The performance of an MBR under chemical shock loading conditions was investigated, to ascertain the robustness of the treatment system for urban water reuse. 32 household products and industrial substances, likely to be found in urban wastewater were assessed for toxicity, using Microtox and respirometry to obtain EC50 values. Six of these toxins were dosed into bench scale porous pots to observe any detrimental effects on the treatment system, in terms of effluent quality and potential foulant release. Four toxins were dosed into a pilot scale MBR to observe the effects of scale and enhanced biomass retention on the perturbations seen at bench scale. Mitigation of the foulants observed was investigated by the addition of ancillary chemicals. 10 household products and 6 industrial products were identified as being of risk to a biological treatment system with EC50 concentrations of the order that could be present in urban wastewater. 2 of the 6 toxins dosed into the porous pots caused a serious impact on the system reducing COD removal rates to 45%, compared with 92% average for the control pots, and increasing SMP turbidity to 11 NTU. 1 of the 4 toxins dosed into the MBR caused an impact, although less than observed in the porous pots, with the COD removal rate reducing to 77% and SMP turbidity increasing to a maximum of 9 NTU. Jar tests carried out to investigate mitigation potential of SMP turbidity found the cationic polymers MPE50 and high molecular weight polyDADMAC most efficient with reductions of SMP turbidity to <1 NTU possible although the toxins increased the dose necessary to achieve this.

Realized and potential threats of water scarcity due in part to global climate change have increased the interest in potable reuse of municipal wastewater. Recalcitrant trace organic compounds (TOrCs), including pharmaceuticals, steroid hormones and industrial compounds in wastewater are often not efficiently removed by conventional wastewater treatment processes, thereby ubiquitously occurs in natural and wastewater effluents. Advanced water treatment processes including advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), activated carbon adsorption and membrane separation processes have been demonstrated to efficaciously attenuate many classes of TOrCs. In this dissertation, attenuation of TOrCs by ozone oxidation, powdered activated carbon (PAC) and nanofiltration membrane and their monitoring strategies were demonstrated in water reuse applications. Particularly, the first main chapter attempted to elucidate the use of indicator/surrogate for predicting TOrC attenuation by ozone oxidation in a theoretical basis. A semi-empirical model was developed, which successfully predicted many TOrCs with various oxidation kinetics simultaneously. The following chapter was pertaining to development of exploratory models to predict TOrC abatement by ozone. It was concluded that principal component (PC) analysis in conjunction with artificial neural network (ANN) resulted in precise and robust prediction of TOrC attenuation. In addition to oxidation process, kinetic of TOrC adsorption by PAC was scrutinized subsequently. It was found that the initial-phase adsorption was controlled by surface reaction due to hydrophobic interaction. In addition, correlation between surrogate reduction and TOrC attenuation was independent upon water quality at the early phase of adsorption, which was explained theoretically. In the last chapter, synergistic effects of NF membrane in conjunction with pre-ozonation was investigated for TOrC abatement in brine. As a result, all the tested TOrCs were efficaciously attenuated and not quantifiable due to their concentration below limit of quantification. In addition, ozonation also alleviated organic fouling potential substantially.

Current competitive status among potable and non-potable use makes the water reuse mandatory. Presently, water reuse is common only for reclaimed water coming from municipal or industrial water treatment plants. In those facilities, the treatment includes disinfection. The disinfection methods widely used are chlorination and Ultra Violet (UV) lamps adapted to the conditions of large volume of municipal and industrial systems. This study proposes a disinfection method adequate to the household level to reuse graywater. The method is called solar disinfection (SODIS), which allows the reuse of graywater even though it contains fecal contamination. In this research, natural sun radiation as a free source of heat and UV radiation was utilized. In a first stage, periods of sun exposure, graywater depth, and cell covers as external factors were studied. In later stages, the graywater temperature (GWT) and the UV radiation effects on the reduction of the microbial indicators were observed. Results showed that graywater depth of five cm had a statistical significant reduction rather than ten cm depth (p = 0.0035). Plexiglas and poly-vinyl chloride (PVC), as transparent covers, had a statistical significant reduction (p<0.00001) due to the greenhouse effect increasing the GWT. The black cover had the lowest GWT and reduction of the bacterial and viral indicators. This research found different behavior between bacteria and virus reduction by graywater solar disinfection. In order to reduce the concentration of total coliforms, Escheriquia coli (E. coli) and enterococcus to non-detectable levels (<1.0 most probable number, MPN 100 ml⁻¹), a combination of GWT >45 °C, and UV radiation >24 W m⁻² was required. In contrast, coliphage MS-2, as viral indicator, was resistant to different UV radiation magnitudes (up to 50 W m⁻²), but with a GWT >55 °C non-detectable levels (<1.0 plaques forming units, PFU) were reached.

What are the design possibilities for the adaptive reuse of an outdated mall into a community centered case study model of pediatric palliative care?This thesis therefore explores the following questions. What solutions are possible in the adaptive reuse of Cloverleaf Mall? As designers what is our responsibility when reusing existing spaces? How and in what ways can design build community? How can design create a place which meets the personal needs of patients with a wide variety of illnesses in various stages of progression? What does the design of a centralized prototype for pediatric palliative care look like?

