Architecture for community and spectacle: The roofed arena in North America, 1853--1968

摘要: This dissertation provides the first treatment of origins and development roofed arena in United States Canada. Supported by archival resources graphics text, informed direct contact with architects, design operations staff, this study examines as a place for spectacle within larger environments city campus. The arena's site, massing, revealed expectations its sponsorship. internal configuration seating bowl, floor, portals, passages was purposeful arrangement intended to accommodate attendees manage their movement through architectural space. chapter focuses on transmission nineteenth century, via architecture theater, circus, other spaces public assembly, Greek Roman hippodrome oval accommodation multiple kinds revenue-generating activities situated circular, elliptical, or rectilinear bowl. significance Royal Albert Hall, London, conceptual model presentation modern indoor is recognized. But context growth urban centers expansion commercial leisure, Stanford White's Madison Square Garden, New York, documented principal formal model. facility, rectangular industrial shed, whose impact amplified communications media that disseminated image reports spectacle, generated successors continental scale. research method identified buildings, sought find relevant information, fixed buildings along time line. Populated enough examples, sequence yields affinities clarifies differences, making possible useful generalizations about site context. Across period considered, enclosure evolved from arched pitched forms, thin-shell experiments, toward anti-industrial dome drum. emergence tensile solutions allowed roof support act element well engineering. end 1960s, circular ovoid receded favor operationally more efficient footprint covered flat truss space frame. Exteriors brick stone became complex fields concrete, glass, forms metal. Over long term, attendee emphasized finished surface. identifies those attributes carried programmatic objectives. It commercial, mercantile arena; higher education's recognition capacity fabric arenas institutional growth; municipalities' use form project government-defined civic values. chronological narrative recognizes intensity concurrent strands between World Wars concludes noting managements' increasing interest building destinations outside Finally, work establishes role large-scale repurposing land 1960s. Appendix an extensive census large built North America 1853 1968. name dates opening, architect, type siting, envelope. introduces distinctions analysis. Component contrast independent indicates placement system associated purpose. Centroidal positioning building's occupation at functional center mass. thesis available ScholarlyCommons: http://repository.upenn.edu/library_papers/88 Building envelope--with kind enclosure--operates siting another indicator sponsors' Intent. By assembling reading evidence design, operation, paper ventures approach understanding American landscape. hoped will invite assist investigation into related issues, e.g., profession's projects and, particularly, archaeology human geography interior zones.