Architecture Commons^™

The Atchafalaya Basin Proposal For Nomination To The World Heritage Site List, Mitchell W. Coffman

LSU Master's Theses

The Atchafalaya Basin in the Southern United States is a cultural, environmental, historical and natural land region of such universal importance, designation as a World Heritage Site is appropriate. This thesis provides a justification for this designation through compliance with cultural and natural criteria detailed in the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage of 1972. The treaty, also known as the World Heritage Convention (WHC) promotes natural and cultural landscape preservation on an international level. This thesis lists the cultural and natural arguments for nominating the Atchafalaya Basin to the World Heritage Site list.

National, …

Nature Is To Nurture: A Post Occupancy Evaluation Of The St. Michael Health Care Center, Texarkana, Tx, Leigh Lafargue

LSU Master's Theses

This thesis explores therapeutic garden design and its role in landscape architecture. It also conducts a post occupancy evaluation (POE) for an existing therapeutic landscape. The St. Michael Health Care Center campus, Texarkana, Texas, is a Sisters of Charity institution and was designed and built in 1994 as a healing environment for patients, staff, and visitors. In this thesis, A POE was conducted to determine (1) user-perceptions and utilization of the campus, (2) whether the campus reduces stress and fosters restoration, and (3) any barriers or constraints to use of the campus. Results from visual analysis, behavioral observations, and survey …

Design Exploration: Totem As Alternative For Efficient And Socially Responsive Burial, Mark Evan Bazzell

LSU Master's Theses

American cities are facing unprecedented development pressures. Urban populations in particular are increasing and diversifying, land as a resource is becoming more valuable, and designers/developers are challenged to creatively maximize space for all land uses. As urban populations grow, space for burial of the dead may become limited thereby prompting communities to consider alternatives to traditional burial. The increase in numbers of cremation already points to this trend. In addition to the spatial limitation issues there also exist issues of social and cultural limitation. Ethnic diversity is rapidly increasing and within each group one finds different traditions and needs regarding …

Middlegate Japanese Gardens: Preservation, Private Property And Public Memory, Margaret Anne Legett

LSU Master's Theses

The purpose of thesis is to provide a preliminary history of Middlegate Japanese Gardens and to make public their significance as an example of the landscape architecture that was typical during the Country Place Era, and their significance within the community of Pass Christian and the City of New Orleans. As it now stands the story of Middlegate Japanese Gardens is not known in its own neighborhood. Between 1923 and 1929 New Orleans residents Rudolf Hecht and Lynne Watkins Hecht developed Middlegate Japanese Gardens at their summer home in Pass Christian, Mississippi. The Hecht’s built Middlegate Japanese gardens to perpetuate …

Reading The Humor In Korean Traditional Space - Dreaming The Restoration Of Old Sentiment -, Sungmi Han

LSU Master's Theses

This study is about humor and its application in Korean traditional space, which merges culture, design, and preservation. The purpose of the research is to seek humor as a significant design concept in Korean traditional space, and establish it through the examples. The examples focused on are found in temples and palaces since those are relatively well preserved Korean traditional spaces. Each humor in the examples is interpreted based on culture and the mentality of the age, such as religion, ideology, and customs. Also, forms and functions of humor are examined. Through the design analyses of case studies, unique characteristics …

Development Of Outdoor Educational Landscapes In Forested Wetlands Of Louisiana's Atchafalaya Basin, Margaret Ann Mcclain

LSU Master's Theses

Natural landscapes, formed by eons of plant succession, are changing or disappearing as a result of rapid urban development and industrial growth. In addition, the human population explosion pressures are being applied to alter the urban/wildland interface in the United States and throughout the world. Many of Louisiana wetlands are subjected to these pressures and have caused change and loss in forested wetland areas. Most of the Mississippi River Delta consists of wetlands in a state of transition to either open water or degraded hardwood forest due to the effects of several key factors. Being a native of south Louisiana, …

A Pedestrian Friendly Environment For Downtown Baton Rouge, Aya Miyakoda

LSU Master's Theses

As the human population has increased, the consumption of natural resources has become a serious problem for our society. With the possibilities of severe oil shortages, there is a growing need to promote a society which better suits the requirements of pedestrians. At the same time, there is a big push for urban redevelopments to rebuild a strong city center in the United States. It is important that these new redevelopments take into account the changing needs of our society by providing a good pedestrian environment. The main objective of this thesis is to illustrate the fundamental elements that must …

