During the past couple of decades, developing buildings that are actually sensitive to the needs of the environment has started to be a common trend. Today, the green building movement has reached all corners of the United States and even the world. The United States Green Building Council formed the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system to serve as a guideline for measuring the degree to which a building is considered to be environmentally friendly and “green”. The LEED system outlines a number of requirements necessary to achieve one of four different certification levels: Platinum, Gold, Silver or Certified. Each of these levels requires a different number of points awarded based on achievement of various credits during the design and construction phases of a building project. The purpose of this study is two-fold. First, it is to explore the green building movement and discuss the overall benefits of building green. Included in this is a discussion of what it actually means to develop a LEED Certified building, and what a building’s certification status means for both short and long-term costs and benefits toward meeting a developer’s desired bottom line. Secondly, building on that investigation, a determination will be made as to whether or not it is financially viable for a developer to construct a LEED Certified building in Austin, Texas and still achieve his or her desired bottom line as it relates to his or her profit margin. / text

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) is a crime preventive approach used for the physical environment to reduce criminal activity. CPTED consists of six principles: Territoriality, Surveillance, Target hardening, Image and Management/Maintenance, Access control and Activity support. The aim of this study was to evaluate an area in the center of a medium sized town in Sweden according to the CPTED principles. The area was divided into three zones, field inspections and analyses of the area were conducted five times using a checklist based on the CPTED principles. Photographs were taken for documentation. Key findings were that Territoriality, Image and Management/Maintenance and Access control need improvements. From the findings a risk assessment on the impact of criminality was made on each principle in each zone and was also summed up to a total. The total indicated that there was a medium risk on impact of criminality on two of the three zones and low on the third zone. / <p>2017-06-01</p>

Master of Landscape Architecture / Department of Landscape Architecture/Regional and Community Planning / Tim Keane / The multidisciplinary quality of green roofs involves landscape architects, architects, structural engineers, horticulturalists, and increasingly ecologists in design and implementation. A standard of measurement of green roof sustainability is necessary with increasing professional and public interest in green roofs and green roof impact on stormwater and urban ecology. Currently, green roof LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) credits do not address the sustainability of green roofs. The intent of this research is to take a critical look at green roof sustainability in regards to the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) LEED green building standard credits. It is also my intent to be (at least) a small, yet integral part in advancing the LEED standards and environmental standards as a whole. Precedent studies, archival research and professional interviews provide a solid foundation for the development of green roof LEED credits to measure success and increase green roof sustainability. Dialog with the USGBC and professionals provide a sound base for the development of the green roof criteria.

Building that can adapt and change to become useful for not only today’s society but for generations to come is one which elicits biological and evolutionary processes. In essence, the need for a transformative architecture that can sustain an active dialogue with its inhabitants, whose trend are in constant flux, results in a reunification between humanity and its time-sensitive, responsive natural habitat. The aim of thesis is to explore what makes people satisfy and comfortable and what factors make their living space and city livable, especially focusing on future housing needs. We can respond to the question of how is the space of the future going to look through several aspects. Housing has been a major challenge for the rising population during last decades, especially in developing countries. My approach will focus on social and interactional space alongside technological aspects. “Architecture as part of life” is a concept that I always carried with me: Buildings that adjust to life, to our needs, to our moods. They should adapt to our space, our functionalities and our needs that change continuously – and even to our sense of beauty, itself in continuous motion. Life satisfaction occurs most often when people are engaged in absorbing activities that cause them to forget themselves, lose track of time and stop worrying. "Flow" is the term that psychologist coined to describe this phenomenon. I believe that in age of technology and information we can’t ignore social interaction and communication. The concept of spaces of communication can be explained as in-between spaces in terms of architecture and semi-spaces in terms of urbanism. This thesis will argue that the spaces of communication, which are assumed to create social and environmental contact, can exist in any kind of urban environment. Architecture is based on the past and built in the present to take care of the future. It also mirrors the various aspect of our lives- social, economic, spiritual. Building cannot be separate from history, culture, economy, community and environment. The answer to the question of what will future generation need to live a happy life will vary from place to place. Happiness and satisfaction have universal factors but when we go in depth and explore individual societies and cities in terms of history, background, culture and social necessity we will understand differences that need to be respected. Generally, despite all differences in professional structures, economic conditions, geographical limitations, cultural, political and historical backgrounds suitable residential spaces in most developing countries face similar challenges. It appears that cities of today, and especially big cities all around the world, are all struggling with similar problems. Big cities should be built of communities which have a feature of small cores (neighborhoods) located in big city; that will benefit from the opportunities of big city. This concept is known as planetary perspective. My site, Tehran, was selected as a prototype city of a developing country. Developing countries are often more challenging because of their population growth that have huge impact on future environmental and economic issues. As urban reality shows, increasing population, demand for limited resources and depletion of natural environment strengthen this default that as urbanization gains pace, more people will find themselves living close together than ever before. The quality of urban living spaces will be even more significant in future. Architecture can change the way we think, we feel and embrace the future.

