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Title: The 880 Square Foot House: A Small Residential Design That Transforms to Accommodate Multiple Household Types.
Creator: Kautz, Adrianne Wimberley, Wiedegreen, Eric A., Ransdell, Marlo, Waxman, Lisa K., Department of Interior Design, Florida State University
Abstract/Description: There exist a multitude of problems within the United States housing market. First is a lack of affordability. Forty-two percent of Americans cannot afford to purchase a home (Savage, 2009). Many households devote more than 50% of their income to paying for housing (Quigley & Raphael, 2004). Also, families with lower incomes will pay a higher rate of interest to purchase a residence (O'Hara & Short, 2008). Second is a lack of suitability. Residences often fail to meet the needs of their...
Show moreThere exist a multitude of problems within the United States housing market. First is a lack of affordability. Forty-two percent of Americans cannot afford to purchase a home (Savage, 2009). Many households devote more than 50% of their income to paying for housing (Quigley & Raphael, 2004). Also, families with lower incomes will pay a higher rate of interest to purchase a residence (O'Hara & Short, 2008). Second is a lack of suitability. Residences often fail to meet the needs of their occupants because they are built by developers from stock plans designed for an old version of America: post-World War II households, which were young and white with a housekeeping mother, a working father, and three children (Hayden, 2002). This outdated vision of American life does not represent the present reality of our diverse society. The ideal home is one built with the occupants' needs in mind and as a direct reflection of their lifestyle (Kicklighter & Kicklighter, 2005). However, only 30% of housing units started in 2009 were built specifically for the occupant, either by the owner themselves or by a contractor (U.S. Census Bureau, 2009). Finally, the size and development patterns of American homes are not sustainable. Since 1940, the average number of people living in an American home has dropped significantly, but the average size of new houses has doubled (Wilson & Boehland, 2005). These large homes are built in a low-density pattern that creates sprawl and car dependency (Meredith, 2003). Between 1945 and 2002, urban land area increased two times faster than population growth (Lubowski, Vesterby, Bucholtz, Baez, & Roberts, 2006). The pattern of building large homes at low densities will be unsustainable in the future due to population increases, energy consumption and natural resource depletion. The design solution proposes an 880 square foot home that addresses the problems of suitability, affordability, and sustainability. The residence includes integrated flexibility that allows it to adapt to meet the needs of every household type that could occupy it. The small size creates a sustainable prototype, allowing more homes to be built on a smaller footprint. The size also makes the home more affordable, thereby making ownership a possibility for more people. The flexible features of the interior will allow for customization to occur over time and for each user's needs. This thesis project challenges the current pattern of the American home, and proposes a new residential solution that will solve the problems of affordability, suitability and sustainability inherent within our housing market.
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Date Issued: 2011
Identifier: FSU_migr_etd-3285
Format: Thesis

Title: Attachment to Place and Possession Among an Extraordinary Traveling Population: The New American Circus.
Creator: Henderson, Paris M. C., Dawkins, Jim, Ransdell, Marlo, Fishburne, Kenan, Department of Interior Design, Florida State University
Abstract/Description: This study addresses the correlation between Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus (RBB&BC) and their attachment to place and possession while living as part of a mobile community. It focused on two touring divisions of RBB&BC; the Gold Unit and Blue Unit. The primary research question focuses on a well-known psychological framework; Abraham Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. It asked, "What are the basic human needs of mobile populations, as according to Abraham Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs,...
Show moreThis study addresses the correlation between Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus (RBB&BC) and their attachment to place and possession while living as part of a mobile community. It focused on two touring divisions of RBB&BC; the Gold Unit and Blue Unit. The primary research question focuses on a well-known psychological framework; Abraham Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. It asked, "What are the basic human needs of mobile populations, as according to Abraham Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, and how are these needs met?" The study also sought to answer three secondary research questions, which asked, 1) to what degree are biological, safety, social and esteem needs of a traveling circus populations being met relative to perceptions of attachment to place, 2) to what degree are biological, safety, social, and esteem needs of a traveling circus population being met relative to perceptions of attachment to possession(s), and 3) how does a circus traveler's history without a history of residential permanence impact their current sense of attachment to place and possessions? In order to evaluate this specific traveling circus population, multiple visits were made to different sites in two different cites in Southeastern Texas. Interviews with members of RBB&BC were conducted, and a questionnaire was distributed. Staff and performers of RBB&BC were asked questions focusing on their spatial needs and assessed their various physiological and psychological needs. During site visits, characteristics of the surrounding environment were noted, and photographs were taken. After gathering the data from the interviews, questionnaires, and site visits, the data was organized into emergent themes. In regards to place, one of the main themes that emerged was the importance of the ordinary landscape and a pervading feeling of placelessness, among the archetypal landscape (i.e. home, the interior built environment). Interviewees made claims that views to the outdoors (a.k.a. ordinary landscape) were especially important to them individually, while collectively acting as a calendar (i.e. when looking outdoors and recognizing the geographical terrain as Texas, they realize it is mid–July). In regards to possessions, the main theme was a stronger attachment to intangible possessions (as opposed to tangible). These intangibles were individual and collective and mostly related back to family, friends and one's cultural identity and traditions. This study allowed the researcher to evaluate the current spatial needs and perceptions of attachment to place and possession of Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus' Gold and Blue Units. This study provides information on the current spatial surroundings of RBB&BC. Further research could be conducted to assess RBB&BC's Red Unit and their various levels of physiological and psychological fulfillment. Additionally, a future study could be conducted to further explore individual interior environments of each touring division (i.e. the train, RV, hotel).
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Date Issued: 2013
Identifier: FSU_migr_etd-8680
Format: Thesis

Title: Chair.
Creator: Cleveland, Amanda, Ransdell, Marlo
Date Issued: 2016-10-18
Identifier: FSU_uspto_D769041, D769041, 3619304, 29/514207, 6c9256d97d167832cbab694dc904bd27
Format: Citation

Title: Chair.
Creator: Cleveland, Amanda, Ransdell, Marlo
Date Issued: 2015-03-10
Identifier: FSU_uspto_D723818, D723818, 3619304, 29/494236, 6c9256d97d167832cbab694dc904bd27
Format: Citation

