Architecture Commons^™

Design With, Not For, Local Community: Utilizing E- Participation Tools In The Design Of Socially Sustainable Vertical Emirati Public Housing, Omar Sherzad Shareef

Theses

Few years ago, local and federal governments in the UAE started to design and develop vertical public housing for Emirati residents as a new public housing typology that is believed to be more environmentally sustainable. Dibba Al-Hisn Housing Scheme in Sharjah and Al-Ghurfa Project in Al-Fujairah, are two recently developed vertical Emirati public housing projects developed by Sharjah Housing Directorate and Sheikh Zayed Housing Program (SZHP) respectively. Both projects, have been professionally designed, however, the residents’ opinions were not considered in the design process. Therefore, the main objective of this research is to explore the potentials of utilizing the advanced …

Evaluation Of Native Plant Integration, Subsoil Amendment, And ‘Foodscaping’ As Means Of Increasing The Environmental Feasibility Of Public Urban Greenery In The Gulf Region, Ayesha Rashed Alam

Dissertations

Public parks and gardens greatly contribute to the residential and touristic value of cities of the Gulf Region, but their maintenance is associated with high environmental and economic costs. The high potential evapotranspiration and summer temperatures greatly limit the choice of suitable landscaping plants, and light sandy soils with a high weed potential challenge the water management. The United Arab Emirates is characterized by a rapid urban development and population growth, resulting in increasing competition between green amenities and crop farming for irrigation water, cultivable land, and workforce. Various strategies and technologies have been proposed to increase the resource use …

San Luis Obispo High School Ffa Farm Chicken Coop Construction, Sofia A. Amalfitano

Construction Management

This paper details the preconstruction and construction process accomplished by a team of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo Construction Management students during the construction of a new chicken coop for the San Luis Obispo High School’s FFA program. The project, initiated in the fall of 2023, aimed to replace the existing temporary coop to a larger, more functional structure capable of comfortably housing approximately a dozen chickens while ensuring their safety and well-being. While the primary focus of this paper revolves around the preconstruction and construction phases, it also touches upon the design phases, as these stages involved …

Son Care Foundation – Lean To Shade Structure Design And Construction, Ryan Joseph Mccann

Construction Management

This paper discusses the design and construction of a lean-to-shade structure built for the Son Care Foundation in San Luis Obispo. The Son Care Foundation is a nonprofit organization that raises guide dogs for veterans and first responders with PTSD. This shade structure is 16 feet long and 6 feet wide, its height slopes from 9 feet in the front down to 8 feet in the back creating a roof pitch of 2:12. The sheet metal roof also has an overhang of approximately 1 foot. As requested by the client, the shade structure was designed to fit the aesthetic of …

Effect Of Pismo Clams As Partial Fine And Coarse Aggregate Replacement On Workability And Compressive Strength Of Concrete, Alan Munoz Pille

Construction Management

Concrete has been utilized for ages. Unfortunately, over the hundreds of years there has been little development in the applications of new aggregate materials. The world is moving towards a sustainable way of living and as a result seashells have come into the mix. Pismo Clams are a native species to San Luis Obispo County. This marine species has the possibility of becoming a partial aggregate replacement for fine and coarse aggregates in concrete. The results of prior studies indicate a possible application of seashell use in concrete. This paper evaluates the workability and compressive strength of concrete containing fine …

Restoration Of The Cantilever Deck In Poly Canyon, Calvin S. Morgan, Calvin P. Vigeant, Roger G. Biddle

Construction Management

This interdisciplinary project aims to restore the Cantilever Deck in the Experimental Structures Laboratory back to an operational condition. As of Spring 2023, the deck has fallen into a state of disrepair and has been deemed structurally unsound by the university. The structural disrepair is concentrated around the wooden beams underneath the deck, but the handrails and overall color of the assembly have also fallen to levels deemed undesirable. The Restoration will remedy all these issues as well as guarantee that our repairs will last long into the future. This project is an interdisciplinary effort, the team consists of ARCE …