Mary Wingfield Scott (1895-1983) was a leading figure in the historic preservation movement in Richmond, Virginia. Scott demonstrated a preservation philosophy that transitioned from the sentimental, patriotic focus of early preservation efforts to a modern, academic approach that valued the built environment for its relationship to the city and its history. Scott educated persons on the value of preserving houses that were architecturally significant or connected to the city’s heritage. She documented the antebellum housing of Richmond in two books, founded the William Byrd Branch of the APVA, conducted walking tours throughout the city, wrote a newsletter for the William Byrd Branch, and purchased houses to prevent their demolition. Scott was a strong advocate of adaptive reuse, which she applied to the Greek Revival houses known as Linden Row. Scott’s approach to preservation is mirrored in the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) enacted in 1966 and Richmond’s 2009 Downtown Plan.

Introduction | The building for this thesis project is one with a long history. Originally built as the First Baptist Church, it was converted over the years to fulfill a role completely different from its original intent; a student center! During this process and after a series of renovations, the Broad Street main grand entrance lost its place and the arrival into the building became much less choreographed. Essentially, over time one could say that this building had been flipped around, it has lost its original intent, grandeur and purpose. Hypothesis | I challenge the idea of flipping the building back to its original state to return its historical glory, significance and grand emotional experience. I hypothesize that a reorganization of spatial sequence (i.e. bringing the outside in and extending the inside out) can help flip this building around. Materials and Methods | I introduce an internal three sided staircase that mimics what exits exteriorly in an attempt to bring the outside in. This staircase becomes the center’s focal point as it rises to the third mezzanine level. The staircase is based on the “Golden Section” idea of proportional geometries which has been found inherent in the building. I extend the inside out by turning the “monumental” exterior grand steps into a place people can utilize. Results | Placing such a large structure by the building’s entry points had great impact on drawing people into the building and up the steps into the main lounge consequently re-choreographing the arrival experience. The design solution breathes new life into this building while still respecting and acknowledging all of its crucial and historic elements. Just as the altar was a main focal point when this building served as a church, the new transparent elevator shaft that is tucked in between the spiraling stairs becomes the center’s new focal point. The contemporary facade that was inserted asymmetrically on the west side of the building emphasizes the symmetry and contrasts the existing structure causing tension between the old and new but proving that they can coexist.

Introducing concepts of Craftsman kit construction to the interior, as well as modern technology to lessen the cost of handcrafted details, opens the possibility to new methods of modular design in which interior units are configured around structural skeletons and central base points that provide supply lines to residential units. One example is Dutch design firm Minale-Maeda’s Keystones, a 3D printed connector that holds together any necessary components, like furniture. These keystones can be printed at home and save time and the need to obtain anything but essential components (website). The design firm works to create an “ongoing awareness of the possibilities of both mass-production and skilled craftsmanship” (L’arco Baleno, 2014). Another interesting example is Dutch design brand Fraaiheid’s Minimal Waste Table, which is created from one piece of laminated plywood with a CNC milling machine which makes for extremely minimal waste (Williamson, 2013). These examples of automation require a craftsman’s hand and mind to create the concept but introduce a modern approach to reducing waste, time and cost.

The community of Old Town Manchester lies across from downtown Richmond on the south side of the James River. Annexed in 1910, Manchester was the industrial hub of the city and home to the Chesterfield Railroad, the first railway in Virginia and used to transport coal. These industrial roots are still evident today in the warehouses and manufacturing facilities that continue to operate or have been repurposed. The building of focus is located on the corner of bustling Hull Street and quiet 7th Avenue. Distinctive in its stone masonry exterior, 616 Hull was constructed in the 1920s as a Chevrolet showroom and manufacturing facility. Both the proximity to downtown and the historic character of Manchester made it seem an ideal location for a hotel and restaurant. Considering the hotel as a source of stability for the community because it provides jobs, and the restaurant as an entity within the hotel that simultaneously serves the guests as well as the local residents, the concept of discovery and experience of place emerged. With the belief that locals share a sense of pride in the city in which they live, thus making Richmonders the city’s best advocates, this thesis was an exploration of how design can encourage interaction between two groups of people- visitors and locals.

Increasing freshwater scarcity is making reclamation of wastewater effluent more economically attractive as a means of preserving freshwater resources. The use of an integrated membrane system (IMS), the combination of micro/ultra-filtration (MF/UF) followed by reverse osmosis (RO) membranes, represents a key process for municipal wastewater reuse. A major drawback of such systems is the fouling of both the MF/UF and RO membranes. The water to be treated by the IMS system varies from one wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) to another, and its fouling propensity changes correspondingly. It is thus preferable to conduct pilot trials before implementing a full-scale plant. This thesis aims to look at the sustainability of IMS technology dedicated to indirect potable reuse (IPR) in terms of fouling minimisation and cost via a 600 m3 .d- 1 pilot plant. Wastewater reuse plants, using IMS, as well as statistical methods for membrane optimisation were reviewed. Box-Behnken design was used to define optimum operating envelopes of the pilot plant for both the microfiltration and the reverse osmosis in terms of fouling minimisation. Same statistical method was used to enhance the efficiency of the MF cleaning-in place through bench-scale test. Data from the pilot plant MF process allow to determine relationship between reversible and irreversible fouling, and operating parameters and feed water quality. Life cycle cost analysis (LCCA) of the both trains (MF/RO/AOP and MF/AOP) of the pilot plant was performed and compared with the LCCA of two full-scale plant.

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