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Architecture Masters Theses Collection

Theses from 2023 2023.

Music As a Tool For Ecstatic Space Design , Pranav Amin, Architecture

Creating Dormitories with a Sense of Home , Johnathon A. Brousseau, Architecture

The Tectonic Evaluation And Design Implementation of 3D Printing Technology in Architecture , Robert Buttrick, Architecture

Designing for the Unhoused: Finding Innovative and Transformative Solutions to Housing , Hannah C. Campbell, Architecture

Investigating Design-Functional Dimension Of Affordable Housing With Prefabrication On Dense Suburbs Of Chelsea, MA , Siddharth Jagadishbhai Dabhia, Architecture

Architecture of Extraction: Imagining New Modes of Inhabitation and Reclamation in the Mining Lifecyle , Erica DeWitt, Architecture

Utopian Thought and Architectural Design , Anthony L. Faith, Anthony L. Faith, and Anthony Faith, Architecture

Building Hygge In-Roads into Incremental Living , Tanisha Kalra, Architecture

NATURE INSPIRED ARCHITECTURE , Salabat Khan, Architecture

Sustainable Architecture in Athletics: Using Mass Timber in an Old-Fashioned Field , Zach C. Lefever, Architecture

Off-grid Living for the Normative Society: Shifting Perception and Perspectives by Design , Patsun Lillie, Architecture

The Evolution of Chinese Supermarkets in North America: An Alternative Approach to Chinese Supermarket Design , Ruoxin Lin, Architecture

Refreshing Refinery: An Analysis of Victorian Architecture and How to Translate its Elements for Contemporary Architecture , Richard J. Marcil, Architecture

After Iconoclasm: Reassessing Monumental Practices and Redesigning Public Memorials in Twenty-First-Century Massachusetts , Lincoln T. Nemetz-Carlson, Architecture

Earthen Materials In Organic Forms: An Ecological Solution to the Urban Biosphere? , Rutuja Patil, Architecture

Adaptive (Re)purpose of Industrial Heritage Buildings in Massachusetts A Modular Strategy for Building a Community , Riya D. Premani, Architecture

The Food Hub as a Social Infrastructure Framework: Restitching Communities in Boston After the Pandemic , Connor J. Tiches, Architecture

Theses from 2022 2022

Equitable Housing Generation Through Cellular Automata , Molly R. Clark, Architecture

Beneficial Invasive: A Rhizomatic Approach to Utilizing Local Bamboo for COVID Responsive Educational Spaces , Megan Futscher, Architecture

Architectural Activism Through Hip-Hop , Micaela Goodrich, Architecture

Addressing Trauma Through Architecture: Cultivating Well-being For Youth Who Have Experienced Trauma , Megan Itzkowitz, Architecture

Buildings Integrated into Landscape & Making People Care for Them: Exploring Integrated Land-Building Ecosystems and the Lifestyles Needed to Support It , Sara Mallio, Architecture

Reimagining Black Architecture , Esosa Osayamen, Architecture

Prefabricated Homes: Delivery At Your Doorsteps , Obed K. Otabil, Architecture

Memory and Resistance , Cami Quinteros, Architecture

Mycelium: The Building Blocks of Nature and the Nature of Architecture , Carly Regalado, Architecture

IN-BETWEEN SPACES: ATMOSPHERES, MOVEMENT AND NEW NARRATIVES FOR THE CITY , Paul Alexander Stoicheff, Architecture

Theses from 2021 2021

Creating New Cultural Hubs in American Cities: The Syrian Diaspora of Worcester, Massachusetts , Aleesa Asfoura, Architecture

Firesafe: Designing for Fire-Resilient Communities in the American West , Brenden Baitch, Architecture

The Beige Conundrum , Alma Crawford-Mendoza, Architecture

Cultivating Food Justice: Exploring Public Interest Design Process through a Food Security & Sustainability Hub , Madison J. DeHaven, Architecture

Physical to Virtual: A Model for Future Virtual Classroom Environments , Stephen J. Fink, Architecture

Detroit: Revitalizing Urban Communities , David N. Fite, Architecture

The Homestead Helper Handbook , Courtney A. Jurzynski, Architecture

An Architecture of a New Story , Nathan Y. Lumen, Architecture

Border Town: Preserving a 'Living' Cultural Landscape in Harlingen, Texas , Shelby Parrish, Architecture

Housing for Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): Creating an Integrated Living Community in Salem, MA , Tara Pearce, Architecture

From Sanctuary to Home in the Post-Interstate City , Morgan B. Sawyer, Architecture

Exploring the Use of Grid-Scale Compressed Air Energy Storage in the Urban Landscape , Connor S. Slover, Architecture

Bridging the Gaps in Public Conversation by Fostering Spaces of Activism , Karitikeya Sonker, Architecture

Re-envisioning the American Dream , Elain Tang, Architecture

Tall Timber in Denver: An Exploration of New Forms in Large Scale Timber Architecture , Andrew P. Weuling, Architecture

Theses from 2020 2020

Urban Inter-Space: Convergence of Human Interaction and Form , Clayton Beaudoin, Architecture

The Hues of Hadley Massachusetts: Pioneering Places for Preservation and Growth , Elisha M. Bettencourt, Architecture

Reinvigorating Englewood, Chicago Through New Public Spaces and Mixed-Income Housing , Givan Carrero, Architecture

Architectural Agency Through Real Estate Development , Hitali Gondaliya, Architecture

Multimodal Transit and a New Civic Architecture , Samuel Bruce Hill, Architecture

Rethinking The Suburban Center , Andrew Jones, Architecture

Resilient Urbanism: Bridging Natural Elements & Sustainable Structures in a Post-Industrial Urban Environment , Nicholas McGee, Architecture

Adaptive Airport Architecture , Yash Mehta, Architecture

Rethinking School Design to Promote Safety and Positivity , Emily Moreau, Architecture

The Built Environment and Well-Being: Designing for Well-Being in Post-Industrial Communities During the Age of Urbanization , Tyler O'Neil, Architecture

Brutalism and the Public University: Integrating Conservation into Comprehensive Campus Planning , Shelby Schrank, Architecture

Spatial Design for Behavioral Education , Madeline Szczypinski, Architecture

Theses from 2019 2019

THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITY: FOR REFUGEES , Raghad Alrashidi, Architecture

From Archaic To contemporary : Energy Efficient Adaptive Reuse of Historic Building , Nisha Borgohain, Architecture

(RE)Developing Place: The Power of Narrative , Kinsey Diomedi, Architecture

Rethinking Ambulatory Care Delivery , Senada Dushaj, Architecture

Photosynthesizing the Workplace: A Study in Healthy and Holistic Production Spaces , Kaeli Howard, Architecture

Museum Design As A Tool For A City , Cunbei Jiang, Architecture

Architecture and Wilderness: An Exchange of Order , Ashley Lepre, Architecture

Cross-Species Architecture: Developing an Architecture for Rehabilitative Learning Through the Human-Canine Relationship , Jake Porter, Architecture

Intermodal Transit Terminal: Integrating the Future of Transit into the Urban Fabric , Guy Vigneau, Architecture

Theses from 2018 2018

Bangladeshi Cultural Center: for the Bangladeshi Population Living in New York City , Sabrina Afrin, Architecture

THE ENHANCEMENT OF LEARNING THROUGH THE DESIGN PROCCESS: RENOVATING THE FORT RIVER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN AMHERST, MA , Reyhaneh Bassamtabar, Architecture

LEARNING SPACES: DISCOVERING THE SPACES FOR THE FUTURE OF LEARNING , Michael Choudhary, Architecture

ARCHITECTURAL SYNERGY: A FACILITY FOR LIFELONG LEARNING IN ACADEMIA AND PRACTICE , Ryan Rendano, Architecture

Resilient Architecture: Adaptive Community Living in Coastal Locations , Erica Shannon, Architecture

Theses from 2017 2017

New York City 2050: Climate Change and Future of New York | Design for Resilience , Abhinav Bhargava, Architecture

The Performance of Light: Exploring the Impact of Natural Lighting in the New UMass School of Performance , Dylan Brown, Architecture

Regional Expression In The Renovation Of Remote Historic Villages , Jie chen, Architecture

An Incremental Intervention In Jakarta: An Empowering Infrastructural Approach For Upgrading Informal Settlements , Christopher H. Counihan, Architecture

UMASS Dining Hall. A Path to Resiliency , Lukasz Czarniecki, Architecture

LIVING CORE OF THE FUTURE: PROPOSING NEW APPROACH FOR THE FUTURE OF RESIDENTIAL COMPLEX IN METROPOLITAN AREAS , Mahsa G. Zadeh, Architecture

HUMANITY IN A CHILDREN’S CANCER HOSPITAL , Sara Jandaghi Jafari, Architecture

Designing Symbiosis for the New Church Community , Evan Janes, Architecture

A Visible History: A Synthesis of Past, Present and Future Through the Evocation of Memory Within Historic Contexts , Nicholas Jeffway, Architecture

Creating A Community A New Ecological, Economical, and Social Path to Uniting a Community , Andrew Stadnicki, Architecture

Z-Cube: Mobile Living for Feminist Nomads , Zi Ye, Architecture

Theses from 2016 2016

Music and Architecture: An Interpresence , Rachel J. Beesen, Architecture

Intervening in the Lives of Internally Displaced People in Colombia , Amy L. Carbone, Architecture

Designing Waste Creating Space: A Critical Examination Into Waste Reduction Through Building Techniques, Architectural Design, and Systems , Courtney M. Carrier, Architecture

Umass September 11 Intervention , Mohamad Farzinmoghadam, Architecture

Merging Social Science and Neuroscience in Architecture: Creating a Framework to Functionally Re-integrate Ex-Convicts , Kylie A. Landrey, Architecture

From Shelters to Long Living Communities , Yakun Liang, Architecture

Building Hope: A Community + Water Initiative, La Villa de San Francisco, Honduras , Christopher D. Mansfield, Architecture

THE SPATIALITY IN STORYTELLING , Xiang Yu, Architecture

Innovation of the Residential Buildings and Community in the Emerging City Rongcheng , Xing Yu, Architecture

Art and Life - Make invisible visible in Cao changdi village, Beijing, China , peng zhang, Architecture

Theses from 2015 2015

The Dialogue of Craft and Architecture , Thomas J. Forker, Architecture

MOSQUE IN THE VALLEY: A SPACE FOR SPIRITUAL GATHERING & CULTURAL LEARNING , Nabila Iqbal, Architecture

EXPLORATION OF CONNECTIVITY BETWEEN URBAN PLAZA AND MIXED USE BUILDINGS , Youngduk Kim, Architecture

Design Of A Housing For Urban Artisan-Living Work , Fahim Mahmud, Architecture

Membranes and Matrices: Architecture as an Interface , Nayef Mudawar, Architecture

Building for the Future: Revitalization through Architecture , Rebecca N. Perry, Architecture

Developing Maker Economies in Post-Industrial Cities: Applying Commons Based Peer Production to Mycelium Biomaterials , Grant R. Rocco, Architecture

Design of Children's Event and Cutural Center in Osu, Accra, Ghana , Rudi Somuah, Architecture

Sustainable Design of Student Centers Retrofitting and Adaptive Reuse of UMass Student Union , Tianye Song, Architecture

Design/Build in Architectural Education: studying community-focused curriculum , Matthew K. Sutter, Architecture

Landform Architecture As Reconnecting Presence For Campus Complex Design , Yi Wang, Architecture

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Master of Architecture

The Master of Architecture (M. Arch.) is a graduate degree that is accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB). In addition to a period of professional internship, the M. Arch. degree qualifies individuals for the Architectural Registration Examination (ARE) and licensure in architecture. There are two pathways available: The M. Arch. II program for students from pre-professional undergraduate architecture programs; the M. Arch. III program for students with undergraduate degrees in fields other than architecture. Both programs sit within the Department of Architecture and Interior Design at Miami.

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M. arch. ii: 2-year professional program.

(60 credit-hour track)

The two-year professional program is designed for students with a pre-professional degree that is equivalent to a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture. Normally, a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science in Architecture is considered an equivalent pre-professional degree. Other undergraduate degree programs, in which the students have completed four years of architectural design studio and requisite course work in architectural history and architectural technology, may also satisfy partial requirements for admission to the M. Arch. II program.

The M. Arch. II program is typically completed in two academic years. Students in the program must complete both a written and a design thesis.

M. Arch. III: 3-Year Professional Program

(88 credit-hour track)

The three-year professional program is designed for students with an undergraduate degree other than architecture. The program was established to bring in students from diverse academic backgrounds, offering a variety of perspectives, different intellectual viewpoints, experience, and maturity that can significantly enrich the teaching and learning culture of the department.

The M. Arch. III program is typically completed in three academic years. Students in the program must complete both a written and a design thesis.

In the first year of the three-year program, students learn the fundamentals of architectural design, technology, history, and theory, and also develop visual analysis and graphic communication skills. Design work from this first year will be reviewed by graduate faculty to determine eligibility to continue to the Second Year curriculum.

The M. Arch Thesis Process

M. Arch II and M. Arch III students complete both a written and a design thesis, supervised by their graduate faculty committee. The thesis process and guidelines are defined in the Thesis Guidelines.

Pre-Thesis Year

In Fall Semester of pre-thesis year,   Architectural Theory   (ARC 634) explores important design philosophies ranging from Aristotle to Robert Venturi.  It is an intensive seminar course consisting of student-led discussion of twenty complete works and other smaller selections.  Seminar papers provide practice engaging with the theory and criticism necessary for crafting a master’s thesis.

In Spring Semester of pre-thesis year,   Design and Research Methods   (ARC 636) works to establish a foundation for the written thesis and for site research.  Students develop and present a preliminary thesis question in poster format to the graduate faculty. This encourages discussion and allows students to begin forming their thesis committees.  Writing and diagramming exercises hone both textual and graphical communication with a focus on academic discourse.  Independent research, guided by their instructor and thesis committee, informs individual methodologies and the development of a thesis draft. At the end of the semester, 80% of the written thesis is complete, allowing time for revisions, and site selection.

Thesis Year

In Fall Semester of thesis year,   Pre-Thesis Design Studio   (ARC 701) concludes the written thesis process and prepares for the design thesis in Spring Semester. Students are encouraged to submit to relevant conferences, encouraging participation in academic discourse. Written thesis presentations are also sent to the thesis respondent (a distinguished academic or professional from outside Miami University). At this point, students begin their design thesis, including site selection, site analysis, programming, and schematic design, regularly consulting with their thesis committees.  

In Spring Semester of thesis year,   Thesis Design Studio   (ARC 702) continues the design thesis with further exploration and prepares students to present their completed thesis near the end of spring semester. This course navigates the tension between exploration and completion, working to attain both during this final studio. Students must regularly consult with their committees for feedback and critique throughout this critical period.  Near the end of the semester, the thesis respondent attends the thesis presentations to critique each student’s design thesis in light of their written thesis.    

This process is supported by internationally recognized   Visiting Scholars   that work with the students. Our students regularly have their papers accepted at both domestic and international conferences. 

Thesis Guidelines

Thesis planning dates and guidelines abstract.

(The Director of Graduate Studies will issue specific dates for each item at the beginning of each academic term, subject to revision.)

I. Spring.   600-Level students begin the written thesis process within the context of ARC 636, Design & Research Methods. Process includes the Written Thesis Proposal and the formation of the Thesis Committee. 600-Level students meet with their Thesis Committees and formulate a research plan.

II. August.   Students supply their thesis committee chair with a substantially developed draft document with bibliography, notes, and illustrations. This draft document and the preliminary site documentation and program serve as a prerequisite for enrollment into the ARC 701 studio. Thesis committee chairs, the Director of Graduate studies, and students meet on or before Friday, 4pm, the first week of classes to consider readiness for ARC 701. Students are advised on their readiness to proceed; lack of readiness means the student may not proceed into 701.

III. September-November.   Written thesis document completed for presentation. Oral presentations occur over two days moderated by a thesis respondent, faculty moderators and the thesis committee. Students begin submission of the written thesis to additional relevant venues.

IV. December.   ARC 701 students present program site analysis, site investigation process, site design proposal, and schematic building design process and ideation at the end of the semester review, working in concert with their committee and the ARC 701 instructor. Students are advised on their readiness to proceed; lack of readiness means the student may not proceed into 702.

V. January-March.   ARC 702 studio students develop regular meeting schedule with committees and coordinate interim milestone reviews with ARC 702 design instructor. The content of the milestone reviews, as well as the 700 Level Design Thesis Guidelines, will be defined in the context of the 702 course. Students are expected to engage their committees on a regular basis in the spirit of mutual obligation in a multiple review format. Comprehensive assessment review of thesis progress (typically prior to spring break) in the form of a full presentation mock up, final design scope, and signed presentation contract agreed upon between the student, ARC 702 instructor and thesis committee. Follow-up review after spring break to determine thesis design presentation viability and develop preliminary thesis presentation schedule. At each of these two reviews, students are advised on their readiness to proceed; lack of readiness means the student may not proceed to present the design thesis.

VI. April.   Thesis Design Presentations. Design grade established in consultation with the ARC 702 instructor and thesis committee. Students develop a written addendum to their thesis document to include reduced project drawings and a critical concluding section exploring the relationship between their theoretical frame and design outcome.

VII. May.   In order for students to receive a grade for ARC 702 studio, students must turn in completed thesis document (text and design documentation) to their committee for signature at least one week prior to graduation. Committee members must approve completed document content before they sign cover sheets. Graduation cannot occur until a final grade is approved and signed documents are deposited with Graduate Department's Administrative Assistant.

600-Level Spring Thesis Development Schedule

(Development dates to be embedded within ARC 636 course content/ schedule, subject to revision)

August   (end 1st week): Submit substantially completed written thesis document draft, thesis program and site documentation and analysis report to thesis committee chair and reader(s). This a necessary prerequisite for admission into ARC 701. Students are advised on their readiness to proceed; lack of readiness means the student may not proceed into 701.

August   (end 2nd week): Faculty submit student thesis progress report to the Director of Graduate Studies to advise as to whether student is prepared to enter ARC 701.

600-Level Written Thesis Proposal

Project Title :

Student Name (Please Print):

Students are required to receive thesis proposal approval in order to be eligible to register for any of the following courses:

(  ) ARC 701 Architectural Design Studio         Term :

(  ) ARC 590.A Independent Study                   Term :

(Site Analysis and Program Inquiry)

ARC 636 Instructor :

Names of faculty with whom you have consulted :

The Written Thesis Proposal poses a question to be investigated in the written portion of the thesis. Although the written portion of the thesis follows the form of the scholarly papers common to architecture and related disciplines, students are urged to consider early the possible connections between the written portion of the thesis and the subsequent design investigation.

Use 12 point Times type double space. At least 12 pages and not more than 20.

Articulate the following content incorporating the required subject headings noted below:

1. The Research Question:   In a carefully worded sentence, state the research question you will investigate. In one or two paragraphs (up to 500 words) clarify the issues, limits, and structure of the proposed investigation. Why is your thesis question important to the discipline at this time?

2. Methodology: Describe the research methods you will use to collect and interpret information. Provide a brief outline of your paper.

3. Discussion:   Discuss Previous Research on the Topic and describe alternative theories by the other authors and/or designers that informs your research. Identify your own assumptions and position yourself with regard to this literature.

4. Anticipated Outcome and Contribution:   In what form will your findings be presented? If you begin the investigation with a tentative thesis assumption to be supported or disproved, state this clearly. Discuss the contexts that will be affected by your work. Why is this work particularly important at this time?

5. Bibliography/ Sources:   Provide a narrative literature review with endnotes using the ACSA National Meeting / Chicago Manual of Style Format. The notes should list only those sources you intend to use.

6. Schedule:   Provide a schedule of your activities for spring. Delineate completion dates of required and individual activities. Include site analysis and program development.

600-Level Thesis Committee Selection

Please list the names of students you are willing to serve (specify chair or reader) . Note whether or not you have discussed this with the student previously.

Please list the names of students you are not willing to serve as chair or reader.

Please list your first three choices for thesis chair:

Please list your first three choices for thesis reader:

Please note the names of any outside readers you have already engaged:

600-Level Written Thesis Assessment

Project Title:

Student Name:

Thesis Chair:

1. The Research Question

Did the student clearly state the research question to be investigated?

Did the student clarify the structure and limits of the proposed investigation?

2. Previous Research on the Topic

Did the student identify and critique the existing literature relevant to their thesis question?

Did the student identify and critique alternative/competing theories within the literature?

Did the student identify their own assumptions and position themselves with regard to the literature?

3. Methodology

Did the student describe their method to collect data and interpret information?

4. Anticipated Outcome and Contribution

Did the student clearly support or disprove their thesis statement?

Did the student identify the contexts that would be impacted by their work?

Did the student discuss why their topic was particularly relevant at this time?

5. Bibliography/Sources

Did the student develop a fully developed Bibliography/Source List consistent with their thesis question?

6. Schedule

Did the student carefully develop their site documentation and pre-programming?

Miami University Department of Architecture and Interior Design Graduate Program

700-Level Thesis Development

ARC 701, Fall Semester

Site Analysis, conceptual design, preliminary schematic design, and pre-programming

 1. Refinement of site research through visual analysis on the macro scale to micro scale (ex: hemisphere to building footprint) includes ecology, topography, political, social and economic site forces and other issues pertinent to your thesis inquiry. Further documentation through photographs, film, sketches, surveys, maps using a variety of 2-D and 3-D media and techniques pertinent to your thesis inquiry is also required.

2. You will develop site / building agenda as well as preliminary program that explicates your project’s intention through:

A) Framing your thesis question within the principles / objectives of your project. Exploring precedent and case studies pertinent to your inquiry: exploring their intersections and potential contradictions to your project.

B) Conceptual site and building design, and schematic design options: exploring spatial adjacencies, orientations and relationships; spatial programming which may include specific space requirements and desired dimensions; structure and building systems, and materials; zoning issues; life safety and preliminary code requirements including other issues pertinent to your thesis inquiry.

700-Level Design Thesis Guidelines

The guidelines below offer the thesis candidate departmental expectations about the nature and scope of Master of Architecture Design theses. The graduate committee acknowledges that students may pursue a design thesis grounded in personal inquiry with emphases in areas such as theory, landscape, urbanism, digital media, technology, artistic production, history, etc. Regardless of subject, there is an implicit assumption that most theses will be tested in an architectural building project with full technical documentation, and procedures and standards set below are intended to help guide such projects. These guidelines may be subject to change as a result of shifts within the broader context of architecture and the profession.

If a thesis project will not follow the norm of a standard building project, the thesis candidate must develop parallel guidelines at least as rigorous as those set forth below. The student’s thesis committee and the graduate committee before the midterm of the ARC 701 studio must approve any alternative guidelines.

II. Procedures

1. Semester Critique Sessions

In order to support the development of the design thesis, the time period from 4:00 to 5:00 PM every other Wednesday, will be dedicated to contact between the thesis committees and their respective students. No other activities should be scheduled during this time that would interfere with these meetings.

2. Thesis Student Progress Assessment

The thesis candidate will be assessed formally in writing twice during the thesis design period as follows:

a.   ARC 701

The ARC 701 instructor in consultation with the thesis committee will assess the progress of each thesis student in terms of the guidelines after the December schematic design review. The faculty group will make one the following recommendations:

i. Proceed to ARC 702: Site Analysis, Conceptual and pre-schematic design, and pre-programming complete and guidelines to date have been met.

ii. Proceed to ARC 702 Subject to Modification: Advancement to ARC 702 subject to modification and completion of all items noted as deficient by the ARC 701 instructor and thesis committee. All revisions to the thesis must be completed and reviewed by the ARC 701 instructor and the thesis committee prior to the first day of classes in the spring semester.

iii. Do not proceed to ARC 702: Thesis program, site analysis and development, and architectural schematic design do not meet accepted standards as outlined in the guidelines.

b.   ARC 702

The ARC 702 instructor, in consultation with the thesis committee where necessary, will assess the progress of each thesis student at the mid term of the spring semester in terms of the thesis guidelines. The faculty group will make one the following recommendations:

i. Proceed to ARC 702 Design Thesis Completion: Evidence of a well-developed design process in place. Schematic level design complete and project exhibits mature design development, inclusive of tectonic detail. Design Process, Drawings and Model guidelines to date have been met. A plan for final presentation is in place. Student is ready to commence final drawings and presentation.

ii. Proceed to ARC 702 Design Thesis Completion Subject to Modification: Advancement to ARC 702 Design Thesis Completion subject to modification and completion of all items noted as deficient by the ARC 702 instructor and thesis committee. All revisions and additions to the thesis design must be completed, reviewed and approved by the ARC 702 instructor and the thesis committee by the end of the first day of classes after the spring mid semester break for the student to continue.

iii. Do not proceed to ARC 702 Design Thesis Completion: Thesis design program, site analysis and design, architectural design process record, schematic design and design development do not meet accepted standards as outlined in the thesis design guidelines.

3. Thesis Committee Chair and Reader Assessment

All Thesis Committee Chairs and Readers will have formal, written course evaluations conducted by the Department using the standard CCA form and any other form of the faculty member’s choosing upon the completion of the written and design thesis during the spring term under the course number ARC 700.

III. Architectural Design Thesis Guidelines

All Architectural Design thesis projects must respond creatively and imaginatively to the thesis questions, challenges, and problems presented in the written thesis. Thesis candidates executing a building project to fulfill the Architectural Design requirement must develop their projects to function and be expressive at multiple scales, ranging from a large site context to smaller articulate details. The presentation of the Design Thesis must account for a sufficiently rich conception of the building at all such scales. The final design presentation should document fully the design investigation, incorporating at least three major areas: site documentation and analysis, and design process and development. The following standards are to serve as guidelines, but are negotiable by the candidate in conjunction with the studio instructor and committee, and as appropriate to the specific project, with the approval of the graduate committee.

A substantial deviation from these standards presumes the development of parallel standards of equal rigor, pre-approved by the thesis committee and the graduate committee.

1. Site Documentation and Analysis:

a. Site Documentation at the appropriate scale should include most or all of the following:

Figure Ground Drawing. Topographic Drawing. Land Use Plan. Area Plan of Environs. Site Plan of Design Intervention Area. Aerial Photographs. Documentary Photographs. Historic Documentation/Photos. Video and Audio Documentation. Site Demography to consider: Race, Gender, Ethnicity, Education, Income.

b. Tangible Site Analysis may include most or all of the following:

Circulation: Pedestrian, Vehicular, Other. Entry/Access: Pedestrian, Vehicular, Other. Climate: Wind, Solar, Precipitation, Temperature, Vegetation. View. Massing. Major and Minor Spaces. Materiality and Detail. Existing Building Analysis (if applicable). Architectural Precedent + Typology.

c. Intangible Site Analysis may include most or all of the following: Light + Shadow. Tactility. Color. Olfactory. Sound. Mood/Attitude.

2. Design Process (Organized, Dated and Selectively Edited):

Sketch and Drawing Record. Journals, Models/Constructions. Digital Mediation + Animation. Artistic Interpretive Activity: Photography, Painting, Sculpture, Video/Audio, Performance Lithography, Weaving, Metals, Assemblage, Collage.