This study demonstrates the role recreational amenities play in contributing to the brand identity and sense of place in Utah master planned communities (MPCs). These MPCs are designed to enable residents to live, work, and play within close proximity within a styled built environment. While the built environment is often branded with a particular identity, these identities resonates with other attributes of the community, including recreation amenities. The study focused on MPCs along the Wasatch Front in Utah, since Utah’s population, along the Wasatch Front, is expected to double by 2050 (Envision Utah, n.d.). Many of the developments being built in the next few years will likely be MPCs (Costley, 2006). Understanding MPCs and the recreation amenities in the communities will help to shape the future developments along the Wasatch Front. This study evaluates the recreation amenities in four Utah MPC using a comparative case study method. The case study research was completed through the use of a review of literature, content analysis of the communities’ online presence, the observation of the built environment and focused interviews with community residents, city planners, and developers. This process demonstrated the role recreation was playing in creating a brand identity for the selected MPCs and contributing to the brand identity and sense of place within MPCs. Utah is posed to grow rapidly in the next 35 years and development will be driven by future MPCs. Utah has a self-identified brand of recreation, which developers are using to enhance the community brand identity of their MPCs. Developers include particular recreational amenities and programs in MPCs in Utah because of how they contribute to communities’ sense of place. Understanding how recreation enhances the brand identity of MPCs can be applied to future developments and help developers strengthen community sense of place through the use of recreation branding. Overall it was found that recreation enhances the brand identity of MPCs within Utah’s Wasatch Front. Whether it was adding value for the developers and residents or if it was by creating a sense of community; recreation was enhancing the brand identity of these MPCs.

The purpose of this research was to examine the relationship of two approaches to visual assessment of landscape--the qualitative descriptive inventory and the theoretically-based empirical perceptual preference approach. Three levels of landscape visual units based on bio-physical similarities (landscape units, setting units, and waterscape units) were identified in a marsh (CUtler Reservoir, Cache County , Utah), and its tributary streams. Color slide photographs were taken from five of the visual units. These slides were rated on a 5- point scale by panels of judges for the expression of four perceptual variables--coherence, complexity, mystery, and legibility. The same slides were rated on a 5-point scale by 98 respondents according to their preference for each slide. The relationship of the visual units, perceptual variables, and preference was evaluated by analytical and statistical procedures. Results showed significant differences in the expression of the four perceptual variables between rivers and marshes and between setting units~ Both rivers and marshes were considered coherent when there were similarities in vegetation within the respective types; however, the strong horizontal organization of the marsh scenes necessary for coherence contrasted with the edge definition and orderliness considered necessary in rivers. Mystery was also related to similar factors in rivers and marshes (such as obscuring vegetation, particularly in the marsh) but the presence of riverbanks and bends in the river corridor had a distinct effect on mystery ratings in the river scenes . Complexity in both rivers and marshes was primarily dependent on diversity of vegetation and visual depth , but the number of different visual elements in river scenes also influenced complexity. Legibility was related to straight, enclosed and simple corridors in river images and to simple spaces with regular vegetation in marsh images. Fine textures and clear spatial definition enhanced legibility. Preference ratings were significantly different between rivers and marshes, but not between river setting units or waterscape units. River scenes received higher preference ratings than marsh scenes. Mystery , complexity, and visual depth were especially important to preference. Demographic variables of age, sex, academic major, and home state did not significantly affect preference. Statistical analysis indicated each perceptual variable was an independent predictor, and that compared to visual units, perceptual variables were more strongly related to preference.

