Master's Projects

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Master's Projects

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Now showing 1 - 10 of 12

Urban Design Studio: Habersham County Growth Management and Conservation Strategies

(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2022-12) Davis, Nathan ; Davis, Madison ; Scott, Sierra ; Kaufman, Mira ; Raven, Roxanne ; Beduhn, Lauren

Georgia's land cover change over the past 50 years has been documented in an unprecedented study conducted by the Georgia Conservancy and the Georgia Tech Center for Spatial Planning and Visualization (CSPAV). This study has resulted in Georgia Now and Forever initiative, an ambitious undertaking to educate key decision-makers across Georgia as to the study's findings with a message that intentional, thoughtful decisions around the use of Georgia's remaining undeveloped land are inextricably linked to Georgia's future ecological and economic sustainability. item_description: Georgia's land cover change over the past 50 years has been documented in an unprecedented study conducted by the Georgia Conservancy and the Georgia Tech Center for Spatial Planning and Visualization (CSPAV). This study has resulted in Georgia Now and Forever initiative, an ambitious undertaking to educate key decision-makers across Georgia as to the study's findings with a message that intentional, thoughtful decisions around use of Georgia's remaining undeveloped land are inextricably linked to Georgia's future ecological and economic sustainability. Unsurprisingly, but important to have clearly documented, is the role low density development has played in the significant acreage conversion from agricultural land, forested land, and wetlands. These findings from past development patterns have allowed for the identification of plausible future landcover change trends, assuming business-as-usual development approaches. North Georgia is clearly in the path of major landcover change to low density developed land as metro Atlanta proceeds to "move" northward. This is also an area of significant ecological and carbon assets in the form of our mountain and valley forests, as well as agricultural lands. There is keen community interest in welcoming development-especially diverse and affordable housing choices-but alongside serious advancement in the conservation of the natural landscape. Representatives from the Habersham County, the City of Clarkesville and the property manager of a large conservation tract in the area that includes two riverfront miles of the Soquee River requested assistance from the Georgia Conservancy and Georgia Tech to consider how and where development and conservation can and should occur across their home county of Habersham. There is an understanding among this group that the very conditions that draw new residents to the area-the forests, mountains, streams-are at risk without a concerted effort to include conservation alongside land-efficient development. Given the larger situation in Georgia, the public and political will in the Clarkesville/Habersham area to pursue a larger joint development and conservation priority led to this planning process of identifying strategies for managing local resources in a sustainable way.
Urban Design Studio: Faith Based Affordable Housing

(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2022-12) Delargy, Colin ; Cena, Kortney ; McFarlane, Clifton ; Dominguez, Miriam ; Waheed, Jullanar ; Murphy, Ansley

Well known by now, and getting worse by the moment, is Atlanta’s affordable housing crisis. In the Atlanta case, as in “hot” markets all over the country, jurisdictions are trying to come up with strategies that might work. One such tried here and in other cities is to eliminate single family zoning. Early evidence in its usefulness for addressing affordability from Minneapolis, Seattle, and Portland, however, shows that strategy to be failing. It’s not producing density, the investment required is raising property values and taxes, the red hot “build to rent” markets are displacing neighborhoods, particularly Bipoc and low wealth neighborhoods. And its top-down approach is stripping communities of any input into the process. In short, this solutionist strategy does not work. In Atlanta, the city council decisively defeated it in December. item_description: Well known by now, and getting worse by the moment, is Atlanta’s affordable housing crisis. In the Atlanta case, as in “hot” markets all over the country, jurisdictions are trying to come up with strategies that might work. One such tried here and in other cities is to eliminate single family zoning. Early evidence in its usefulness for addressing affordability from Minneapolis, Seattle, and Portland, however, shows that strategy to be failing. It’s not producing density, the investment required is raising property values and taxes, the red hot “build to rent” markets are displacing neighborhoods, particularly Bipoc and low wealth neighborhoods. And its top-down approach is stripping communities of any input into the process. In short, this solutionist strategy does not work. In Atlanta, the city council decisively defeated it in December. Since we and others remain in a state of crisis, though, the context for this studio investigates strategies for what to do instead. These include coming up with the tools and resources to coordinate use of publicly and non-profit owned land; to maximize conservation of existing stock; and to concentrate densification in already dense areas like transit corridors and existing dense areas. For us, we will explore the potential for faith-based property owners to step up, using their land holdings as a way of underwriting the land cost element of an affordability-serving pro forma. This studio explores the issues and ideas from an overview perspective. The studio worked with four faith-based organizations to go deep, developing case studies to further tease out the issues and opportunities. This work was guided by these organizations, possible by nearby affected communities as well. The work product includes both our overview and the findings from the individual case studies. Students worked in group settings, applying their knowledge across the specializations of housing and community development, economic development, and urban design, along with associated regulatory and resource requirements. The studio progressed from data assembly to analysis, to consideration of alternatives, to suggested courses of action, to a final report and presentation. Stakeholder organizations will review each stage of the work. Students utilized their skills in data management, analysis, communication, and presentation in a cross-disciplinary and community engaged process.
Urban Design Studio: Home Park Neighborhood Strategic Planning

