Browsing by Author "Singh, Virajita"
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Item Aligning and Delivering Research Metrics(University of Minnesota, 2007) Boone, Sherri; Grossman, Elizabeth; Haeg, Peter; Singh, Virajita; Ecklein, SandraThis project will review the various metrics collected by the institution and external organizations and after careful analysis will determine what additional information related to research activity is needed in order to demonstrate that the institution is making progress toward our goal.Item Design Thinking for Higher Education Policy Innovation(2015) Weerts, David J; Singh, Virajita; Horn, Aaron; Taylor, LeonardItem Ellen Hopkins Elementary School: Nature Based Play Space(2016-06-30) Thill, Alexander; Singh, Virajita; Kulman Brigham, JoneeItem Enhancing Environment and Health in Transportation Project Design(University of Minnesota Center for Transportation Studies, 2007-12) Carmody, John; Singh, VirajitaGood transportation design that enhances communities results in positive impacts on the natural environment--the air, water, soil, and biodiversity that are the life support systems for human society on earth. Design of outdoor and indoor environments can also positively influence human health. The issues related to environment and health fall under the concept of sustainability. This research includes a review of environmental assessment methods, rating systems and guidelines that are currently being used to transform sustainable building practices in the United States. In addition, there is an examination of case studies of exemplary transportation projects demonstrating the benefits of sustainable design approaches. The research includes case studies at three scales--large-scale development, buildings, and infrastructure--and identifies the lessons learned from these projects. While environmental sustainability issues are not new in transportation projects, there is a new and growing recognition that problems are more extensive and more urgent than previously recognized and that there must be a deeper understanding of the connection between planning, design, and construction decisions, as well as their resulting impacts. Transportation design can and should address regional and community scale ecological issues. Effective practices include applying an integrated design approach, making environmental outcomes explicit in the design process, and measuring performance outcomes during the life of the project. An emerging set of sustainable guidelines and standards can be effective tools for setting goals and organizing the design process for well-designed transportation projects.Item Future of the Old Auditorium Adaptive Reuse Plan(2019-11) Singh, Virajita; Leong, Kenos; Whittaker, MeighanThis research project supported a community effort with the Pennington County Old Auditorium Committee and other partners in Thief River Falls, Minnesota, to develop a conceptual plan for the future of an existing historic auditorium building that can support local economic vitality, provide a multiuse community center and cultural destination of the region, and demonstrate sustainable community resilience within the local community. This project included: 1) case study research on similar buildings and projects, regionally, nationally, and internationally; 2) community meetings and an engagement workshop to gather community input; and 3) a set of architectural drawings documenting the project’s development and the final proposed design of the old auditorium.Item Future of the Old Auditorium Adaptive Reuse Plan: Thief River Falls, MN(2019-11) Singh, Virajita; Leong, Hok Him; Whittaker, MeighanThis research project supports a community effort with the Pennington County Old Auditorium Committee and other partners in Thief River Falls, Minnesota, to develop a conceptual plan for the future of this existing historic building that can support local economic vitality, provide a multiuse community center and cultural destination of the region, and demonstrate sustainable community resilience within the local community. This project included: 1) case study research on similar buildings and projects, regionally, nationally, and internationally; 2) community meetings and an engagement workshop to gather community input; and 3) a set of architectural drawings documenting the project’s development and the final proposed design of the old auditorium. This project is also in support of the 2017 Thief River Fall Downtown Master Plan which provides recommendations on how to create a vibrant downtown to attract residents and visitors, enhance local economic vitality, and increase the public’s access to a variety of entertainment, recreation, and social activitiesItem Healthy Foods Healthy Lives Project Sweetie Pie-Camden Greenhouse Project(2015) Singh, Virajita; Thill, Alexander; Handeen, DanielItem The Higher Ed Redesign Initiative: Design Thinking for Higher Education Innovation(2014) Rasmussen, Chris; Weerts, David J; Singh, Virajita; Harmening, Todd; Sorenson, Nichole; Reinert, LeahItem Intergenerational Village, Slayton, MN(2020) Atha, Rajeev; Singh, VirajitaThis project, led by the non-profit organization Operation Prairie Venture (OPV) and partners, envisions an intergenerational village in Slayton, Minnesota with independent and assisted living options, community engagement spaces, and other amenities, including a childcare center. Working with other