Ace Mentor Program - Central Coast Chapter, Brayden Samuel Groshart

Construction Management

For my senior project, I established a chapter of the ACE (Architecture, Construction, and Engineering) Mentor Program in San Luis Obispo, California. This program provides high school students with hands-on experience and exposure to careers in the architecture, construction, and engineering industries. The program spanned eight weeks, balancing theoretical knowledge and practical application. The curriculum began with sessions on the fundamentals of architecture, engineering, and construction. In order to expose the students to real world practices, we organized tours of an architecture firm, an engineering firm, and an active construction site. These visits allowed students to engage with professionals, observe …

Construction Of Lightly Reinforced Concrete Shear Wall And Footings, Luke Jackson Method

Construction Management

This paper details the construction of two cast in place foundations as well as a lightly reinforced cast in place wall. The project, located inside the high bay, provides the Architectural Engineering (ARCE) department with an opportunity to test Fiber Reinforced Polymer wrap as a retrofitting option for walls dating back to pre-1980s. Due to site conditions, and project design, this project required extensive planning and communication within our team, faculty advisors, and shop technicians. This paper will discuss the phasing of construction and procurement of material that was required for the completion of this project. It also aims to …

Sustainable And Cost-Effective Work Zone Scheduling On Two-Lane Highways With Managed Lanes, Ahmed Z. Edrees

Dissertations

Roadway maintenance projects greatly influence the roadway capacity, resulting in potential traffic disturbances captured by delays. Additionally, costs associated with these projects tend to be exorbitantly extensive. Most agencies and planners try to find a solution that minimizes roadway maintenance costs, traffic delays, crash risks, and environmental impact.

Work zones on two-way two-lane roadway typically avoids high-demand periods. Lane-closure scenario is commonly used and converts the open lane into a phantom intersection, alternating two-direction movements on one lane with the help of a flagger or a temporary signal. Alternatively, using shoulders as temporarily managed lanes allows for simultaneous two-way movements …

Redesigning Secure School Entry Thresholds To Create Inclusive And Welcoming Environments, Alex Yarovaya

University Honors Theses

Schools are known to have been one of the largest assets to communities, providing folks with integral resources and accessible spaces that can foster a variety of activities. Over the last decade, however, our perspective of schools has undergone significant changes. Schools have eagerly been undergoing the process of "hardening" by implementing safety and violence prevention tactics with Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) as a response to the staggering increase of gun violence incidents and safety & security issues today. Schools have been scrambling to accommodate this change in reality by retrofitting with security systems, implementing high security measures …

Demonstration Dwellings: Building Racial Capitalism And Economic Cooperation In New Deal Housing, 1933–1942, Austin Ehrhardt

Masters of Environmental Design Theses

Beginning in 1933, the United States federal government initiated a series of historic investments in the nation’s housing infrastructure. Propelled by the convergence of the Great Depression and the Great Migration, New Deal administrators commissioned a network of segregated residential prototypes to operate as replicable models for private industry. At the core of the discriminatory program was the creation and circulation of federally-insured debt. Reading across federal records, correspondence circuits, and contemporaneous Black journals and newspapers, this thesis revisits struggles for land, property, and Black participation in the emergent housing-based economy. It explores the distributed networks within which the Black …

Unsettling Climate: The Consequences Of Domestic Buildings Technologies Across The Spanish Empire, Alberto Martinez Garcia

Masters of Environmental Design Theses

Upon their arrival in the Americas in the sixteenth century, Spanish colonizers encountered a tropical climate previously unknown to Europeans. In the four hundred years of their empire, the colonizers set themselves on a collision course of maladaptation, violence towards Indigenous people, and erasure of their knowledge. Unsettling Climate investigates the domestic constructions of Spanish colonization in the tropics during the colonization of the Americas and the Philippines. Using case studies from patio houses in Cartagena in Colombia and bahay na bato (houses of stone) in the Philippines, this project analyzes the relationship between the natural environment, domestic space, and …

