School of Architecture & Environment
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The School of Architecture & Environment in the College of Design is nationally recognized for its innovation and sustainability research including the design of buildings, interiors, landscapes and communities. We are committed to the principles of civic responsibility, environmental sustainability, international understanding, and interdisciplinary education. Not only do our faculty and students collaborate with each other, they develop partnerships across campus—with law, the sciences, business, and journalism—and off campus with firms, artists, museums, designers, and even whole cities.
Our labs, studios, and classrooms provide spaces where students and faculty collaborate to push the boundaries of what is possible.
For more information on the program, visit the web site at: http://architecture.uoregon.edu/
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Item Open Access Lighting and the indoor microbiome: measuring the effect of LED lighting on E.coli(University of Oregon, Dept. of Architecture, Portland Program, 2019) Naganuma, Lindsey; Wimer, IsaacThe more we learn about natural light’s direct correlation to microbiology and its ability to regulate the production and growth of bacteria, the more the topic brings into question the effect electric light has on indoor microbiomes of the built environment. This research study specifically looks at the effects of different LED light spectrum wavelengths and their effect on Escherichia coli (E.coli) bacteria growth. Three residential LED lamps were used to expose plated E.coli to a range in spectrum of three different controlled LED lighting systems, as well as daylighting and their individual effects on the growth of E.coli over the course of 48 hours. The results indicated that LED lighting with high levels of orange and blue light were equally more effective at reducing the viability of E.coli colonies than the daylight levels during the study. Then those results were compared to the light spectrum readings of different artificially light spaces in the Scott Edwards Architecture office.Item Open Access Clearing the air: impacts of plants on air particulates in passive ventilation(University of Oregon, Dept. of Architecture, Portland Program, 2019) Braun, Elise; Cooper, Thomas; Surguine, MarsieThe presence of air contaminants, such as fine particulate matter generated by transportation and other outdoor sources is linked to adverse effects on human health such as asthma, headaches, and irritation in the eyes (Kluizenaar, et al. 2016). To improve the health and wellbeing of its employees and inform its professional practice, the architecture firm Opsis engaged with University of Oregon architecture students to study the presence and low-cost interventions to reduce air contaminants in their passively ventilated office space. The study consisted of a multi-phased experiment in the open office, testing the effect of plants on air particulates derived from outdoor sources measured at PM2.5 and PM10. The objectives of the study were to determine if there was a reduction in the number of air particulate levels measured after the intervention of plants. However, our experiments showed that plants were not able to significantly reduce particle counts through natural ventilation. Our data did support that increasing the plant density for the Sanseveria robusta (Snake plants), as well as combining both the Sanseveria robusta (Snake plants) and the Dracaena Marginata Colorama (Dracena) together, did have a slight impact on particle count reduction. The study also revealed other findings. One finding is that interior pollutants were more prevalent than exterior pollutants, indicating interior sources of pollutants and the recommendation for future testing to location the interior sources. Data collected from the exterior alludes to wind direction playing a role in the intake of outdoor pollutants into the indoors, but further study, especially by season, is recommended. In a lab test, moistening plants reduced particle counts more than dry plants, but scalability and practicality at an office scale is questionable. Overall, the data shows the average particulate counts are within acceptable EPA ranges. But, research literature indicates limits may not be low enough as health is impacted at levels lower than EPA limits. A final take-away is that we should continue to explore ways to improve outdoor air quality.Item Open Access Comparison of Occupant-Centric daylighting levels in windows for affordable housing in Portland, OR.(University of Oregon, Dept. of Architecture, Portland Program, 2019) Rager, Bentley; Martin, KatherineThis paper presents the results conducted from observing shade configurations and daylighting levels within an affordable housing bedroom unit. We conducted mainly qualitative data as the residents of the 82nd and Orchard building declined to participate in our study. Our quantitative data considered shade configuration, collected over a three-day period, and daylight factor using a physical model with photometric sensors. The results were compared to actual resident shade use over the course of the day to determine if a clerestory window outperforms a standard view glazing unit.Item Open Access Auditory visual perception: acoustic distractions in mass timber versus concrete office spaces(University of Oregon, Dept. of Architecture, Portland Program, 2019) Bain, Olivia; Montiel, Michelle; Summers, Lily; Yauk, MichaelDesigning for acoustics in relation to human health is becoming an increasingly relevant topic in the architectural profession. In an office environment, auditory stimuli such as the sound of traffic, office chatter, or impact noises (including as footfall or a chair dragging) from the floor above may cause small distractions throughout the course of the day. Based on research studies reviewed and compiled by the World Health Organization (WHO), the repetition of auditory stimuli could have compounding effects on occupants’ health and productivity. This study looks at the implications that auditory stimuli can have on office workers in two different building typologies; a mass timber building constructed of nail laminated timber (NLT), and a traditional masonry building. The comparison of these two typologies allowed us to assess if being surrounded by a biophilic elements such as wood gave users an “acoustic forgiveness