Title: Environments for Young Children: A Qualitative Study and Design of Healthy and Nuturing Preschool Environments.
Creator: West, Tanya Lynn, Waxman, Lisa, Ransdell, Marlo, Munton, Peter, Department of Interior Design, Florida State University
Abstract/Description: The purpose of this research study was to evaluate the interior spaces of child care centers and the impact these spaces have on young children and the adults who care for them. A review of the existing research and the data gathered in this study were subsequently used to inform the design of a child care center that is nurturing and supportive of the activities that both young children and adults perform on a daily basis. The final design for the child care center, Tallahassee Learning...
Show moreThe purpose of this research study was to evaluate the interior spaces of child care centers and the impact these spaces have on young children and the adults who care for them. A review of the existing research and the data gathered in this study were subsequently used to inform the design of a child care center that is nurturing and supportive of the activities that both young children and adults perform on a daily basis. The final design for the child care center, Tallahassee Learning Center, a facility offering preschool education and child care services for children ages three to five, was based on the data gathered from this study and the key areas of research addressing early childhood development, young children's play, crowding, privacy, preschool classroom spatial arrangements, and green child care facility design. The first five years of a child's life are the most crucial to their physical, social, cognitive, and emotional development (Woodward, 1966). In the United States, with 65% of women working outside the home as of 2009, many children of this age are in a child care center, away from the comfort and familiarity of home (NACCRRA, 2009). In 2009, it was also reported that nearly 14.5 million children under the age of six needed care while their parents were at work. The design of built environments where child care takes place deserves particular attention with the increasing number of children who spend many of their days in such settings. An understanding of how young children interact with their peers and their built environment can significantly impact and inform the design and spatial arrangement of spaces regularly occupied by young children. Three child care centers in Tallahassee, Florida, were selected as the sites for conducting the research. Three qualitative methods of data collection were utilized for this research study, including interviews, visual documentation, and observation. Interviews were conducted with the directors of each facility and the teachers of the classes that were observed. Photographs were taken of the exterior and interior of each facility as a means of visual documentation. Observations of children who were three to five years old were conducted in the form of behavioral mapping using nonparticipant observations over the course of three consecutive months. The research findings suggest that young children's behavior and social interactions with their peers and teachers are impacted by the spatial arrangement of their preschool classrooms. The organization and adjacencies of the activity centers influenced children's interactions and the teacher's ability to monitor the children. Both physical and visual proximity to the teacher was an indicator of the children's behavior. When teachers could clearly see all the children in their care, less fighting and other inappropriate behaviors took place. Children required less adult support when toys, supplies, and fixtures were easily accessible. Children's play behavior and social interactions were positively enhanced when the preschools were arranged in such a way where several children could play together at each activity center with enough toys or other play materials for each child to be involved in the play process. Occasionally, children would desire privacy or time to play alone. By going to a quiet corner of the room and turning his or her back to the other children, a child was able to create their own place of private retreat away from the stimulation of their surroundings. Based on information gathered in this study, design guidelines were developed to help inform the design of child care centers that are intended to bridge the gap between childhood and adulthood by creating spaces which are supportive of the activities of both young children and the adults who care for them. The final design for Tallahassee Learning Center presented in this thesis provides a developmentally appropriate setting that balances the practicality of establishing a safe, healthy, and educational environment while also ensuring that the child care center evokes a sense of wonder, delight, and meaning for the young children.
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Date Issued: 2011
Identifier: FSU_migr_etd-1149
Format: Thesis

Title: Integrating the Built Environment and the Individual: A Holistic Approach to the Design of Interior Space.
Creator: Faircloth, Judson Willoughby, Ransdell, Marlo, Pable, Jill, Dawkins, Jim, Department of Interior Design, Florida State University
Abstract/Description: Holistic Interior Design is an interior design approach that integrates the functional needs of the built environment and the body, mind, and spirit of its occupants (Dossey, et al., 1998). The goal is to improve the quality of the built environment and the overall well-being of occupants (Montgomery, 2005; Schlacht, 2010; Trevelyan, 1998). As an integrative method, Holistic Interior Design requires a new understanding of the end users and their physical, psychological, and sociological needs...
Show moreHolistic Interior Design is an interior design approach that integrates the functional needs of the built environment and the body, mind, and spirit of its occupants (Dossey, et al., 1998). The goal is to improve the quality of the built environment and the overall well-being of occupants (Montgomery, 2005; Schlacht, 2010; Trevelyan, 1998). As an integrative method, Holistic Interior Design requires a new understanding of the end users and their physical, psychological, and sociological needs (Hertzfeld, 2011). The goal of this study was to determine if a relationship exists between the empirical studies of evidence-based design on color, light, integration of nature, and noise and the practices of Holistic Interior Designers. This study explored relevant literature on the impact feng shui, color, sustainability, integration of nature, light, aromatherapy, and sound management in relation to Holistic Interior Design. Information gathered from practicing Holistic Interior Designers explored Holistic Interior Design methodology and perceptions of methods to enhance well-being, that were linked to evidence-based design studies. For the purposes of this study, Holistic Interior Design was defined as interior design practices rooted in physiology, sociology, and psychology, that appeal to occupants' body, mind, and spirit to enhance well-being. In this study, the history behind and leading up to Holistic Interior Design, holistic healing, Holistic Architecture, Holistic Interior Design education, and Holistic Interior Design practice was explored. A word count was conducted of ten practicing Holistic Interior Designers' philosophy statements and descriptions of methods, revealing the common practices of feng shui, color, sustainability, integration of nature, light, aromatherapy, and sound management. Investigations were made into Holistic Interior Design's use of feng shui, color, sustainability, integration of nature, light, aromatherapy, and sound management, and what current scholarly literature had to say about these issues. The information gathered from the literature was used to provide insight into the aspects of the built environment that were reported as impactful to physiological, sociological, and psychological states. The word count of Holistic Interior Design methods led to the development of a questionnaire in which respondents assessed of images of typical waiting spaces. The results described the levels to which the participants' felt the waiting spaces rated in holistically applied color, light, integration of nature, and sound management, in relation to aspects of well-being, specifically, eliciting positive emotions, reducing stress, encouraging social interaction, and increasing states of arousal. Also respondents' suggestions for holistically improving these spaces were analyzed and graphically interpreted through digital renderings. The comments of responding Holistic Interior Designers suggested that Holistic Interior Design is an intuitive and perceptual process to enhance the well-being of occupants. Despite the subjective nature of this process, suggestions to improve each space were rarely in contradiction, and were supported by empirical evidence from scientific studies. The gathered data revealed connections between Holistic Interior Design practices and evidence-based design research on well-being, color, light, integration of nature, and noise. This suggested a link between the intuitive practices of Holistic Interior Design and empirical data in these areas.
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Date Issued: 2014
Identifier: FSU_migr_etd-8776
Format: Thesis

