construction on a large-scale project and look at the project cost, schedule, and waste impacts from choosing this approach. The main driver …

University Avenue Bike Plan, Emma Meyer

City and Regional Planning

The University Avenue Bike Plan provides recommendations for bicycle infrastructure along the 1.7-mile University Avenue corridor in Palo Alto, California. The plan includes background, existing conditions, community engagement, alternatives of conceptual designs, and implementation tools. The University Avenue Bike Plan builds on Palo Alto's Bike and Pedestrian Transportation Plan and informs the multiple University Avenue related projects and plans that are underway.

Urban Agriculture Technical Advisory, Katherine Rose Ivanjack, Kylie J. Preciado

City and Regional Planning

This project serves as a senior capstone, aimed at exploring the potential of urban agriculture to address critical challenges in sustainability, food security, and community development within California cities. This project highlights practical and innovative approaches to urban farming that can be adopted or adapted to suit the unique needs of urban areas across the state.