3. Architectural Building Design Presentation Requirements at Descending Appropriate Scales:

Area Plan (1”= 80’), Site Plan (1”= 40’), Site Sections (1’= 40’), Building Floor and Roof Plans (1’=   .   ”), Building Elevations Major and Minor (1’ =   .   ”), Building Sections Major and Minor (1’=   .   ”), Interior Perspectives/Sequences/Animations, Exterior Perspectives /Sequences /Animations, Aerial Perspective/Animations, Site Model (1”= 40’), Building Model (1”=   .   ”), Axonometric/ Massing Study, Wall Sections (1’ =   .   ”), Details of Key Elements and Material Connections (Half or Full Scale), Diagrams Explaining Design Issues: Site, Spatial Relationships, Structure, Systems, Envelope, Program Disposition in appropriate scales. Explicatory Text of not more than 250 Words. Written Program expressed in gross and net square feet keyed to plan drawings with numerical legend.

700-Level Graduate Thesis Assessment

Site Documentation and Analysis:

Design Process:

Architectural Building Design Presentation:

Graduate Studio Advancement Requirement (from the Graduate Studies in Architecture Guidelines and Policy): To be included in all graduate studio syllabi.

All Graduate students need to maintain the minimum 3.0 GPA Graduate School requirement for good standing designation each semester throughout their period of study in the architecture graduate program.

Any student receiving a grade lower than B- in design studio will, in concert with the graduate studio instructor and the Graduate Committee, undergo a progress review prior to the student's advancement to the next studio level.

Graduate students who receive 2 or more studio grades lower than B- in design studio, or have not met the 3.0 minimum GPA Graduate School requirement for the second semester, will not be eligible to commence or complete the thesis year.

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Undergraduate Thesis

Preparing for Thesis

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Thesis Writing Guides

Getting Started - Topic Selection

Check out our Thesis Finding Aid to see topics previous students have chosen. 

Brainstorm for ideas - what problem(s) might you address through design.

• choose a topic that will enable you to read and understand the literature
• ensure that the topic is manageable and that material is available
• make a list of keywords
• be flexible
• define your topic as a focused research question
• research and read more about your topic
• use your question to formulate a thesis statement

For more ideas check out our guide on How to Write an Academic Paper

Types of Architectural Research

There are many types of research in architecture but they all share the same goal to create new architectural knowledge. The books on this page provide more information on conducting research. Depending on your thesis topic you may choose to apply any research methods, but each thesis includes at a minimum the following:

• Literature Review - A summary and analysis of published sources on the thesis topic that brings the reader up to date with current thinking.
• Case Studies - Built projects relevant to the thesis topic which are analyzed for ideas and inspiration. Usually include images, data, drawings, and description and analysis of the project. 
• Physical model - A scale model physical representation of the design solution intended to demonstrate the space and communicate design ideas. 

Some other approaches include questionnaires, surveys, interviews, site analysis, demographics, digital models, materials research, performativity tests, consumer research, or financial viability. They are all valid. The type of research you do will be determined by your research question. 

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2020 Student Thesis Showcase - Part I

Have you ever wondered what students design in architecture school? A few years ago, we started an Instagram account called IMADETHAT_ to curate student work from across North America. Now, we have nearly 3,000 projects featured for you to view. In this series, we are featuring thesis projects of recent graduates to give you a glimpse into what architecture students create while in school. Each week, for the rest of the summer, we will be curating five projects that highlight unique aspects of design. In this week’s group, the research ranges from urban scale designs focused on climate change to a proposal for a new type of collective housing and so much in between. Check back each week for new projects. 

In the meantime, Archinect has also created a series featuring the work of 2020 graduates in architecture and design programs. Check out the full list, here .

Redefining the Gradient by Kate Katz and Ryan Shaaban, Tulane University, M.Arch ‘20

Thesis Advisors: Cordula Roser Gray and Ammar Eloueini / Course: 01-SP20-Thesis Studio

Sea level rise has become a major concern for coastal cities due to the economic and cultural importance tied to their proximity to water. These cities have sustained their livelihood in low-lying elevations through the process of filling, bridging, and raising land over coastal ecosystems, replacing their ecological value with infrastructures focused on defining the edge between city and nature. Hard infrastructures have been employed to maintain urban landscapes but have minimal capacity for both human and non-human engagement due to their monofunctional applications focused on separating conditions rather than integrating them. They produce short-term gains with long-term consequences, replacing and restricting ecosystems and acting as physical barriers in a context defined by seasonal transition. 

To address the issues of hard infrastructure and sea level rise, this thesis proposes an alternative design strategy that incorporates the dynamic water system into the urban grid network. San Francisco was chosen as the location of study as it is a peninsula where a majority of the predicted inundation occurs on the eastern bayside. In this estuary, there were over 500 acres of ecologically rich tidal marshlands that were filled in during the late 1800s. To protect these new lands, the Embarcadero Sea Wall was built in 1916 and is now in a state of neglect. The city has set aside $5 billion for repairs but, instead of pouring more money into a broken system, we propose an investment in new multi-functional ecologically-responsive strategies. 

As sea levels rise, the city will be inundated with water, creating the opportunity to develop a new circulation system that maintains accessibility throughout areas located in the flood zone. In this proposal, we’ve designed a connective network where instance moments become moments of pause and relief to enjoy the new cityscape in a dynamic maritime district. 

On the lower level, paths widen to become plazas while on the upper level, they become breakout destinations which can connect to certain occupiable rooftops that are given to the public realm. The bases of carved canals become seeding grounds for plants and aquatic life as the water level rises over time. Buildings can protect high-risk floors through floodproofing and structural encasement combined with adaptive floorplates to maintain the use of lower levels. The floating walkway is composed of modular units that are buoyant, allowing the pedestrian paths to conform and fluctuate with diurnal tidal changes. The composition of the units creates street furniture and apertures to engage with the ecologies below while enabling a once restricted landscape of wetlands to take place within the city. 

The new vision of the public realm in this waterfront district hopes to shine an optimistic light on how we can live with nature once again as we deal with the consequences of climate change.

Unearthing the Black Aesthetic by Demar Matthews, Woodbury University, M.Arch ‘20

Advisor: Ryan Tyler Martinez Featured on Archinect

“Unearthing The Black Aesthetic” highlights South Central Los Angeles’s (or Black Los Angeles’s) unique positioning as a dynamic hub of Black culture and creativity. South Central is the densest population of African Americans west of the Mississippi. While every historically Black neighborhood in Los Angeles has experienced displacement, the neighborhood of Watts was hit particularly hard. As more and more Black Angelenos are forced for one reason or another to relocate, we are losing our history and connection to Los Angeles.

As a way to fight this gentrification, we are developing an architectural language derived from Black culture. So many cultures have their own architectural styles based on values, goals, morals, and customs shared by their society. When these cultures have relocated to America, to keep their culture and values intact, they bought land and built in the image of their homelands. That is not true for Black people in America. In fact, until 1968, Black people had no rights to own property in Los Angeles. While others began a race to acquire land in 1492, building homes and communities in their image, we started running 476 years after the race began. What percentage of land was left for Blacks to acquire? How then can we advance the development of a Black aesthetic in architecture?

This project, most importantly, is a collaboration with the community that will be for us and by us. My goal is to take control of our image in architecture; to elevate, not denigrate, Black life and culture. Ultimately, we envision repeating this process in nine historically Black cities in America to develop an architectural language that will vary based on the history and specificities of Black culture in each area.

KILLING IT: The Life and Death of Great American Cities by Amanda Golemba, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, M.Arch ’20

Advisors: Nikole Bouchard, Jasmine Benyamin, and Erik Hancock / Independent Design Thesis

For decades, post-industrial cities throughout the United States have been quietly erased through self-imposed tabula rasa demolition. If considered at all, demolition is touted as the mechanism for removing unsightly blight, promoting safety, and discarding the obsolete and the unwanted. Once deemed unworthy, rarely does a building survive the threat of demolition. 

In the last decade, the City of Chicago has erased over 13,000 buildings with 225 in just the last four months. Not only does this mass erasure eradicate the material and the spatial, but it permanently wipes the remnants of human bodies, values, and history — a complete annulment of event, time, and memory. 

But why do we feel the need to erase in order to make progress?

Our current path has led to a built environment that is becoming more and more uniform and sterile. Much of America has become standardized, mixed-use developments; neighborhoods of cookie-cutter homes and the excessive use of synthetic, toxic building materials. A uniform world is a boring one that has little room for creativity, individuality, or authenticity.

This thesis, “KILLING IT,” is a design proposal for a traveling exhibition that seeks to change perceptions of the existing city fabric by visualizing patterns of erasure, questioning the resultant implications and effects of that erasure, and proposing an alternative fate. “KILLING IT” confronts the inherently violent aspects of architecture and explores that violence through the intentionally jarring, uncomfortable, and absurd analogy of murder. This analogy is a lens through which to trace the violent, intentional, and premature ending and sterilization of the existing built environment. After all, as Bernard Tschumi said, “To really appreciate architecture, you may even need to commit a murder.”1 But murder is not just about the events that take place within a building, it is also the material reality of the building itself. 