The purpose of this thesis was to determine the criteria necessary for an analysis of site suitability for locating a marina at Bear Lake. Once criteria were defined and pertinent resource factors collected, a method to analyze the criteria was utilized to aid in the selection of the best site for locating this marina. Various methods to analyze site suitability were evaluated and the pros and cons of the chosen approach, a cluster analysis of existing resource transect data with hypothetical transect criteria, were discussed. Based on this study, no optimum sites were located at Bear Lake for a marina facility. However, it was concluded that transect number 3, near Garden City, is the most acceptable area for the development of a marina. It was also concluded that other areas of Bear Lake's shore zone are very sensitive and in order to protect the shore zone environment and water quality of Bear Lake, strict planning and development guidance needs to be generated and enforced for the Bear Lake shore zone.

In our fickle economy today, retail can be booming one year and going out of business the next. When things aren't going so well commercial retail buildings are left vacant and then can become eyesores that lead to a communities economic downturn. This thesis proposes a solution by designing commercial buildings for re-use by designing for deconstruction; so that whole buildings can be disassembled and relocated, or that building components can be recycled back into the materials loop.

The current paradigm in the field of architecture today is one of degeneration and obsolete building technologies. Regenerative architecture is the practice of engaging the natural world as the medium for, and generator of the architecture. It responds to and utilizes the living and natural systems that exist on a site that become the “building blocks” of the architecture. Regenerative architecture has two focuses; it is an architecture that focuses on conservation and performance through a focused reduction on the environmental impacts of a building. This paper introduces regenerative architecture as a means for architectural design. I present the Nine Principles of Regenerative Architecture and Place Analysis Criteria, which I developed in order to provide a logical and succinct means for creating regenerative architecture. These are employed and embedded in the creation of the R_Urban Intervention Dwelling model and tested on the Coop House design project. The result was an architectural design in which the Nine Principles of Regenerative Architecture are embodied through the application of the Place Analysis Criteria process. Though the process underwent many mutations through its infancy, the final product has proven to work in producing successful and potentially regenerative architecture as described in part 1 of this paper.

The purpose of this research was first to study the Wildland-Urban Interface and Wildland-Urban Intermix (WUI) fire problem, and then to design, develop and implement improved fire assessment and fire protection features for structures in the these interface fire-prone areas. The findings included that several areas of the world are prone to devastating fires that claim lives and destroy property, and their fire problems continue to exacerbate. None of these compare to the property loss experienced in Southern California due to its vast development in fire prone areas. It is because of the continuing huge property loss and frequency of major WUI fires that Southern California was selected as the concentration for research and the case studies used in this paper. However, the results of the research are applicable to other interface fire-prone areas in the world. The author is motivated by a need to dramatically improve our ability to effectively deal with what is no longer a fire “threat,” but the reality that people have chosen to live in an area of the world in which wildland fires are part of natural forest dynamics. To reduce the economic and social impacts of these inevitable fires, we need to understand the causes of fire damage, and establish methods to minimize damage when fires occur. This thesis proposes several fire protection strategies for increased fire resiliency and safety of individuals. Following a search of fire history and analysis, three related fire assessment matrixes were synthesized (see Chapter Five). The Fire Profile Index is the principal fire assessment matrix. It was developed empirically and applied to historical fire spreads for a sense of accuracy. The intended users of the Fire Profile Index are design professionals, public agencies charged with oversight for development in the WUI, insurance agencies, building and landscape contractors, homeowners, potential homeowners, residents and fire service professionals. From the Fire Profile Index two derivative special-use matrixes were established for use by diverse groups. The first of these matrixes, the Developers Guide, is intended for design professionals, public agencies, insurance agencies, and building and landscape contractors. The second matrix is the WUI Fire Assessment Guide, whose intended users are those concerned with development in high fire hazard areas, who should have a fundamental knowledge of fire behavior. This group includes fire agencies, developers, homeowners, potential homeowners and insurance companies. This thesis contributes to increased residential structure fire resistiveness and occupant fire safety in the WUI, by proposing site-specific fire assessment and corresponding design features in both structures and landscapes. Chapter Seven covers the development of noncombustible fire shields to divert airflow and diminish flames and embers blown towards structures. Wind tunnel modeling research was conducted at the Aerospace Program’s wind tunnel at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.