| Student interns and faculty to work on city development |
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| Written by John Harden, The Shorthorn staff | ||||
| Wednesday, 14 October 2009 07:34 PM | ||||
Design Projects Include:Farmers Market exterior building renovationAbram Streetscape in Downtown Collins Streetscape Context design for iconic sign in the Entertainment District Main Street business façade improvements A recent partnership between the city and school allows students participate the future of city design and development projects. Six part-time student interns and two faculty members have been employed to help with design. They have 17 projects in progress and more developing. The city partnered with the School of Architecture and School of Urban and Public Affairs to establish the Urban Design Center downtown last summer. In addition to the university members, city officials oversee projects at the center. It has recently completed a number of projects including improving business façades on Main Street and designing the exterior facility used by the downtown farmers market, which opened two weeks ago. “We work to help Arlington grow in a positive direction,” said Ken Pope, urban and public affairs graduate student. “So far this year we’ve assisted two neighborhoods in developing long-range plans and strengthen the ties between the city and the university.” The students are working to redevelop vacant property, prepare designs for city streets and design landmarks to help visitors, Pope said. Projects include designing a mixed-use building along Abram Street, a beautification project along Collins Street and site planning for a new restaurant building in the Entertainment District. By working with professionals in their respective fields, the students are learning how to look at detail from many angles, said Gincy Thoppil, Urban Design Center planner. “These are real projects they’re working on,” she said. “The students are working on their graduates, so they are professionals, and we’re exposing them to real world experiences that they can only get by working.” By working with professionals, the graduates are given the chance to network and connect with potential employers, she said. The new partnership between the city and school is the first of its kind in the region, Thoppil said. “It’s the first big collaboration between the university that allows the city and students to work together on projects around the city,” she said. “When we hire private designers they focus only on their work or design. By hiring students we’re looking at the city as a whole and not just a single area.” With downtown continuing to develop, the center has potential to grow, said councilwoman Lana Wolff, who represents the Downtown Arlington district. “There are multitudes of opportunities with the Urban Design Center,” Wolff said “I see this as an opportunity that can continue to grow. As students graduate, this new center will entice them to stay and help develop the area.” The center will add a new dimension to the school to help lure prospective students, Wolff said. “The Urban Design Center will attract the best and the brightest, and we love it as a city because those grads can be our future employees,” she said. “We’re always looking to hire so why wouldn’t we take someone from our own area.” Views: 235 | E-mail
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