This Major Qualifying Project assessed the performance of Nelson Place Elementary School under exposure to a wildfire event. Design modifications were recommended so the building could provide a tenable environment during and remain functional after the event. The school, designed by Lamoureux Pagano Associates in Worcester, Massachusetts, was relocated to Santa Rosa, California, an area highly susceptible to wildfires. Wildfire threats pertaining to thermal radiation and firebrand flux were studied and quantified. Site, structural, exterior wall and mechanical features of the building were considered and analyzed under quantified wildfire exposures.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Smith, Jake C.
• Coleman, Kyle F.
• Corcoran, Brian B.
• Plummer, Claudia K.
• Murray, Hannah E.

Subject

• Sustainability
• Health
• Community
• Project-Based Learning
• Environment
• Well-Being
• Innovation
• Infrastructure

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• 22506
• E-project-050521-205951

Keyword

• Engineering
• Wildfire
• Fire
• Firebrands
• Structure
• Site

Advisor

• Puchovsky, Milosh T.
• Simeoni, Albert
• Bergendahl, John Andrew

Year

• 2021

UN Sustainable Development Goals

• 9 - Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
• 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities
• 13 - Climate Action
• 15 - Life On Land

Date created

• 2021-05-05

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Civil Engineering
• Environmental Engineering
• Architectural Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright

Last modified

• 2022-05-16