Studios reach out to tackle needs for cities of Bryan ...laup.arch.tamu.edu/_common/files/spring...

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FORSTER NDUBISIDepartment Head

PerspectivesNewsletter for the Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban PlanningSpring 2005

Ndubisi reviews first year at LAUP’s helmCoordinators developing strategic plans for all five department programs

The Landscape Architecture Professional Advisory Board engaged in a strategic planning session last April. Pictured counterclockwise around the table beginning on the left are Ryan Bricker, Daniel Sonnenberg, Dennis Jerke, Mi-chael Murphy, Forster Ndubisi, Barrie Cogburn, Ann McGinnes, Scott Wright, Brent Baker, and Susan Billings.

Professor Sherry Bame and students completed a project with the Bryan and College Station community development departments as part of the cities’ five-year comprehensive plan. Introduction to -Planning students evalu-ated housing rehabilitation and renovation conditions in over 16,000 homes in both communities. Health Systems Planning stu-dents conducted a survey of health and hu-man-service agencies to determine which needs the local population perceived to be

most important. A third group of students, pursing inde-pendent studies, conducted a telephone survey of over 300 local residents to identify their preferences for improving quality of life in their communities. In April the students presented their findings to city officials, area agencies and interested citizens. Students said the experi-ence has changed forever how they view a community, as well as how they will partici-pate as citizens in the future.

Students survey housing and health care needs for cities of Bryan, College Station

Inside this issue

Elise Bright has plans for Master of Urban

Planning programPAGE 8

Studios reach out to tackle community projects

PAGE 3

See Ndubisi, Page 2

It is my pleasure to share observations about the department noted during my first year as department head. The Department of Landscape Architec-

ture and Urban Plan-ning (LAUP) has re-cently recruited three faculty members under the university’s Faculty Reinvestment Program. Faculty members are hired based on their research experience and potential, and the quality of their teach-ing. We are also in the process of completing searches for transpor-

tation and land development positions. We expect these new faculty members to join us in fall 2005. Judy Pruitt joined us fall 2004 as the newest member of our staff support team. The department has embarked on stra-tegic planning initiatives for all programs to

solidify and enhance the quality and deliv-ery of its current undergraduate and gradu-ate programs. During the strategic planning process we agreed that as a department to strive to create, apply, and disseminate knowledge to enhance functional, healthy, and sustainable human environments. In March, we had an accreditation visit for our Master of Landscape Architecture

(MLA) program under the leadership of Dr. Jon Rodiek. Preliminary results from the visit substantiate what we have known all along—we have a very solid MLA program. We are also in the process of preparing a self-study report for our Master of Urban Planning (MUP) program, which is coordi-

Community Outreach

nated by Dr. Elise Bright, a nationally-re-spected educator who joined us in January 2005. This program is scheduled for an ac-creditation visit next year. Our faculty continues to excel in obtain-ing highly competitive research grants from major funding agencies. One of our faculty members, Dr. Michael Murphy, received the university-wide Association of Former Stu-dents Distinguished Achievement Award for Teaching in May 2005. LAUP students excel as well. During the 2004 fall semester, for instance, a LAUP stu-dent won the first prize in the prestigious Sasaki Foundation Scholarship competition. Another won a highly competitive doctoral research fellowship totaling $25,000 from

the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Last spring, we instituted the Department Head Honor Roll which recognizes students for academic excellence and outstanding lead-ership qualities. A new computer policy becoming effec-tive in fall 2005 requires new students to purchase lap-top computers. The objective is to enable our students to be very com-petitive nationally and globally in the appli-cation of the latest computer technologies. LAUP is also strengthening partnerships with internal and external constituents. We are currently expanding the composition of the Landscape Architecture Professional Advisory Board (PAB), which met on April 15, 2005. We have also reconstituted the MUP Advisory Board. Their first meeting was held April 7, 2005. Additionally, we have es-

tablished a new Industry Advisory Council for the Master of Land Development (MSLD) program. The advisory council held its first meeting and banquet on April 2, 2005 un-der the leadership of Dr. Sharkawy and stu-dents in the MSLD program. These advisory boards provide valuable input from industry that strengthens the quality of our program offerings and sustains valuable connections to the professional community.

