In this paper the writer has endeavored to find the most economical design that will satisfy all conditions under which the building is to be erected. The most economical structure is one that will give the best service for the smallest cost. Of course it is not desired to erect the cheapest structure because, when considered over a long period of years it often proves the most costly. Besides the cost the quality and life of the structure will be considered. There are several factors that have been considered in designing this structure. Some of these are: (1) Use to which the building is to be put; (2) The period of years over which the building is to be used; (3) The climatic conditions; and (4) The ease with which material may be obtained and erected. In solving a problem of this type there must be many assumptions. Many of the assumed values are found to be incorrect, and when this happens a new value must be assumed and the calculations repeated. The problem is therefore solved many different times, each time with a new assumed value. In this way the most satisfactory and economical result is obtained. The overall sizes of the structure depends largely upon the space allowed for it in the Architectural design. Quite often the structural design is made more difficult by architectural features which most not be altered. In this problem the Architectural design was made by Professor C.H. Cowgill. This design was worked under the supervision of Professor C.H. Cowgill. Head of the department of Architecture, Virginia Polytechnic Institute. / M.S.

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Project (M.S.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1992. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 39). Also available via the Internet.

Designing architecture that reinforces urbanity starts with an intuitive understanding. Urban places are complex, containing many simple systems which combine to make a chaotic whole. This complexity is full of events, incidence and energy. In creating an architecture for urbanity, complexity is used to release the potential of a place to be urban. The purpose of the building proposed by this thesis is to reinforce the ideas of urbanity in historic downtown Blacksburg. It supports the expansion of the downtown urban density along Main Street and at the same time provides an important urban node, manifesting the meeting of the Town of Blacksburg and the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. It is an architecture that supports urbanity. / Master of Architecture

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A room as a symbol of past history of the place, the museum as analogy for passing on knowledge by a book and many questions subjected to a house, but also to architecture and much more to my own person. This is the content of this Thesis book which, by its examples, cannot give definite answers but is to lead to new questions while their response is justified by a subjective individual decision process. / Master of Architecture

A municipal government’s worksite exercise program was evaluated to determine its effect upon health care costs and employee absenteeism. Thirty-two employees who had participated for four and one-half years were compared to 32 nonparticipating employees. Results of this evaluation indicated that participants were significantly more often female, younger, higher paid, and in higher job classifications. No significant differences in smoking status and marital status were observed between groups. Results also revealed that participants did not use significantly fewer sick hours or health care dollars as compared to nonparticipants. However, after an initial increase in both variables the year after the program began, reductions were seen for participants in the following years. An evaluation of data prior to installation of the program showed that those joining the exercise program were not already using significantly fewer health care dollars or sick days than nonparticipants. Focus groups conducted with nonparticipants disclosed that most employees know exercise is beneficial; however, nonparticipation was largely due to a lack of time to exercise. Findings of this research suggest that health care costs and absenteeism can be reduced over time by implementing worksite exercise programs. Worksite exercise programs need to be marketed toward older, male, lower paid workers in lower job classifications since these groups tend to not join as readily as workers who are younger, female, and higher paid. / Master of Science

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