Over the life of a building, scarring, moments in time, and decay layer to create an inhabitable palimpsest of memory. This traveling exhibition is infused with the palimpsest concept by investigating strategies of layering, modularity, flexibility, transparency, and building remains, while layering them together to form a system that operates as an inhabitable core model collage. Each individual exhibition simultaneously memorializes the violence that happened at that particular site and implements murderous adaptive reuse strategies through collage and salvage material to expose what could have been.

If we continue down our current path, we will only continue to make the same mistakes and achieve the same monotonous, sterilizing results we currently see in every American city and suburb. We need to embrace a new path that values authenticity, celebrates the scars and traces of the past, and carries memories into the future. By reimaging what death can mean and addressing cycles of violence, “KILLING IT” proposes an optimistic vision for the future of American cities. 

• Tschumi, Bernard. “Questions of space: lectures on architecture” (ed. 1990)

A New Prototype for Collective Housing by Juan Acosta and Gable Bostic, University of Texas at Austin, M.Arch ‘20

Advisor: Martin Haettasch / Course: Integrative Design Studio Read more: https://soa.utexas.edu/work/new-prototype-collective-housing

Austin is a city that faces extreme housing pressures. This problem is framed almost exclusively in terms of supply and demand, and the related question of affordability. For architects, however, a more productive question is: Will this new quantity produce a new quality of housing? 

How do we live in the city, how do we create individual and collective identity through architecture, and what are the urban consequences? This studio investigates new urban housing types, smaller than an apartment block yet larger and denser than a detached house. Critically assessing existing typologies, we ask the question: How can the comforts of the individual house be reconfigured to form new types of residential urban fabric beyond the entropy of tract housing or the formulaic denominator of “mixed-use.” The nature of the integrative design studio allowed for the testing of material systems and construction techniques that have long had an important economic and ecological impact.

“A New Prototype for Collective Housing” addresses collectivity in both a formal and social sense, existing between the commercial and residential scales present in Austin’s St. John neighborhood as it straddles the I-35 corridor; a normative American condition. A diversity of programs, and multigenerational living, create an inherently diverse community. Additionally, a courtyard typology is used to negotiate the spectrum of private and shared space. Volumes, comprising multiple housing units ranging from studio apartments to four bedrooms, penetrate a commercial plinth that circulates both residents and mechanical systems. The use of heavy timber ensures an equitable use of resources while imbuing the project with a familiar material character.

ELSEWHERE, OR ELSE WHERE? by Brenda (Bz) Zhang, University of California at Berkeley, M.Arch ’20

Advisors: Andrew Atwood and Neyran Turan See more: https://www.brendazhang.com/#/elsewhere-or-else-where/

“ELSEWHERE, OR ELSE WHERE?” is an architectural fever dream about the San Francisco Bay Area. Beginning with the premise that two common ideas of Place—Home and Elsewhere—are no longer useful, the project wonders how disciplinary tools of architecture can be used to shape new stories about where we are.

For our purposes, “Home,” although primarily used to describe a place of domestic habitation, is also referring generally to a “familiar or usual setting,” as in home-base, home-court, home-page, and even home-button. As a counterpoint, Elsewhere shifts our attention “in or to another place,” away. This thesis is situated both in the literal spaces of Elsewhere and Home (landfills, houses, wilderness, base camps, wastelands, hometowns) and in their culturally constructed space (value-embedded narratives determining whether something belongs, and to whom). Since we construct both narratives through principles of exclusion, Elsewhere is a lot closer to Home than we say. These hybrid spaces—domestic and industrial, urban and hinterland, natural and built—are investigated as found conditions of the Anthropocene and potential sites for new understandings of Place.

Ultimately, this thesis attempts to challenge conventional notions of what architects could do with our existing skill sets, just by shifting our attention—Elsewhere. The sites shown here and the concerns they represent undeniably exist, but because of the ways Western architecture draws thick boundaries between and around them, they resist architectural focus—to our detriment.

In reworking the physical and cultural constructions of Homes and Elsewheres, architects are uniquely positioned to go beyond diagnostics in visualizing and designing how, where, and why we build. While this project looks specifically at two particular stories we tell about where we are, the overall objective is to provoke new approaches to how we construct Place—both physically and culturally—within or without our discipline.

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Graduate Thesis

Graduate Thesis at SCI-Arc is an opportunity for M.Arch students to explore a set of relevant disciplinary issues as they complete their programs of study and research with a presentation and public exhibition of an individual disciplinary position that expands the boundaries of contemporary architectural practice.

SCI-Arc Graduate Thesis is coordinated by Jackilin Hah Bloom .

Heading title

The M.Arch 1 and M.Arch 2 programs culminate in a year-long graduate thesis project that exemplifies SCI-Arc’s mission to develop independent thinking and promote research and innovation in architecture. Graduate Thesis at SCI-Arc prepares students to articulate, propose, and defend their ideas and positions on architecture as well as engage with professionals as peers and colleagues. The depth and rigor of the Graduate Thesis also serve to facilitate the transition from graduate school to professional practice.

In the spring semester of their vertical year, M.Arch students enter thesis preparation, during which they are required to take a disciplinary stance that responds to contemporary architectural issues. The final summer semester will be dedicated to the production and execution of their thesis project. This pedagogical model empowers students to move between theoretical and speculative frameworks in their development of an architectural position.

Graduate Thesis 2022.

Heading title Graduate Thesis Weekend, a Public Forum for Emerging Questions in Architecture

Spanning three days of school-wide presentations, reviews, charrettes, and more, Graduate Thesis Weekend is the school’s largest annual event. Throughout the course of the weekend, graduate students present their thesis projects to practitioners, academics, jurors, and critics from around the world who converge at SCI-Arc in a symposium-like forum to consider, debate, and dispute emerging questions in architecture.

In addition to each student’s thesis presentation, SCI-Arc also hosts the Graduate Thesis Spin Room, which serves as a diversified discussion platform for visiting critics to engage with graduating M.Arch students about their final design projects each year. Featuring round-tables organized by topic, one-on-one conversations between world-renowned guest reviewers and students, as well as a corresponding podcast, each year’s Spin Room provides a complex, in-depth look at the work made and presented by the graduating class.

Heading title Juried by the International Design Community

Each year SCI-Arc invites over 100 distinguished local and international architects, urbanists, theorists, deans, and chairs from around the globe to review thesis projects. During Graduate Thesis reviews, students defend their ideas to professional peers and luminaries of the field.

Critics have included Thom Mayne, John McMorrough, Greg Lynn, Sylvia Lavin, Axel Killian, Mariana Ibañez, Eva Franch i Gilabert, Gabriel Esquivel, Maristella Casciato, Jeffrey Kipnis, Enrique Norten, Benjamin H. Bratton, Aaron Betsky, Frances Anderton, Marion Weiss, special thesis advisor Brett Steele, Mark Wigley, and Graduate Programs Chair Elena Manferdini.

Heading title Gehry Prize for Best Graduate Thesis

Endowed by SCI-Arc Trustee Frank Gehry and his wife Bertha, the Gehry Prize is a monetary award recognizing the best graduate thesis projects each year.

The recipient of the Gehry Thesis Prize and the additional Merit Thesis Awards are determined annually by jury commendations and announced during SCI-Arc’s commencement ceremony which concludes Graduate Thesis Weekend.

Grad Thesis by M.Arch students Alessio Grancini and Runze Zhang, Gehry Prize recipient (Advisors: Peter Tesla + Devyn Weiser).

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Daap graduate theses & dissertations in the library catalog.

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• Theses – Master of Arts in Architecture
• Theses – Master of Arts in Art Education
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DAAP Senior Theses & Dissertations  in the library catalog

• Theses – Bachelor of Science in Architecture 1949-2003
• Theses – Bachelor of Science in Interior Design 1949-2006
• Theses – Bachelor of Industrial Design 1949-1961
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DAAP Senior Theses Indexes

The following PDFs contain indexed lists of DAAP Senior Theses.  Use these indexes to locate the theses themselves in the SW Depository .

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The Architecture Library is a branch of the Hesburgh Libraries of Notre Dame and is located within the Matthew and Joyce Walsh Family Hall of Architecture. The library is comprised of over 36,000 volumes and hundreds of periodicals on the built and planned environment. Collection strengths include  classical & traditional architecture ,  American architecture ,  Italian architecture ,  Latin American architecture ,  New Urbanism ,  sustainable design & planning , and  urban planning . The Architecture Library supports the research and instructional needs of the School of Architecture's NAAB-accredited programs including the five-year undergraduate program and its two- and three-year Master of Architecture and Master of Architectural Design and Urbanism programs. 

Once your topic is approved you should set a meeting with the librarian to plan your research and precedent study. The library will help you to acquire materials needed for your project. Precedent study should include location, building type, and programmatic resources. Once a research plan is in place follow these steps:

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Architecture Thesis Topics

• Updated on  
• Feb 26, 2022

Being an Architecture student, you are supposed to submit a dissertation or thesis based on topics related to Architecture. It takes a lot more time to complete a dissertation research project than a thesis. However, choosing a relevant dissertation topic is the first step you take for getting a PhD or Master’s Degree . This blog provides you with general guidance about how to write an architecture dissertation and helpful tips to choose the right architecture thesis topics.