Domestic Exotic: Dispossession And Desire In South Florida 20th C Tourism, Emily Nelms

Masters of Environmental Design Theses

Domestic Exotic, considers the conditions that led to the rise of cultural tourism in Florida and examines Yale University’s involvement in this economic phenomenon. Cultural tourism is defined as site-seeing attractions where performers interact with visitors under fabricated conditions. At these sites, ‘the spectacle of the other’ was demarcated onto specific bodies, creating a collective imaginary that helped to shape the infrastructure and public thought of Florida as a travel destination for Euro-American audiences. This document supports an exhibition at the Yale Peabody Museum titled, The Resonance of Things Unseen: Indigenous Sovereignty, Institutional Accession, and Private Correspondence (March 26 - …

Authorizing Violence: Spatial Techniques Of Citizenship Politics In Northeast India, Samarth Vachhrajani

Masters of Environmental Design Theses

Authorizing Violence: Spatial Techniques of Citizenship Politics in Northeast India studies the spatial and legal instruments through which Hindu Nationalism and its political front, the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP), operates in Northeast India. I document the means through which authoritarian power has been introduced into a democratic structure of governance. Emphasizing the role of architecture and spatial knowledge, I attend to how the violence of disenfranchisement and dispossession is legitimized under the force of law.

For this, Chapter 1, entitled 'Legislating Containment,' turns to the legal instrument of citizenship and studies the Goalpara detention center and multi-purpose criminal …

More Than Historical Artifacts: Classical Chinese Gardens And How They Affect Human Perception Of Nature, Ningjing Xin

Master's Projects and Capstones

Under the influence of industrialization and urbanization, urban people nowadays are increasingly alienated from nature. Manipulated by algorithms, more and more urban people immerse themselves in the online world rather than paying attention to the offline environment that surrounds them. What’s worse, in such a process, they are becoming increasingly indifferent to their senses and bodies. Many pre-modern cultures have an attitude of closeness to nature, and such an attitude is reflected in some cultural heritages that have survived to this day, such as classical gardens. The design of classical Chinese gardens is deeply influenced by traditional Buddhist and Daoist …

Assessing The Psychological Benefits Of Biophilic Design In Therapeutic Counseling Spaces, Andrew Graf

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explores the intersection of biophilia and counseling, aiming to illustrate the potential benefits of integrating nature-based interventions into therapeutic practice. Biophilia, the innate human tendency to connect with nature, has garnered attention in various fields, yet its implications for counselors remain unexplored. This qualitative study employs a hermeneutic phenomenological approach to investigate the lived experiences of counselors who have incorporated biophilic elements into their practice and the perceptions of clients who have engaged with these interventions.

Through semi-structured interviews with licensed counselors, themes emerged regarding the impact and use of biophilic interventions on the therapeutic process. Findings suggest …

Chaos And Order: Translating War Into Spatial Design, Falak Alam

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

Wars and occupations happened all over the world throughout history. As Eyal Weizman has demonstrated in “Hollow Land,” architecture actually partakes in wars and occupations (Weizman 11). Architecture facilitates the occupation’s goals of control and dispossession through spatial and formal means. Weizman breaks architecture’s effects on the political environment down into six main categories: anchor point settlements, vertical architecture, uniform design, the dynamic battlefield, the spatial arrangements of settlements, and threshold spaces. These strategies exemplify the way design has been used in an effort to instill fear and erase identities of cultures.