Title: Intercultural Connection and the Built Environment in an American University.
Creator: Trujillo, Lauren Sapiega, Waxman, Lisa, Pable, Jill, Ransdell, Marlo, Department of Interior Design, Florida State University
Abstract/Description: As universities become increasingly more ethnically diverse, their campuses may change to support a multicultural student body. To prevent students from engaging only with students from their own country, campuses may include spaces that bring cultures together. These spaces must promote a sense of community while simultaneously, promoting safety, efficacy, comfort, self expression, and attachment for the individual. The robust body of literature on the academic, practical, social, and...
Show moreAs universities become increasingly more ethnically diverse, their campuses may change to support a multicultural student body. To prevent students from engaging only with students from their own country, campuses may include spaces that bring cultures together. These spaces must promote a sense of community while simultaneously, promoting safety, efficacy, comfort, self expression, and attachment for the individual. The robust body of literature on the academic, practical, social, and psychological obstacles faced by international students is adequately matched by the literature on the solutions universities have implemented thus far to help students overcome these obstacles (support programs, faculty training, multicultural events). However, intercultural connection and integration often occur on an interpersonal level, when domestic and international students engage in voluntary, pleasant, and casual contact in a built environment on a university campus. To understand how campus spaces may support interactions between domestic and international students, a three step research methodology was performed. The researcher conducted a survey, observation/behavioral mapping, and interviews. First, the survey identified each student participant's nationality, major, length of time at the university, preferred place on campus, and the activities they engaged in while there. Participants also assessed their preferences of the physical attributes of these places such as the place's proximity to other buildings, its overall appearance, ambient conditions, amenities, and its architectural features. Participants also assessed their perception of the place's behavioral attributes: safety, privacy, efficiency, and comfort. Next, the researcher engaged in observation and behavioral mapping of the top five places preferred by international students and the top five places preferred by domestic students. The researcher described the physical attributes in each place that support place attachment based on the literature, determined how the spaces were used, and the types of interactions that occurred there. Then, follow-up interviews with five international students and five domestic students were conducted. Interviewees explained in greater detail their preferences about their preferred place as well as their feelings of attachment, self-expression, and sense of community they experienced while in it. Lastly, interviewees answered questions regarding the circumstances of their interactions with students from other cultures. Survey and observation findings revealed student participants' preferences and perceptions of the physical and behavioral attributes of their chosen place. This data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and correlations to identify what preferences and perceptions were shared by both student groups. Next, interview findings revealed the students' experiences with students from other cultures as well as their recommendations for physical changes to the place and to the campus that might increase these interactions. The interviews were coded to reveal emergent themes. The conclusions from the survey, observations, and interviews evaluated the relationship between the built environment on an American university campus and multicultural engagement among students. This relationship may be used to inform the design of future campus places so that they support the needs of an increasingly diverse student body.
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Date Issued: 2014
Identifier: FSU_migr_etd-8903
Format: Thesis

Title: Living While Dying: An Exploration of Design Through Relationship-Centered End-of-Life Care.
Creator: Sargent, Amber Christine, Dawkins, Jim, Ransdell, Marlo, Waxman, Lisa, Department of Interior Design, Florida State University
Abstract/Description: The purpose of this research project was to evaluate the interior spaces of an end-of-life care facility in order to understand how these spaces affect the patients, the families, and the staff of the facility and then to use this information as a basis for the design portion of this thesis. A review of the existing literature as well as data gathered from original research were coupled in order to create Dogwood Lane, an end-of-life care facility located in Tallahassee, Florida with an...
Show moreThe purpose of this research project was to evaluate the interior spaces of an end-of-life care facility in order to understand how these spaces affect the patients, the families, and the staff of the facility and then to use this information as a basis for the design portion of this thesis. A review of the existing literature as well as data gathered from original research were coupled in order to create Dogwood Lane, an end-of-life care facility located in Tallahassee, Florida with an environment that is functionally sound, promotes well-being, and facilitates interaction. End-of-life care is a social and medical reform movement that offers its patients "care rather than cure" (Silver, 2004, p. S-202). Its intent is to provide patients comfort, dignity, and respect during the final stages of life, helping to ease the transition from life to death. Although there are three types of end-of-life care including care for AIDS patients, care for children, and care for the elderly, this research study focuses on end-of-life care for the elderly. An end-of-life care facility located in Tallahassee, Florida was chosen as the research site for this study. The methods of observational research, behavioral mapping, staff surveys, and an interview with the Director of Nursing were utilized for this study. The findings provide insight into the design functionality of the facility and how this design directly affects the behaviors and interaction of its user groups: the patients, the families, and the staff. The study focused on certain areas of the facility including the patient room, the seating areas adjacent to the patient rooms, the living room, the kitchen, the outdoor garden area, the sun porch, and the spiritual care space. Narrowing the focus of the study to these seven spaces allowed for the intense exploration of these critical spaces. Research indicated that interaction among patients, families, and staff takes place in each of the aforementioned spaces; however, some spaces are utilized more frequently than others. It was found that the facility provided privacy, facilitated social support, and promoted well-being through its overall space plan, its residential feeling, and its implementation of nature. Design considerations for this thesis project, Dogwood Lane, were developed from the existing literature and the conducted research, creating an evidence-based design for this facility. The final design for this facility is one that promotes well-being, stimulates interaction and gathering, is safe for all users, and eases the transition from life to death for both the patients and families of Dogwood Lane.
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Date Issued: 2012
Identifier: FSU_migr_etd-5164
Format: Thesis