This Blog Includes:

What is an architecture thesis, how to structure an architecture thesis, relevant topic, pay attention to research questions, don’t be shy, go for advice, research a lot, how to choose the best title for your architecture thesis, how to choose the best topic for an architecture thesis, modern architecture thesis topics, thesis topics in landscape architecture, interior architecture thesis topics, b.arch. thesis topics for urban planning and transport:, sustainable architecture thesis topics.

An Architecture Dissertation or Thesis is an academic piece of writing that is supposed to signify the knowledge and skills you have learned so far during the course of your architecture studies. While writing a dissertation your research must be precise and you should be logical with your conclusions. A clear analysis must be depicted while writing an architecture dissertation. 

Before searching for an architecture thesis topic, you must be familiar with the writing structure of a dissertation. Here we’ve mentioned a basic structure of a dissertation so that it gets easy for you when drafting a dissertation:

• Title – The title of your Architecture Dissertation must focus on your research objective.
• Abstract – The abstract part must be impactful. It must give an impression of what your dissertation is going to include.
• Introduction – Same is the case here with the introduction, it must reflect what the dissertation is going to include.
• Review of Literature – The Review of Literature Section must include a theoretical rationale of the problem, the importance of the study, and information for the dissertation that was gathered and used to form the arguments and points made in the work.
• 2-3 Main chapters- These sections must include a bulk of information on the chosen topic. It should also include the data and diagrams if any.
• Conclusion- The main objective of the dissertation, the conclusion must include the arguments to complete the impression of the work.
• Bibliography – The bibliography is the section of the thesis where you mention all the referred sources, authors, and publications that you have taken information from while writing your thesis.

Also Read: Masters in Architecture in Canada

How to choose the right Architecture Thesis Topic ?

If you are finding it hard to choose the right topic for your dissertation, here are some tips that might help what you can put your focus on while drafting your dissertation:

Select a relevant topic for your architecture dissertation as it contributes a lot to your career and future. To obtain a masters degree in education, you need to find relevant topics for a dissertation. The topic must be capable of providing you with a significant amount of content for your architecture dissertation.

An Architecture dissertation must be broad enough to explore the whole topic. The dissertation must include a clear structure to contribute to the argumentation you are going to include in your dissertation.

Pay equal attention to the Research Questions you are going to include. Do not ever select narrow questions which are supposed to be answered with a Yes or No. Choose questions that provide you with relevant answers such as

• How do creative designs impact the modern era?
• What do you think about modern architecture?

Architecture students who are writing a dissertation are always provided with guidance. Supervisors are assigned to guide students throughout the duration of their architecture dissertation. So do not forget to ask for feedback or a piece of advice from your supervisors as they have years of academic experience, so their recommendation and feedback will only add to your research.

Before choosing an architecture topic, make sure you research thoroughly about the chosen topic. Try to select topics that are relevant in today’s time. The content provided by the topic must be more than enough to expand and support your arguments.

Also Read: How to become an Architect?

A significant title is very important while writing an architecture dissertation. So you must be extremely careful while choosing a title. Ensure that your title for architecture dissertation or thesis does justice to your research. The title itself should be able to reflect the objective of your dissertation through the title.

Also Read: How to write a Dissertation?

Here we’ve mentioned some sources from where you can come up with a Dissertation Topic in Architecture:

• Study the most recent published piece of work to find out what kind of issues are open for further exploration and are sufficient to provide you with relevant argumentations.
• Check out Architecture Dissertation examples done by other scholars.

Best Architecture Thesis Topics

Choosing a topic can take a lot of time but we’ve made it easier for you as here we’ve mentioned some of the best topics you can choose for your Architecture Dissertation:

• What is the nature of middle-class architecture in modern society?
• Show the best elements of famous architects without duplicating their work.
• What is the need for closeness and privacy between architecture and family
• Cathedrals: Forming the old world on a new budget
• What is the difference between house designs in a cold climate and in a warm climate?

Also Read: How to become an Interior Designer?

• Multicultural Architecture in the Urban Landscape
• Trends of Environmental Technology in Residential Structures
• Evaluating Design in Municipal Structures
• Creative Designs in the Modern Era
• Maximizing Resources and Space with Accessibility
• How to maximize resources and space with Accessibility
• How to use Minimalist Design in Small Areas
• Which methods to use to Mitigate Damage from Natural Disaster
• What are the must-have features of Portable Housing Units
• Procedures of Pre-fabricated Design

Also Read: Finance, MBA, Accounting Dissertation Topics

• The urban energy landscape in the regional planning
• Processing of data on water, energy, and food flows in space and time
• Composing four-dimensional maps that show current spatial and temporal dynamics of water, energy and food flows
• Constructing Zen
• Farmland Preservation
• Land Conservancy
• Therapeutic Gardens
• Self-sufficient energy islands across Europe or Asia
• India – Protection/production of freshwater through for example infiltration and retention
• Landscape Construction Performance Approaches
• Paper Space & Interior Fiction: Employing Speculative Design to Explore the Creative Design Process and Conceptual Interiority
• Implementing Biophilic Attributes in Elementary Schools
• Re-Mobile Home: An Exploration of Mobile Homes in Rural North Carolina
• Designing Deeper: Creating Interior Spaces That Support Well Being through Explorations in Process Driven Design
• How can exhibition spaces reflect design compatibility with spatial aesthetics?
• Airports Design.
• Train stations.
• Urban transport planning.
• Mass Rapid Transit System (MTRS) Study and Station.
• Integrated Transportation Node.
• Bus Terminal Cum Commercial Complex.
• International Cruise terminal.
• Redevelopment around metro and MRTS Corridor.
• Architecture in motion.
• Neighborhood development
• Community garden concepts
• Waste recycling facilities
• Heritage building restoration
• Rehabilitation housing
• Riverfront development
• SMART village
• Net-Zero energy building
• Bermed structure
• Regenerative design
• Urban Agriculture center
• Revitalizing abandoned mills and processing buildings
• Eco-tourism facilities
• Revival of an old building
• Repurpose of a building
• Redevelopment of a slum
• Vertical farm
• Wetland restoration

An architecture dissertation for a masters degree must not exceed the 60,000-word limit.

IIT-Roorkee, Uttarakhand has been ranked #1 in the Top 25 Architecture Colleges in India.

McGill University and the University of Waterloo are the top 2 colleges in Canada for Architecture. 

Students who are pursuing an Architecture degree must be very careful while writing a dissertation as it is the only way they’ll be able to obtain a Masters Degree. Choosing the right topic for the Architecture dissertation, submitting the dissertation/thesis on time, all the above-mentioned aspects must be given equal importance. If you are interested in knowing more about Architecture courses abroad, then feel free to contact our experts at Leverage Edu anytime.

Damanpreet Kaur Vohra

Daman is an author with profound expertise in writing engaging and informative content focused on EdTech and Study Abroad. With a keen understanding of these domains, Daman excels at creating complex concepts into accessible, reader-friendly material. With a proven track record of insightful articles, Daman stands as a reliable source for providing content for EdTech and Study Abroad.

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Future of the American City: New York Review of Architecture

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An initiative of the Harvard Graduate School of Design that presents alternative futures and convenes conversations about how we live, where we live. Supported by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and generous donors to the American Cities Fund. Future of the American City is curated by the Office for Urbanization.

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Introduction to the principles of architectural design through lectures and short design exercises. Emphasis is placed on developing visual communication skills necessary and related to architectural presentation including drawing, drafting, and model making techniques. A final design project provides the framework for investigating and understanding the fundamental elements, design principles, and processes necessary to explore the creation of architectural spaces. Fall, Spring.

Section: ARCH-180-03 Credits: 4 Faculty: Paul Fowler Days: TR Times: 1:00PM‑3:30PM (TR) Start/End Date: 01/16/24 - 05/03/24 Instruction Method: Lecture-based Learning

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100 Best Architecture Thesis Topics

One of the most important components of a great writing project like a thesis or dissertation is a great topic. Teachers often provide full lists of research ideas for students to choose from, but they also encourage students to develop original topics based on their interests. In the case of architecture, many students might have trouble coming up with architecture thesis topics that meet the requirements of a given assignment. This is why we have compiled this list of interesting and original architecture research topics for students to use at no cost. Feel free to modify them in any way to fit your assignment, make your choice and move to crafting your thesis outline.

Computer Architecture Topics for High School

• In what ways have computer design programs positively affected modern architecture?
• How do early explorations of deep-learning impact by limitations in computer architecture?
• How are the computer architectures of financial data centers at risk due to cyber-hackers?
• How are modern bridges and buildings at lesser risk of damage due to collapse?
• In what ways has computer architecture sped up the development process in third-world countries?
• Is the pendulum a real thing when it comes to architectural movements?

Great Landscape Architecture Topics

• What are the major challenges that cities face when creating and maintaining open spaces?
• What are the most common health risks that a community faces when parks are built next to water runoffs?
• How does the makeup of a neighborhood affect what landscape architectural choices are made?
• Why is it important for city centers to have natural elements such as trees and shrubs to improve air quality?
• Are natural bodies of water (like ponds and lakes) putting people at risk due to mosquito infestations?
• What is the impact of architectural open spaces in Latin American countries?

