USC Architecture Xpo
The typical residential subdivisions that define much of the housing supply in the U.S. have drawn persistent criticism from architects and planners. Suburban sprawl has contributed to car dependency, social atomization, and an affordability crisis fueled by land speculation and debt. While urban co-ops and rural utopian communities have attempted to address some of these […]
Access to stable housing is essential for individuals living with mental illness and manifests in various forms—from clinical institutions to supervised group homes to supportive housing—each presenting distinct challenges, including affordability, autonomy, physical needs, and freedom from discrimination. Responding to the diminishing availability of affordable housing in Los Angeles, The Head & The Heart proposes a long-term, […]
Since humans first built shelters, architectural form has been dictated by material availability—a fundamental principle that modern construction practices have abandoned through unsustainable extraction cycles. This thesis reclaims and reframes this logic for contemporary practice through a comprehensive urban mining framework that reconceptualizes industrial waste as collective architectural resources. Using decommissioned wind turbines as a […]
Reclaiming the Grid seeks to reconnect the fragmented urban fabric of Boyle Heights, disrupted by the massive convergence of the 101, 5, and 60 highways. Since the land and rights-of-way occupied by these highways are publicly owned, the project proposes not only to mend severed streets and communities with new connections and bridges, but also […]
Under New Ownership – Non-speculative Models for Equitable & Ecological City Housing
The city is structured around function, reinforcing society’s expectations of productivity and efficiency. In Los Angeles, this is evident in the logics of the freeway system and the street grid, both designed to maximize movement and economic output. But what if we resisted this logic and reconceived how we navigate and engage with the city? […]
The richness and complexity of the city is a direct result of meaningful interactions between its many different layers—its culture, its history, its form, and its audience. The role of public architecture is to situate events that recognize and emphasize these different layers, connecting people and celebrating public engagement. Distributed Warriors combines two of the […]
This research examines how strategic wall insulation placement enhances indoor thermal comfort and energy efficiency in extreme desert climates, focusing on Joshua Tree National Park. Using simulation tools such as Rhino, Grasshopper, Honeybee, and Ladybug, various insulation configurations internal, external, and dual-sided were evaluated on modular concrete structures. Results show that optimized insulation reduces heat […]
The U.S. construction industry produces vast amounts of demolition waste, including architectural float glass from building facades. Due to recycling limitations, much of this glass ends up in landfills. This research explores down-cycling architectural glass into concrete as fine aggregate, coarse aggregate, and cement substitutes. Results show improved compressive strength at 10–20% aggregate replacement, while […]
This thesis investigates the impact of Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) on employee well-being in hot-desking office environments using physiological data. The data were measured by wearable Heart Rate Variability (HRV) and Electrodermal Activity (EDA) sensors, as well as ambient temperature monitoring tools. It aims to assess how flexible workspaces influence stress and productivity by comparing […]