Title: A Narrative-Style Traveling Exhibition on Homelessness and Design's Potential to Create Change.
Creator: Antiquino, Jhoana Mae Ranoco, Pable, Jill, Ransdell, Marlo, Dawkins, Jim, Department of Interior Design, Florida State University
Abstract/Description: In any given night in the United States, an estimated 633,782 people will experience homelessness (US Department of Housing & Urban Development, 2012). The issue of homelessness is becoming so prevalent that many of the homeless who seek shelters are turned away due to over capacity (National Coalition for the Homeless, 2009, U.S. Conference of Mayors, 2011). A person experiencing homelessness equates the experience with the loss of his or her place in the world, which affects the individual...
Show moreIn any given night in the United States, an estimated 633,782 people will experience homelessness (US Department of Housing & Urban Development, 2012). The issue of homelessness is becoming so prevalent that many of the homeless who seek shelters are turned away due to over capacity (National Coalition for the Homeless, 2009, U.S. Conference of Mayors, 2011). A person experiencing homelessness equates the experience with the loss of his or her place in the world, which affects the individual's sense of self and belonging (Vandermark, 2007). In addition, those shelters that exist rarely provide an environment that promotes a sense of self and belonging. These aspects are important in helping homeless individuals get back on their feet, and become contributing citizens again (Vandermark, 2007). Currently there is a need for the design industry to have a greater presence in addressing socially beneficial design. There is a great potential for the design industry to contribute to environmental solutions for homelessness, and reach out to the 90% of the population that design has neglected to serve (Design for the Other 90%, 2011). For example, new designs for shelter facilities may offer further comfort than current building styles do. According to MacLeod & Shivers, "severe shortage of shelter for the poor and indigent is forcing the profession to confront its obligations to a public beyond that of clients who can pay for their services" (1991, p. 40). While interior designers often undertake pro bono work, they may not fully understand homelessness nor consider the situation applicable to their skills. This master's thesis project proposed a narrative-style traveling exhibition with the goal of heightening interior designers' awareness of homeless peoples' plights. Designed using a narrative approach, the goal of the exhibition was to meet three criteria: inform visitors with accurate information, change their negative perceptions of this issue, and call them to take action. This thesis project was executed in three phases - interviews using narrative inquiry, design of the exhibition, and lastly a post-evaluation of the developed exhibition by the study's constituent groups of homeless persons, interior designers, museum curators, and individuals that work with the homeless. During the first phase, interviews with one individual from each group took place. These interviews framed the content of the narrative-style traveling exhibition, and gathered the various perspectives and stories of homelessness. In the second phase, the development of the exhibition occurred using information gathered from phase one interviews as well as the study's research and programming. The design of the exhibition conveyed the realities, lived experiences of homeless people, and provided examples of design solutions for homelessness. Lastly, in phase three the same individuals from phase one were shown an animated walk-through of the exhibition, developed using a digital model of the space. The post-interviews conducted revealed information regarding the success and failures of the exhibition in providing accurate information, changing visitors' negative perceptions and prompting visitors to take action. At the completion of the post-interviews, the participants found that the exhibition successfully conveyed the stories of homelessness, and presented various realities of homelessness. Although it is inconclusive to determine whether the exhibition changed negative perceptions and called visitors to action, participants found the exhibition to be valuable. They felt that it brought awareness to the issue of homelessness, which can lead to designers to learn more or seek opportunities to get involved with the issue. The study's overall objective was to begin an evolution in the mindset of interior design students and interior design professionals that their actions can make a difference and that they can become advocates of this cause by using their design skills. This thesis design project offers a design for a narrative-style traveling exhibition that may prompt viewers to consider the importance of this issue and by extension, the potential designers can offer for change.
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Date Issued: 2013
Identifier: FSU_migr_etd-7275
Format: Thesis

Title: Optimal Healing + Working Environments: Designing Supportive Spaces for Professional Caregivers.
Creator: Griffin, Amy Leigh, Waxman, Lisa, Dawkins, Jim, Ransdell, Marlo, Department of Interior Design, Florida State University
Abstract/Description: The purpose of this research study was to better understand how the physical environment affects professional caregivers in an outpatient cancer center setting. A review of the existing research on medical environments revealed a great deal of knowledge about how the environment can affect patients, but very little on how the environment affects professional caregivers. Therefore the study sought to increase the body of knowledge in this area. The review of literature and original research...
Show moreThe purpose of this research study was to better understand how the physical environment affects professional caregivers in an outpatient cancer center setting. A review of the existing research on medical environments revealed a great deal of knowledge about how the environment can affect patients, but very little on how the environment affects professional caregivers. Therefore the study sought to increase the body of knowledge in this area. The review of literature and original research findings from this study were used to inform the design project portion of this thesis, which included the design of a cancer center that is pleasant and supportive for all users - patients, their loved ones, and professional caregivers. Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Therefore, there is a need for facilities that seek to care for these people. Thankfully, over half of those diagnosed with cancer will beat the disease either through treatment options or surgery, and sometimes a combination of both. But, to get on the road to wellness, a cancer patient must receive some type of treatment and visit the doctor often. Sometimes cancer patients will visit a facility for a few minutes, but visits can also last up to 8 hours if patients are there for longer treatments. This points to the need for spaces that are welcoming and comforting. Additionally, studies show that the physical environment can affect professional caregiver well-being, satisfaction, and productivity. The optimal healing environment model was the cornerstone for the original research component of this study. This framework explores the affect of architecture, light, color, artwork, nature, and water on users' well-being. A cancer center in the southeast region of the United States was chosen as a site for this study. Methodology involved three methods of data collection: observation, interviews, and photographic documentation. Observations were conducted in a number of key patient care areas and were conducted every day of the work week and at varying times of the work day. Interviews with one professional caregiver in each area were also conducted to gain a more thorough understanding of the activities of the cancer center and how the professional caregivers perceive and interact with their environment. Finally, photographs were taken of the exterior and interior of the facility as a means of visual documentation and reference. The research findings suggest that professional caregivers are impacted by the physical environment. This study found that the layout of a building is a vital component of the design that can either enhance their well-being and performance or hinder it. This study also found that professional caregivers appreciate co-workers, supplies, and patient care areas in close proximity to their work-stations. Additionally, professional caregivers noted that they are stressed and would appreciate areas of respite that are conducive to relaxation and privacy from patients. When considering materials, finishes, and accessories, the study showed that professional caregivers appreciate soothing colors, materials with a residential feel, and artwork depicting local places. The literature review and the original research component helped to develop design guidelines for the design of a cancer center project. The resulting design of Hope Harbor Cancer Center provides a solution to the needs expressed in this thesis while creating a welcoming and supportive environment.
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Date Issued: 2013
Identifier: FSU_migr_etd-7402
Format: Thesis

