Solar Harbor: Nurturing Nature in Industrial Design
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Abstract
Warehouses are places where productivity and cost reduction meet to create highly
profitable, efficient structures. At this intersection, however, there also lies a concrete box with
little regard for the employees that toil within. These boxes, in addition to their disregard for
human needs, interrupt nature in a massive way, destroying ecosystems for various lifeforms
and leaving a large carbon footprint. These large, intrusive structures pose many problems
regarding modern design, and contain outdated and unsustainable building practices that lead
to many natural and societal problems.
A thorough investigation of current warehouse design indicates all the afore-mentioned
issues. This thesis strives to address some of these issues and provide solutions to
problematic design practices. Specifically, this thesis focuses on a warehouse residing in the
Fargo/Moorhead area, designing a warehouse that provides an update to the current
structure, integrating natural lighting, sustainable design practices, and improvements on
the building’s current program and layout.