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Item Reusing Structure(North Dakota State University, 2011) Cameron, MarkThis thesis attempts to understand how built structures can evolve over time through use and reuse. It looks at how reusing a space is possible by taking a warehouse structure and reusing it for the new purpose of living space. Many cities are attempting to perform historic preservations as the cities age, such as a historic town like Duluth, which was founded with trading, was transformed into a mining town and now has multiple colleges. This project is setting out to better understand how a building can grow with the city’s new images. Buildings evolve as users act upon them. Occupants will gradually alter the structure through use and modify their needs to fit into the building they live in.Item Influencing Identity(North Dakota State University, 2013) Litwiller, JoshuaInfluencing Identity attempts to identify the relationship between architecture and the unique identity possessed by each city. The typology used in identifying this relationship is an addition to an art museum. The theoretical premise guiding the research is, "Through the design and creation of a single building one can influence, without recreating, the identity of a city and therefore also affect the development of said city." The justification is, "By creating a destination in which the public will travel out of their way to visit, the economy of the area surrounding the destination will be influenced positively due to the rise in tourism." The project site is Duluth, Minnesota.Item Echo: Elemental Architecture as a Method of Cleansing Freshwater in the Wake of Industrialization(North Dakota State University, 2017) Iliff, KaraExisting as a force powerful enough to shape the face of the earth, yet delicate enough to sustain the life within our bodies, water is an element with which humans have continuously sought balance. Water has eternally been a source of repetitive daily ritual: collection, hydration, and cleansing. Out of necessity and convenience, our cities have been built right up against shorelines and grown inland. With the rise of industrial architecture, the ruination of our irreplaceable resources is the fatal flaw of our technological advances. Duluth, Minnesota is a shoreline city born from the lure of Lake Superior’s freshwater and our resultant reliance on industry. We siphoned our natural resources from the land and expelled their toxins back into the lake. Its fragility masked by its immense size, one of our largest sources of accessible freshwater suffered. This trend is visible throughout countless shoreline cities, initiating a call for action to produce architecture that works alongside its surroundings rather than against them. This thesis proposes a lakeside freshwater research and conservation center standing between the industrial and cultural heart of Duluth, facilitating spaces for filtration and purification research while encouraging public involvement in returning freshwater to its purest form.Item Remedial architecture(North Dakota State University, 2015) Schmidt, KatelynThe North Shore Healing Center gives a place for personal mental health rehabilitation. This building provides a safe and comfortable place for people to rebuild themselves. It uses natural healing remedies and holistic methods when treating patients back to a happy and healthy state of mind. This thesis studies the relationships that people have with their surrounding built environments. In order to communicate effectively with the users of this building the research was very extensive. Not only was the way people physically interact with buildings studied, but also people’s body language around variations of building materials. This project makes it easier for patients to be comfortable in a home away from home, while reaching their goals of a happy and healthy life.Item best if used by: Duluth Recycling and Production Factory(North Dakota State University, 2012) Pritchard, TyThis thesis work looks to explore and determine the lifetime/expiration of a structure. The longevity of a building’s life is its ability to adapt to current needs. The project will use the shells of old structures in Duluth, Minnesota, which both creates and recycles components to ensure its survival through programmatic changes until its expiration. This work will display the importance of re-purposing and recycling, while creating new jobs and markets for the region. Best if Used By: Duluth Recycling and Production Factory will consist of both public interaction and factory for production spanning 70,000sqf of an old pier in the harbor.Item Snowboarding: Fitting Use or Urban Abuse?(2013) Gruhot, PhilipCentral Hillside Park in Duluth, Minnesota is an often desolate park in the heart of downtown. My design seeks to create a new type of project, an urban snowpark in which every part of the urban block can be ridden compared to a space with temporary features. This design will translate into opportunities for skateboarders in the summer, as well as provide opportunities for other sports and activities. Creating a multifunctional area that is safe to progressively learn new tricks can energize a space year round with not only snowboarding and skateboarding, but more traditional sports and activities as well. Designing with features that are most fun to ride, materials that can withstand heavy use, and arranging them in a safe, fun way can progress the sport while protecting the users as best as possible. A park that gives riders the opportunity to ride every aspect of an urban environment, legally, can change people’s negative perceptions of non-traditional sports. In doing so, this design will be the first park that looks like any other urban city block, but any feature can be ridden, like a skatepark.Item Oncology Center: Healing through Architecture(North Dakota State University, 2018) Ostlie, StinaThe typology of my project is healthcare design. Based on past research, many studies have shown that the environment and space that an individual is in can strongly influence a person’s treatment plan and healing process. This specific thesis is founded on evidence-based research, conjunctural research, first person testimony, and anecdotal evidence with the idea that the environment can influence the healing process of patients and their families battling cancer.Item Human's Offense - Nature's Defense(North Dakota State University, 2016) Cusick, CraigHow can design influence the way we view, understand and interact with a powerfully dynamic natural setting? No matter how long or to what extent that man intervenes with the natural world, mother nature will always eventually take back ownership of the land. As humans we need to realize this reality and design for its eventuality. This project focuses on the vegetation, wildlife, and geology of the North Shore of Lake Superior. This stretch of land is a popular destination for visitors and locals alike, but many of those visitors lack an understanding of how the north shore has become what it is today. An interactive visitor center and multi-disciplinary research facility is proposed in order to provide an immersive experience for visitors to understand the importance of natural preservation. This thesis, located between Duluth and Two Harbors, Minnesota, will bridge the gap between nature and society to inform and inspire residents of urban cities about the natural world, its cultural and historical significance, and what they can do to preserve and protect it. A closer relationship needs to be made between the professional research community and the general public and the public needs to be more aware of the issues involving the wildlife, vegetation, geology, and cultural significance of a specific geographic location; specifically the North Shore of Lake Superior.Item Adaptable Architecture: Architecture That Responds to Changing Needs(North Dakota State University, 2013) Windschitl, JacobThis thesis explores the use of adaptable architecture and its ability to change to diverse program and user needs. By using flexible and kinetic components in the design of a performing arts center, it can expand the functions of the structure for the client, to provide for todays need and tomorrows. The infrastructure of the building is designed to provide longevity. This theater is a display of adaptable architecture to the community of Duluth, Minnesota.Item Urban Activation(North Dakota State University, 2017) Crow, AshleyThere are many elements within a city that provide a significant impact on your quality of life. Quality of life is a subjective measure of the overall happiness of a person or a community usually measured within the categories of economic, environmental, and social. This thesis addresses the question, how can an urban campus improve the quality of life a city has to offer? I explore this question by taking an emancipatory approach involving multiple tactics such as personal interviews, literature, and case studies. This urban campus strives to help improve the quality of life Duluth, MN has to offer. The master plan and building provides a new way of learning and collaboration for students, professionals, and the public. The building includes a business incubator, classrooms, affordable housing, retail, and green-space. The building encourages the public, students, and professionals to learn from each other. The mix of people promotes entrepreneurship and creativity which endorses higher quality of life. Quality views, natural light, social interaction, connectivity, context, and multi-functional design were the main design concepts used during the design process. This urban campus and master plan was designed to improve the quality of life for the citizens of Duluth.