this thesis is an exploration of how the existing site and structure of a 1908 schoolhouse can be transformed and given a new life as a community arts center in marion, virginia. existing geometry, structure and openings are examined in order to design a project which integrates old and new elements. the design strives to create indoor and outdoor gathering spaces that promote creativity and arts education. / Master of Architecture

In contemporary downtown historic area renovation, conflicts between the new building and the environment always exist. To better solve the problem, a concept of Scene Container was introduced into the New Craig County Hall design, achieved by framing views from the new building towards historic scenery outside. Layered spaces with differing degrees of enclosure also help to build visual contact between new and old. / Master of Architecture

Although design decisions that are made in the preliminary design stages of a building are more cost sensitive than those that are made at later stages, previous research suggests that they result in only a slight improvement in the accuracy of building price forecasts as the design develops. However, established conventional forecasting methods lack measures of their own performance, which has inhibited the development of simpler early-stage techniques. One early-stage price forecasting model, the Storey Enclosure Method, which was developed by James in 1954, uses the basic physical measurements of buildings to estimate building prices. Although James' Storey Enclosure Model (JSEM) is not widely used in practice, it has been proved empirically, if rather crudely, to be a better model than other commonly used models. This research aims firstly to advance JSEM by using regression techniques and secondly to develop an objective approach for the assessment of model performance. To accomplish the first research aim, this research uses data from 148 completed Hong Kong projects for four types of building: offices, private housing, nursing homes, and primary and secondary schools. Sophisticated features of the modelling exercise include the use of leave-one-out cross validation to simulate the way in which forecasts are produced in practice and a dual stepwise selection strategy that enhances the chance of identifying the best model. Two types ofregressed models from different candidate sets, the Regressed Model for James' Storey Enclosure Method (RJSEM) and Regressed Model for Advanced Storey Enclosure Method (RASEM), are developed accordingly. In considering the RJSEM, RASEM, and the most commonly used alternative early stage floor area and cube models, all of the models except JSEM are found to be unbiased. The RJSEM and RASEM models are also examined for their consistency using a structured approach that involves the use of both parametric and non-parametric inference tests. This shows that although the RASEMs for different building types are generally more consistent, they are not significantly better than the other models. Finally, the combination of the forecasts that are generated from different models to capture the different aspects of information from the models is suggested as an alternative strategy for improving forecasting performance.

A bass-reflex system is a type of loudspeaker design that uses a port or a vent to improve low-frequency performance. The port acts as a Helmholtz resonator which extends the bass response of the system. However, at high drive levels, the air inside the port can become turbulent and cause distortion, noise, and compression. From previous works, it is known that the geometry of the port plays a crucial role in reducing these unwanted effects. This paper serves to provide more insight into optimal port shape by performing several objective tests on a group of 5 different prototype port shapes based on findings from previous literature. Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) and port compression tests were conducted to determine which port presented the highest performance.

A simple, effective design for enclosing portable generators to reduce the radiated noise is an idea that seems to be desired by the consumers in this market. This investigation is to determine the feasibility of producing such an enclosure for a generator. Several engineering aspects are incorporated in the design of the enclosure. The first, and probably the most paramount, are the acoustical effects of the enclosure itself. The investigation follows the theories for insertion loss of a close fitting enclosure. The thesis examines the system behavior of a close fitting enclosure that most acoustic text books ignore and how the material stiffness, density and source-to-enclosure distance affect the insertion loss and effectiveness of the enclosure. Measured and theoretical sound pressure level around the generator before and after the application of the enclosure are presented using standards described by ISO standard 1344. The second important consideration for the enclosure design involves the heat transfer characteristics. The requirements of cooling air to the generator are discussed. Also presented are some acoustic design considerations to prevent any "direct line of sight" to any of the necessary openings which will help in the overall insertion loss. The use of an optimal engineering design technique is presented, demonstrating its strengths and weakness in this application. The optimization method used for the study is the Hooke and Jeeves, or pattern search method. This method solved for the optimum material properties in approximately 30 iterations depending on the initial starting points and the desired weighting parameters. / Master of Science