Controversial Architecture Topics

• What impact did the resurrection of New York’s Pier 55 have on the political landscape of that city?
• Discuss the legal battle that occurred between Zillow and Kate Wagner in 2017.
• Why has President Trump failed to gain financial support to build his proposed border wall?
• How are people along the Texas border negatively impacted by the construction of a border wall across their private properties?
• Why is the United States’ infrastructure at such risk do to overpopulation in major cities?
• Women in architecture have been accused of being soft, do you agree or disagree?

Dissertation Topics for Landscape Architecture

• How will the development of inclusive and safe public spaces positively impact patients with dementia?
• Will the development of more bike paths along green spaces reduce carbon emissions in urban areas?
• What is the importance of multiple small public parks in our communities?
• How can one improve the social value of groundwater in urban settings?
• In what ways can urban eco-systems be regenerated with the inclusion of green roofs and living walls?
• In what ways has bamboo architecture has changed our understanding of how strength and function together?

Computer Architecture Research Paper Topics

• How did technology change Jorn Utzon’s proposed design for what is now the world-famous Sydney Opera House?
• How is the use of technology in the design of buildings changing the role of the modern architect?
• How have computer simulations of natural disasters made today’s buildings safer?
• What are the limitations of computer simulations when it comes to presenting realistic situations?
• What are the major computer influences on architecture and design in the 21 st century?
• Describe the direction of architecture designed to withstand major disasters.

Interesting Architecture Thesis Topics

• How are inventions in lighter building materials making it easier to build larger structures?
• What are the best designs for shared accommodations like student dorms and apartments?
• What are the effects of the Internet of Things technology on the architectural design of urban settings?
• Discuss the differences between the materials that were used in ancient and modern structures.
• Which are your favorite architects of the 20 th and 21 st centuries?
• Why is outdoor footing for different climates is a growing trend in architectural design?

Architecture Ideas for a Quick Project

• How do you better utilize the space given to you for a board size concerning its size and orientation?
• In what ways can you utilize prior projects’ use of layout when working on a new development project?
• Compare and contrast the positives and negatives of modern architectural design software programs?
• How can schools utilize technological architect tools to better develop campuses in rural areas?
• What are the best design methods to maximize functional spaces in small areas?
• How has American architecture changed over the years?

Architecture Graduation Project Topics

• What are the origins of Chinese Architecture and how has it remained the dominant tradition?
• How can sunlight be used to save on energy costs in high-rise buildings in low-temp cities?
• How did medieval architecture change as military technologies advanced?
• What are the best practices that town planners can execute to maintain safe travel?
• How to utilize restaurants to revitalize urban spaces in cities impacted by Covid-19?
• What are the major benefits of investing in low-cost but high-strength buildings?

Design Thesis topics for Architecture

• Discuss the evolution of a building component of your choice and take us on a walk through history.
• According to today’s modern needs and standards, how will architecture look in a decade?
• What impact has modern architecture had on American culture?
• How have the gothic elements of medieval architecture found their way into modern design?
• What are the major differences between Aztec and Egyptian architecture of major temples?
• How did the Art-Deco style of the 1920s and the 1930s influence modern architecture?

Research Topics in Computer Architecture for College

• Are computer designers changing the traditional roles of engineering architects in the 21 st century?
• How has the invention of 3D printing technology changed the way architects can quickly change the direction of their designs?
• How has 3D printing opened up a new field of architecture that did not exist 20 years ago?
• What were the distinctive elements of 15 th century English architecture?
• How has virtual reality made an impact to design decisions made by architects and engineers?
• What are the best 3D rendering programs for aspiring architects to use today?

Architecture Thesis Topics in Sustainability

• Will sustainable agriculture stem a revolution in the architectural world?
• Can sustainable agriculture impact how NFL stadiums are built moving forward?
• How are modern buildings failing by not using cooling and heating technology?
• How did French architecture differ from English architecture in the 16 th century?
• Why has wind turbine technology waned in the last two decades?
• Can solar water heating lead to new architectural designs?

Dissertation Topics for Interior Architecture

• How has interior design shaped outdoor design in modern architecture?
• How have decorating styles changed how modern architects create indoor spaces?
• Can interior architecture use technology to sustain water in buildings?
• Are color combinations a factor in how architects design frame ideas for interior spaces?
• How are interior decorators influenced by the work of architects?
• Can exhibition spaces reflect a building’s architecture?

Master Thesis Topics in Architecture

• The causes of color change in interior designers may be influenced by outdoor architecture.
• How do light pattern decisions affect the design of outdoor architectural aspects?
• How has luxury design impacted the way modern homes are built?
• Discuss the importance of interior design to outdoor architecture.
• How did the Greek revival influence the advancements made in the Gothic revival?
• How was European architecture influenced by Islam?

Computer Architecture Topics Research Paper

• Why are major cities around the world relying on computer technologies to redesign layouts?
• What function did Roman images serve the design of ancient buildings?
• In what ways has technology helped us to understand the architecture of ancient divinations?
• Can architects recreate structures from the past using modern computer technology?
• How can computer technologies be used to modernize city infrastructures?
• How does the “form follows function” ideal of Louis Sullivan play into technology in architecture?

Current Architecture Research Paper Topics

• How can design be integrated into the university campus planning efforts?
• How are modern techniques in engineering changing the landscape for architects?
• How have the works of Alvaro Siza impacted renovation projects around the world?
• Why is small space living such a rising trend in large cities?
• Which has had a greater influence among modern artists, Portuguese or Spanish architecture?
• Are floating hotels a viable business venture in today’s architectural world?

Architecture Topics for a Long Project

• What is the importance of understanding millennial design interests?
• Why should architects be on-site for their projects?
• How does current architecture impact the way we consider rural landscapes?
• Are vernacular views of architecture imposing on traditional views?
• How are modern architectural methods influencing the building of stadiums?

More Computer Architecture Research Topics

• How can computers be used to recreate images of long-destroyed architectural marvels?
• What are the major challenges brought on by new materials and technology in architecture?
• How does technology give architects more options to consider when coming up with materials?
• How has computer architecture advanced the construction of safer bridges around the world?
• Did computer architecture play a role in the development of the Three Gorges Dam?

What do you think of this collection of architectural project topics? Our thesis writers are putting together original architectural thesis topics around the clock. And if you need a custom-list we can have that ready for you in a matter of hours. Check out our other articles and feel free to send us a message to let us know how we can help with your next academic assignment.

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100+ latest unusual architecture thesis topics list for dissertation research proposal

What are the best architecture thesis topics: Selection of a final year b.arch thesis topic subject for design and research thesis purpose is really a mind scratching task for final year architecture students. But, don’t worry anymore about it, because you are at right place for most creative architecture thesis topics in India and abroad. In other words, what are the current trends in b.arch thesis projects for different types of categories? You will find most popular and latest architectural design thesis projects about urban planning, Marine Park, forest research institute, etc. These are the list of dissertation topics in architecture students that will help in research and design a most successful design project for their graduation.

Architectural projects are classified into the following famous categories:

• Urban planning and infrastructure
• Cultural facilities
• Leisure and fun facilities
• Public offices, buildings, and institutions

Unusual Architecture Thesis Topics

So, first you have to decide about thesis subjects, right? And here is a thing for consideration that coming from a personal experience, choose a topic for the final year of b.arch that:

• You understand thesis subject thoroughly. Be it from your professional training or your personal experience.
• Your thesis guide understands at least 50% of it. (So that, he can support you and not rip you off in front of the jury).
• I would also advise that you choose it keeping in mind your future interests. Be it your masters or your job. Take a topic those appeals to the future prospects.
• Do not take a topic just because you know somebody who has done it/ has info on it. It might help, but, then again, it might not work.
• Do not take a thesis topic for the sake of being unique. On the other hand, do not take a topic just because it’s tried and tested and is easy.

After all, Architecture is one profession where you work will speak for YOU. Your marks won’t matter, but your design definitely will.

There are few popular categories for thesis topics, here it is-

• Residential
• Institutional – Cultural, Socio-Cultural, Educational, Health, Recreation
• Transportation
• A mix of above uses.

Identify your inclination for a particular ‘Functionality’. So that you can carry forwards your interest into postgraduate studies if you opt to go in for.

List of residential architecture thesis topics

• Multifamily urban homes
• Multifamily suburban homes
• Hotels and residence
• Semidetached and row houses
• Single-family suburban homes
• Single-family country homes
• Single-family homes by the sea

List of commercial architecture thesis topics

Public buildings, institutions, and offices:

• Public bodies
• Public service buildings
• Corporate buildings
• Convention and exhibition centers
• Research centers
• Skyscrapers

List of industrial architecture thesis topics

• A Method to Design Kinetic Planar Surface with Mathematical Tessellation Techniques.
• Bio-inspired design of a kinetic node for adaptable structures.
• Waterfront Development – Beach Convention and Exhibition Center.
• Design of Ruled Surfaces.
• Construction of Time Conception in Architectural Realm.
• A Critical view of Sustainable Architecture.
• Determination of Place Concept in the Reproduction Process of Built Environment.
• Analytical Study of the Design Potentials in Kinetic Architecture.

