Master of Regional and Community Planning / Department of Landscape Architecture/Regional and Community Planning / John W. Keller / In the 2009-2010 academic year at the Kansas City Design Center, four students undertook a design project seeking to transform an underutilized traffic median into a usable urban public space. The space, known as “Triangle Park,” is located at Avenida Cesar E. Chavez (West 23rd Street), West Pennsylvania Avenue, and Southwest Boulevard in Kansas City, Missouri. This report describes the existing site conditions and challenges to creating an inviting public space. The report explains how the students arrived at the finalized design using precedent studies, multiple design iterations, and community input from the Westside and Crossroads neighborhood stakeholders. The finalized design focuses on providing connectivity between people, the site, and the city as a whole. Opportunities for connection are offered by improved pedestrian circulation and a comfortable, well-defined outdoor space. Three major structural interventions are proposed: an illuminated overhead canopy beneath the Interstate-35 overpass provides shelter for pedestrians; a raised walking path enhances an already prominent pedestrian route; and a wooden deck provides opportunities for sitting and lingering. The ability of the design to meet the community’s stated needs and to serve as a social public space is evaluated to determine the likelihood of positive and worthwhile project outcomes.

Master of Science / Department of Architectural Engineering and Construction Science / Kimberly W. Kramer / Pultruded fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) shapes are gaining popularity in the construction industry. Pultruded FRP profiles introduce a new world of construction that could prove to be a viable option to traditional structural materials. The use of pultruded FRP profiles in structures is discussed in this report. First a brief history of FRPs and their applications are addressed before explaining in detail the two main components of FRP; fibers and resin. The manufacturing process known as pultrusion and how two separate materials become one structural member is examined. As a result of pultrusion, engineers and designers can create structural profiles in customizable shapes, sizes, and strengths to suit any project and price. Theoretically, a pultruded FRP profile can be customized to different strengths within the geometrical and material bounds of the profile; however, many manufacturers publish data regarding mechanical and thermal properties along with allowable loads for their nominal profiles. Currently, there are no governing codes or guidelines for pultruded FRPs but there are design manuals and handbooks published by various committees and manufacturers so the design of pultruded FRP profiles is discussed. Ultimate and serviceability limit states are design concerns that engineers always deal with but concerns of heat or fire, chemical or corrosion, and moisture affect pultruded FRPs differently than steel or wood. Pultruded FRPs pose interesting design concerns because increased customizability and workability means the member can be tailored to meet the needs for that project but that would counter the benefit of mass-produced nominal sizes. A lack of uniform codes and standards inhibits the growth of the pultrusion industry in the United States but codes developed in Europe along with the development of specialized agencies and organizations could help gain a foothold. Lastly, a set of beams varying in length and load exhibit a side-by-side comparison to examine how pultruded FRPs match up next to traditional building materials. Although wood, steel, and reinforced concrete have been the preferred materials of construction, pultruded FRP structural shapes are gaining popularity for its economical and physical advantages, and advances in manufacturing and technology stand to usher in the widespread use of pultruded FRP profiles.

Master of Architecture / Department of Architecture / David R. Seamon / This thesis examines the notion of regional identity and connection to place as a means for developing countries to use their cultural heritage, traditional construction methods, and everyday life patterns to create a built environment appropriate for contemporary needs. Regional identity expressed through architectural form not only establishes a connection between people and the space they inhabit but also contributes to conserving the natural environment and strengthening people’s attachment to place. To support this claim, the thesis focuses on two design thinkers who have examined placemaking from a regional perspective: Architectural theorist Kenneth Frampton and his theory of critical regionalism (Frampton 1983, 1987); and architectural theorist William J.R. Curtis and his theory of authentic regionalism (1986). Using criteria derived from Frampton’s and Curtis’s theories, this thesis analyses two Mexico City houses designed by Mexican architect Luis Barragan: his home and studio, built in 1947; and the Eduardo Prieto Lopez house, built in 1950. Using contrasting criteria from Frampton and Curtis, I examine these two houses' relative success in evoking a sense of regional identity. I argue that my analysis of the two houses, first, offers possibilities for clarifying Curtis´s and Frampton’s understandings of good regional architecture; and second, indicates how local tradition might be adequately integrated with global modernity, while at the same time providing a unique sense of place.