(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2022-12) Master, Michaela ; Yohanis, Samrawit ; Hudson, Joel ; Noe, John ; Lieu, Seung Jae ; Neaves, Thomas ; Yuxiang, Zhao ; Rollins, Miles

Nestled between Georgia Tech and Atlantic Station (and between the Connector and Northside Drive), Home Park neighborhood leadership has provided planning frameworks through the years, ultimately approved and incorporated into the City of Atlanta’s own plans, that aim at maintaining neighborhood integrity and quality of life for its residents amidst change forces all around. This update will respond to these challenges by exploring their impact on neighborhood futures and also provide recommended short-term actions that signal reassertion or reimagining of neighborhood values. As such, students will be called upon to work in group settings, applying their knowledge across all specializations, emphasizing syntheses among them. The neighborhood will provide forums for reviewing and providing feedback to our progress and shaping these interests. Their organization is committed to carry out a long-term, inclusive, transparent, and community-engaged program. item_description: Nestled between Georgia Tech and Atlantic Station (and between the Connector and Northside Drive), Home Park neighborhood leadership has provided planning frameworks through the years, ultimately approved and incorporated into the City of Atlanta’s own plans, that aim at maintaining neighborhood integrity and quality of life for its residents amidst change forces all around. This update will respond to these challenges by exploring their impact on neighborhood futures and also provide recommended short-term actions that signal reassertion or reimagining of neighborhood values. As such, students will be called upon to work in group settings, applying their knowledge across all specializations, emphasizing syntheses among them. The neighborhood will provide forums for reviewing and providing feedback to our progress and shaping these interests. Their organization is committed to carry out a long-term, inclusive, transparent, and community-engaged program. Examples of the neighborhood’s range of interests include; o Reviewing useful proposals from earlier planning work o Tackling housing-related issues like conservation, affordable housing options, and impacts of short-term rentals o Framing development options along corridors (10th Street, 14th Street, Hemphill, and Northside Drive), including traffic control options o Exploring urban design initiatives for strengthening neighborhood identity, ped/bike-oriented streetscape, and connectivity and SPI-8 parking priorities o Analyzing, as an empirical matter, how closely the City follows neighborhood master plans, with an eye towards strengthening the influence of those plans The studio work includes data assembly and analysis, the consideration of alternatives, suggested courses of action, and a final report and presentation. Community stakeholders were intimately involved in each stage of the work. As a framework planning/urban design exercise, the studio covered issues and opportunities across the full spectrum of planning specializations including: data collection, recordation, analysis, visualization and presentation in a cross-disciplinary and community involved processes, transportation planning, land use planning, open space planning, urban design and zoning.
Retreat, Adapt, Defend - Urban Design Response to Sea Level Rise in 5 Coastal Georgia Communities

(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2013) Dagenhart, Richard ; Debo, Thomas N. ; Adams, Kevin ; Aguilar, Johnny ; Alhadeff, Daniel ; Blumenfeld, Amy ; Cadet, Sherene ; Hutchison, Alyssa ; Manley, Canon ; McClure, Melvin ; Plummer, Audrey ; Riley, R. Dawn ; Tuura, Logan ; Wallace, Justin ; Wang, Jiawen ; Zhang, Yigong

This studio is part of a Georgia Conservancy Blueprints initiative assessing impacts of climate change and sea level rise for Coastal Georgia. The studio was organized into five teams to address issues five cities: Savannah, Tybee Island, Brunswick, Darien and St. Marys. Student teams visited each city, meeting with local officials and leaders of non-profit organization who were involved in adapting to climate change.
Stormwater and Urban Design: Urban Design Strategies for Four Sites on the Atlanta BeltLine

(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2012) Ahuja, Rattandeer ; Boron, Roberta ; Gao, Long ; Hampton, Travis ; Hang, Yu ; Hightower, John ; Kai, Liao ; Richter, Laura ; Tao, Shiqi ; Wallace, Justin ; Xing, Hafei ; Dagenhart, Richard ; Debo, Thomas N.

A joint urban design studio with the School of Architecture and the School of City and Regional Planning. The Georgia Conservancy’s Blueprints for Successful Communities program, in partnership with graduate students from the College of Architecture at Georgia Institute of Technology, examined four different sites within metro Atlanta, adjacent to the Atlanta BeltLine (Ansley Mall - Peachtree Creek; Bobby Jones Golf Course/Colonial Homes - Peachtree and Clear Creeks; University Avenue - McDaniel Branch; and Boone Boulevard - Proctor Creek) and prepared design proposals incorporating stormwater hydrology assessment and green infrastructure as the foundation for urban design. . Coordinators were: Leah Barnett, Georgia Conservancy; Richard Dagenhart, R.A., Professor, Georgia Tech; Tom Debo, PhD, P.E., Professor, Georgia Tech; Johanna McCrehan, Georgia Conservancy, Katherine Moore, AICP, Georgia Conservancy. Course instructors were Richard Dagenhart and Tom Debo.
Atlanta Braves Baseball Stadium Redevelopment: Stadium Neighborhoods TAD