factor” when exposed to the same types of auditory stimuli. Three biometric data sets were gathered to analyze unconscious emotional and physical responses to auditory stimuli: Galvanic Skin Response (GSR), heart rate, and emotional response (measured as valence) through the novel use of a facial recognition software. This small pilot study showed users of the conventional, masonry building were more likely to have a physical and emotional response to auditory stimuli in comparison to the inhabitants of the mass timber building. Further research with more participants and more controls in the study are needed; however, the results of this study imply that working in a mass timber building may provide an “acoustic forgiveness factor” to its occupants.Item Open Access Daylight, manual sunshade use and occupant-centric circadian lighting stimulus in an open office(University of Oregon, Dept. of Architecture, Portland Program, 2019) Pici, Nico; Pieper, JordanDaylight is essential to human productivity. It has been shown that if we do not receive enough daylight, our health and well-being is negatively affected. However, an overabundance of daylight into the indoors can make performing with computer-based visual tasks difficult and uncomfortable due to glare. This study is a collaboration with SRG Partnership, an Architecture firm in Portland, OR, to analyze their own workspace in determining optimal amounts of daylight as an occupant-centric circadian resource in the office. The historic office space has large south-east-facing windows that can be a source of glare, which negatively affects productivity, and are controlled manually with motorized shades. Participating occupants were given a wearable light sensor to track the light levels received throughout the day over the course of one work week. Sunshade use was also monitored and recorded.Item Open Access Whole building life cycle assessment (WBLCA) of mass timber systems: European vs North American mass timber vs steel(University of Oregon, Dept. of Architecture, Portland Program, 2019) O’Halloran, Simone; Kazeminejad, YasminWhole Building Life Cycle Assessments (WBLCA) are helpful tools in the evaluation of the environmental impacts of all of the components in a building. Inputs (like material extraction and manufacturing) and outputs (such as carbon emissions) are measured over the entire life cycle of the building. The goal is to minimize the negative impacts on the environment over the whole life cycle of the building. In this case we performed the WBLCA for a mixed use building in San Francisco California utilizing the software Tally. We compared three different building systems, North American mass timber, Austrian mass timber, and steel. The results from our comparative analysis show that concrete is the majority of the global warming potential and embodied energy regardless of the system. This paper supports and has shown the potential of Mass Timber material being used in building industries to minimize environmental impact.Item Open Access ASHP journal 2018(2018) Associated Students of Historic Preservation, University of OregonItem Open Access Anchor(2017-07-05) Sakthivel, Nithya Krithika; Gast, GeraldItem Open Access Capturing Film with Natural Light(2017-07-03) Fieroh, TaylorItem Open Access Box of Experiences(2017-07-03) Feicht, BenItem Open Access Portland Community Museum(2017-07-03) Daniels, AnyaItem Open Access CINC: Center for Innovation & Collaboration(2017-07-03) Bowers, AlisonItem Open Access The Home: Xiaozheng Elementary School(2017-07-03) Lou, YifeiItem Open Access i.TMI(2017-07-03) Adamson, TomItem Open Access Portland Youth Center for Arts(2017-07-03) Stockwell, ClaireItem Open Access i.TMI Institute of the Moving Image(2017-07-03) Korol, NathanItem Open Access ASHP journal 2016- 2017(2017) Associated Students of Historic Preservation, University of OregonItem Open Access Designing in Paradise: Authenticity through a Contemporary Filter(University of Oregon, 2016) Woltz, Keri; Neis, HajoThe public promenade creates an opportunity to unite the fragmented city of downtown Honolulu, Hawaii with a series of linked social interventions. Reflective of the ancient Hawaiian zoning order, each intervention is conceptually based on the physical entities that occupied historic Hawaii. Mixed with the surrounding natural environment and programmed event space, each intervention creates a cultural sense of place.Item Open Access The Cost of High-Rise Housing in Portland, OR(University of Oregon, 2014-12-08) Wilson, Richard H.The actual cost of high-rise housing in comparison to its land use can be an obscure topic. Information may not be widely available to determine the benefits of constructing tall buildings. This research paper aimed to document three specific case study high-rise housing projects, then compare them to one small scale housing type. This helped in understanding the primary differences between tall and small construction, and hinted, in a minor sense, at the sustainable implications of each. It was found that high-rise housing can be two to four times more costly than low-rise housing types. However the value in high-rise housing may be found, not in up-front cost to developers and investors, but to the community at large, and the preservation of diminishing natural landscape. This paper shall not conclude which is a better choice - high-rise or low-rise construction. However it should provide some figures to help better understand the potential cost difference.Item Open Access Stryiskyi Park Campus & Khutorivka Master Site Planning Strategies(University of Oregon, 2014-11-25) Wilson, Richard H.The Stryiskyi Park Campus is on its way to development. This drawing is illustrates the current and future potential of the east end of the campus. As the Church finishes construction and the library begins construction the interstitial landscape space will need to be addressed. In addition to this there is a need to understand the impact of a potential road will have on the plans for a new residence hall or sports field. Several configurations are tested amongst the constraints to inform the best use of the property. Strong influences on the site include the tree lined alley of Stryiskyi Park as the campus pedestrian entrance, the existing academic buildings, in addition to the interim lack of buildings, a vehicle drop off, solar access. Pedestrian nodes are identified and linked by clear and direct pedestrian pathways.