Master of Landscape Architecture / Department of Landscape Architecture/Regional and Community Planning / Jessica Canfield / Interactive technology is rapidly affecting our society, extending opportunities for convenience, communication, function, and pleasure. Defined as electronic or computation-based entities that reciprocate human use or action, interactive technology allows people the opportunity to personalize how something looks, how it feels, what it does, and how it is perceived. Many physical objects, such as a home thermostat system or a motion-activated sculpture, are embedded with computation that allows them to detect certain environmental influences, and respond with a purposeful action. As suggested by Malcolm McCullough, interactive technologies will be implemented into the urban environment, grounding them to a specific place and reflecting the character and context. Interactive technology will be combined with traditional urban design practices to generate an interactive urban environment. The Civic Room in Downtown St. Louis is prime for renewal. Underutilized and monotonous, the park space is seen as a tear in the urban fabric and lacks diverse program opportunities. The Civic Room will be used as a testing ground for an interactive urban environment, utilizing three dimensions of interactive technology, including information exchange, creative expression, and kinetics, as well as the specific elements of an effective urban open space (Whyte, 1980). Then, the existing site and resulting interactive urban environment will be evaluated on its potential to improve certain dimensions of performance (Lynch, 1981), and its impact on the identity and use of the space. Engaging an interactive urban environment in the St. Louis Civic Room will promote an understanding of the effects that interactive technology can begin to have in a larger context. It will activate the space, promote social collaboration, and establish a dynamic atmosphere that reflects more closely the desired intent of all users. In turn, it can propel the opportunity to approach interactive urban environments as an alternative method of urban space design.

Master of Science / Department of Architecture / Donald J. Watts / This thesis assesses concepts of architectural education both globally and regionally but ultimately presents a pedagogy aimed at the special needs of Afghan architectural education that will serve the needs of Afghan society. It is the author’s hope that this thesis may aptly establish the first steps for a renewed architectural education at Kabul University, Kabul, Afghanistan. The essence of this thesis presents a carefully reasoned and detailed educational strategy for teaching beginning architectural design. The new curriculum in the Department of Architecture at Kabul University requires new syllabi to achieve higher academic standards. The new design course syllabus should address the existing problems of Afghan society. This thesis begins by understanding the context and the current problems confronting the Kabul University Department of Architecture. It is by understanding these problems that I can begin to identify a solution. Understanding the Kabul Municipality rules and regulations, familiarity with beginning design terminology, a carefully stated and sequenced course description promoting gradual student improvement, understanding interrelationships between the interior spaces, environmental sustainable design, and finally introducing a new generation of conscientious architects to Afghan society are some of the main objectives for designing this course. Identifying the best strategy for teaching this course was a primary research question. Christopher Alexander’s great work, A Pattern Language inspired me to select it as the best methodology for my research. My early research focused upon the creation of a new syllabus for the first semester of architectural design at Kabul University. This new syllabus was launched during the first semester of 2009 in Kabul where I taught the new course alongside a junior Afghan faculty member. Establishing the new course materials for the first semester set the stage for my primary focus of this thesis. That is the creation of the second semester architectural design course using pattern language as my pedagogical framework. This pedagogy is fundamental for establishing architectural studies focused upon meaningful new academic criteria. The ultimate aim of my thesis is to lay the foundation stone for the reincarnation of Afghan architectural identity.

Master of Landscape Architecture / Department of Landscape Architecture/Regional and Community Planning / Mary Catherine (Katie) Kingery-Page / Restorative landscapes, healing gardens, and therapeutic gardens can improve mental and physical health. They relieve stress, slow us down and make us appreciate the present moment (Kaplan 1995). Research confirms these benefits: “A restorative environment provides measurable physical and/or psychological benefit to human health” (Krinke 2005, 107). Unfortunately, few restorative landscapes are designed for night time use, though stress and the need for healing occur at all hours of the day and night. To that end, the purpose of this research is to create a set of lighting design strategies that will enable designers to create restorative landscapes for nighttime use and demonstrate how they can be applied. A literature review synthesizing the information on healing garden types, outdoor lighting techniques, and their relationship to Attention Restoration Theory, identified four main components required for a space to be considered restorative. Two precedent studies allowed the author to explore the components of Attention Restoration Theory and healing garden types. The lighting principles that afford these four components and healing garden types that are best suited for an urban public space were layered in a final design to create a restorative urban space that is functional at night. The set of design strategies created with the support of this research was applied to Occidental Square, a public park in Seattle, Washington. The applied design strategies are represented and demonstrated through the site design. With these tools in hand, designers can create spaces for those in need of rejuvenation, restoration, and tranquility not only during the day, but also at night.

