Cleveland Urban Design

04-28-13

2013 Capstone Final Review Schedule

We’re excited to announce the final review schedule for the 2013 Master of Urban Design capstone projects (see below). Graduate students at the CUDC enrolled in the Master of Urban Design or dual degree (Master of Architecture + Master of Urban Design) programs at the CUDC conclude their coursework with an individualized capstone project. Each capstone project is developed over two semesters, with the first semester focused on framing a research question and the second devoted to creating a design response. As can be seen from the project names below, the investigations span a wide range of topics and geographies.

The capstone presentations for this year’s class will be held at the CUDC (1309 Euclid Avenue, 2nd Floor) and are open to the public. If you are interested in pursuing a Master of Urban Design degree or just curious about one of the capstone topics, please feel free to attend any of the presentations. You don’t need to RSVP, but we ask that attendees arrive shortly before the designated start time. The presentation and discussion immediately following each project should run about an hour and a half. More information on the academic programs offered at the CUDC can be found on our website here. Contact us at cudc@kent.edu with any questions and we look forward to seeing you soon!

2013 Capstone Final Review Schedule:

4/30

10:00am
Antonia Marinucci | Erieview, Cleveland: Economic + Physical Reimagining
(Advisors: Charles Harker, Steve Rugare, Ellen Sullivan)

5/3

10:00am
Thom Nester | Public Space and the Effects of Digital Culture
(Advisors: David Jurca, Greg Stroh, Steve Rugare)

5/6

10:30am
Matt Provolt | TopoCity: Sheraden Neighborhood, Pittsburgh
(Advisors: Ellen Sullivan, Charles Graves, Sagree Sharma)

1:00pm
Brandon Young | Revising Richard Florida: Creative/Productive Space for Cleveland
(Advisors: Diane Davis-Sikora, Jonathan Kurtz, Terry Schwarz)

5/7

9:00am
Sarah Myers | From Waste to Pop Up: a Temporary Diversion from the Landfill
(Advisors: Jonathan Fleming, Charles Frederick, Terry Schwarz)

10:30am
Gabriel Fey | New Futures for the Infrastructural City
(Advisors: Steve Rugare, Jonathan Fleming, Jonathan Kurtz, Jacqueline Mills)

1:00pm
Troy Eklum | Transit Based Metropolitan Master Planning: Developing a Large Scale Strategy for Growth and Mobility Patterning
(Advisors: Ellen Sullivan, Charles Frederick, Steve Rugare)

5/8

1:00pm
Arthur Schmidt | Beyond Complete Streets: a Methodology for Designing a Complete Urban Street System
(Advisors: Steve Rugare, Jeff Kruth, Stephanie Ryberg-Webster, Daniel Vieyra)

5/9

3:30pm
Tommy Chesnes | Neighborhood Tuning: Waterloo Arts District, Cleveland
(Advisors: Terry Schwarz, Wayne Mortensen, Ellen Sullivan)

Download PDF: 2013 Capstone Final Review Schedule

11-05-12

Just Released…Urban Infill Vol 5: Diagrammatically

* Order Diagrammatically from the CUDC Amazon storefront here.

The 2012 volume of Urban Infill is now available through Kent State’s Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative, local book stores, and Amazon. UI5: Diagrammatically applies the techniques of diagramming to urban design practice through critical essays, case studies, and examples. Over twenty contributors from the US and Europe discuss the ways that urban diagrams engage the public, reveal hidden agendas, and navigate uncertainty. The book features innovative and thought-provoking examples of urban diagramming, presented in a lively, full-color format.

A few examples of the work included in the book:

‘Re-cultivating the Forest City‘ is a must-read for Clevelanders. A design proposal developed by PORT Architecture + Urbanism, this series of diagrams and renderings offers a seductive glimpse at Cleveland’s future where urban vacancy leads to economic productivity, ecological regeneration, and increased public use of the Cuyahoga Valley.

image: PORT Architecture + Urbanism

‘Thinking + Talking Adaptability,’ a series of diagrams created by the Adaptable Futures project at Loughborough University in the UK, provides a toolbox of diagrams that communicate sustainable values and highlight aspects of building performance. This work is useful to designers and lay audiences alike, and provides the basis for a shared understanding of the components of sustainable design.

image: Adaptable Futures

‘Strategrams‘ by Susan Rogers at the Community Design Resource Center in Houston and ‘Empowerpoint‘ by Interface Studio in Philadelphia present diagramming strategies in the context of community design practice.

image: Ryan Sullivan, Paste in Place

image: Susan Rogers

image: Leah Murphy, Interface Studio

‘Through the Diagram…‘ by Kent State University faculty member Greg Stroh showcases recent work from the graduate studios at the College of Architecture and Environmental Design.

image: Justin Gantz, KSU Graduate Architecture Studio III

Diagrammatically will be of interest to architecture and planning students, urban design practitioners, and anyone interested in better, more livable cities.

