Washington Avenue Bridge : a technocentric approach to celebrating the Mississippi River through rhythm and space

Abstract

There is a measurable, scientifically proven link between space and memory (Hoelscher, 2004). This means that education is highly sensitive towards the quality of the study environment, especially when it is a space that students average six years in developing their intellectual growth (Students, 2013). Many difficult problems can be solved through creative solutions by the university offering to support and give resources to intelligent minds. It is not just highly relevant, it is critical for a university to have a strong campus design that encourages and inspires thought process. This thesis demonstrates through research and design that the environment does not only enhance thought process, but can be used as a dynamic component for storing and transmitting data. A college campus provides an incredible opportunity for integrating this concept. For my thesis I looked at an outdoor space within a college campus and came up with a unique, rhythmic design for bicycle and pedestrian flow. The study was carried out through a mixed-method approach that utilized qualitative (literature review, case studies) and quantitative (mathematical and scientific) data to support my hypothesis. My site location is at the University of Minnesota along the Washington Avenue Southeast Bridge. My project goal is to research the phenomenon of ubiquitous computing and determine how it can beneficial to landscape architecture and urban design. The expected results include a unique design to integrate space with technology, and a vision for creating meaningful public space in campus corridors.