Abstract:

Method of inquiry . This thesis will investigate a key site in downtown Buffalo and study how to generate street life around the clock. This thesis will research existing downtown conditions, activities, nodes and circulation and then focus on designing a new building for one site to stimulate downtown revitalization. Concrete is a widely used building material in urban areas and is capable of providing innovative structures and spaces. This material will be researched and investigated through precedent studies, which will include innovatively designed concrete structures, buildings which have helped and have taken help from the urban context to create vibrant city center life. The design proposal, which will grow out of the precedents and the investigation of existing downtown conditions, will be developed as a prototype for projects that could contribute to Buffalo's revitalization.

Expected outcome . The product of this thesis will be an architectural design proposal for a mixed use building in downtown Buffalo, which will be designed to support urban life. The project will not only be focused on a building but also on the stimulation of surrounding activities in order to make a vibrant life inside and outside of the building. According to the above guidelines, a design proposal will be offered as a model for revitalizing downtown Buffalo, and it is hoped that this strategy will be used for other sites in Buffalo and in other cities in order to regenerate urban life. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)