http://hdl.handle.net/10150/246851 2026-05-18T13:08:51Z http://hdl.handle.net/10150/680157 The Challenges of Infill Middle Housing in Bellingham Lott, Andrew In 2025, Bellingham WA enacted a new infill housing program to promote the construction of middle housing. This type of policy follows a nationwide shift in development that challenges the use of single-family residential construction in favor of infill middle housing that better matches the needs of the population. Over the course of 2025, 98% of the middle housing in-fill units were constructed by professional real estate developers but the volume is still not enough to keep up with the pace of population growth in Bellingham. During this study I used professional interviews with real estate developers along with a systematic literature review to identify four main challenges to infill middle housing construction in Bellingham. The challenges identified are building codes, available property, financing/cost, and available contractors. Each of these issues present significant challenges to real estate developers trying to build more infill middle housing in Bellingham. Should policies or social measures resolve these problems, construction activity may surpass the levels recorded in 2025. This is a crucial step to address Bellingham’s national leading housing cost issue. Sustainable Built Environments Senior Capstone Project 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10150/680156 Impact of Environmental, Spatial, Operational, and Policy Factors on Military Facility Performance Flores-Tapia, Jessenia Military maintenance and administrative facilities operate within complex environments shaped by environmental exposure, spatial configuration, operational demands, and institutional constraints, often resulting in discrepancies between predicted and actual building performance. While existing research has examined individual contributors to building performance, few studies evaluate how these factors interact within real-world military environments. This study addresses that gap by examining how environmental, spatial, operational and policy-related factors collectively influence energy performance in military facilities. A mixed-methods approach was used, integrating Energy Use Intensity (EUI) over a three-year period, site and spatial analyses, climate data, and semi structures interviews with facility personnel. Results indicate that Building A operates at approximately a 53% higher EUI than Building B despite similar functions and the same geographic region, reflecting increased system demands associated with environmental exposure and spatial conditions. Observations and interview data further reveal operational inefficiencies, including inconsistent system control, simultaneous heating and cooling, and limited coordination between building systems. Institutional constraints, including procurement regulations, funding limitations, and restricted decision-making authority, limit the implementation of identified improvements. Building performance is therefore shaped by the interaction of environmental, spatial, operational, and institutional factors rather than design intent alone. These findings highlight the need for integrated, constraint-based strategies that address real world operational conditions within existing military environments. Sustainable Built Environments Senior Capstone Project 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10150/680149 Investigating the Impact of Third Place Design on Student Social Connection and Well-being at the University of Arizona Bresnahan, Ella Grace This study investigates how third spaces within the built environment influence social connection among students at the University of Arizona and how designed specifically impacts student well-being. Utilizing a qualitative data triangulation approach, research was conducted through an online Qualtrics survey of 19 students, three semi-structured in person interviews, and an observational case study of the sustainable ENR2 Slot Canyon courtyard. Results indicate that student’s primary motivation for visiting third spaces is to socialize with friends (84%), with a strong preference for design elements such as open floor plans (89%), convenient locations (84%), and flexible seating (74%). A central finding of the study was that despite the high environmental quality of an on-campus space like the ENR2 Slot Canyon, students mentally categorize these locations as “academic” environments, which limits their ability to function as true social third places. Consequently, students expressed a stronger social attachment to off-campus multifunctional spaces such as cafes and bars, which provide a greater sense of psychological escape and informal flexibility. The research concludes that universities must move beyond simple functional efficiency to create intentionally designed multifunctional spaces on campus that prioritize psychological comfort and a sense of openness to effectively support social health. Sustainable Built Environments Senior Capstone Project 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10150/680148 Hopi Dorm & Communal Form: How effective is the dorm's design for sociability & community? Pascual, Jai-Noel Angel There is a problem of sociability when it comes to homes and people staying in them. With more people in the United States spending more of their time in their homes more now than ever (Kaysen & Parlapiano, 2024), it is important to understand what factors improve the mental health for residents, and how housing design can play a role in this. At the same time, it is expected that there will be an additional 2.5 billion residents in cities by 2050. Our current system of housing development comes with a swath of negative effects,including destruction of natural habitats, less engagement with the local economy, and deteriorating social fabric. If we want to house this incoming population while not perpetuating our current pattern of suburban sprawl, we will have to create denser, multiunit developments with effective communal space. This is a design capstone that has a research portion utilizing a mixed methods, “e-POE” (electronic post-occupancy evaluation) methodology to learn the living experience of University of Arizona students who are residents in the communal dorm of Hopi. In addition to informing the redesign of communal spaces of the dorm, the findings reinforce ideas in the field of the built environment (and residential development) such as the importance of clear delineation between public, private, and semi-private space, visible corridors, and adequate space to encourage community and social interaction. Sustainable Built Environments Senior Capstone Project 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z