Master of Science / Architecture / Gary J. Coates / Sustainability is essential for survival on this planet but only focusing on the green aspects is not a comprehensive solution. The idea of Deep Beauty provides a more thorough and complete framework that is the answer to the sustainability problem of today. This framework is comprised of three levels: functional, typological and archetypal. These three levels combined, look at a building in terms of its functionality, its relevance to its region and the universal beauty that it must possess to exist long term. The union of aesthetics with function is what can save the planet. For this research, the focus of study is the traditional residential architecture of the city of Lahore, Pakistan, a city with a rich cultural background. Throughout history, Lahore has seen many transformations with respect to its architecture. Its architectural history can be traced back to the Indus Valley Civilization in the 3rd millennium BC, to a predominance of Buddhism, to a prevalence of Hinduism transformed further by the advent of Islam, the arrival of the British and the founding of the independent state of Pakistan. Currently, the housing trends are continuing to become more and more westernized in a pattern that is not fit for the region because of their inability to provide comfortable living environments and life-enriching spaces. In order to provide better housing solutions for the future, it is important that we look back at examples that have passed the test of time. This report discusses the present day and traditional housing trends of Lahore. With the purpose of improving the current residential designs, an analysis of a traditional house of Lahore has been performed to learn how it meets the criteria of Deep Beauty and sustainability. The results from this analysis provide design strategies that can be incorporated into present day houses to achieve sustainability. Based on these conclusions, a more sustainable design has been proposed for the modern house.

Master of Landscape Architecture / Department of Landscape Architecture/Regional and Community Planning / Stephanie A. Rolley / Much like designing golf courses, designing and building skateboard parks requires very specific knowledge. This knowledge is difficult to obtain without firsthand experience of the sport in question. An understanding of how design details such as alignment, layout, surface, proportion, and radii of the curved surfaces impact the skateboarder's experience is essential and, without it, a poor park will result. Skateboarding is the fastest growing sport in the US, and new skate parks are being finished at a rate of about three per day. Cities and even small towns all across North America are committing themselves to embracing this sport and giving both younger and older participants a positive environment in which to enjoy it. In the interest of both the skateboarders who use them and the people that pay to have them built, it is imperative that these skate parks are built correctly. Landscape architects will increasingly be called upon to help build these public parks in conjunction with skate park design/builders. At present, the relationship between landscape architects and skate park design/builders is often strained due to the gaps in knowledge between the two professions. This does not have to be the case. This thesis synthesizes information about skate parks into design guidelines for landscape architects. This information comes from: 1. A case study of the Kansas City Skate Plaza (a.k.a. Penn Valley Skate Park), involving skating of the park, video/photography, physical measurements, and site analysis. 2. Books, articles, movies, and websites concerning ethnography, landscape architecture, concrete construction methods, skate park and pool construction methods,landscape architecture for public spaces, and skateboarding/ skateboarding culture. 3. Interviews with landscape architects, skate park design/builders, and skateboarders. The intent of this thesis is to help landscape architects familiarize themselves in preparation for working with the skate park design/builders.

Master of Science / Department of Architecture / R. Todd Gabbard / This research aims to explore and assess passive solar design techniques that promote high thermal comfort in vernacular houses of the state of Jharkhand in India. The study of these houses provides useful insights for designing energy efficient houses that provide thermally comfortable conditions. An analysis of these houses in Ranchi, the capital city of Jharkhand, India provides a context for the field research. Jharkhand predominantly has two different styles of vernacular houses: huts and havelis. These houses were constructed, without any mechanical means, in such a manner as to create micro-climates inside them to provide high thermal comfort levels. Hence the study of thermal comfort levels in these buildings in relation to built environment in today's context is significant. As part of data collection, interviews were conducted with the occupants of ten houses in Ranchi, in June 2007. Two houses of each (huts and havelis) were selected for detailed experimental analysis. Experiment results indicated that all the four selected houses exhibited lower ambient temperature than outside during the day and a higher ambient temperature at night. Brick bat coba and lime mortar were the key materials used for constructing high thermal-mass walls. Adequate ventilation is significant in creating conditions that are comfortable. Aperture to volume ratio of less than 0.051 is not adequate enough to cool the thermal mass of these houses. These houses also use attic space to mitigate the heat gain from the roof. Courtyards and other exterior spaces form an integral part of these houses and influence the thermal conditions in and around the houses. The case studies show that there is a scope for more relaxation of comfort temperature range based on culture and phenomenon of acclimatization. A universal approach in understanding and defining comfort condition fails because the users of these houses were comfortable in conditions defined as uncomfortable by ASHRAE and Nicol.

Master of Regional and Community Planning / Department of Landscape Architecture/Regional and Community Planning / John W. Keller / This report reviews pertinent knowledge regarding brownfield redevelopment, specifically the processes and issues involved. It addresses such topics as the type of brownfield sites, steps to remediation, types of remediation and barriers to redevelopment. Finally, a precedent study of Wellston, MO is presented. This study examines the impact that the development of two abandoned brownfield sites, Wellston Electrical Company and ABEX Foundry, had on the entire community. It was found that the onset of the development of these sites spurred the revitalization of the whole city of Wellston, having a positive influence across the city and surrounding area.