My research interests are in the areas of urban sociology, social psychology, and social movements. In particular, my primary focus is on the application of the sociological imagination—the perspective that emphasizes the interrelationship of social forces and individual agency— to the study and design of built environments (e.g. cities, buildings, interior design, etc.).  My work examines how the built environment influences feelings, thoughts, behaviors, social organization, and culture, but also how these in turn shape the built environment itself. To examine these questions, I use diverse approaches ranging from quantitative applications to ethnographic methods.