Given the lack of research regarding designing culturally relevant housing for the Sault Ste. Marie Chippewa Tribe, this study aimed to identify and evaluate key architectural design approaches that support Sault Ste. Marie Native culture. Key research questions guided the theoretical framework of the study, as well as the analysis of the final results. The questions include “What architectural design strategies have been used in the design of contemporary Native American Architecture in which the communities have key similarities or cultural overlap with the Sault Ste. Marie Indians?”, “How effective are each of these strategies and approaches in supporting these cultures and community needs?”, and “What are the strengths and weaknesses of each of these strategies in the context of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians’ culture and needs?”. In-depth literature and historical reviews were conducted to provide design principles and a basis for a housing architectural guideline for the Sault Tribe. A survey approved by the Institutional Review Board and the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians was then conducted to collect data on tribal members’ demographics, views on culturally relevant design, and level of agreement with the proposed guideline points. Key survey results showed that tribal members felt low levels of connection to the Sault Tribe and agreed that a design guideline was necessary for future tribal housing. Furthermore, the results of the survey showed a high level of agreement with the proposed principles relating to sustainability, spatial planning, and building technology. Results also showed tribal members’ disagreements with several of the proposed guideline points, which further supported the need for a tribal-specific architectural design guideline rather than one general to all tribes. Based on the survey results the proposed design points were then organized into a tribal-specific final design guideline. Housing designs for the Sault Tribe were then created using the guideline, within the context of a reservation site in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, and the current needs of tribal members. The housing designs serve as visual examples of the applicability of the guideline. The survey data, final guideline, and design examples will be significant resources for developing the Sault Tribes' urban environment and promoting cultural practice and survivance. The research will also contribute to the body of knowledge relating to contemporary Indigenous architecture.

The Process Project App, addresses the impact and value of architecture in all aspects and provides users with necessary information and guidance needed in one cohesive interface. The app uses psychographic and GIS mapping to analyze existing sites. community demographics, and provide visualizations and information about the potential impact of the building ideas. By doing so, the app can help architects design buildings that cater to the specific needs and desires of the people who will use and inhabit them, while also promoting sustainable behaviors and reducing the environmental impact of the building. Ultimately, the app aims to create a community-driven platform for architecture ideas that can lead to more efficient and sustainable buildings, happier occupants, and a better overall user experience that can shape the path of this new wave of architecture.

This thesis examines the benefit and need to integrate biophilic design strategies in modern architectural buildings. It discusses the extreme dissociation humanity has experienced from nature in the technological age, and the negative effects therein. Additionally, it dives into the way modern advancements have also led to a reliance upon artificial interfacing between individuals, rather than a traditional, in-person, face-to-face connection. This will further define biophilic design strategies, case studies and inspiration images of buildings in which they are already implemented, and how they can be utilized more. Lastly, it describes and displays a design concept for a youth center located at G.R. Herberger Park, interacting with the Central Arizona Project Canal. This project ultimately will be the first step in reconnecting people with nature and with each other, hopefully creating a butterfly effect that will spread throughout the city, state, and eventually the country.

The dynamic between the center and periphery urban settings in El Salvador shows that the periphery lacks resources, while the center has an abundance. The resource differences can be seen in areas such as technology, education, and safety. The phenomenon of gender inequality is also ever-present; making it difficult for female youth in rural El Salvador to pursue a future outside of their communities. By identifying this social issue in El Salvador, Muchas Mas, a non-profit organization has created a hub for the rural female youth to get educational resources in the country’s capital of San Salvador. In coalition with Muchás Mas, the intent of this creative thesis project is to explore ways in which a social issue can affect the architectural design process. With the hope of exposing new conclusions about the design process, the goal is to show how architecture can work to improve a social issue.