A Site Design In A Hurricane Prone Coastal Environment: Grand Isle, Louisiana Case Study, Naniek Kohdrata

LSU Master's Theses

The property owns by Grand Idle Port of Commission with its unique combination of coastal and wetland landscape, the richness of environment and the susceptibility to hurricanes give opportunities as well as limitations in developing the site. A respond to this fragile but rich environment is a sustainable planning and design that balances the site programs and environment sensitivity. An ecologically, socially, economically, and aesthetically sound will provides an opportunity to achieve the optimal uses of the natural resources while maintaining the environment sustainability. The master plan of Port of Grand Isle addresses the client’s programs expectation and enhances the …

Accelerating The Transition To A Sustainable Society, Christopher Brian Bennett

LSU Master's Theses

As human populations increase, available land and resources decrease, and we begin to better understand the impacts of human activity on the environment, a strategy for human development that meets both the needs of society and the environment is being increasingly called upon. This movement has come to be known as sustainability. While this term is prevalent in the design and planning communities, it is important that this concept be brought to the attention of the general public, whom will ultimately decide the success or failure of this scheme. The question then is how to begin implementation of sustainable practices, …

Paperless Construction: How Contractors Can Adjust To Change In The Industry, Tyler Hackman, James Lindgren, Kerri Rackow, Chris Snyder

Presidential Scholars Theses (1990 – 2006)

Paperless construction, in a nut shell, is the use of online or electronic programs for managing contracts, changes, drawings, submittals, RFis, correspondence, lab data, and inspection reports (Construction). The paperless construction movement is making its way through all types of construction, including residential, commercial, and heavy highway. It affects the whole project, from pre-bid, to project management, to closeout, and as the industry constantly becomes more paperless, contractors are forced to make changes in their processes to keep up with the trend. Peters Construction Corporation in Waterloo, Iowa, is an example a company committed to keeping on the leading edge. …

Reconstructing Memories: An Investigation Of The Relationship Between Mental And Real Space In Art And Architecture, Claudia S. Behar

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

As an architect and artist I believe that there is a strong relationship between art and architecture. The perceived relationship between both has at times been thought more or less significant; however, history has shown us that a society or an individual can enhance the relationship between the two disciplines. I am working on establishing the strength of that relationship. My work of art is focused on the creation of spaces. It is about experiencing a variety of places through the visual and the emotional senses. The architectural settings that I depict and construct are far from the realm of …

An Examination Of The Green Architecture In Scotlandville, Louisiana, Tchernavina Mcmickins

Electronic Dissertations and Theses

This study evaluates if Scotlandville, in general, encompasses the six principles of green architecture. The green architecture principles promote: energy efficiency, water efficiency and conservation, material selection, resource conservation and recycling, community issues, and indoor environment quality, by redesigning the building for durability and adaptation. An analysis is conducted to begin to demonstrate how to provide the qualities of a healthy neighborhood, where the relationships between the built and natural environment will be in partnership. This study is performed in Scotlandville, Louisiana in the University Corridor. The methodology used is literature review, internet publications, and empirical studies, which are quantitative …

Lipica, Slovenia, Michael Girard

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

From September 25^th until December 21^st of 2002 I was afforded the opportunity to study abroad at the University of Ljubljana in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Here was an opportunity to be immersed in another culture, observe their ideals, aspirations and participate in their routines. The academic experience was a benefit to my scholastic career witnessing different approaches to problem solving and how the professors guided the students to innovative solutions.

Understanding Utah's Native Plant Market: Coordinating Public And Private Interest, Virginia Harding Hooper

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Changes in Lone Peak Conservation Nursery customer profiles cause state nursery leaders to question what their products are being used for and how trends in native plant use are changing the market for Utah native plants. The Utah native plant market is changing as interest in native plants is expanding to meet new conservation objectives, oftentimes in urban settings. This newer demand for native plants appears to be motivated by current changes in urban conservation behavior, continued population growth in the arid West, scarcity of water resources, the increasing appreciation for indigenous plant aesthetics, and concern for bio-diversity. A survey …

How The Winter Olympics Enrich Community Legacies For Recreational Open Space: A Case Study Of Selected European And American Olympic Sites, Jennifer A. Brown

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The Olympics have been a catalyst through the last century for community alteration including both the renovation of existing areas and building of new sites. This study focuses on the post-Olympic use of active and passive recreational open space infrastructure developed by Winter Olympic host cities.

