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Office of Research Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2023

The College of Built Environments Office of Research has completed the fiscal year 2023 Annual Report. This report highlights outcomes, accomplishments, and steps for future development related to research at CBE. The report features metrics on grants and contracts funding, along with other types of funding including internal UW support. Additionally, the report highlights spotlight stories that were published on the research portal, and other portal metrics such as publications added. The full report is available on the CBE Intranet…

Carb talk: CBE’s Climate Solutions Community of Practice sparks interdisciplinary collaborations

The CBE Climate Solutions Community of Practice was featured in a story on the CBE website. See the excerpt below. “Through the materials we use and the ecosystems we alter, arguably more than 40% of global greenhouse gas emissions are related to the built environment,” says Kate Simonen, a professor of architecture at UW’s College of Built Environments and founding director of the Carbon Leadership Forum. Simonen’s primary research focus is reducing the environmental impact of building materials, and she’s been…

Alternative gentrification: coexistence of traditional and new industries in historic districts through transfer of development rights in Dihua Street, Taiwan

Sho, K., Chen, Y.-L., & Oshima, K. T. (2023). Alternative gentrification: coexistence of traditional and new industries in historic districts through transfer of development rights in Dihua Street, Taiwan. International Journal of Heritage Studies : IJHS, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1080/13527258.2023.2250776

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Abstract

The transfer of development rights (TDR) has been widely used in the preservation of historic districts. The Dihua Street TDR (DS-TDR) in Taipei, Taiwan, successfully preserves the exteriors of historic buildings and traditional landscape in Dihua Street, without significant displacement of previous residents or increases in rents. This study describes this process as 'alternative gentrification', which facilitates the coexistence of traditional and new industries in historic districts, unlike typical gentrification in other cities. Although new shops gradually replace existing shops, the rent level remains relatively affordable compared with other shopping streets in the Taipei city centre. These aspects enable the coexistence of a clustering of new creative-industrial stores and existing stores within the buildings restored and landscaped by the DS-TDR.

Keywords

Historic district; transfer of development rights; historic buildings; restoration; landscaping; Commercial Gentrification; Heritage; Displacement; TDR; Urbanization; Conservation; Neighborhood; Culture; State

New Tool Created by CBE Researchers in partnership with Charles Pankow Foundation

CBE researchers worked with the Charles Pankow Foundation to develop a new Building Owner Assessment Tool (BOAT). Team members included CBE Dean Renée Cheng, FAIA; Associate Dean for Research Carrie Sturts Dossick, Ph.D, P.E.; and Laura Osburn, Ph.D. Other team members included Lingzi Wu, Ph.D. Daniel Dimitrov, and Xianxiang Sean Zhao. The tool was developed in partnership with the American Institute of Architects and the Integrated Project Delivery Alliance. The Building Owner Assessment Tool (BOAT): Helping You Understand Your Culture and Its…

February 2022 Inspire Fund Awardees: Progress and Products

Five projects were awarded Inspire Fund awards in February 2022. They have completed various stages of work and have provided a report on their progress and products. Below, excerpts from these reports are highlighted to showcase the work that has been “Inspired” in 2022-23. Rick Mohler: “One Seattle: Leveraging Seattle’s Comprehensive Plan Update to advance housing diversity, affordability, livability and racial equity” This funding supported products from the Architecture 594 research seminar and Architecture 508 design studio, which tasked students…

Building a more just and beautiful future: CBE’s new faculty cohort makes strides on campus

The new cohort of faculty have made a big impact in their initial time on campus. Please see the full story here. The cohort includes: Dr. Narjes Abbasabadi, an assistant professor in the Department of Architecture and affiliate data science faculty UW eScience Institute, studies computation and decarbonization of the built environment. Dr. Amos Darko, an assistant professor in Construction Management, studies how digital technologies can help people better monitor, assess, understand, and improve the sustainability performance of the built…

CBE Research Restart Funding: Progress and Updates

The College of Built Environments awarded Research Restart funding to multiple project teams in 2022. Below are descriptions of their progress and project status to-date. July 2022 Cohort: Arthur Acolin received funding for their project entitled “Accessory Dwelling Units as Potential Source of Affordable Housing Across Generations.” A no-cost extension was approved in May 2023 due to delays in implementing the survey for the project. In July 2023, design of the survey instrument and postcards was completed, and next steps…

Faculty and Staff Recognized for Dedication and Service

The University of Washington College of Built Environments (CBE) recognized faculty and staff at the 2023 CBE Graduation Celebration. These awards celebrate CBE faculty and staff for their dedication, service, and many contributions to our community. Congratulations to all our awardees! Lionel Pries Award for Excellence in Teaching: Catherine De Almeida Outstanding Faculty Award: Jeffrey Ochsner Outstanding Part-Time Teaching Award: Marty Curry Distinguished Staff Award: Laura Barrera Read more here. 

Johnston-Hastings Endowment 2023 Travel Awardee

Robert Hutchison, an affiliate associate professor in the Architecture department, is selected to receive the Johnston-Hastings Travel Award for 2023. The Johnston-Hastings endowment supports travel-related expenses to further research goals. Professor Hutchison’s work will take place in late summer and early fall 2023, and will involve travel and research throughout Washington and Oregon. Dissemination of this work is expected in Spring 2024. For more information about the Johnston-Hastings Endowment awards, please visit the research funding opportunities page on the intranet.