URBAN DESIGN --DATA SHEET What Is Urban Design? Urban Design is the study of the relationship among the components within a city and of the development of a design plan which will improve the quality of life within the city. It ranges in scale from parts of an environment such as streetscapes to the larger whole of districts, towns, cities or regions. Urban Design is manifest in all aspects of the physical environment including form, space movement, time, activity patterns and setting. Urban Design is concerned with the sensory and cognitive relationships between people and their environment. The urban plan will create a network of connected mix-use (commercial and residential) neighborhoods that are safe, pedestrian friendly, convenient and meet the needs of the populace. The urban design should provide direction for three clusters of opportunity sites where coordinated development can have the greatest positive impact. Community Character Urban Design concepts should reflect the history and traditions of the town. Pride in ownership is an important consideration as economic growth will respond to this context. The central plan should be pedestrian friendly with outlying areas providing the needs of contemporary demands of the automobile. Mix-use Places The modern urban plan utilizes planned developments that mix residential and commercial uses. These developments may be horizontal or stacked. The horizontal model has separated residential and commercial structures intermingled on the same site providing ease of access between the two. Stacked developments have both uses in the same structure. Commercial store fronts usually occupy the lower levels while residential areas occupy the upper levels. Pedestrian Connections One objective of urban planning is to design new projects that provide safety and comfort. The inter connection between use clusters should be planned for ease of access. One concept places parking on the perimeter with clusters inward. Another concept places clusters on the perimeter with parking inward. Both concepts should provide connecting sidewalks which promote access between clusters. Traffic Calming Urban planning must include managing automobile traffic. This includes streetscaping and paving materials that make it clear roadways are passing through pedestrian districts. Provision of on-street parking, designed widths and pedestrian amenities indicate cars are sharing neighborhood streets with pedestrians and bicycles. 7
Dimension of Sustainability Economic Sustainability-- Economic activities grow in stability by changing its structure to saving resources and energies. Environmental Sustainability-- All the city activities work with zero emission to maintain safe and comfortable environment for urban residence. Social Sustainability-- Social equity is achieved by equal distribution of social services. Protecting and Creating economic Value One of the benefits of a master urban plan is that it provides certainty for project developers and adjacent property owners. There is a common expectation about the quality and creation of shared addresses that creates higher values for land and existing and future buildings. The urban concepts should create and protect economic opportunities for the community and property owners. What Is An Urban Designer? A wide variety of people call themselves urban designers. In one sense anyone who is involved in making places, is active in urban design. Even if you take a college course in "urban design what you learn will depend on which university you choose. Urban Design is a much diversified profession and not all universities have the same curriculum. Local institutions decide what an "Urban Design" curriculum should be and/or what expertise and knowledge you need to be able to practice as an urban designer. The American Planning Association (APA) is a professional organization which offers a certification program for the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP). An urban designer needs a broad understanding of cities and towns and ways of making them work better. This involves understanding how the planning system operates, how developers make their costs add up, how to assess what makes a particular place special, how to make places easy to move around by foot and vehicle, how to bring life to places that have become run down, how to conserve historic buildings, how to make the most of landscape, how to think about the future of small and large development sites, how to involve local people, how to make sure projects actually happen, how to communicate effectively, how to negotiate and how to write design and guidance policy. This may sound like a lot of subjects, but they are all interconnected in urban designing. The urban designer is not expected to be expert in all of these areas but it is essential to see the interworking of them and to see the whole picture. What Is the Job Like? City planners figure out the best way to use the land in cities and neighborhoods. They report on the best location for houses, stores and parks. They try to solve many problems such as traffic increase and air pollution. Designers want to make sure 8