This study examines four Winter Olympics. The observation of a variety of Olympic venues has provided an opportunity to compare the differences in planning due to historical, cultural, and social variables. The comparison of these Olympic sites contributes to understanding of the probability of success or failure of post game expectations for recreational open …

Future Housing In The United States: Senior’S Housing Demand, Sandeep Singh

Masters Theses

In the United States, persons born between 1942 and 1964 are within 10 to 15 years of traditional retirement age and are identified as baby boomers. The data shows that the number of persons aged 65 years and older have grown from 10 percent of the population in 1970 to nearly 13 percent in 1996. Furthermore, the population that is 65 years old or older is projected to be 20 percent of the population in 2030. As a result, the demographic change nurtures a demand for senior’s housing.

On the other hand, the concern is for the elderly living in …

Development Of A Simplified Sustainable Facilities Guide, David F. Hargy

Theses and Dissertations

The Air Force has adopted the United States Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED™) Green Building Rating System as the preferred self-assessment metric for sustainable development. LEED™ is designed for new construction and major renovations, and, within the Air Force, is most applicable for Military Construction (MILCON) projects. The Air Force Center for Environmental Excellence developed the Air Force Sustainable Facilities Guide to provide guidance and strategies to meet LEED™ requirements. The Air Force has not adopted a sustainable development guide or rating system that is most applicable for construction projects that are relatively low (compared …

Mary Colter: Southwestern Architect And Innovator Of Indigenous Style, Carissa Massey

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Mary Colter was an architect who contributed to the regional styles of the American Southwest. Her methods and habits, both as collector and creator, set her apart from her contemporaries as an individual who fervently valued indigenous art and culture. She thoroughly researched Southwestern cultures and used their architectural forms and methods of construction as inspiration for her architecture for tourists. Colter honored Southwestern traditions through her careful research and attention to detail. She was an architect who was passionate about her work and who designed buildings that were and are aesthetically potent. Colter’s unique works, their intimate relationships with …

Exedra: Form And Function In The Landscape, Daniel W. Mcelmurray

LSU Master's Theses

This study resulted in the development of design guidelines used to create a contemporary exedra, in relationship to commemoration in the landscape. Through research and field investigation, an assessment of forms, materials, uses and locational characteristics of the exedra provides an understanding of the dynamics of the relationships between the elements of the exedra. By understanding the historical and commemorative nature of the exedra, landscape architects can utilize the form to create freestanding or structurally-integrated exedral forms as a solution to the identified need for the development of human-scale, urban places which commemorate people, places, and events.

Sustainable Development Principles For East Baton Rouge Parish, Xia Li

LSU Master's Theses

This study examines and analyzes the sustainable development indicator data and determines what improvements and recommendations are needed for East Baton Rouge Parish’s development. This thesis has identified methods and indicators for studying sustainable developments, studied patterns of sustainable developments in the East Baton Rouge Parish to identify trends and developed recommendations that would encourage sustainable development in the East Baton Rouge Parish. It forms fourteen sustainable principles that would encourage sustainable development in East Baton Rouge Parish and a framework for a sound development.

Children's Perception Of Racial Urban Boundaries: A Case Study In Baton Rouge, Aspasia Xypolia

LSU Master's Theses

This thesis explores the urban landscape of Baton Rouge through the eyes of the children. It seeks to understand the affect that planning and design decisions have on the lives of the children and the way that children perceive their urban environment. By examining the way others have studied the urban space I develop my own approach of exploring cities and understanding the urban life. Originally, I conduct informal observations in the study area and I generate my questions relating to the spatiality of the children. Secondly, I research to find possible design and planning decisions that may explain or …

Studio Design Critique: Student And Faculty Expectations And Reality, Elizabeth Marie Graham

LSU Master's Theses

This thesis explores the use of criticism in the landscape architectural design studio. Criticism is a very useful tool in the communication of ideas and the evaluation of designs, yet its application in design studios has not reached its full potential in the discipline of landscape architecture. To develop an understanding of criticism as a pedagogical tool in the design studio, along with faculty and students expectations of criticism, this thesis uses a two-step approach. The first step explores the intentions of critique used by design instructors during desk crits and juries. The second step explores the students’ perceptions of …

Exterior Accessibility Issues: A Study Of The Outdoor Spaces Connected With Housing Facilities At Louisiana State University, Frank Hardy Lewis

