This thesis focuses on the former Nickel Plate railroad roundhouse located in Frankfort, Indiana. The building is in danger of demolition by neglect and was listed on Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana's Top Ten Most Endangered Sites list in January 2004. In order to suggest realistic adaptive reuse options for the building, a number of elements were researched. The study includes information pertaining to the history of the railroad in the United States and Indiana, followed by specific information on roundhouses, the history of Frankfort and its role in the railroad community, a study of the Frankfort roundhouse itself, and examples of successful roundhouse adaptive reuse across the country. Various problems that would inhibit the efforts of a preservation group are explored, and suggestions for the building's future are made based on the author's knowledge of the subject.
Master's Theses [5589] Master's theses submitted to the Graduate School by Ball State University master's degree candidates in partial fulfillment of degree requirements.