The Telescopio San Pedro Martir project intends to construct a 6.5m telescope to be installed at the Observatorio Astronomico Nacional in the Sierra San Pedro Martir in northern Baja California, Mexico. The project is an association of Mexican institutions, lead by the Instituto Nacional de Astrofisica, Optica y Electronica and the Instituto de Astronomia at the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, in partnership with the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory and the University of Arizona's Department of Astronomy and Steward Observatory. The project is currently in the planning and design stage. Once completed, the partners plan to operate the MMT and TSPM as a binational astrophysical observatory.

The purposes of the study are as follows: 1. To delineate the functions of the different component parts of a loudspeaker so as to show its working relationship with the enclosure or baffle 2. To analyze the basic types of speaker enclosure designs and to define their application for use in woodworking shop projects. 3. To explore the skills and knowledge needed to build correctly a highly functional speaker system cabinet. 4. To present these construction techniques in such a way as they might be helpful to the prospective builder of a speaker system enclosure. 5. To provide a helpful guide for the design and construction of hi-fidelity cabinetry and to help the builder avoid needless and costly mistakes of acoustic and aesthetic design.

Student Number : 9709049J - MSc research report - School of Construction Economics and Management - Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment / Spiralling violent crime in South Africa has led to the increased use of access control to restrict access to suburbs and thus make it more difficult to perpetrate violent crime against residents. This neighbourhood enclosure normally takes the form of booms, palisade fences and security guards to close off entire suburbs that were once or still are public property. This study examines the effect of the implementation of neighbourhood enclosure on property values. The primary methodology used to research this concentrated on the analysis of residential property values, bond approvals and relative amounts of property transferred within the period of late 2002 and mid 2004. Analysis was based on information available at the deed’s office. Limitations included the small sample size and the availability of information. Applicants for suburban closures can use the results of the study to verify or discredit claims of property value increases. Municipalities can match property values to services and rates. Results showed that property values that were found to be either similar in adjacent open and enclosed areas or more expensive in enclosed areas. The latter trend was evident in higher value properties. This illustrates a higher demand for properties in these enclosed areas than in the adjacent open areas. Further analysis of prices showed that, in all cases over the same period, prices increased by more in enclosed areas than in open areas. This statistic proves the hypothesis, that neighbourhood enclosure increases the value of properties within the enclosure when compared to similar properties in adjacent open areas. Analysis of the value of bonds granted in an area showed that banks appear to ignore the enclosure status of the immediate area.

Zone Models are a widely used tool in fire protection engineering to predict how fires will develop in compartments. Zone models use entrainment algorithms for plumes in the open and the effect of enclosures on the entrainment is currently unclear. This work was a systematic study of six global parameters that effect flame height and the enclosure effect on fire plume entrainment.

Knowledge of how animals utilize their space can be important when they are held in captivity. This is especially true for animals that are on the edge of extinction as such knowledge can possibly help to improve their captive breeding programs. One of these animals is the dhole, Cuon alpinus. The aim for this study was to assess how the dholes at Kolmården zoo utilize their space, if they share space and if they prefer to use specific pathways. The study took place at Kolmården zoo during 12 days and included a total of 72 hours of visual observation. A summarized map, with subdivision into 14 zones, of the dholes’ enclosure was used when recording the dholes’ location. For location recordings scan sampling was used. The dholes showed marked differences in utilization of zones ranging from the most popular zone with 1341 markings to the least popular zone with 71 markings. There was a clear preference for three zones during the whole observation period. No marked differences for utilization of zones were found between feeding vs. non-feeding days and morning vs. afternoon. Furthermore, the dholes showed a tendency for sharing space and utilization of two pathways. This project makes it evident that the dholes at Kolmården zoo prefer certain zones within their enclosure. This is probably due to that the zones preferred provides locations with access to resting, lookout possibilities etc that is important for the dholes to express a natural behavior.