partners in Murray County and beyond, it aims to establish an intergenerational village that offers residences for older adults, assisted living, memory care, and a childcare center.Item Lake Region Takes Root Community Garden: Maximizing Sustainable Food Production(2015-02) Thill, Alexander; Singh, VirajitaLake Region Takes Root (LRTR) community garden was started in 2013 to help people in need in Fergus Falls achieve optimum health through access to affordable fresh produce. The idea behind the community garden is spearheaded by Lake Region Healthcare in an effort to provide quality and nutritious food to those that have limited access, limited resources or who can not afford it. Through the first year of operation, Lake Region Takes Root supplied 313 families with fresh produce. Working with other community organizations like, Women and Infants and Children’s program, Fergus Falls Community Food Shelf, Matthew House and A Place to Belong; the garden was able to reach a broader range of people in need. This report presents findings from a participatory community engagement process designed to identify strategies for the most efficient way to garden in the form of maximizing garden space and layout, rainwater harvesting, storage and distribution systems, composting strategies and creating an overall master plan of the garden.Item Luverne, Minnesota Downtown Community Plaza: A New Vision for the Future of the City(2019) Schmitz, Haily; Singh, VirajitaItem Minneapolis American Indian Center: A New Vision for Social, Cultural, Arts and Economic Development(2013) Kelkar, Gauri; Singh, VirajitaItem National Loon Center Masterplan(2018-02) Singh, Virajita; Polacek, JoeThe National Loon Center (NLC) is a community-driven project led by the National Loon Center Foundation, a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt non-profit organization, and its many partners in Crosslake and the Whitefish Chain of Lakes area. The project focuses on loons and their unique relationship with the shared freshwater ecosystem in the area, fish and wildlife management, environmental stewardship, trails, tourism, recreation, education, and long-term sustainability. This report and masterplan is the result of a research and community participatory design process conducted from August to January 2017.Item Region Five Children's Museum - Nature Play Institute Project Planning(2021-02) Singh, Virajita; Mendoza, EnriqueThis planning project, of which this report was an outcome, was funded by the Central Regional Sustainable Development Partnership, Extension and led by the Design for Community Resilience program of Center for Sustainable Building Research, College of Design at the University of Minnesota. This project was completed in conjunction with a Legacy Grant awarded to the Children’s Museum to develop a regional children’s museum. Project goals included: • To further develop, record, and analyze ideas related to the Region 5 Children’s Museum and Nature Play Institute in the 5-county region of Cass, Crow Wing, Todd, Wadena, and Morrison counties in Minnesota. • To provide best practices and resources in planning and developing museum architecture, landscape, exhibit, and program design, ensuring all museum experiences connect visitors with nature. • To document all practices and resources in a comprehensive planning document.Item Roseau River Water Trail Masterplan(2018-08) Singh, Virajita; Olson, MirandaThe Roseau River Water Trail Masterplan proposes designs for six sites that were selected along the Roseau River that are significant in terms of access and use of the Roseau River at the following specific locations: Hayes Lake State Park, Malung Town Hall, City Park, City Center, Stoe’s Bridge and Ross Town Hall.Item Southwest Hmong Community Center: Tsev Nqeeb on the Prairie Master Plan(2018-07) Singh, Virajita; Chang, XinThe Southwest Hmong Community Center (SWHCC) is a community-driven project led by Project Uniting Southwest Hmong (PUSH) in the city of Tracy, the city of Walnut Grove, and surrounding areas of Southwest Minnesota. The project focused on a site with existing buildings in the city of Tracy, and developed a master plan that meets community needs, including a community gathering space, a cultural museum, a renovated greenhouse, a new cold climate winter greenhouse, and areas for food growing and community gardens. The research and participatory design process documented in this report, conducted from February 2018 to June 2018, was facilitated by the Design for Community Resilience program at the Center for Sustainable Building Research, College of Design, University of Minnesota Twin Cities. It was funded by the Southwest Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships (SWRSDP), Center for Urban and Regional Affairs (CURA) and Project Uniting Southwest Hmong (PUSH).Item Thief River Falls: New Vision for Downtown, Community Masterplan(2017-10) Singh, Virajita; Polacek, JoeThe Thief River Falls Downtown Development Association was formed in 2015 for the purpose of revitalizing the downtown community to support current businesses and to encourage new business development. The “New Vision for Downtown Thief River Falls” project developed a master plan of the downtown with the goal of creating a unified, welcoming environment. Recommendations include pedestrian-friendly street crossings, greenery, updating storefronts, purchasing new light poles and signage.