Title: Redesigning the Kress Building in Tampa, Florida: A Study of Hotel Branding, Sustainable Adaptive Reuse, and Historic Preservation.
Creator: Grove, Christina, Myers, Karen, Ransdell, Marlo, Dawkins, Jim, Department of Interior Design, Florida State University
Abstract/Description: Many historic downtowns that were once bustling city-centers are now blighted by vacant and deteriorating buildings which contribute to economic hardship. Despite their vacancy and sometimes poor condition, these buildings are important and worthy of preservation because they are historically significant and are physical evidence of the organic development of a city. However, due to a lack of government funding many of them are torn down. This calls for a private investment solution to the...
Show moreMany historic downtowns that were once bustling city-centers are now blighted by vacant and deteriorating buildings which contribute to economic hardship. Despite their vacancy and sometimes poor condition, these buildings are important and worthy of preservation because they are historically significant and are physical evidence of the organic development of a city. However, due to a lack of government funding many of them are torn down. This calls for a private investment solution to the environmental retrieval of these buildings. Developing a brand with this foundational goal was the focus of this thesis project. This project sought out a wide-spread branded solution that would save these historic gems by giving them a new use. The new use for these buildings would positively impact the local economy, improve communities, and appeal to the public. A brand that accomplishes all of these goals could potentially be developed in multiple cities and potentially spur the redevelopment of historic downtowns and revitalize communities nationwide. The project entailed the sustainable adaptive reuse and historic preservation of the vacant S. H. Kress five-and-dime store in Tampa, Florida. It was converted into a boutique hotel because this could be a profitable enterprise that would attract visitors and locals to the area. The resulting design is a fully developed boutique hotel with a bar and lounge, fine dining restaurant, spa, fitness center, coffee lounge, business center, and 36 guestrooms. With this design the author created the Landmarc Hotel brand. By applying the theory of emotional branding through the action frameworks of passionbranding and sensory branding the author established Landmarc's brand signature and standards. From this project, the author concluded that interior design has the ability to express a brand's essence through the environment and create positive brand experiences that result in brand loyalty. The project also demonstrated that a hospitality brand and its branded environments can create places for a community and its visitors to enjoy and become invested in. This new economic & community asset can initialize the total revitalization of a historic downtown by bringing people back into the area and gaining their love and loyalty to a brand that saves their local landmarks. People will support the Landmarc Hotel brand because Landmarc Hotels gives back to their local community and honors their culture and traditions through design and a unique brand that emphasizes the special qualities of their city.
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Date Issued: 2011
Identifier: FSU_migr_etd-3946
Format: Thesis

Title: Seeking Effective Agri-Tecture: An Urban Farm Design That Nourishes a Food Desert.
Creator: Robinson, Kelley G., Pable, Jill, Ransdell, Marlo, Webber, Steven, Department of Interior Design, Florida State University
Abstract/Description: A fundamental need of human culture is to eat, and therefore to have food available to its citizens. Unfortunately, agricultural and distribution practices have reduced many communities to "food deserts" where healthy, fulfilling food is scarce (Walker, 2012). Present agricultural methods that evolved from the Industrial Revolution consume copious amounts of fossil fuels from planting to shipping operations, only to generate interminable amounts of unhealthy processed foods. Current...
Show moreA fundamental need of human culture is to eat, and therefore to have food available to its citizens. Unfortunately, agricultural and distribution practices have reduced many communities to "food deserts" where healthy, fulfilling food is scarce (Walker, 2012). Present agricultural methods that evolved from the Industrial Revolution consume copious amounts of fossil fuels from planting to shipping operations, only to generate interminable amounts of unhealthy processed foods. Current industrial farming methods used have had unintended consequences on public health, local economies, and substantial negative impacts of the earth's ecosystems (Despommier, 2010). Many agree that present food distribution channels and farm-to-fork methods require an overhaul in order to preserve limited natural resources for future generations. The future may be the concept of the urban farm. Food distribution channels and procedures are central to the success of this new idea and therefore serve as the main focus of this study. With an effective distribution process, harvested food from vertical farms allows opportunities for food related stakeholders to invest their business operations within the facility's campus and continue to thrive and serve their customers. The purpose of the study was to discover how the built environment could support a new food distribution system that increases access to healthy food. In the first phase, the study examined the yearly baseline amount of vegetables necessary to feed approximately 10,000 residents located within .5 miles (walking distance) and one mile of the project's hypothetical location. Using USDA daily recommendation guidelines, the researcher found that the hypothetical urban farm could produce food for 940 of the 10,000 people per year in the study area by farming ten floors at 6885 square feet each on a 365-day cycle. In addition, she discovered that 700 of the 10,000 people living in that area were considered Low Income (LI) and Low Access (LA) by the USDA, meaning that they faced economic challenges coupled with transportation hardships in getting to the nearest supermarket. Therefore, the researcher proposed that the vertical farm could potentially produce at least enough food to fulfill the needs of the most vulnerable population, those considered Low Income (LI) and Low Access (LA) by the USDA Food Access Research Locator (2012). Second, the study examined the forces at play that would affect a successful urban food distribution system. Hypothetical food stakeholders were queried through a pre-questionnaire, a design charrette, and a post-questionnaire to determine how the workflow efficiencies of an urban food hub would be most effectively designed to provide success for its stakeholders' businesses. These hypothetical stakeholders included farmers, a restaurateur, farmers' market managers, grocery store representatives, and community food related advocates. The research questions were filtered through the framework of four of Peña and Parshall's concepts from Problem Seeking, An Architectural Primer, (2001), specifically 1) Priority, 2) Relationships, 3) Communications, and 4) Neighbors. Some of the major emergent themes that resulted from the research component of this thesis were as follows: * Food brokers are necessary for small, local farmers and were missing presently from local food distribution channels; * The educational component in teaching both children and adults about healthy food preparation was critical in combatting some of the problems associated with food challenges; and, * Public perception of a vertical farm and urban food hub would drive its type of users. With this information, the researcher knew that it was important to address these themes in the design process. The ultimate goal of the vertical farm and urban food hub was to make it successful for its food stakeholders while being inclusive to all members of the community, regardless of economic status. With that information, a solution was devised that included the renovation of two existing buildings. The first was a multi-story, 100,000 square foot, hexadecagon structure where the lower floor became a Market, a Food Broker's Office, and a Seed Library. The first floor was made into the Eatery with an exterior K-12 Teaching Garden. The second floor was designated as administrative support, facilities operations, and a plant nursery. In addition, the third through twelfth floors became the growing space for the vertical farm that supported these distribution outlets. Parking area on the site was allotted as space for a recurring farmers' market. The second building, a one-story 5000 square foot structure became a Shared-Use Kitchen for start-up food entrepreneurs to launch their food businesses. This building also included area for a Studio Teaching Kitchen that the general public could attend cooking demonstrations. This study found that the success of a new food distribution system is dependent in part on the physical architecture that supports its new needs in an economically viable way for these vendors and their consumers. Planning spaces for growing food, in addition to the supporting areas that facilitate its distribution, provided options in progressing toward a more sustainable future. These measures can then address challenges that range from obesity and malnutrition to environmental preservation.
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Date Issued: 2014
Identifier: FSU_migr_etd-9079
Format: Thesis

