GOOD URBANISM 101

Lessons for Designing Cities Tuesday and Thursday evenings

October 27-November 12, 2009 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Wrap Up:

The Fall 2009 Good Urbanism 101 series has concluded. With over 50 attendees, 8 sponsors, 5 scholarship awards, and 24 continuing education credits available, this series was the most successful so far! Attendees enjoyed an engaging and informative set of lectures that referenced local projects while addressing nation-wide challenges of designing more enjoyable, functional, and sustainable communities.

The class learned that decisions related to subdivision of the land and designation of public space are the critical pieces for future flexibility of use, enjoyment, and redevelopment. Did you know that block sizes have increased by a factor of 3.2 from the average block size prior to 1928? (No wonder we can't walk any where!) Have you been to Savannah and noticed that the downtown grid and block system remains largely unchanged over 300 years later-and it works as well as it ever did despite the advent of the car and the profound changes in land use? Did you realize that a 5 block area of Midtown Atlanta could fit in the parking lot of the Target at Camp Creek Marketplace? These discussions of scale, walkability, priority, environmental impact, and the human experience were among the myriad lecture points and class conversations.

The Georgia Conservancy would like to thank our partners, faculty from Georgia Tech's College of Architecture Richard Dagenhart, David Green, and Doug Allen, for crafting an incredibly entertaining and eye-opening series of classes.

Thanks also to our sponsors the American Planning Association and the American Institute of Architect whose involvement made it possible to offering continuing education credits to certified planners and architects. Atlanta Gas Light (AGL) kindly offered our class use of their conference room and were accommodating hosts to our series.

Most significantly, the Georgia Conservancy would like to thank our nightly sponsors and local "good urbanites" Urban Collage, HOK, Cooper Cary, Ecos Environmental Design, Perkins+Will, and MACTEC Engineering and Consulting.

Thanks to these sponsors, we were able to keep our costs down and offer 5 scholarships. To our attendees and graduates of previous Good Urbanism 101 classes: Go forth and influence good decisions in your community! Remember, the market and our government officials respond to our demands. We just need to decide what kind of community we want . . . . .

What is Good Urbanism 101?

Good Urbanism 101 is a six-class course focusing on quality urban design. Learn about the history, principles, and current practices of urban design, including an emphasis on walkability, integration of alternative transportation options, sustainability, and the relationship between urban infrastructure and the urban experience. Join the Georgia Conservancy's Growth Management Program and Georgia Tech professors David Green, Richard Dagenhart, and Doug Allen to learn about urban design and how different professions can collaborate to improve the city of Atlanta and its region. The professors will be joined by different guests each week who are professionals and experts in their field.

Each of the six sessions will explore a different theme and set of issues that are crucial to the development of the built environment today. These themes include platting and subdivision, street design and transportation, zoning, and urban design.

The course contextualizes urban issues in the history of urban design while paying special attention to the specific challenges facing Atlanta. The courses will be presented in informal PowerPoint lectures with questions welcomed at any time. Sessions will include handouts and time for questions and discussion. Every session will include a midway break with light snacks available. However, meals are not provided and attendees are encouraged to brown bag, given the evening time of the classes.

Who should attend?

Anyone interested in planning, designing and building a better Atlanta - neighborhood residents, government officials, engineers, non-profit advocacy and advisory groups, architects, landscape architects, planners, attorneys, financial professionals, developers, and real estate brokers.

Register Now! - Space is Limited

Course descriptions

Instructors:

Richard Dagenhart is associate professor of architecture and urban design at Georgia Tech, where he teaches urban design seminars and studios in both the Architecture and City and Regional Planning programs and heads the master's of science-Urban Design Program. He is an architect and city planner with more than 35 years' experience in teaching, practicing and learning about urban design in the United States and across the globe.

David Green is an architect and professor of practice in the College of Architecture at Georgia Tech, teaching urban design and architecture studios while also being involved in an emerging national and international urban design practice as associate principal with Perkins+Will in Atlanta. He has been involved in all stages of urban design practice from urban design visions, neighborhood participation, zoning and subdivision processes and building design.

Doug Allen is professor and associate dean of the College of Architecture at Georgia Tech where he teaches the most popular course in the college, The History of Urban Form. His teaching focuses on the American City and American Landscape and includes undergraduate, master's degree and Ph.D. students in architecture and city and regional planning. Prior to becoming associate dean, he maintained a landscape architecture practice, winning numerous awards in Atlanta and across the Southeast.

Continuing Education Credit:

Continuing education credits are available for some professions with an extra $100 charge. Twelve (12) AIA Health, Safety, and Welfare and Sustainable Design Continuing Education Credits are available.Twelve (12) AICP Certificate Maintenance Credits are available. For Professional Engineers self reporting, the Georgia Conservancy will provide assistance.

Additional Information:

Good Urbanism 101 is sponsored by the Georgia Conservancy in partnership with the Urban Design faculty in the College of Architecture at Georgia Tech.

All proceeds from Good Urbanism 101 support urban design education at Georgia Tech by supporting graduate students with scholarships or research assistantships.

To be considered for a scholarship, you must be an employee or volunteer of a non-profit organization whose work involves transportation, urban design, housing, or related issues; a citizen member of a civic association, neighborhood planning unit, or planning or zoning commission; or be otherwise clearly involved in volunteer activities that involve the built environment.

To apply, please provide a 500 word statement describing your interest in the class, how you will utilize the class lessons in your professional or personal life, and how you are involved in urban design issues.

Application statements should be emailed to Katherine Moore, Georgia Conservancy, kmoore@gaconservancy.org by October 13. You will be notified one week prior to the first class regarding your application.

Location: AGL Building, Ten Peachtree Place

Adjacent to Midtown MARTA Station, free Parking across the street. You will be asked to sign-in with security at AGL's entrance (on Peachtree Place). If parking in the AGL parking lot, a parking attendant will likewise ask you to check-in.

Testimonials

Thank you to AGL Resources for hosting the Good Urbanism 101 series. This event is co-sponsored by: