We are upgrading the repository! A content freeze is in effect until November 22nd, 2024 - no new submissions will be accepted; however, all content already published will remain publicly available. Please reach out to repository@u.library.arizona.edu with your questions, or if you are a UA affiliate who needs to make content available soon. Note that any new user accounts created after September 22, 2024 will need to be recreated by the user in November after our migration is completed.
 

ABOUT THE COLLECTIONS

These collections contain master's reports and master's theses from the Landscape Architecture program, dating back to 1979. Most of these reports and theses were digitized from paper copies held previously in the Fine Arts Library, while reports and theses after 2005 were submitted electronically to be archived and made available online.


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Contact us at repository@u.library.arizona.edu with questions about items in these collections.

Sub-communities within this community

Recent Submissions

  • From Hot Dogs to Cool Communities: Sustainable Design Solutions for Socio-Ecological Revitalization of the Tucson Greyhound Park

    Livingston, Margaret; Leipold, Will (The University of Arizona., 2024-05)
    Urban heat is one of the most inexplicably disregarded issues facing our global society. The repercussions extend far beyond being the leading weather-related cause of death in the United States (EPA, 2023). Other consequences of high temperatures include an increased energy demand and subsequent greenhouse gas emissions, a detrimental impacts on native ecology, and reduced quality of life and overall well-being for urban dwellers. To make matters worse, communities with predominantly low-income and minority populations experience the most extreme concentrations of the urban heat island effect (UHI). As global temperatures and urban populations continue to climb, urban planning and development practices must respond to the pressing interrelated issues of urban heat and social equity. Deliberate design is crucial to ensure our human and ecological communities may thrive harmoniously for years to come. In 2020, the city and Mayor Romero launched Tucson Resilient Together, a Climate Action and Adaptation Plan, aimed to address the escalating concerns of extreme heat while promoting equity within the city. Part of the initiative included the goal to plant one million trees, prioritizing neighborhoods with the greatest need. However, Tucson’s efforts do not include the independent municipality of South Tucson, a primarily low-income, Latino community situated in one of the hottest areas of the valley. This report aims to demonstrate sustainable urban design strategies to promote social wellness and reduce negative effects of urban heat for an historically marginalized community. By using the site of the former Tucson Greyhound Park, this report aims to advocate for more funding opportunities for the city of South Tucson, and to serve as a reference for sustainable design practices for the owners and future redevelopers of the Tucson Greyhound Park.
  • Embracing the Past, Present, and Future: A Learning Center at the Miguel Alemán Bosque

    Livingston, Margaret; Yescas, Selenne (The University of Arizona., 2024)
    Nestled alongside the dry banks of the Colorado River, the Miguel Aleman Bosque serves as a remarkable testament to decades of environmental restoration and collective stewardship. Once a barren semi-desert stretch, this valued site has undergone a profound metamorphosis, thanks to the unwavering dedication of Pronatura Noroeste and its esteemed allies. Through the diligent planting of over 100,000 native plants and the exhaustive efforts of volunteers, the bosque has blossomed into a vibrant ecosystem, fostering the flourishing of 122 bird species, and contributing to the replenishment of the aquifer. Building upon this legacy of conservation, this project’s initiative intent is to design four gardens that will anchor a welcoming center at the entrance of the Miguel Aleman Bosque. Here, visitors will embark on an immersive journey of discovery, experiencing transformative learning opportunities and collaboration. Guided tours will illuminate the native vegetation and ecological importance of the community and region, while thoughtful amenities will invite moments of contemplation and connection with nature. The master plan for these gardens intricately weaves together principles of sustainability and conservation to highlight the region’s rich biodiversity. This project aims to provide informative resources for visitors, offering insights into the historical significance of the site and the unique flora and fauna of the Miguel Aleman Bosque and its surroundings. Collaborations with Pronatura, Reforesta San Luis, and other like-minded organizations will emphasize a shared commitment to the enhancement and revitalization of our precious ecosystem in the region. Through thoughtful design and sustainable practices, the Miguel Aleman Bosque gardens will emerge as both a sanctuary for biodiversity and an educational beacon, inspiring stewardship and fostering a deeper connection with nature and our community.
  • THE TRUE GREEN

    Livingston, Margaret; Yang, Bo; Rodriguez Ponce, Oscar (The University of Arizona., 2024)
    As extreme weather events become increasingly common and concerns for future water availability rise in the Southwestern United States, the need and opportunity for sustainable landscape design in hot arid environments grows stronger. The University of Arizona, which has committed to ambitious sustainability goals, is a prime environment for the adoption of sustainable landscapes that could work as remarkable examples of best practices in the region in terms of landscape performance. Through literature reviews, case reviews, and site assessment, this project proposes a design informed by research for a portion of the University of Arizona Mall. The result is an alternative to the existing, lawndominated landscape in favor of a more sustainable and dynamic site that maintains some of the lawn’s flexibility while incorporating a plethora of new programming and spaces at a lower water cost.
  • Riparian Renewal: Rethinking Randolph Dell Ulrich Golf Course Watercourses

    Livingston, Margaret; Thomas, Keegan (The University of Arizona., 2023)
    Golf courses inherently have a lot of problems. They take up very large spaces, are generally designed for single user groups (golfers), and are very resource intensive, especially in the US Southwest. They also have a host of benefits: the sport of golf supports an active lifestyle and has health benefits associated with it, and golf courses do provide ecological value as a green space in urban settings. This masters report looks at a typical municipal golf course in Tucson Arizona, and through site analysis and background research & case reviews proposes a redesign that aims to benefit members of the community, further optimize habitats for local wildlife, all while reducing the resource dependency required of the golf course. Page
  • Designing Inclusive Public Spaces in Southern Arizona: The Development of the Tubac Nature Preserve

    Livingston, Margaret; Vasquez Cabrera, Patricia (The University of Arizona., 2023)
  • Green Links

    Livingston, Margaret; Tang, Sinlin (The University of Arizona., 2023)
    Urbanization started in the early 1800s and grew rapidly after the Civil War in the United States. Along with attracting jobs and economic gains, rapid urbanization brings greenhouse effects, erosions and natural habitat destruction. After the golden age of urbanization, old infrastructure systems are degrading and the destruction of native habitats is progressive. Year after year, studies show evidence of the inevitable climate change effects on living organisms, particularly in arid regions such as the Sonoran desert. The urban ecology study carries a simple and effective answer to these concerns. Urban Ecology and green infrastructure have designs for a green space system in urban areas that target an array of amenities and have a cost-effective implementation. This master's report looks into past studies worldwide in order to seek reasonable solutions to modern urban challenges. Specifically, a site in downtown Tucson, between Stone Ave and 6th Street, is examined through a process of literature review, case review, and design applications to mitigate the urban issues by recent developments.
  • Storytelling Historic North Fourth Avenue

    Livingston, Margaret; Houghton, B. Blake (The University of Arizona., 2023)
    Historic landscapes are often times only thought about in terms of park-scapes, this project redefines the term “historic landscape” to include urban heritage and historic districts. Through this redefined terminology, we look at the Fourth Avenue Historic District in Tucson, Arizona to understand how and why an urban district could be re-imagined as an historic landscape. From 1903 to 1967 the Fourth Avenue Historic District saw a lot of change. The changes made across the district reflect the evolving needs of the users of the district from residential to commercial purposes. The district is comprised of historic buildings, reflecting the work of several master architects, and several legacy businesses, while not contributing to the historic nature of The Avenue, are never-the-less important as contributing to the cultural significance of Fourth Avenue and Tucson. This work focuses primarily on the research done in order to provide the Historic Fourth Avenue Coalition enough material to begin an historic interpretation project. That effort, while ongoing, is an important step towards creating an education space that helps regular users and occasional visitors consider the broader impacts of the history of the community, and the cultural heritage, that Fourth Avenue represents for Tucson.
  • Designing for Conservation, Advocacy and Recreation in the High Sonoran Grasslands

    Livingston, Margaret; Potucek, Alizabeth (The University of Arizona., 2022)
    The Appleton-Whittell Research Ranch (AWRR) is an exceptional place with in the high-sonoran grasslands of the Madrean Sky Islands. The AWRR’s primary function is as an ecological research and conservation station. The Sky Island bikepacking route has increased recreational visitors to the ranch in recent years. Outdoor recreation is a quickly growing industry, especially across the Western US. Research shows that the outdoor recreation and tourism is growing faster than traditional economic pillars such as oil, mining and ranching. AWRR cultivates place-based attachment for many of its visitors- from the researchers to recreators. Design, programming, and land management play an important role in balancing conservation and recreation. Well-designed recreation opportunities with thoughtful management can be a practical way to engage the public in regional issues. This project generates design concepts for additional recreational amenities at AWRR, while still prioritizing conservation and research. The design outcomes include a proposed new trail location, signs, and lodging. A new trail designed for bikepackers at the AWRR would strengthen the connection etween recreation, outreach and conservation at the ranch.
  • Transect the Loop

    Livingston, Margaret; Anthony, Paige (The University of Arizona., 2021)
    What interventions can improve connectivity within established residential neighborhoods and to the nearby regional recreational assets? This project looks at the challenge of connectivity within Tucson, specifically the residential core of the city. That is not to say that the goals of this effort could not be applied to other urban environments. The framework presented here could be used to develop site specific outcomes in any city. Focus of the literature and case reviews may shift, as might the inventory. Nevertheless, the need to address the safety and infrastructure to support alternative transportation and improve our urban ecology is everywhere.
  • Tucson al Fresco: A Toolkit for Decentralized Streetscape and Streatery Design

    Livingston, Margaret; Bejjani, Ramzy (The University of Arizona., 2021)
    The Covid-19 Pandemic forced a dramatic reimagination of public space. To reconcile the seemingly dueling requirements of public health and quotidian activities, people developed a diverse quiver of strategies to reconfigure the public realm, be it open air markets, pedestrianized neighborhood streets, a shift towards outdoor dining, etc. This report explores how one of these responses – streateries, an expansion of dining and drinking space into the public realm -- could be formally integrated into our post-pandemic urban fabric. Working with local municipalities, small businesses deployed streateries to great effect during the pandemic, building them quickly with only informal, on-hand materials. This ad hoc, often grassroots response was a global experiment in design deregulation. This report formalizes a process for decentralized and democratized streetscape design in order to institutionalize lighter, quicker, cheaper strategies and tools so that their practice and benefits can be more easily understood, more quickly deployed, and more equitably shared. The result is a toolkit for those wanting to start their own streatery or streatery program.
  • INTERLACE: NANHU ECOLOGICAL PARK - New development of the city, ecological restoration, and reuse of abandoned man-made reservoirs

    Song, Zhiuyan (The University of Arizona., 2019)
    As urbanization has progressed in Lijin County that is located in Shandong, China, natural areas have gradually been replaced by concrete banks and decorative greenery plantings. The original wild wetland landscape’s degradation has influenced people living in this county who have lost their sense of belonging. Currently, there is an excellent opportunity to redevelop the Lijin’s new district: Southern District. The 75-hectare Lijin Reservoir built in 2002 will be considered for re-use and participation in an urban ecological restoration. A plan will redesign the deserted reservoir into a residential-friendly, ecological, new urban open space showing the unique wetland landscape of the Yellow River estuary and Lijin’s urban culture. At the same time, it will serve as an essential part of the entire urban water system, promoting public water circulation and improving water quality. Overall, this will promote the surrounding economic development and cultural construction.
  • Wetlands and Bouncy Castles: A Juarez Nature Park Along the Us-Mexico Border

    Nuno-Whelan, Mario (The University of Arizona., 2020)
    What the heck do wetlands and bouncy castles have to do with each other? Usually, absolutely nothing. This project proposes that maybe they could. The focus here is the design of a constructed wetland park in the city of Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico, that uses treated effluent to create wildlife habitat that once existed in the floodplain of a meandering Rio Bravo/Rio Grande prior to channelization. However, there are two broader design challenges that make it unique: 1) the site is adjacent the Juarez-El Paso border and directly across the river from an existing 372-acre Rio Bosque Wetlands Park in El Paso, constructed in the 90s and irrigated by the effluent of a wastewater treatment plant; and 2) the site is an undeveloped patch of agricultural land nearly surrounded by compact, single-family housing in an overlooked community. And this is where bouncy castles fit in. The goal is to integrate undeveloped wetland habitat with much-needed recreation space for a dense, urban neighborhood in a growing Mexican city. If you’ve ever been to a big public park in a Southwest city around graduation season or summer birthdays, you’ll know that shade ramadas and bbq grills get a lot of love. Families - and I mean families: grandmas, grandkids, aunts, neighbors, friends, every age group - go all out with food and lawn games...and sometimes, for big occasions...bouncy castles. Public parks are used similarly in Juárez. Families often visit parks in big groups. In order for this park to work, that kind of visitation needs to be designed for. The bouncy castle is a symbol. No, the park doesn’t come with bouncy castles and they will probably seldom be there. But they could be. And the design allows for it. It even welcomes it. It allows for people to use the park the way a lot of people actually use parks: in big groups, with food and family and games, with coolers and tables and camping chairs. The bouncy castle is a poofy pink stand-in for future graduation parties, family reunions, and Sunday family picnics in a park that also has wetlands and trails and unprogrammed nature.
  • Urban Voids: A Potential in Tucson's Wasted Spaces

    Palomo, Isaac (The University of Arizona., 2020)
    In the last decade, urban voids have emerged as a challenge for rapidly urbanizing cities. Especially in the city center where the early city settlement was situated, many urban and industrial functions have moved out leaving behind abandoned and under-utilized spaces. Underutilized and abandoned land in urban areas are often overlooked and neglected, ultimately rendering them as unattractive, dead spaces. Urbanization has led urban life to become dull due to the degrading of the environment and the devoid of space for sociocultural activities. As city populations continue growing, there is an increased pressure to provide open outdoor spaces for inhabitants. Urban Voids are a vital component in the context of social interaction and act as a meeting point to enable people to have direct contact with the society around them. The aim of this study is to understand the urban character of dead spaces within Tucson’s downtown district and identify a wasted space that has the potential to be leveraged into an active space to further enhance and strengthen the public realm.
  • Lizard Tales Loop: An Urban Greenway throug Flood Mitigation and Wildlife Education

    Johnstone, Rebecca (The University of Arizona., 2020)
    This project aims to look at the various ways that we can aid our washes in rehabilitation strategies to promote a healthier ecosystem for people and wildlife. Through research, a site was picked to be able to demonstrate ways of providing interactive learning on these rehabilitation strategies as well as to highlight lizards as one of the wildlife species that live in the washes. Techniques that were used to rehabilitate the washes include slowing, sinking, and spreading the water in vacant parcels that have more room using detention basins, terracing, and baffles to naturally meander the wash’s path.
  • A Walk on the Wild Side: Incorporating Ecological Design and Ethnobotany Interpretation in Morris K. Udall Park

    Hatch, Dionna (The University of Arizona., 2020)
    Parks have the potential to be educational, athletic, aesthetic, and artistic places. This work focuses on the linking of art, ecology, ethnobotany and socialization within a portion of a recreational park. The project utilizes the framework of Sonoran ecology and ethnobotany, while integrating the elements of Citizen Science programs and social environments within a new trail. The framework will be applied to a public recreational park, Morris K. Udall Regional Park, to develop a unique socially dynamic, educational and artistic space that inspires users about the natural environment. Methods include: literature review, site analysis, and design guidelines. Final outcomes will include an on-line resource for Citizen Science programs, master plan design for Udall Park, revegetation techniques, and a social ethnobotanical center for the east side of Tucson. Recommendations for the integration of Citizen Science programs and educational art installations are included throughout the design.
  • Songs of Chansons D' Haute Ville: Strategies for resilience within a rural heritage landscape

    Cottrell-Crawford, Penelope (The University of Arizona., 2020)
    Songs of Haute Ville is a culmination of my passions for heritage conservation, landscape architecture, and climate adaptation. The report will identify strategies to build physical and social resilience within a rural French heritage site called Haute Ville. The name means “high town” in French, as the site clings to a hill which overlooks the village of Puget-Ville in the valley below. The site is the original footprint of Puget-Ville, and it remains a wellspring of natural and cultural heritage resources for the town. Within the site's bounds are an 11th-century chapel, a 14th-century castle ruin, and footprints of the medieval village, all nestled within an dense pine-oak forest. In recent decades, the historic site has seen unprecedented damage from droughts and extreme weather impacting the hillside location. Major pathways have been rendered inaccessible due to landslides from eroded soils and rock-slides from destabilized masonry. This damage has impacted the site’s capacity to host visitors and events, which in turn has created ramifications for restoration and fundraising efforts. My Master’s Report will provide typologies for erosion mitigation and acoustic appreciation spaces; designs for re-vitalized entrance areas; and recommendations for native planting and alternative event programming. This project has ties to my personal heritage as well: my grandparents were live-in stewards of for almost four decades, until 2018. I have been fortunate to spend valuable time there throughout my life, exploring the lands, touching the stones, witnessing the hillsides change in wind and sun and rain. As such, has been a great pleasure to write this report, and to share it with my family, who are all intertwined with the site. Songs of Haute Ville aims to showcase strategies for the holistic protection of our shared global heritage. Heritage landscapes are much more than the built environment: they are comprised of the cultural talismans that exist in the ecologies and accumulated memories of the places we hold dear.
  • Tomorrow's Garden: Uniting Tradition Technology Community

    Kindler, Brad (The University of Arizona., 2019)
    Today challenges of climate change, population growth, biodiversity loss, and water scarcity, lead farmers to ask new questions about how to grow food in a changing environment. Additionally, innovative technology and public food preferences present challenges and opportunities for farmers to consider before planting. Honoring Tucson’s diverse community and unique history, this study proposes the design of Tomorrow’s Garden. This garden seeks to punctuate Mission Garden’s historic timeline with a demonstration of sustainable and innovative agricultural practices. Outcomes of this proposal include the design of a garden that has the capacity to adapt to changing climate, as well as build community through design process and project implementation.
  • El Rio Preserve riparian rehabilitation & community recreation

    Stoicof, Alexandra (The University of Arizona., 2017)
    The Sonoran Desert is a unique biodiverse landscape of approximately 100,000 square miles in Southwestern United States. It is characterized by seasonal monsoon rains in both the summer and winter that sustain some 2,000 different plant species, making it a comparatively lush desert. Because of the Sonoran Desert’s geographic location and seasonal precipitation patterns, a variety of biomes can be found in the region, including tundra, coniferous forest, temperate deciduous forest, grassland, chaparral, desert, thornscrub, and tropical forest (Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, 2017). Within these biomes are corridors of riparian communities, which are areas of watercourses that create unique habitats. In the Southwest, many of these riparian watercourses are currently ephemeral and only fl ow temporarily throughout the year. These xeroriparian habitats (dry riparian) are largely and increasingly ephemeral because of human disturbances. Watercourses that once were perennial, such as the Santa Cruz River, now flow primarily only during the monsoon rains. Riparian communities are critical components in the network of biomes and habitats in the Sonoran Desert. They provide corridors for the movements of plants and animals, and sustain unique species in the desert that require more water. These communities are also beautiful, lush landscapes that are often enjoyed by humans for their oasis-like qualities; trails, camping and picnicking spots, and scenic points-of-view are often found along watercourses. The El Rio Preserve in Marana, Arizona is such a riparian community tucked along the banks of the Santa Cruz River. It is part of a chain of other regionally-significant habitats, and presents opportunities for both habitat and human recreation. Many species of plants and animals have found refuge at El Rio, including invasive species. Its origins as a former borrow pit, however, make it a disturbed xeroriparian landscape that could benefit from rehabilitation strategies. The following Master’s Report presents a process and design for El Rio. A majority of the work was done in collaboration with the Town of Marana. Public participation was a large component of the project, which informed many design decisions. A comprehensive literature and case review, and ongoing site assessments also contributed to the final design and rehabilitation strategies.

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