Interior Architecture Commons^™

Forget-Me-Not: Facilitating Social Vibrancy In Spaces Designed For Alzheimer's Disease, Torilyn Mossner

Honors Theses

The objective of this capstone project is to create a foundation for vibrant community interactions and connections that support those living with Alzheimer’s disease, their loved ones, and the broader members of the community through interior design. This work is relevant because Alzheimer’s disease affects 1 in 9 people over the age of sixty-five worldwide. Without a cure, as people continue to age, there is going to be a constant need for development of care. Additionally, design should go a step further than healthy living and begin to prioritize creating a vibrant life and community integration for those living with …

From Concept To Design: Managing The Development Of The Avi Ari Café At Quinta Mazatlán, Jose L. Tabarez Jr.

Honors Theses

The Avi Ari Café project represents a holistic approach to sustainable architecture and civil engineering, focusing on integrating environmental stewardship, energy efficiency, and community engagement. Located within Quinta Mazatlán, a wildlife preserves in McAllen, Texas, the café is designed to blend harmoniously with the surrounding ecosystem while offering visitors a modern, functional space. This thesis explores the design, construction, and operational strategies employed to minimize the environmental impact of the café, ensuring its sustainability both during construction and throughout its long-term operation.

The project is structured around several key objectives: reducing waste generation, conserving energy, utilizing sustainable materials, and promoting …

Circadian Rhythm In Design: An Application Of Circadian Rhythmic Elements To The Ridgedale Mill, Jesse Hayes

Honors Theses

Through the study of the phases of circadian rhythm and by applying associated environmental cues, can a building further promote health and well-being through design? This study argues that by applying design elements associated with each phase of the circadian rhythmic cycle to a built environment, overall human health and well-being are increased. Research shows, that if the circadian rhythm is disrupted “metabolic syndrome and obesity, premature aging, diabetes, cardiac arrhythmias, immune deficiencies, hypertension, and abnormal sleep cycles develop” (Brainard, 2015, p. 1). Furthermore, if the circadian rhythm is promoted through environmental cues it benefits the body by supporting the …

An Analysis Of Skylight And Alternative Applications In The Adaptive Reuse Of The Ridgedale Mill, Robyn Wood

Honors Theses

Designing sustainably, at its core, holds the health and wellbeing of the users of the space and the price of ongoing maintenance and installation costs in balance with environmental wellbeing. With each of these points playing a major role, spaces can be designed to be healthy and affordable while also benefiting the overall functional health and efficiency of the space. A key method in designing sustainably is the incorporation of natural daylight within a space to provide general lighting in an energy efficient way and to positively impact the atmosphere of the built environment. For the users of the space, …

Design During A Pandemic: Application Of The Well Building Standard To Historic Engel Stadium, Laurel Getty

Honors Theses

Can buildings prevent the spread of disease through their design? This study argues that by employing the WELL Building Standard to an adaptive reuse project during the COVID-19 pandemic, human health and wellbeing is increased. Research shows that adapting existing buildings to the WELL Building Standard improves air quality, promotes clean contact, and strengthens immune systems (The International WELL Building Institute, 2020). Additionally, adapting existing historic structures maintains cultural significance within the community. This thesis creates a hypothetical adaptive reuse plan for adapting Engel Stadium in Chattanooga, Tennessee into Engel Concourse, a gathering place for students, UTC faculty, and community …

Sustainable Reuse: The Adaptive Reuse Of The Chattanooga Choo Choo Into The Chattanooga Market Using Leed, Ashley Degennaro

Honors Theses

Buildings account for a significant percentage of energy use, material consumption, and waste production. This study argues that a solution for this issue is the adaptive reuse of existing buildings. Research shows that reusing existing buildings for new design projects helps to decrease the amount of energy consumed and waste produced. When adapting historic buildings specifically, the cultural significance within the community is maintained (Department of the Environment and Heritage, 2004). Sustainability has often been seen as more difficult when adapting historic buildings due to the importance of protecting the historical character and design of the building (Polo Lopez & …

Human Psychological Response To And Benefits Of Interior Water Features, Alissa M. Clouse

Honors Theses

Water features such as water fountains, water walls, fish tanks, and fish ponds are being installed more commonly in interior spaces, but limited research on how these interior water features psychologically affect individuals has been conducted. The hypothesis assumes that individuals have an overall positive reaction to interior water features.

Water features have been used in a variety of places such as healthcare facilities, childcare centers, adult centers, and commercial spaces to create a calming environment. Sounds of softly trickling water have replaced background music in some facilities in order to promote a healing atmosphere. Because water features are installed …

How A Hurricane Affected The Residential Interior Design Of Mississippi’S Gulf Coast, Jamie L. Jelinski

Honors Theses

This study analyzes the interior design choices made by homeowners of Mississippi’s Gulf Coast who rebuilt after Hurricane Katrina, in order to determine how the natural disaster of the hurricane affected residential interior design aesthetics. The aim of the study was to determine if there was a correlation between homeowner’s disaster experiences and their interior design choices following the disaster. Survey results were collected from 128 homeowners of the Mississippi Gulf Coast whose homes were affected by Hurricane Katrina. The data was analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively, with little significance found during cross-analyses. Overall, the most prominent design changes were more …