Weizman’s book, along with Lebbeus Woods’ writings and …

Cover, Uncover: The Changing Face Of Architecture On Locust Street, Cora Trout

MFA in Illustration & Visual Culture

Locust Street was once a vibrant banking and commercial district in downtown St. Louis. Today, it is an untidy collection of new, old, dilapidated, semi-intact, restored, and vacant buildings punctuated by crumbling parking lots and garages threatening imminent collapse. To understand why, we must reassemble Locust Street. As St. Louis watched its wealthy, white population flock to the suburbs at mid-century, the revitalization of the decaying urban center became one of the city’s primary preoccupations. Beginning in the early 1950s, a calculated and conscious physical transformation of the central business district began, lasting through the 1960s. This essay, which integrates …

Humanizing Affordable Housing: A Public Health Centered Approach To Affordable Housing, Eiman Mohamed

Graduate School of Architecture & Urban Design Theses & Dissertations

This thesis focuses on exploring housing as a determinant of health; thus, the aim is to investigate the historical and current influence of housing design and city planning on occupant health and population health in metropolitan cities. The thesis will primarily examine how housing affects the health of low-income individuals. Historically and presently, this demographic has been disproportionately affected by health issues stemming from overcrowding, substandard housing design, declining neighborhood conditions, and environmental inequities. The goal is to discern the dimensions and standards for healthy housing against which designers and planners can define health outcomes. By acknowledging the factors that …

Spatial Autonomy: Exploring Industry 4.0/5.0 Trends On Architectural Design, Diana Salamaga

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

The rise of Industry 4.0 and 5.0 presents significant opportunities for the architecture industry to incorporate advanced technologies into its design and construction processes. However, the full potential of these technologies in architectural design has yet to be fully explored. This thesis, ‘Spatial Autonomy: Exploring Industry 4.0 and 5.0 Trends in Architectural Design,’ aims to investigate the ability of buildings to function autonomously through the integration of smart technologies. This exploration focuses on how Industry 4.0 and 5.0 trends can optimize building performance, creating more comfortable and enjoyable experiences for users, while also enhancing efficiency and sustainability. It examines the …

Natural Reflection: Reducing The Environmental Impact Of Architecture Through Biomimetic Design, Keenan Doricent

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

This project studies how typical building projects contribute to our environmental issues today and possible ways to reduce that contribution moving forward. In my literature review, I discuss the potential of biomimetic design as a possible solution for more environmentally considerate architecture techniques. Building operations and the construction process are two of the leading contributors to energy consumption and our growing ecological footprint as an industry. Everything from sourcing materials, to site preparation, and ultimately building occupation, factor into the effect of a structure’s life on the environment. The embodied and operational energy use of our expanding infrastructure continues to …

Architronics: Utilizing Virtual Reality In Architectural Pedagogy, Constantine Lambros

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

This research is about integrating the recent advancements in VR technology as a way to ‘playtest’ and design in architectural pedagogy. To better gauge the interest in VR and prove the need for VR integration, surveys were conducted among students and faculty within KSU’s College of Architecture and Construction Management (CACM).

A ‘site analysis’ was then conducted within surrounding firms in the greater Atlanta area, leading to precedent studies of local firms that use VR in their practice. By utilizing the firms advancements, this shed new light into how VR could be implemented into architectural pedagogy, and why it hasn’t …

Rehabilitation Of The Street: Design Strategies To Increase Diversity In Downtown, Atlanta, Abigail Akridge

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

Streets in Atlanta have become exclusionary to one or more functions, uses, and communities. Streets dominated by a single demographic or function contribute to urban decline. Such streets lack diversity in activities and uses, leading to increased crime, decreased engagement, and a dying urban fabric. Architects play a crucial role in reversing this trend by designing with a focus on streets’ implications and the needs of diverse communities. By prioritizing diversity and inclusivity in street design, architects can foster a thriving urban environment. The goal of my thesis is to propose an urban design process centered on the street section, …

Sculpting The Senses: Architecture For The Body In Place, Trammel Crowley

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

True architecture has the ability to engage the human body and its senses from a holistic standpoint. However, there is a growing presence of architecture that is created with a bias toward the visual sense, lacking sensuality, and leaving the other senses unstimulated. Negative emotions, like anxiety, experienced by individuals within a particular space can be attributed to various factors, including the sensorial qualities encountered and the memories associated with that space. Within the field of this study, there have been architects who have confronted the issues of contemporary architecture, neglecting the holistic experience of the body within space. An …