LSU Master's Theses

This document investigates Louisiana State University’s progress in becoming a fully accessible campus, specifically in regard to student housing and the surrounding amenities such as laundry facilities, dining facilities and recreational areas. The benchmarks used for determining this include the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Universal Design Handbook and surveys of other campuses that have made greater strides in this area. This document seeks to determine the extent to which Louisiana State University has become accessible for wheelchair users and bring to light examples of areas of difficulty in the housing cluster area. …

Design Guidelines Of A Therapeutic Garden For Autistic Children, Bonnie Barnes Hebert

LSU Master's Theses

This study establishes a set of guidelines for designing a therapeutic garden for autistic children. To understand how a garden may provide benefit, the literature on healing gardens is reviewed. The history of gardens in hospital settings and other healthcare institutions is examined. In addition, published work on the effects of nature on stress and health outcomes and theories as to why nature is restorative is included in the review of the literature. Because the focus of the study is outdoor environments for autistic children, published works on children’s outdoor environments and the topic of play are reviewed as well. …

Using Smart Growth Principles For Development In St. Landry Parish, Rebecca L. Scheffler

LSU Master's Theses

Since the end of World War II, many American cities have seen an outward migration from their core into open spaces along the city’s edge. The urban/suburban sprawl phenomenon not only affects urban cores but the rural lands and open spaces surrounding them. As landscape architects, we study humans and their interactions with the environment and have an important position in making informed decisions about issues of sprawl and unmitigated growth in communities. This study was conducted to provide city and parish officials and planning boards with options for beneficial growth in St. Landry Parish, a rural parish in south …

Restructuring The Spaces Under Elevated Expressways: A Case Study Of The Spaces Below The Interstate-10 Overpass At Perkins Road In Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Ramon Irizarry

LSU Master's Theses

General information about the development the United States Interstate System, different theories of urban design, and samples of projects developed under elevated highways structures were used to illustrate the issues associated to the development of elevated highway within urban areas. After building the framework for the study of the spaces below elevated highways a comprehensive study of the contextual, spatial, and functional characteristics of the spaces below the Interstate-10 at Perkins Road was conducted over a period of 9 months. As a result of this study a master plan was developed to addresses the issues affecting the spaces below the …

Sustainable Agriculture And The Red Stick Farmers' Market: An Exploration Of The Use Of Concept In Design, Lawrence Christopher Campany

LSU Master's Theses

This is a treatise on an attempt to translate a concept -- the driving principle of a design in the parlance of the design studios at the Louisiana State University School of Landscape Architecture -- into practice, form and function. If form follows function, as states the oft quoted proverb of design credited to Louis Sullivan, then perhaps as much attention should be given to the design of the function as the form. What this treatise will demonstrate is that function designed around a concept can result in physical manifestations, or forms, of that concept. In this case a concept …

Development Of Gis As An Information Management System: A Case Study For The Burden Center, Zhitao Su

LSU Master's Theses

For a park site, it is very important and necessary to let the local planning authorities realize and understand the important aspects and benefits of the site and to establish the long-range development strategies for the location. In order to succeed during the planning process, the communication and information that flow among all the participants must be well organized. In this situation, a project-wide Geographic Information System (GIS) would be a good solution. The goal of this project is to explore the possibilities for administrative authorities to implement a GIS database system to support the site planning and management of …

Masonry Conservation Case Studies: Lsu Law School 1936, St Alban's Chapel Lsu 1929, And The Theta Xi Fraternity House Lsu 1939, Richmond Gardner Savoy

LSU Master's Theses

Re-construction/renovation/preservation and maintenance of historic or architecturally significant buildings is one of the most difficult tasks undertaken in the public sector market place by design professionals and constructors today. Wide variations exist in the level of knowledge, training, experience and expertise of all of the parties in such an endeavor, and all projects are different. One of the most underutilized and misunderstood roles in this environment is that the professional historic preservation consultant. This thesis attempts to illustrate the efficient and beneficial role of this specialist. Included are case studies for a 1939 fraternity house on the campus of LSU, …

Gateways Into The Atchafalaya: Developing A Framework For Water-Based Recreation In The Atchafalaya Basin Parishes, Steven Joseph Lumpkin

LSU Master's Theses

The term “gateways” has been used in many contexts as a means of providing entry or connection. Gateways are where people congregate to leave a realm of familiarity to one of uncertainty and adventure. They can also mark the entrance into an area of interest. Gateways may have a significant impact on an individual’s impression of a particular destination. This thesis provides arguments for using boating gateways into the Atchafalaya Basin (AB) region as the basis for a recreational framework that encompasses eight parishes. A common theme that exists in all eight AB parishes is their boat launches. They represent …