List of institutional architecture thesis topics

Cultural facilities:

• art galleries
• Cultural centres and foundations
• school and universities
• Religious buildings

Leisure facilities:

• Auditoriums
• Theaters and cinemas
• Sport facilities
• Theme parks and attractions
• Bars,discotheques,and game rooms
• Shopping malls
• Stores and showrooms
• Restaurants

List of transportation architecture thesis topics

• train stations
• urban transport
• Bridges and communication towers
• Promenades and streets
• Urban parks
• Peripheral parks
• Urban monuments and land art

Some popular topics which can be selected for an architectural thesis are:

Development of waterfront property

Creation of low cost housing

Heritage museums

Airport functioning

Cinema and theatre architecture

Skyscraper design

Suburban homes for multifamily

Aquarium-Aqua design and display

Gaming and Animation studio

Multimedia film city

Lightning excellence center

Marine park design

MTRS study and station

Convention center

Modern art museum

Automobile training center

Archaeological survey institute

School of art and design

Bus terminal cum commercial complex

Luxury beach facing apartments

Bio-climatic buildings

Cruise terminal design

Cricket stadium display

Media center

Resort design

Disaster management institute

Television and film institute

Polo retreat

Educational Institute for rural children

List of mix of above use architecture thesis topics

Here is a list of interesting topics you can use for your thesis in architecture.

The transit system and the possible improvements

A local site of heritage

Film city studios and gaming area and its structure

The lighting system in the Pyramids

The underwater restaurants in several parts of the world for electricity, sanitation and light

The heat and cooling systems in the huts at the beach

The transformation node at the Lancaster

How to check for pressure and oxygen levels at heights for building tourist spots

The world health organization’s headquarter and its renovation

Aqua Marine Park

A survey of China from an archeologist point of view

Low cost housing how is it possible

Fashion Fiesta Paris

The Golden Gate and its architecture

Russian fairy tale style houses and huts

The former Christian school and its building

The environment ideal for a Rehab

An insight to the automobile industry

The training center for adults in North Carolina

Installing a swimming pool on the top portion of a mall

Comparing modern vs traditional housing

Buildings for religious purposes

Apartments for couples

Hostel rooms for singles

Designing a lawn

Modern architecture dissertation topics help you to score more grades in your final year architecture. Because select appropriate thesis journal topic affects your entire research and design thesis project. So, friends try to choose interesting architecture dissertation topics that will help you to explore your creativity and give exposure to new design concepts.

So, friends and architects, hope this list of thesis topics for final year architecture will help you to decide your suitable subject. Also, stay tuned for time to time updates on this subject.

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Research in a nutshell: Graduate students take the stage for a fast-paced presentation competition

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Imagine summarizing months or years' worth of research into an unscripted yet comprehensible 90-second talk, armed with only one prop, in front of a live audience and a panel of judges. 

This will be the challenge for 28 Virginia Tech graduate students representing a myriad of research interests and seven colleges during the ninth edition of the Nutshell Games on Nov. 11 at 4:30 p.m. at the Moss Arts Center. The event is free and open to the public. 

“The Nutshell Games are an opportunity for students to share their research with their local community, along with anyone else,” said Carrie Kroehler, associate director of the Center for Communicating Science. “I love that the audience is always super supportive and cheering on all the students who are clearly stepping outside of their comfort zones through doing this.” 

The event’s topics will range from Virginia's rarest turtle and the evolution of the Black travel market to underground salt mines, traumatic brain injuries, and plenty more, all within an hour. A panel of seven judges from the university and the larger Blacksburg community will assess the presentations and award five winners, who will each receive a $500 scholarship. Additionally, all Nutshell Game presenters will receive a participation certificate and a professional video recording of their talk.   

Intending to assist student researchers in communicating their work effectively to a broader audience by dropping their research-field jargon and using clear, concise, and easily understandable language, Patty Raun, the director of the Center for Communicating Science, along with Kroehler, created the Nutshell Games in 2017. It’s since become one of the center’s hallmark events, highlighting the type of nontraditional learning opportunities the center provides for graduate students and others by using theatrical tools and strategies to teach researchers to communicate in more personal, spontaneous, and emotionally vivid ways.  

“Our mission is to create and support opportunities for scientists, scholars, health professionals, and community partners to develop their abilities to communicate and connect across differences using art tools and practices,” said Raun, who is also a professor in the School of Performing Arts . "Each of us is a complex and exquisitely multifaceted individual, and though valuable, traditional Western education — focused on learning facts that can be shaped into academic theories and logic models — risks diminishing our expansive relational capacities. The Nutshell Games help us connect across differences and develop our relational abilities, all while inspiring curiosity."  

The Nutshell Games will close out a day of celebrating science, as part of this year’s Virginia Tech Science Festival on Nov. 11, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The festival, held annually since 2014, is an expo-style, family-friendly event that includes hands-on activities, engaging demonstrations, and the opportunity for attendees to talk one-on-one with practicing scientists at about 100 exhibits. Admission to all events is free and open to the public.  

The judges for the ninth Nutshell Games include the following university and community members:

• John Bush, Blacksburg Town Council member 
• Madoc Gitre, Blacksburg Middle School seventh grader 
• William Huckle, associate dean, Virginia Tech Graduate School
• Vincent Maluwa, Master of Fine Arts candidate in arts leadership 
• Susan Mattingly, Blacksburg Town Council member 
• Jean Parrella, assistant professor for life sciences communications in the Department of Agriculture, Leadership, and Community Education
• John Tedesco, director, School of Communication

The following are the graduate student presenters:

• College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
• Abdulhadi Kobiowu, genetics, bioinformatics, and computational biology, “Biting Back with Genetics: Disarming the Yellow Fever Mosquito” 
• Logan Layne, agricultural and Extension education “AI for Educational Equity” 
• Jitender Rathore, plant and environmental sciences, “No Farm, No Grain! Predicting Crop Maturity and Harvest Time Using Satellite Imagery” 
• Eli Russell, plant pathology, physiology, and weed science, “Turning the Combine from a Weed Seed Spreader into a Weed Seed Predator, Plant Pathology, Physiology, and Weed Science” 
• Amolpreet Kaur Saini, plant and environmental sciences, “Guardians of the Fruit: How Rootstocks Shield Against the Cold” 
• Pamplin College of Business
• Charis N. Tucker, hospitality and tourism management, “From the Green Book to the "Gram": Exploring the Evolution of the Black Travel Market” 
• College of Engineering
• Kiymet Akdemir, computer science and applications, “Fairness in Generative AI Models” 
• Martha Gizaw, biomedical engineering and mechanics, “Check Your Snooze Before You Cruise, Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics” 
• Wendell Grinton Jr., construction engineering and management, “Better Communicating Information about Civil Infrastructure to the Public” 
• Shawal Khalid, computer science, “On the Road Again: Blockchain-oriented Software Engineering” 
• Nicole Stark, biomedical engineering and mechanics, “The Rising Crisis of Head Injuries at Care Facilities” 
• College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences
• Helen Ajao, instructional design and technology, “Crafting Daily Excellence: Unveiling Routine Mastery in Instructional Design” 
• Sean Pierre Chambers, alliance for social, political, ethical and cultural thought, “Blessings Under Maafa's Shadow: The Sociology and Ethics of Friendship among Black Baptist Men” 
• Ashley Costello, higher education, “Lions, Pandas, and Lemurs. Oh My … (Trauma in Higher Education)” 
• Aline de Souza, alliance for social, political, ethical, and cultural thought, “The Potential of Artistic Work to Disrupt Anti-immigration Discourses” 
• Chris Heasley, counselor education and supervision, “Supporting Rural Students: Why Rural Matters” 
• College of Natural Resources and Environment
• Gabriel Borba, fish and wildlife conservation, “Effects of Climate Change in Fisheries” 
• Lisley Gomes, fish and wildlife conservation, “Rethinking Wildlife Use in the Urbanizing Amazonia” 
• Connor Hughes, fish and wildlife conservation, “Finding Virginia's Rarest Turtle” 
• Emily Sinkular, fish and wildlife conservation, “Wildlife for Everybody and Every Body” 
• College of Science
• Abdeali Jivaji, biological sciences, “Giant Viruses: Larger Than Life” 
• Celina Meyer, developmental science, “Household Chaos and Socioemotional Development” 
• Caitlin Miller, biological sciences, “Evolutionary Challenges and Opportunities When Moving into New Areas” 
• Rose McGroarty, geophysics, “Watch for Falling Rocks! How We Can See Where Rocks WILL Fall in Underground Salt Mines” 
• Ross Spoon, economics, “GameStop in the Lab” 
• Nandini Das, economics, “From Pests to Prosperity: Incentive-driven pest management for farmers”
• Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine
• Md. Shakhawat Hossain, biomedical sciences and pathobiology, “One Shield for Multiple Enemies” 

Interdisciplinary studies

• Caroline de Jager, Carilion School of Medicine/Translation Biology, Medicine, and Health , “Proteins on Blood Vessels Influence the Severity of Traumatic Brain Injury” 

The Center for Communicating Science is supported by the Institute for Society, Culture, and Environment ; Fralin Life Sciences Institute ; as well as the Graduate School; the College of Architecture, Arts, and Design ; and the School of Performing Arts . 

Lindsey Haugh

• Center for Communicating Science
• College of Architecture, Arts, and Design
• Fralin Life Sciences Institute
• Graduate Education
• Graduate Students
• Institute for Society, Culture and Environment
• School of Performing Arts
• Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine

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