people can get to where they need as easy as possible. They plan where people should drive cars, where to park, where to ride bicycles and where to walk. Designers are also concerned about saving the environment and providing schools, parks, roads and recreation centers. Before making plans for an urban development, urban designers need to know where everything is. They find out how many people use the streets, highways, water, sewers, schools, libraries, museums and parks. Designers listen to advice of people who live in the community. With these and many other facts, the urban designer develops a plan and explains the new plans. They also give an estimate of the cost of the changes. How Do I Get Ready? Most employers seek persons who have a master's degree in city planning or urban design. Sometimes employers will hire persons who have worked as a planner for a long time. A bachelor's degree is good to have when looking for the first job. Persons who are interested in becoming urban designers should take courses in computer science. To become an urban designer you should know how to use a computer. Classes in Architecture and Construction are also helpful. You must take the right amount of classes. Working in an office of a city planner is very helpful. Urban designers must be able to speak and write well and must pass a test for certification. How Much Does the Job Pay? In May, 2008, urban and regional planners had an average annual salary of $62,400. How Many Jobs Are There? Urban and regional designers held about 38,400 jobs in 2008. Most of them worked for local governments. Some designers worked for private architectural and engineering firms. Some worked for state governments. What About the Future? The number of jobs for urban designers is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through the year 2018. Most of their work will result from the population growth. Most jobs will be in rapidly expanding communities. What Are Some Related Jobs? Architects, City Managers, Civil Engineers, Community Development Directors, Environmental Engineers, Landscape Architects and Social Scientists (geographers). References: Alan Jefferis and David Madsen, Architectural Drafting and Design, Delmar Publisher Teachers Guide, Career information, BLS Urban Design Group Gardnerville Plan for Prosperity, Gardnerville, CA North Old Town, Chinatown Redevelopment Strategy, Portland Development Commission, Portland, OR 9
Urban Design Concepts, West Jordan Town Center, LMN Architects Urban Design Certificate Program, University of Washington Compact City And Sustainable Urban Form, Hideki Kaji, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan American Planning Association, 1776 Massachusetts Ave. NW., Suite 400, Washington, DC 20036 (www.planning.org) Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning, 6311 Mallard Trace, Tallahassee, FL 32312 (www. Acsp.org) Additional Research: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2102-11 Edition (www.bls.gov/oco/ocos057.htm) Occupational Outlook Quarterly (www. Bls.gov/opub/ooq/2005/spring/art01.pdf) 10
Urban Design Activity Sheet Activity 1 Research Instructions: Teacher: Each student should be given access to this document. Document may be modified to suit. Assign each student a specific search engine to use (teacher may modify list to suit) 1. Google.com 2. Yahoo.com 3. Ask.com 4. Bing.com 5. Other The teacher should be sure each student knows how to access the computer and use the advanced search options in each search engine. Student: Complete the Header of this document with the correct information. Procedure: Connect to the internet using your school procedure. Use the assigned search engine and *advanced search procedures for the following: 1. List the top three requirements for being hired as an urban designer (urban design jobs, qualifications for urban designers) a. b. c. 2. The three college courses an urban designer should take (urban design certification programs, colleges for urban design) a. b. c. 3. Locate three images of proposed or actual urban developments. List the name of the development below and copy and paste the images below (urban design images, urban design projects). a. b. c. 4. Print your document using class print procedures. *Use quotes before and after multiple word searches ( urban design ) *Use a colon and specific location after the search word(s) to specific limit the search to the specified area ( urban design jobs :TX). *Use the advanced search feature of the search engine. 11