Get your copy of Diagrammatically today: CUDC Amazon Store.

For more information about the Urban Infill journal series, please contact the CUDC at: cudc[AT]kent.edu

06-26-12

Postcard Underground Sends Their Love To Pop Up Rockwell

Over the past week, we’ve received at least eight handwritten postcards thanking us for Pop Up Rockwell. When we received the first one, written on an art gallery postcard, we figured it was from someone interested in promoting an upcoming art opening and just happened to hear about our project. After three cards arrived the next day, written in different hands, it was clear something else was going on.

Well, after a little googling, it appears we’re the (very grateful:) recipients of some handwritten love from Postcard Underground. There isn’t much information on this secretive group available - all we could find are blog posts from a few other postcard beneficiaries, like this one from Minnesota Public Radio. It seems a national network of note writers is coordinating efforts to shower individuals and groups with encouraging messages for doing good work. A pretty simple, yet lovely, idea.

Reading the postcards, it feels good to see that each note is different and the writers are actually familiar with the project. One note read, “Wow! ‘Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design.’ Win-win”, so we know he or she must have watched Rob (Homeland Security officer) enthusiastically mention this phrase on the Pop Up Rockwell video.

We feel very lucky to have experienced this “random (and simultaneously coordinated) act of kindness” and hope Postcard Underground continues to spread the love. But with so many deserving projects out there, it won’t be easy to avoid the hand-cramps.

♥, CUDC

06-04-12

UPDATE: Diagram Book - Call for Abstracts Deadline Extended!

We’ve extended the deadline to submit abstracts for our upcoming Urban Infill publication focused on Diagramming in Urban Design. Abstracts for this fifth volume of Urban Infill will be accepted until Friday, June 15th, 2012. Submissions should be emailed to cudc@kent.edu.

We invite writers, designers, artists and thinkers to submit abstracts, which include examples and perspectives on diagramming and its place in urban design practice and processes. We are particularly interested in the intents and agendas behind various forms of diagramming within the following framework. Submissions may correspond to any of these six (6) themes:

DEFINING THE DIAGRAM
(historical / theoretical evolution of diagramming, diagramming in design thinking and processes,
conventional and unconventional approaches to diagramming in / for urban design)

MEANING | FUNCTION
(diagrams as a way to represent meaning; to clarify / communicate with accuracy and specificity)

TRANSLATION | INTERPRETATION
(diagrams used to reveal, explore, analyze and represent information and ideas)

VAGUENESS | SUGGESTION
(diagrams used to hint, suggest, obfuscate, subvert, conceal or lie)

COMPOSITION | NARRATIVE
(diagrams that simulate and present composite perspectives, juxtapositions of ideas and objects, and
communicate processes and narratives)

EXCHANGE | ENGAGEMENT
(diagram as process and tool for engagement)
Submission Requirements:

Abstract / Description (text) : 500 words or less
Images: no more than 5 thumbnails - total file size under 5MB.

Please send abstracts and/or images via email to cudc@kent.edu no later than Friday, June 15th 2012. We welcome new, in-progress or pre-published, original work.

Relevant Dates:
Abstracts due: Friday, June 15th 2012
Notification to selected contributors: Monday, June 22nd 2012
Final entries due: Friday, July 27th 2012
Expected publication: September 2012

04-07-11

BioCellar Event 4/26 @ CUDC

Click here to download BioCellar invite pdf

10-27-10

Open Urban Designer Position at CUDC

Hello friends and colleagues! The Kent State Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative is currently looking to fill an Urban Designer position recently made available on our staff. The position’s responsibilities include project management, a commitment to working with community groups and an interest in Urban Design education.

The candidate should hold an advanced degree in Architecture, Landscape Architecture or Planning, and have five or more years of experience in Urban Design or a related field. The salary is negotiable based on the applicant’s experience.

Here’s how to access a full description of the available position and online application:

1. Visit Kent State’s career postings site

2. Click the Search Postings link on the left sidebar

3. Enter position number: 998196

We plan to fill the position by December, so please feel free to spread the word!