Built Environment
Publication Date
Spring 4-16-2025
Presentation Length
15 minutes
College
Interdisciplinary Studies & Global Education
Department
Honors Program
Student Level
Undergraduate
SPARK Category
Knowledge
Faculty Advisor
Jeff Overby
Metadata/Fulltext
Fulltext
SPARK Session
Honors Collaborative 1
Presentation Type
Talk/Oral
Summary
Inspired by data from Imagine Nashville and conversations with the Civic Design Center, our team explored the concept of a built environment. A built environment consists of human-made surroundings designed to provide a community with enhanced areas for human activity. A healthy built environment promotes physical, mental, and social benefits to people. Many Nashvillians are very optimistic about Nashville and believe that there is a lot of potential for positive changes within the city. As a team, we reflected and discussed ways to improve life in Nashville and potentially lead to a built environment. After tremendous research and conversations we decided on redesigning a specific street in Nashville, using the concept of a built environment, to make it more community-friendly.
Our team decided to take a closer look at Bransford Avenue which is located near Geodis Park. Using what we learned about a built environment we came up with several enhancements. To encourage walking and social interaction, we recommend installing benches as resting spots throughout the area. Additionally, another crucial aspect to a healthy city is limited amounts of litter. We noticed that in Nashville, waste bins are extremely limited and hard to find. To address this issue, we recommend adding ore accessible waste bins. Another enhancement is the addition of blue street lights which have been found to significantly reduce suicide and crime rates. Lastly, the addition of more greenery in the area will help create a more calming, welcoming environment as well as promote mental well-being. All in all, our team aims to create a more sustainable neighborhood design, one that promotes social interactions, a healthy and active lifestyle, and reduces environmental waste.
Recommended Citation
Ziegler, KaiLi; Barsoum, Karen; Gebhart, Brayden; Ishak, Kermena; Marks, Miriam; and Moreland, Jay, "Built Environment" (2025). SPARK Symposium Presentations. 154.
https://repository.belmont.edu/spark_presentations/154
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