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Byblos, a city of immense historical and natural beauty, faces a critical challenge— fragmented accessibility that limits the seamless exploration of its cultural and natural assets. The Byblos Heritage Loop is a visionary urban design intervention aimed at bridging these gaps by creating an integrated network of pedestrian pathways, public spaces, and cultural nodes. This project reimagines Byblos as an interconnected experience, linking its ancient ruins, vibrant souks, historic port, and coastal landscapes into a cohesive and immersive journey. The loop is designed as a multi-phase development, with strategic interventions that strengthen historical continuity while fostering modern urban vibrancy. Key elements include revitalized public spaces, enhanced walkability, sustainable green infrastructure, and the promotion of local businesses. Three focal areas anchor the project: the expansion of the public park into a social and economic hub, the transformation of the port into an interactive maritime heritage site, and the creation of a dynamic, multifunctional space near the Armenian Genocide Orphan Museum. By weaving together history, urban life, and economic opportunities, the Byblos Heritage Loop serves as both a cultural lifeline and a sustainable development strategy. It enhances the quality of life for residents, enriches visitor experiences, and supports economic resilience, ensuring that Byblos remains a thriving and accessible destination for generations to come.

What inspired your thesis topic?

“Lebanon has always held a special place in my heart. Its natural beauty, rich history, and vibrant culture are truly unmatched. What inspired my thesis topic was a deep desire to share this with the world and help improve tourism in a way that celebrates and protects everything that makes Byblos especially unique. I want others to see what I see a country full of potential, resilience, and wonder.”

What was the most rewarding part of your thesis work?  

“The most rewarding part of my thesis was seeing the positive outcome and the genuine interest it sparked from the municipality. Knowing that my work could have a real impact and be considered for implementation made all the effort truly worthwhile.”

What led you to pursue your Master of Urban Planning and Design?  

“I studied Landscape Architecture in my undergraduate degree, and it gave me a strong foundation in design and the relationship between people and place. Pursuing a Master of Urban Planning and Design felt like a natural next step I wanted to broaden my perspective, engage with larger-scale challenges, and have a greater impact on how cities grow and function.”

What advice would you give to someone thinking about pursuing a Master of Urban Planning and Design?  

“Be curious and open to learning from different disciplines urban planning and design is about seeing the bigger picture while understanding the small details that make places thrive. Don’t be afraid to challenge the way things are done and always stay rooted in the communities you’re designing for. It’s a rewarding path if you’re passionate about shaping better, more inclusive places.”

Did you receive any honors or awards while in graduate school?

“I was proud to win the GIS Day Poster Competition and was especially honored to receive the People’s Choice Award for Best Design. It was a great recognition of my effort to combine technical skills with thoughtful, impactful design.”

What’s next? 

“I’m currently working at Innovations Design Group, a landscape architecture firm in Florida. I’m excited to keep exploring ways to connect planning and design in meaningful projects.”

This thesis explores National Register of Historic Places eligibility for Thousand Series postal facilities constructed in the state of Kansas between 1950 and 2000. Between 1950 and 1970 the United States saw an unprecedented proliferation of postal construction termed by architectural historians as the ‘Thousand Series.’ The Thousand Series is an umbrella term for a modernist architectural type and style of postal construction. Modernist lease-purchased post offices were constructed throughout the nation with standard designs. Other historic contexts on National Register post office eligibility found that Thousand Series is made up of six different subtypes, each specializing in one part of the mail delivery process. The Thousand Series was intended to speed up mail delivery and eliminate postal backlogs which had previously plagued the nation.  Modernist postal facilities are of age for National Register evaluation, and thesis argues this period of prolific postal construction is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. 

What inspired your thesis topic?

“A few years ago, I joined an online international postcard swapping group, Postcrossing. I was spending a fair amount of time at post offices and noticed a distinct shift in architectural trends from the mid-20th century to the late-20th century. Specifically, the ornate post offices before and during the New Deal to more modern streamlined post offices, which are repeated across the country. The goal of my thesis was to explain the architectural shift in postal facilities and determine their potential eligibility for the National Register of Historic Places.”

What led you to pursue your Master of Historic Preservation?

“In my undergraduate degree at the University of Kansas, I worked for the Kansas State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), writing National Register of Historic Places nominations. I really enjoyed the field of historic preservation and knew I eventually would like to end up at a SHPO. Some of my coworkers at the Kansas SHPO had attended UGA’s MHP program and recommended it to me.”

Did you receive any honors or awards while in graduate school?

“Yes! I received the Environmental Design Scholarship Fund for the 2024-2025 academic year.”

Are there any other programs or projects that you were involved in during your time at the CED?

“During my time at the CED, I had two assistantships: the first was with the Martin Luther King Jr. National Park Site and the second was with Findit at the CCDP.”

What’s next? 

“I have started a job at the Nebraska State Historical Society in the State Historic Preservation Office as the state’s Standing Structures Review and Compliance Coordinator. In this role, I oversee the Section 106 review process for all standing structures in the state of Nebraska that have the potential to be affected by federal dollars or are on federal land.”

Mayport, Florida, a historic fishing village and home to Naval Station Mayport, faces environmental challenges that require NbS, community-driven solutions. This project explored NbS to enhance the shoreline at “Little Jetties,” demonstrating how local engagement and ecological design can strengthen coastal resilience. Integrating historical context, environmental considerations, and community survey feedback, the project provided design materials and community engagement insights for future collaborative efforts that reflect the project’s objectives and community preferences. 

Mayport’s identity as a working waterfront and maritime community reinforces the need to preserve its historic and cultural heritage. Community input revealed that residents consider the shoreline as a valuable asset and favored community gathering space, however, participants noted concerned about erosion and flooding risks. Many favor marsh restoration, groin structures, parking relocation and incorporation of vegetation over seawalls. Shaped by community feedback, the proposed alternatives are flexible, designed to change with future community feedback through co-design efforts that integrate local knowledge with scientific data to inform alternatives and support design decisions. 

The preferred alternative was selected through an alternatives analysis that assessed how well each design responded to the presented criteria. The strongest combination of design features and their associated metrics (e.g. area of marsh created, number of proposed parking stalls, number of vegetated parking islands with curb cuts, area of bioretention created, etc.) helped determine the relative strength of each alternative. For future project phases, existing design alternatives could be adapted and applied, drawing on elements of the Dutch Dialogues framework to engage in genuine co-design. 

What inspired your thesis topic?  

“This topic was inspired by a real-world project conducted through the Carl Vinson Institute of Government’s Defense Community Resilience Program, focused on enhancing the shoreline of a well-loved, long-established community space adjacent to Naval Station Mayport in Mayport, Florida.” 

What was the most rewarding part of your thesis work?  

“One of the most rewarding aspects of my thesis was the opportunity to work on a large-scale site and develop six practical, community-informed design alternatives. These ranged from minimal intervention to highly programmed solutions that incorporate NbS, and I am proud of each one.” 

What led you to pursue your Master of Landscape Architecture?    

“I chose to pursue an MLA because I’d like to change the world and make it better. This is the most genuine way I could do that.” 

Do you know what is next for you?  

“I have accepted a position as a Design Professional with the Carl Vinson Institute of Government, where I will continue contributing to projects like Mayport that support the mission of the Defense Community Resilience Program.”