Title: The State of Evidence-Based Design in Healthcare Interior Design Practice: A Study of Perceptions, Use, and Motivation.
Creator: Phares, Emily G., Pable, Jill, Ransdell, Marlo, Butler, David, Department of Interior Design, Florida State University
Abstract/Description: This study addresses the design strategy known as evidence-based design (EBD), and seeks to discover the current state of EBD use and perceptions of United States and Canadian healthcare interior design practitioners. The study also addresses the motivations of healthcare interior designers to use EBD, as motivations may lead to further understanding of EBD's staying power as a strategy. Several emergent points of this nationwide survey of healthcare interior designers provide support for the...
Show moreThis study addresses the design strategy known as evidence-based design (EBD), and seeks to discover the current state of EBD use and perceptions of United States and Canadian healthcare interior design practitioners. The study also addresses the motivations of healthcare interior designers to use EBD, as motivations may lead to further understanding of EBD's staying power as a strategy. Several emergent points of this nationwide survey of healthcare interior designers provide support for the findings of other EBD surveys administered to other related populations. These points include: â¢ Most responding healthcare interior designers engage with evidence-based design at an elementary level as determined by analysis using Hamilton's levels of EBD use (2009). â¢ Acceptable sources for evidence used to make design decisions vary, and some designers described that previous applied design practice experience (normative theory) is a valid source. â¢ EBD often assists practitioners in reaching a design decision, and most practitioners do not feel that EBD stifles their creativity. This study found that there is generally a high level of interest in EBD. Most practitioners understand the basic underlying principle of EBD (using credible research to reach the best possible design solution). The majority of designers reported that they used EBD for 50% or less of their design decisions on any given healthcare project. Further, designers mostly use EBD within the schematic design and design development stages of the design process. Designers' motivations for EBD use are both extrinsic and intrinsic in nature, and the majority of the participating designers believe that using EBD will improve their projects and also help sell their design solutions. Generally, results seem to confirm that EBD is likely in the early stages of making its mark on healthcare interior design. EBD has yet to reach widespread consensus in meaning and application, yet holds promise to provide enhanced validation to design processes.
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Date Issued: 2011
Identifier: FSU_migr_etd-0292
Format: Thesis

Title: Subjective Well-Being and the Built Environment: An International Evaluation.
Creator: Frey, Sabrina, Pable, Jill, Ransdell, Marlo, Wiedegreen, Eric, Department of Interior Design, Florida State University
Abstract/Description: The topic of people's overall health and happiness has been gaining increased attention and press in recent years. Evidence that `happy people live longer' has been given by many studies that investigate the contributions of subjective well-being (SWB) to health and longevity. Some studies have explored areas that may contribute to SWB such as health care systems, eating habits, and physical attributes among other factors. As one of a designer's primary responsibilities is to promote the...
Show moreThe topic of people's overall health and happiness has been gaining increased attention and press in recent years. Evidence that `happy people live longer' has been given by many studies that investigate the contributions of subjective well-being (SWB) to health and longevity. Some studies have explored areas that may contribute to SWB such as health care systems, eating habits, and physical attributes among other factors. As one of a designer's primary responsibilities is to promote the welfare of their clients, it is reasonable to assume that it is also a designers' responsibility to investigate and add useful information to the body of knowledge about SWB and its potential connections to the built environment. As advocates for healthier environments it seems logical to research the living environments of societies that report an elevated state of SWB to evaluate how their values are expressed in their living environments. Further, could the manifestations of those expressions be a contributor to their elevated sense of well-being? Global-scope surveys of SWB consistently identify residents of the Nordic countries as the happiest and healthiest in the world. These elusive societies are often noted as the most progressive in areas such as technology and education; however, little is published about how they live. This thesis reveals findings from exploratory research into Nordic peoples' traditions and habits that are related to their welfare and elevated SWB. The research specifically evaluates how these traditions and habits are expressed in their living environments. In so doing, the study identifies residential elements that contribute to the perceptions of elevated SWB. The literary findings coupled with the qualitative research findings may add to the interior designer's body of knowledge regarding improved welfare, an important but also sometimes neglected element of the health-safety-welfare paradigm. The intent of this study was to discover the main cultural values of Nordic society and explore the physical manifestation of those values with-in the built environment to understand how they relate to residents' elevated levels of SWB. The researcher chose residential homes as a starting point for a series of studies which will include the exploration of SWB in regards to other built environments such as commercial buildings. Future studies will also include comparative analysis with other countries. Chapter 4 showcases living environment features and norms gathered from extensive interviews. The interviews with Nordic residents and the photographic documentation provided in answer to the research questions can be used by design educators to teach their students about global populations and the contributors to an elevated state of well-being. The examples and conclusions from the study may also help designers and educators expand their understanding of SWB and the living environment.
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Date Issued: 2012
Identifier: FSU_migr_etd-4845
Format: Thesis