Urban Design Activity 2 Requirements: 1)Access to computers and 2) Google Earth. If Google Earth is not available you may use the attached printed maps. (Copy attached Google Earth Maps to document, enlarge to fit page and print one map for each student 3) Colored pencils or markers. Teacher: Assign each student a specific location from the list below (substitute areas may be used). Substitute areas should be zoomed to an altitude of 200 ft. Student: Use the assigned link below. Study the area shown on the map. Note the location of buildings, vegetation (landscape). Save the map as a bitmap then change the color to Washout. Print the map using school print procedures. Use the printed map or the one furnished for the following exercise. Procedure: Connect to the internet using your school procedure. Using the assigned link below examine the listed areas. Assume the listed area is scheduled for redevelopment. You have been given the job to come up with a proposal for the redevelopment. Use the images from Activity 1 and the attached sample as reference. Follow the criteria below for your development. Use colored pencils or markers to illustrate the different types of buildings, parking, walks, bike paths, parks, etc. 1. Use existing streets as shown on map 2. Lots may be combined 3. Use existing buildings and/or create new ones or use a combination of new and current structures. Use different colors for different types of buildings (shops, restaurants, theaters etc.) 4. Identify parking areas, walking paths, parks, pavilions, water features etc. 5. Any building may be removed by drawing new feature over it. 6. Interior streets may be blocked off, designated as one way or converted to walkway, bike path etc. 7. Boundary streets must stay as is but may be designated as one way to accommodate traffic flow. 12
Area One: New Braunfels Re-development Project This area of the city scheduled for re-development is bounded by Frostwood Dr. on the west, Riverside Dr. on the east and Summerwood Dr. on the north. Click on the link below to see the map. Use Google Earth to view current buildings and landscape. Use colored pencils or markers to draw off and color in the features of your proposal. Be sure to include a legend to identify the colors used for different structures, roads, paths, etc. <http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=utf8&ll=29.709319,- 98.104056&spn=0.00534,0.006673&t=f&z=17&ecpose=29.70918723,- 98.10405598,746.92,0.011,1.517,0> Area Two: Abilene Re-development Project This area of Abilene is scheduled for re-development. The new development will be between Interstate 20 on the north, South 3 rd St. on the south, Meander St. on the east and Amarillo St. on the west. Click on the link below to see the map. Use Google Earth to view current buildings and landscape. Use colored pencils or markers to draw off and color in the features of your proposal. Be sure to include a legend to identify the colors used for different structures, roads, paths, etc. http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=utf8&t=f&ecpose=32.44816278,- 99.74535542,901.99,0,5.296,0&ll=32.448474,- 99.745355&spn=0.003074,0.004608&z=18 Area Three: McKinney Re-development Project This area of McKinney is to be re-developed. The new development will include a multi-story hotel. The area is bounded on the north by US 380, on the south by W. Pearson Avenue and by Sherman St. and Coleman St. on the west and east, respectively. Click on the link below to see the map. Use Google Earth to view current buildings and landscape. Use colored pencils or markers to draw off and color in the features of your proposal. Be sure to include a legend to identify the colors used for different structures, roads, paths, etc. http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=utf8&t=f&ecpose=33.2130801,- 96.61914519,604,0,5.3,0&ll=33.213427,- 96.619145&spn=0.003047,0.004608&z=18 13
Sample Project: Your project should be color coded for features, structure s and landscap ing. Include labels and color code legend. 14
Optional Maps if internet or Google Earth is not available New Braunfels Google Earth Map 15
New Braunfels Google Map 16
Abilene Google Earth Map 17
Abilene Google Map 18
McKinney Google Earth Map 19
McKinney Google Map 20
Part 1 --Reading assignment Urban Design Reading Questions and Quiz Directions: Read the Urban Design Data sheet and complete the following. Fill in the blank with the word or phrase from the reading assignment that best completes the statement. 1. Urban designers are concerned with creating plans that improve the of life within the city. 2. The urban plan will create a network of connected neighborhoods. 3. Urban plans should provide and comfort for pedestrians. 4. Urban designing must include a method for managing. 5. Planners are concerned about saving the. 6. Economic, environmental and social is a critical element of urban design. 7. Urban designers make and work better. 8. Urban designers must also estimate the total of the project. 9. A master urban plan provides for developers and land owners. 10. Urban designers must know where is. 11. Anyone who is involved in places is involved in urban designing. 12. A is good to have when looking for your first job as an urban designer. 13. Urban designers must know how to use a. 14. The number of jobs for planners is expected to. 21