California's community college students have limited housing options. When considering student housing, institutions of higher education must assess the need for funding, land availability, policy, zoning ordinances, nimbyism, liability, management, and student safety. Affordable housing, student housing, safe parking lots, and tiny homes are…

The idea that sustainable buildings can be used as teaching tools for both formal and informal environmental education and sustainable building education (SBE) has gained attention in both research and practice. Evidence bases from existing studies show that buildings can engage their users in sustainability themes through architectural design,…

Public space design cannot be a one-size-fits-all project. It has often failed to reflect diversity and inclusion usually by overlooking women and minority groups in current design thinking and practice (Chuko & Chen, 2016; Geddes 2019; Sokolowsk, 2019). Due to cultural and religious diversity, designing inclusive spaces with women's…

Population growth and migration patterns have shown an influx of residents from rural to urban environments. To deal with the problems caused by unprecedented urban influx, cities should plan to use technology in a smart and distinctive way. Tackling at the city scale is hard. But a set of smart buildings that are interconnected by technology will…

This dissertation was conducted to explore the influence of architectural design on educators' and students' behavior and perception about their learning. The study began with four principal questions, concerning a new academic building at the University of Kansas. However, the inquiry process took me to different directions. The questions focused…

The absence of an inclusive learning environment raises concerns about the equitable educational outcomes for all learners. This study aims to assist educators in providing additional support to learners with disabilities attending public schools and accessing the standard curriculum. Consequently, the research shed light on potential factors…

Facility design and the planning steps within this process are part of continued discourse among school design professionals and school officials. Historically, schools often mirrored architectural designs of a time-period or as a response to economic trends. The discourse has evolved over time, and recently, there has been an increasing focus on…

This qualitative phenomenological research study was based on interviews with 12 persons who had experienced a transition into a new school facility. Six of the individuals were administrators, ranging from superintendents to principals to assistant principals to consultants; six of the individuals were classroom teachers, and all twelve…

This dissertation blends architectural history with disability studies to better understand the social construction of disability during childhood in the early twentieth century. Open-air schools and classes emerged as an educational experiment in the United States in 1904 and were abandoned by 1945. These spaces sought to improve the education of…

This study examines the physical environment of school buildings and the effects it has on teacher morale, sense of belonging, and work ethic. Within this mixed-method study, four New York State schools were given the researcher developed School Environment Survey, and multiple school stakeholders were interviewed to determine the extent of these…

This qualitative phenomenological case study investigated the role of the superintendent in the design of schools. Superintendents wear many hats, which require them to be a listener, communicator, facilitator, manager, instructional leader, and planner (Copeland, 2013). Communicating with the constituents is essential and is synonymous with the…

Charrettes have a long history of use in medical, architectural, and planning professions. An extensive literature search found little application of the charrette model implemented to advance, support, and identify transdisciplinarity (TD) research, transdisciplinary teaming models (TDM), transdisciplinary learning (TDL) supporting transformative…

The objective of this study was to develop a "Virtual Design Studio (VDS)": a software platform for integrated, coordinated and optimized design of green building systems with low energy consumption, high indoor environmental quality (IEQ), and high level of sustainability. The VDS is intended to assist collaborating architects,…

There are opportunities for green building technology in office buildings to produce energy savings and cost efficiencies that can produce a positive economic and environmental impact. In order for these opportunities to be realized, however, decision makers must appreciate the value of green building technology. The objective of this research is…

Wayfinding is the method by which humans orient and navigate in space, and particularly in built environments such as cities and complex buildings, including public libraries. In order to wayfind successfully in the built environment, humans need information provided by wayfinding systems and tools, for instance architectural cues, signs, and…