Our population is aging. With it, there is a shift in how people are participating in community life: how they are getting to, maneuvering through, and enjoying public spaces.

My Master’s thesis seeks to understand the wants and needs of older adults for these common public spaces and develop a framework for design decisions, based on identifying desired preferences. By using experiences to drive the design, I hope to promote the health and well-being of older adults in the engagement of “public life.”

This exhibition presents findings from my thesis journey. “Mapping the Masters” is a timeline of research, coursework, publishing, and teaching; and how those activities have informed my work. “Researching the Masters” presents the findings from a 150-participant survey. And, “Sitting Tall” is a 10-foot long sectional bench, ranging in height from 16” to 20.” Gallery goers are invited to sit, then write their age and height on the seat that they find most comfortable; showing the range in preference for different seat heights.