Thesis Proposal:
The main goal of this thesis is to produce a lateral system redesign due to the relocation of the Northwest Science Building to Miami, FL. This relocation will cause more severe wind forces acting upon the lateral system due to Miami, FL being in a hurricane prone region. Along with the lateral system redesign, the building enclosure materials and exterior architecture will be studied.
To download the complete version of the Thesis Proposal click here. (pdf file)
To download the complete version of the Updated Thesis Proposal, click here. (pdf file)
Upon completion of Senior Thesis Spring 2010, the following goals are to be accomplished:
Goals (Based on Relocation of Building to Miami, FL):
- Redesign building's lateral system to meet code requirements.
- Provide analysis of lateral system through means of ETABS and hand calculations.
- Research, analyze, and modify building enclosure appropriately for water condensation and heat transmission concerns.
- Redesign exterior architecture of building for Miami, FL.
Breadth Topic One - Building Enclosure:
The relocation of the building to Miami, FL causes water condensation and heat transmission concerns. An analysis of the current building enclosure will be performed and modified accordingly for Miami, FL. This breadth will consist of R-value, air leakage, and condensation analyses. ASHRAE recommendations based on climate data will also be researched and discussed.
Breadth Topic Two - Architecture:
The relocation of the building to Miami, FL also causes exterior architectural concerns. The author wants the exterior appearance of the building to be representative of Miami architecture. Therefore, research will be performed and discussed concerning the history of Miami's architecture. The building's architecture will be modified based on this research.
MAE Course-Related Studies:
AE 542 (Building Enclosure Science and Design) and AE 597A (Computer Modeling of Framed Structures) are graduate level courses that will be used within this senior thesis study. The Building Enclosure Breadth Study will utilize learned material of AE 542, and the main structural depth will utilize AE 597A by incorporating an ETABS model and analysis of the building's lateral system.
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United States (US) Cultures Proposal:
In addition to the Thesis Proposal above, the American Disability Act (ADA) and its influence on building construction will be studied. This study is intended for the author to cultivate knowledge concerning issues of physical disability, and also United States social identities not in isolation, but in relation to one another, specifically, the interaction between physical disability with legal requirements for the built environment.
To download the complete version of the US Cultures Proposal click here. (pdf file)
Upon completion of this US Cultures Proposal of Spring 2010, the following goals are to be accomplished:
- Research and discuss the ADA's laws concerning building construction.
- Provide one case study of a building built before the ADA was signed into law.
- Provide a case study involving the Northwest Science Building's design components fulfilling ADA requirements.
- Conclude on the main influences of the ADA on building construction.