MARCH, University of Cincinnati, 2022, Design, Architecture, Art and Planning: Architecture

Construction methods have been rapidly changing in the past century, and in the past three decades, architects and engineers have developed new ways of constructing buildings utilizing timber. This new construction exercises the use of cross-laminated-timber (CLT) and mass timber construction methods that are stronger, more resistant to earthquakes and fire, quicker to construct, more sustainable, and greatly reduce carbon emissions. The studies of this paper were completed through an exploration of the capabilities of mass timber construction, its advantages/drawbacks, its properties, and an analysis of precedents. The idea of the generic building and designing for disassembly were also explored to create an adaptable building that can be repurposed by the city. Key works include the T3 Building, The Brockwood Commons Tallwood House, and Butler Square. These projects exemplify the benefits of mass timber construction. These buildings utilize simplicity of structure and large column grids to allow for a variety of different programs. With the conclusive benefits laid out in this document, architects in the Midwest have an opportunity to create sustainable structures for the people of the United States to interact and live in while simultaneously creating buildings that can be reused or recycled. The 2021 International Building Code (IBC) allows for mass timber construction methods to be utilized in buildings up to eighteen stories tall across the United States. There is great opportunity now with this change in the International Building Code. Cultures around the world have been constructing buildings with wood for centuries, and now with the denser urban landscapes we face today, large scale buildings can be constructed with wood utilizing engineered lumber.

Committee: Elizabeth Riorden M.Arch. (Committee Member); Michael McInturf M.Arch. (Committee Member) Subjects: Architecture

MARCH, University of Cincinnati, 2009, Design, Architecture, Art and Planning : Architecture (Master of)

Architects and builders continue to build structures that are intended to last forever while it is increasingly apparent that buildings will fall into disrepair, fade out of style or become programmatically obsolete relatively soon after their construction. The natural and economic resources that were invested into the building become waste; deposited into landfills to slowly rot. This is an architectural opportunity to create buildings that are designed to respond and adapt to maintenance requirements, stylistic updates and user needs. In order to test this design process, I will design a building reuse learning center. It will be a learning center for architects, engineers and contractors to deconstruct, learn to reuse and reconstruct in such a way that it allows the process to start again. Design must become the process in which there is a critical forethought into the inevitable reuse of materials. Construction must accommodate potentials for future reuse, reappropriation or recycling. Programmatic arrangement of buildings must be focused on grouping alike building services so that buildings become a collection of services rather than materials. The design process has no beginning or end; it in itself is a continual flow of design services as buildings become temporary resting places for materials. The thesis is a study into understanding a building logic that enables and encourages the reuse of building materials through deconstruction.

Committee: George T. Bible (Committee Chair); Vincent Sansalone (Committee Co-Chair) Subjects: Architecture

MARCH, University of Cincinnati, 2009, Design, Architecture, Art and Planning : Architecture (Master of)

Our expectations for a building's usefulness have become less permanent. As user needs change rapidly, buildings often outlive their intended use. Buildings that are purpose-built are difficult to adapt and costly to renovate; conventional construction methods yield results that are too permanent. Demolition and new construction is costly, time consuming, and detrimental to the environment. Off-site fabrication provides greater efficiency by cutting waste and on-site construction time.Buildings - like the neighborhoods they occupy - are not static and need adjustment to remain attractive, safe and useful. Buildings must be planned and constructed differently to adapt for changing functions, standards of use and modification. The aim of this research is to offer potential solutions and demonstrate the benefits of integrating off-site fabrication with adaptable design strategies. The project is a high-rise building in an urban context that tests the integration of these two methods.

Committee: Elizabeth Riorden (Committee Chair); Gerald Larson (Committee Chair) Subjects: Architecture

MARCH, University of Cincinnati, 2008, Design, Architecture, Art and Planning : Architecture (Master of)

Momento Mori - Remember that one must die - The World Expo is beneficial in that it brings the international community together and creates a discourse of culture and understanding, but on a more environmental level, it is extremely wasteful as it requires a massive infrastructure and apparatus for a short time period. The waste that occurs for this event as well as for a typical building when it is demolished has a profound negative impact on the environment. And so, this project looks to impermanence as a design directive.

Committee: Riorden Elizabeth (Committee Chair); Michael McInturf (Committee Co-Chair) Subjects: Architecture

MS, University of Cincinnati, 2004, Engineering : Industrial Engineering

Design is the creative process by which our understanding of logic and science is joined with our understanding of human needs and wants to conceive and refine artifacts that serve specific human purposes. Quality Design is that process and activity that needs to be carried out to enable the manufacture of a product that fully meets customer requirements. The ultimate aim of design is essentially to satisfy all the direct and indirect needs of the internal, intermediate and final users. Hence, designing process forms the crux of all the operations in any organization. With strong competition from all over the world and strong customer awareness for quality, manufacturers have to look hard at how they can achieve a competitive edge that will keep them alive and hopefully take them into a leadership position. Much has been done in production to reduce the workforce, speed up production lines and generally address the quality of the manufactured product. The role of design in the product delivery process seems to have had much less emphasis applied to it and it may be in this area that we can now begin to make the most significant gains in product quality. But, not only is it necessary that the organization take steps to solve this problem on-hand but also, it is very much important that the steps in the direction be taken at earnest because the users needs are dynamic in nature and more often than not it has been researched that his wants and needs change by the time a solution is developed.It is here that the role of Information-technology plays a very important part. The advantages of the integration of technology with the design process cannot be neglected. The use of programs to develop an optimal design has increased the efficiency and the quality of manufacturing. The implementation of a software interface to design for disassembly will facilitate not only in determining accurately the existing times for disassembly and identifying anomalies in the product desig (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Dr. Anil Mital (Advisor) Subjects: Engineering, Industrial

MS, University of Cincinnati, 2002, Engineering : Industrial Engineering

Designing a product to enhance disassembly results in significant savings in time, cost and effort associated with disassembly. Study of relevant literature indicates the presence of numerous disassembly evaluation criteria and methodologies that are quantitative in nature. Similarly, as far as design for disassembly is concerned, there is an abundance of literature on tips to improve recycling end-of-life components. In addition, a number of rules have been provided that would enhance the disassemblability of a product such as say minimal use of fasteners (Use snap fit) or reduction in material variety. These rules have not been mentioned in conjunction with one another. A systematic methodology to incorporate disassembly considerations in the product design process is conspicuous by its absence. Incorporation of disassembly as one of the ‘X's in the DfX paradigm (in addition to functionality, cost, manufacturability, assembly, maintenance, quality and serviceability) might, in a multitude of cases entail a complete changeover in product design. Disassemblability of a product is a function of several parameters such as exertion of disassembly force to affect disassembly, degree of precision required for effective tool placement, weight, size, material and shape of components being disassembled, use of tools etc. The methodology described in this thesis assigns time based numeric indices to each design factor. Time based indices make for easy and quick determination of disassembly time. In addition, the value of this numeric index is inversely proportional to the relative ease with which each of the design factors can be addressed during disassembly. A higher score indicates anomalies in product design from the disassembly perspective. Addressing these anomalies in isolation and/or in combination can result in significant design modifications rendering an overall increase in disassemblability of the product. However, decisions regarding design modifications have to (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Dr. Anil Mital (Advisor) Subjects: Engineering, Industrial