Title: Symbiosis Between Biophilic Design and Restorative Healing Environments: The Impact on Overall Well-Being of Urban Dwellers.
Creator: Cleveland, Amanda C., Dawkins, Jim, Waxman, Lisa, Ransdell, Marlo, Department of Interior Design, Florida State University
Abstract/Description: On average, people spend ninety percent of their time in artificial built environments. Moreover, four-fifths of people in developed countries reside and/or work in dense urban cities: man-made environments that weaken the opportunity for humans to connect with their natural environment. These environments are filled with ecological and sensory deprivation resulting in a weakened human-nature connection (Kellert, 2012). This connectedness however could be strengthened by the design industry,...
Show moreOn average, people spend ninety percent of their time in artificial built environments. Moreover, four-fifths of people in developed countries reside and/or work in dense urban cities: man-made environments that weaken the opportunity for humans to connect with their natural environment. These environments are filled with ecological and sensory deprivation resulting in a weakened human-nature connection (Kellert, 2012). This connectedness however could be strengthened by the design industry, as design possesses the ability to promote this relationship through built environment solutions that encourage interdependency between people and natural elements. According to biologist Edward O. Wilson, humans are biologically interconnected with nature physically, psychologically, and spiritually. This deep affiliation with life is a complex process involving the promotion of mental health and well-being and has been defined as the "biophilia hypothesis" (1984). Stephen Kellert, Professor Emeritus of Social Ecology at Yale University, states that "[this] hypothesis proclaims a human dependence on nature that extends far beyond the simple issues of material and physical sustenance to encompass as well the human craving for aesthetic, intellectual, cognitive, and even spiritual meaning and satisfaction" (1993, p. 20). Therefore, biologically speaking, people's well-being remains highly dependent on the human-nature connection (Kellert, 2008), and many studies show how this connectedness often aids in the healing process. Although a great deal of attention has been paid to optimizing healing environments, there is little published literature that directly integrates a healing environment with restorative environments -- environments intended to restore people from mental fatigue, ecotherapy -- nature-based methods of physical and psychological healing, and the application of biophilic design -- the integration of nature within the built environment. Recognizing the need for restorative healing environments in urban settings where nature has been severely withdrawn from interiors and architecture and where mental fatigue is prominent, this project thesis proposes a design solution and environment that addresses that need. By integrating the two design models of biophilic design and restorative healing environments into one symbiotic framework and using this framework as a primary research filter, the thesis investigates biophilic design attributes and their perceived effectiveness as they pertain to the success of a theoretical restorative healing environment. Study results indeed indicate that the way in which biophilic attributes are integrated into the restorative healing environment influences their effectiveness. It showcases a design paradigm that promotes a symbiotic relationship between nature and the built environment while addressing humans' psychological, physical, and spiritual well-being and restore the human-nature connection that has been lost in the urban built environment.
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Date Issued: 2014
Identifier: FSU_migr_etd-8958
Format: Thesis

Title: Technological Impact on Creativity: Assessing the Impact of Computer Modeling and Rapid Prototyping on Perceived Creativity.
Creator: Conetta, Anthony L., Ransdell, Marlo, Wiedegreen, Eric, Dawkins, Jim, Department of Interior Design, Florida State University
Abstract/Description: This study compared the perceived creativity level of two models, one produced by hand and the other computer generated and produced using rapid prototyping technology, through seven dimensions (Novelty, Aesthetics, Effort, Variation, Deviation, Detail, and Complexity). The study considered potential changes in perceived creativity resulting from the introduction of computer modeling techniques. It further studies those dimensions which saw a significant change, in creativity, as predictors...
Show moreThis study compared the perceived creativity level of two models, one produced by hand and the other computer generated and produced using rapid prototyping technology, through seven dimensions (Novelty, Aesthetics, Effort, Variation, Deviation, Detail, and Complexity). The study considered potential changes in perceived creativity resulting from the introduction of computer modeling techniques. It further studies those dimensions which saw a significant change, in creativity, as predictors of how rapid prototyping increases creative thinking among students who use it. This study involved 36 students enrolled in The Florida State University Interior Design Department. During a three week period, in the Fall of 2011, these students completed exercises on model building techniques and skills, as well as produced the two models listed above (Hand and Computer). Creativity was assessed using the Creative Product Analysis Matrix (CPAM) created by Bessemer and Treffinger (1980). A table outlining the CPAM is provided in Appendix G. The information obtained from the judging of models was compared individually, that is one students' hand model to that same students' computer model, as well as in whole, all subject's hand models to all subject's computer models. The findings show that nearly three times as many subjects produced a model that was perceived as more creative when using computer software and rapid prototyping machinery. It also found that the dimension of Aesthetics, Effort, Detail, and Complexity all saw a significant increase in models produced through rapid prototyping. Lastly, the data showed that the availability of rapid prototyping technology provides an opportunity for creative growth.
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Date Issued: 2012
Identifier: FSU_migr_etd-7339
Format: Thesis

Title: The Underground Office: Changing Perceptions and Increasing Employee Satisfaction.
Creator: Vila, Maria Beatriz, Pable, Jill, Ransdell, Marlo, Dawkins, Jim, Department of Interior Design, Florida State University
Abstract/Description: Priorities for office environment continue to evolve. As people spend significant time at work, the need for employee satisfaction is increasingly important. This thesis provides a possible solution to increase satisfaction in an underground office environment. These environments often lack in windows, or a view, and most often, a negative perception is associated with them. The creation of this study's design for a scientific company that grows experimental plants underground aims to address...
Show morePriorities for office environment continue to evolve. As people spend significant time at work, the need for employee satisfaction is increasingly important. This thesis provides a possible solution to increase satisfaction in an underground office environment. These environments often lack in windows, or a view, and most often, a negative perception is associated with them. The creation of this study's design for a scientific company that grows experimental plants underground aims to address negative perceptions of such spaces in order to speak to workers' health and well being in the absence of above ground windows. This project's original research analyzes the viability of various types of views and nature contact that are feasible to be placed in an underground working environment. These findings become groundwork for design considerations, which drive final design decisions in the project's design solution. The goal is to create an exciting and welcoming underground office, which attends to the need for views as well as increasing employee satisfaction.
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Date Issued: 2012
Identifier: FSU_migr_etd-5248
Format: Thesis

