Files
Date of Award
5-2026
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Architecture
College
Arts and Sciences
Department
Architecture
Faculty Advisor
Charlott Greub
Studio Coordinator
Stephen Wischer
Faculty Chair
Susan Kliman
Publisher
North Dakota State University
Rights
NDSU policy 190.6.2
URI
https://www.ndsu.edu/fileadmin/policy/190.pdf
Abstract
This thesis investigates how makerspaces can function as critical social and economic infrastructure within processes of urban regeneration, particularly in post-industrial contexts. Drawing from creative placemaking scholarship, and quantitative and qualitative data on entrepreneurship and making cultures, the research examines making as both a cultural practice and an economic catalyst. Centered on a vacant industrial infill site, the project explores how spaces for production, learning, and gathering can support creative labor, small-scale manufacturing, and community resilience. By bridging societal issues with architectural application, the thesis addresses gaps between discussions of creativity, sustainability, and their spatial implementation. Through an integrated program of a makerspace, artist incubator, and community hub, the design proposes that architecture rooted in accessibility, adaptability, and collective participation can foster local economic inclusion, preserve knowledge through making, and contribute to long-term urban vitality.
Recommended Citation
DeJong, Grace, "Creative Placemaking: Using Makerspace Infrastructure to Support Circular Communities" (2026). Architecture Theses. 58.
https://digitalcommons.ndsu.edu/architecture-theses/58