Rethinking Shelter: Designing A Home For Atlanta's Homeless Families And Youth, Maddi Dutton

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

Homelessness is a devastating experience, and its impacts are suffered by Atlanta’s families and youth who find themselves without stable housing. Family homelessness often results in the separation of families, leading to unaccompanied youth living on the streets or in uncomfortable shelters. Existing shelters do not provide family accommodations. They offer basic services and mostly lack a sense of community and personalized private spaces that are essential for fostering a sense of dignity. As emphasized in House as a Mirror of Self by Clare Cooper Marcus, humans need a ‘home’ not just a dwelling. A physical space becomes a home …

From Pasture To Pavement: Urban Expansion And Its Environmental Consequences In Perth, Anastasia Charelishvili

Student Theses 2015-Present

This thesis addresses the pressing issue of ecological problems of urban sprawl and its intricate impacts on urban health, with a particular focus on vulnerable communities in Perth, Australia. Chapter 1 presents the city's historical background and emphasizes the depletion of ecosystem services, underscoring the need for environmental justice. It also introduces the causes and effects of the sprawl in Perth and draws upon a diverse range of environmental problems created by suburbia, such as air pollution, biodiversity loss, water pollution, and runoff. As these threats translate into urban health declines, such as respiratory problems and increased healthcare issues, Chapter …

The Revitalization Of Lalibela’S Heritage Site Through The Establishment Of A New Visitor Center, Endale Tesfay

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

ABSTRACT

Revitalizing the heritage site of the rock-hewn church of Lalibela is counted as revitalizing a city because the site is the biggest heritage site. It is found in the Amhara region of north Ethiopia, and the properties were inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1978. Eleven churches were found at the site, and all of them were carved out of the living rock in the 12th century, not constructed traditionally. The churches are grouped into three and connected by a walking trail, tunnel, and trench. Groups of churches have interior and exterior spaces, and their floors, roofs, walls, …

Dynamic Dwellings: A Study In Transformative Spaces, Donovan Mitchell

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

This thesis research explores the transformative potential of kinetic architecture in the realm of residential living, focusing on the integration of adaptable interiors and dynamic facades through the use of kinetic elements. In a world with ever-shifting lifestyles and environmental changes, architecture's role in enhancing human experience is paramount. This study will argue that architecture should not remain static; instead, it should evolve, respond, and cater to the changing needs of users and environmental conditions. This research aims to propose solutions that fundamentally redefine the way we inhabit and interact with our built environments.

Decarbonized Design: Investigating Decarbonization Through The Design Of A Mass Timber Campus, Sophie Cronin

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

The rise of carbon in our atmosphere is a leading cause of climate change, and one of the biggest threats to our planet. Though not the most toxic greenhouse gas, it is the most durable, therefore lingers much longer in our atmosphere. This leads to higher atmospheric temperatures, causing natural disasters such as melting ice caps, and rising sea levels which leads to displacement of people and loss of biodiversity. According to Architecture 2030 The global building industry emits 42% of the annual carbon emissions. I believe we need to take action as a part of the building industry to …

[Re]Mapping Resilience: Reimagining Urban Waterfronts In The Face Of Climate Change, Brandon Bernard

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

By the year 2100, southern-Florida is projected to experience a 1-2 meter rise in sea level, resulting in the lower portion of the state becoming almost completely submerged under a new watertable.[14] During the 19th and 20th centuries, the city of Miami developed rapidly and the community and economy inevitably became intertwined with the water and its ecology. Due to the growing population and economy, urban developments soared and led to low-lying areas being filled in, open space along waterways were claimed for commercial and residential buildings, and man-made islands such as the venetian islands were constructed. As a result, …