Title: What I Wish I Knew: Interior Design Graduates Sense of Preparedness to Practice.
Creator: Tarver, Elizabeth, Waxman, Lisa K., Pable, Jill, Ransdell, Marlo, Department of Interior Design, Florida State University
Abstract/Description: Interior design education is continuously evolving as is the profession of interior design. The Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) standards are regularly reviewed and updated to ensure that students receive the best interior design education possible and that they leave school as well prepared for professional practice as possible. It is important that college and university interior design programs continue to prepare students so they can lead the profession into the future....
Show moreInterior design education is continuously evolving as is the profession of interior design. The Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) standards are regularly reviewed and updated to ensure that students receive the best interior design education possible and that they leave school as well prepared for professional practice as possible. It is important that college and university interior design programs continue to prepare students so they can lead the profession into the future. This study sought to gather insight into the entry-level design professional's perspective on design education. This study examined recent interior design graduate's perceptions of their ""preparedness to practice"" by finding out ""what they wish they knew"" now that they are working in the design profession. It provides an in-depth look into how well prepared recent interior design graduates are for the workplace and what knowledge areas, qualities and skills they deem valuable to their professional success. This study also reported findings from interior design graduates identifying the knowledge areas and skills they feel should be further emphasized in design education based upon their experience thus far. This information can assist in the modification and enhancement of interior design curricula by identifying areas in education that need improvement, further emphasis or even less emphasis. The survey was sent via email to 764 interior design undergraduate and first professional graduate student alumni who had completed their degrees in the last five years (2008 - 2012). They were chosen from five regionally diverse CIDA accredited interior design programs in the United States. A total of 101 responses to the on-line survey were received. In addition, eight designers, from various regions, were interviewed for ""deeper insight"" into their survey responses. The survey findings reveal that, in most cases, the knowledge areas shown to be the most valuable were also the areas graduates felt most prepared for upon graduation. Similarly, those areas listed as least valuable were also areas students felt less prepared for. Overall, this indicates there is indeed a similarity with skills students are most prepared to handle and those demanded of them in the workplace. Findings show that a majority of recent interior design graduates are in agreement on the "top five" knowledge categories and/or skills they felt most prepared to perform in professional practice after graduation. These include: 1. Formulation of preliminary space plans 2. Formulation of two and three dimensional design concept studies and sketches 3. Creation of space plans and design concepts that are safe, functional and aesthetically appropriate 4. Research and analysis of client goals and requirements (programming) 5. Selection of appropriate colors, materials and finishes Correspondingly, survey findings reveal agreement on the knowledge categories and/or skills that recent graduates felt least prepared to perform. These include: 1. The administration of contract documents, bids and negotiations as the client's agent 2. Preparation of project budgets 3. Contract administration 4. Preparation of project schedules 5. Observing and reporting on the implementation of projects while in progress and upon completion Study data also showed that there are knowledge areas where large variances were found between the rated level of importance and perceived preparedness. For example, the knowledge area with the greatest variance between value and preparedness is the coordination and collaboration with other allied design professionals (I.e. architects; structural, mechanical and electrical engineers, and various specialty consultants). Survey results indicated that a majority of recent interior design graduates did not feel very well prepared in this area when they first started practicing, while these same graduates rated this category as the sixth most valuable knowledge area. These findings signal a need for further emphasis in this area in design education. The four knowledge areas and/or skills with the greatest variance between value and preparedness are: 1. Coordinate and collaborate with allied design professionals 2. Encourage or include the principles of environmental sustainability into designs Only 16% of recent graduates felt this category was highly valuable to them in practice. In contrast, they felt this was an area they were prepared to practice following their education. 3. Preparation of construction documents to adhere to code and regulatory requirements While 11% of recent graduates felt this category was highly valuable to them only 27% felt adequately prepared in this area while 31% felt less than adequately prepared or poorly prepared. 4. Preparation of project budgets This category ranked second, at 16%, in areas respondents recommended for further emphasis in education. In addition, findings from the eight telephone interviews stressed the importance of understanding budgets even though 78% of respondents stated that they felt less than adequately prepared in this area. These findings, combined with open-ended responses throughout the survey, suggest that a greater emphasis be placed on budgets in interior design curricula. The interviews and survey data offer a unique insight into the perceptions of the entry-level interior design professional. As mentioned earlier, college interior design program curricula and CIDA standards are continuously evolving to better meet the needs of design education. It is important that educators and practitioners consider the perspective of recent graduates as their successes and failures are oftentimes a direct result of their educational preparation.
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Date Issued: 2013
Identifier: FSU_migr_etd-7625
Format: Thesis

Theses and Dissertations (16)	+ -
Florida State University Patents (2)	+ -

Interior decoration (12)	+ -
Interior architecture (3)	+ -
Arts (1)	+ -
Humanities (1)	+ -

Department of Interior Design (16)	+ -
Florida State University (16)	+ -
Dawkins, Jim (9)	+ -
Pable, Jill (8)	+ -
Waxman, Lisa (5)	+ -

Cleveland, Amanda (2)	+ -
Waxman, Lisa K. (2)	+ -
Wiedegreen, Eric (2)	+ -
Antiquino, Jhoana Mae Ranoco (1)	+ -
Butler, David (1)	+ -
Cleveland, Amanda C. (1)	+ -
Conetta, Anthony L. (1)	+ -
Faircloth, Judson Willoughby (1)	+ -
Fishburne, Kenan (1)	+ -
Frey, Sabrina (1)	+ -
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Robinson, Kelley G. (1)	+ -
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Trujillo, Lauren Sapiega (1)	+ -
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West, Tanya Lynn (1)	+ -

Thesis (16)	+ -
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