Why Does Civic Architecture Matter for Public Trust? Part 1 Dissertation 2026 Calum Gibson University of Strathclyde | UK Can a building make people trust an institution before they even step inside it? Over the last thirty years, most advanced democracies have reported a crisis of trust in key civic institutions. This is deeply concerning as trust is a fundamental aspect of society. The less one trusts civic institutions such as the legal, political, and civic systems, the less one is willing to uphold the law or participate in democracy. While this downward trend lacks a single clear reason, this dissertation examines how architecture is often an overlooked tool for strengthening or undermining civic trust.Architecture functions as a form of mass communication, conveying intentions and values to the public. This study suggests that architecture, through spatial incentives, can influence how willing the public is to trust governing institutions. Civic buildings express institutional identity and shape public perception through symbolic and perceptual signals rather than direct institutional knowledge.Misalignment occurs when there is a breakdown between how an institution understands itself, how it presents itself, and how it is publicly perceived. This dissertation addresses this by proposing an analytical trust framework that can help architects create buildings that foster stronger public trust.The Scottish Parliament Building case study is used to show how contemporary civic architecture moves away from traditional monumental authority, shifting trust towards openness, visibility, and public engagement. This research does not seek definitive conclusions but instead aims to understand how architectural signals can be interpreted and how they shape public perceptions of institutional trust. Tutor(s) David FletcherDr Ombretta Romice