Master of Arts (MA), Bowling Green State University, 2024, Popular Culture

Retro video game collecting has seen an increase in popularity in the recent decade, however, with the increase in popularity of digital gaming and digital media the retro video game collectors are an endangered subculture of the video gaming industry due to the increase in digital gaming and the disappearance of the physical commodity. This research takes an autoethnographic approach and uses theories such as, Pierre Bourdieu's theories regarding capital and the field, Karl Marx's theory of commodity, and Ray Oldenburg's theory of the Third Place to explain the importance of this subculture and why retro video game collecting is worth researching.

Committee: Kristen Rudisill Ph.D (Committee Chair); Jeremy Wallach Ph.D (Committee Member) Subjects: Epistemology

BA, Kent State University, 2021, College of Architecture and Environmental Design

Hallways (commonly termed `'in-between' spaces) in schools can focus on engaging students in learning, interaction, and socialization outside of the formal classroom. The underutilization of hallways and the demand for flexible learning opportunities call for reassessing the design criteria of these in-between spaces in the education facilities (Nair, 2014). Ray Oldenburg's (2001) investigation into environments outside the home and work revealed socially vital places such as cafes, libraries, restaurants, termed as `Third Places', support, and rejuvenate communities. This exploratory study poses the question: Can there be a paradigm shift in rethinking the hallways as third places for students? Can these third places promote collaboration and interaction, both formal and informal? What design factors can be utilized within the hallways to foster these opportunities? A thorough literature review and in-depth investigation of the four case studies, which used the hallways as an extension of the classroom, was conducted. The case studies present design solutions for active learning approaches, those that produce an environment in which useful interactions strengthen (Steel, 2015). The researcher interviewed designers from each case study to understand the strategies used for the design of the hallways. A set of design guidelines were developed after a content analysis of the interview results. These design guidelines contain programmatic concepts such as resources, classroom support, furniture, acoustics, lighting, and adaptability, which were further expanded by analyzing them through the lens of Oldenburg's Third Place design strategies. These concepts and strategies drove the re-design of the hallways in an existing school to show the opportunity for hallway spaces as third places. This exploratory study intends to develop a design toolkit and a prototype to engage students thoughtfully in their educational environments beyond the four walls of a classroom.

Committee: Tina Patel Ph.D. (Advisor); Jill Lahrmer Ph.D. (Committee Member); Katherine Rawson Ph.D. (Committee Member); Natasha Levinson Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Architecture; Design; Education; Interior Design

MARCH, University of Cincinnati, 2019, Design, Architecture, Art and Planning: Architecture

This thesis addresses the spatial needs of people in bereavement as they return to their pre-bereavement routines. Because the initial grieving process takes place in the home and returning to a full-time job may be taxing, this thesis proposes creating a “third place” to address grief. A “third place” is neither home nor work, accessible to many and a place of connection with new and familiar people. This term was created by Ray Oldenberg in his book The Great Good Place. The thesis question addressed is: how can architectural design provide a “third place” for people in bereavement to address grief with their social, peer and professional networks in an urban context of everyday places? People within the bereaved individual's social network may not know how to help or interact with the bereaved or what assistance they might need beyond the initial loss. Current spaces to meet with peer support groups or professionals who work with bereavement are lacking in design and convenience to everyday life. This thesis will address the lack of such a space and provide an everyday place for the varied emotions and needs of the bereaved. Literature reviews of Christine Valentine, Ruth Davis Konigsberg, Catherine Sanders, Kenneth Doka and Kari and Atle Dyregrov and others have been conducted to understand typical emotions and needs beyond initial loss. The relationship between space, memory and the senses and how this affects embodied perception and how this perception may change with the influence of grief will also be analyzed in this thesis. The outcome of this thesis will be an intimate network of places that address a range of public and private grieving needs as well as the needs people in bereavement have as individuals and within their social, peer and professional networks.

Committee: Aarati Kanekar Ph.D. (Committee Chair); Michael McInturf M.Arch. (Committee Member) Subjects: Architecture

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

The goal of the thesis is to develop a design methodology for the combination of industrial and social space. The initial research focuses on identifying possible means to address social and economic problems, which are endemic to Over The Rhine. Through precedent, models of industrial production and informal social spaces are uncovered and the brewery and pub is identified as a workable program. The history of this building type as well as the processes involved in breweries and pubs are examined. Study of Hadid's BMW Central Building then provides the inspiration for the development of a design methodology. This methodology seeks new formal solutions to combining industrial and social spaces; creating a dynamic and engaging relationship between these disparate programmatic elements. The design project applies this methodology to a brewery and pub in Over The Rhine.

Committee: Gerald Larson (Committee Chair); John Hancock (Committee Member) Subjects: Architecture