Thesis Proposal

So I know its been a week since my last post but boy has it been a busy one... I'll have to catch you up! I will be doing my thesis this summer which begins on May 20 so there is a lot of preparation going on now for that, because the summer thesis is only 2 months!  My thesis proposal was due today to Anna Marshall-Baker, who will be my professor this summer, and I've typed it below so you can take a look.  Anyone feel free to comment or give me suggestions etc. 

This semester I am in the Lee Street Studio, which is focusing on the revamping of West Lee Street as proposed by the City of Greensboro in the Lee Street/High Point Road Corridor Plan. Currently I am working on an educational building that would house the “School of Architecture” and act as a face for UNCG by extending the campus onto Lee Street. The corridor plan explains what is in this area now and what the city envisions for its future. It is broken down into three separate areas:

• The University/Mixed Use Village (from Eugene to UNCG)
• The Sports and Recreation Village (Coliseum Complex area)
• The Convention and Hospitality Village (Koury Center and I-40)

For my summer thesis project I want to do an extension of this semesters work. I plan on continuing to focus on the UNCG/Mixed Use Village (area from Eugene to UNCG) but working on a project that addresses housing and retail as opposed to the educational portion of this area. The Lee Street Corridor Plan indicates the demand for both student and faculty/staff oriented housing near campus, and encourages the adaptive reuse of existing structures whenever possible.

“Given the connection to area universities, and the district’s location proximate to Downtown Greensboro, a marketing strategy would emphasize the area’s eclectic character an interesting mix of land uses. Rather than wholesale demolition of industrial buildings and service uses, there is potential for an interesting mix of uses that would be appealing to new residents while also serving the needs of businesses in the downtown area.”

The plan also outlines specific market niches the want to aim for in this area of town:
• Housing: UNCG, A&T, Greensboro College, Bennett College, Elon Law School
• Industrial: Craft industries, contracting, bakery/foodservice
• Entertainment: Industrial dance clubs
• Retail: Ground-floor convenience in mixed-use; sales & service
• Specialty: Artist live/work, gallery space


What is the project?
Mixed-Use facility encompassing housing, and one other market niche listed above (dependent upon location, building and site)
Who does it affect?
The Greensboro Community, students/faculty of universities, young professionals, neighboring building owners and users…
Why is it necessary? What is the significance?
Help to accomplish the cities vision for enhancing this area of town and follow through with the master plan already in action. Also it responds to the growing university populations and needs, while enhancing Greensboro’s growing eclectic downtown area.
What will your design response entail? What do you intend to do?
I intend on renovating an existing building on Lee Street to create a unique and interesting place for students or professionals to live that is upscale but affordable with the excitement of a mixed-use living situation. I will design with sustainable principles and use research in environmental psychology to help me make design decisions throughout the project.