(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2010) Dagenhart, Richard ; Green, David ; Chapman, Jutin ; Burtoyan, Hrach ; Chapman, Justin ; Hawthorne, Dane ; Kellog, Kristin ; Smith, Taylor

An urban design studio and research project advising the City of Atlanta and the Atlanta Braves regarding proposed redevelopment of the site of the Fulton County Stadium and Turner Field. The site was within the boundary of the Stadium Neighborhoods TAD (Tax Allocation District) which provides tax increment financing for infrastructure and public purpose projects. The primary aim of the project was to prepare a decision framework and an illustrative plan for the stadium parking lots for future commercial development, housing and deck parking for about 5000 spaces to serve the Braves on game days and conventional real estate demands. Of particular concern was weaving the project with the surrounding neighborhoods, which had long been impacted by urban urban renewal, parking overflow into neighborhoods, and lack of community services and jobs. The project became moot after the Braves left Downtown Atlanta for the suburbs. However, the City of Atlanta adopted the report as the basis for a Request for Proposals for public/private entities to acquire the Turner Field Stadium and parking lots for other uses. The site was awarded to a private developer in partnership with Georgia State University’s expansion and athletic facilities. The report was also the basis for a Neighborhood Benefits agreement between the surrounding neighborhoods and the Georgia State/Developer partnership.
The Trace: San Diego

(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2010) Thompson, Claire ; Combs, Jason ; Johnson, Louis ; Wilkinson, Luke ; King, Ben

Three overlapping systems exist within the context of the East Village site: The Geologic Setting is the most fundamental of systems San Diego sits atop the seam of two vast tectonic plates, the jagged movements of which have created the broken line of faults that lie beneath East Village. The Urban Framework was established unaware of the forces below. William Heath Davis and Alonzo Horton laid out the orthogonal grid of New Town San Diego in the latter half of the 19th century. It survives intact. Though such a grid of streets and blocks is a boon to city growth and flexible development, in some places its pattern is at odds with the geologic faults beneath it. One of these places is East Village. The Temporal Order is the ever-changing pattern of human inhabitants, their structures, and their activities, all of which fill the gridiron and make it their own. "The Market" is the expression of this pattern in the here and now. The time is ripe for human activity to re-inhabit East Village more fully, and change it once again to suite its needs. Not an obstacle, but an opportunity Yes, the geologic faults must be heeded in regards to future development. In some places streets and blocks cannot be used in the way that was originally intended. However, this does not mean a loss of utility. Instead, the trace of the faults becomes a framework upon which to build a system of open spaces. These open spaces, when designed correctly and surrounded with the proper uses, can be a catalyst to the revitalization of East Village.
International Urban Design Studio : Shanghai 2010

(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2010) Getty, Drew ; Thompson, Claire ; Williams, Galen ; Jones, Paul ; Murphy, Diana ; Tabor, Reginald ; Johnson, Louis ; Sanders, Julie ; Ghizoni, Renato ; Morrow, Edward ; Wallace, Ross

In response to a lack of urbanity and a voided public realm, this project is an attempt to redefine the fabric of Lujiazui through tactical interventions in the urban landscape. Part of our approach is to accept the existing condition of the site and respond to the site through the imposition of a new order. This new order will take advantage of the existing movement systems which pulse potential energy through the site. Given this flux condition, the tactics are thought of as interations of a flexible framework. The design framework is composed of 3 elements (path, node, cofetti) which adapt to interpretation and contingency yet provide a clear foundation for urban development.
Chattanooga Downtown Westside 2009

(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2009) Dagenhart, Richard ; Yang, Perry Pei-Ju ; Cambeul, David ; Duong, Binh ; Hussy, Heather ; Kovacheva, Maria ; Thorn, Robert

An urban design studio focused on the Westside of Downtown Chattanooga. sponsored by the City of Chattanooga. The studio project had four priorities for which urban design was to provide a framework for the Westside. First was to examine alternative to the grade separated Highway 27 that divides the Westside from Downtown. Second was stormwater management with the aim of reducing or eliminating combined sewer overflows from the Westside into the Tennessee River. Third was to extend the Riverfront Park to and along the River on the Westside, incorporating existing industry and weaving a future mixed-use industrial zone. Fourth, and finally, to explore options for future development of housing and commercial projects anticipating the impact - aesthetic and infrastructural - of the new riverfront park and extensive green infrastructure to define an expanded public domain.
Articulating Everyday Space, Denver 2009

(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2009) Branum, Cassie ; Finkelstein, Aria ; Kovacheva, Maria ; King, Ben ; Lawrence, Nathan

Denver has fared better than most American cities in the recent global economic downturn. Over the past decade, Denver’s real estate market has not expanded as rapidly as in other fast-growing U.S. cities. The city enjoys a diverse industrial base, including the booming alternative energy and bioscience sectors. On the office front, Denver’s low vacancy rate has changed little in the past year while lease rates have continued to increase. 2007 marked Denver’s biggest year in tourism, adding fuel to an economy which should emerge from the global financial crisis poised for continued growth and prosperity.