2 Perspectives: Spring 2005 — Newsletter for the Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning

UNDERGRADUATE WRAP-UP

Faculty, students excel during Ndubisi’s first year as department head Continued from Page 1

Last February, the Texas A&M University Student Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects once again delivered an extremely successful annual workshop. Dubbed “Spectrums,” the 2005 symposium theme was chosen to signify the varying ideas that make landscape architecture a thriving discipline. The 2005 workshop committee, chaired by Beth Larkin and staffed by Lindsay Land-ers, Jason Hayes, and Lexie Iltis, worked throughout the fall to develop the program and attract speakers and professionals from around the state. The formal program in-cluded morning and early afternoon presen-tations, a half-day design charette, a round table discussion, and a portfolio preparation session. The two-day event was opened by Dr. Forster Ndubisi, head of Texas A&M’s Depart-ment of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning. Workshop speakers and session topics included David Pitt on “smart growth”; Chet Williams examining golf course design; Brandi Reaves sharing her personal experi-ences as a landscape architect; Jennifer Ap-pel discussing green roofs; John Moon with

a presentation on interactive graphic tech-niques; Bruce G. Smith discussing careers in land development; Scott Slaney showcasing SWA’s China projects; Bobby Eichholz, who talked about LEED Criteria; Lynn Miller, who discussed historical research on Benjamin Banneker and Washington, D. C.; and Atef Sharkawy, who discussed the development of healthy communities.

Ten firms brought a wide range of proj-ects for the design charette reflecting the workshop theme of variety in landscape ar-chitecture. Capping each day were evening so-cials—a semi-formal dinner and “casino night” on Friday, and a game night at a local pub on Saturday.

Jeanette Shellenbarger and Jennifer Wilson at work on one of the Workshop 2005 charette problems.

WorkshopStudent-powered event

shows full spectrum of landscape architecture

Advisory boards provide valuable input from the industries, strengthening LAUP programs and building professional partnerships.

College of Architecture • Texas A&M University — Spring 2005: Perspectives 3

Last spring, a group of fourth year land-scape architecture undergraduates assisted the small Wendish Heritage Museum in Serbin, Texas, near Giddings, in the develop-ment of an interpretive landscape. Working with a museum advisory group, the stu-dents developed alternative recommenda-tions for site planning and planting design

around the museum. The designs went beyond common contemporary practices and focused on specific Wendish traditions, especially in the use of plants. Using the museum’s research resources, the students studied the site and Wendish design tradi-tions and provided the museum with a se-ries of options which the museum board is

considering implementing. This Wendish Museum project is one example of the many service projects that landscape architecture and urban plan-ning classes provide to groups with limited means that might not otherwise have any skilled advice to aid their land use and de-sign decisions.

Prior to developing site plans for the Wendish Museum in Sebrin, Texas, LAND 321 students and faculty toured the facility and researched its archives to learn more about Wendish design traditions. The mu-seum preserves the history of the Texas Wends, Slavic immigrants from Lusatia, in eastern Germany.

Landscape students develop alternative site plans, planting

designs for Wendish Heritage Museum

In the 19th century, cemetery design was a main-stay of many landscape architects, but today, fewer opportunities exist to do these sorts of projects. At the same time, many historic cemeteries have lost much of their traditional character and are in need of revitalization. The residents of Groveton in Trinity County, Texas recently enlisted fourth-year landscape architec-ture students to help them restore character to their Glenwood Cemetery, which was established in 1899. Though quite beautiful, the wooded, rolling cem-etery was in need of additional plantings and new structures to enhance and maintain its unique rural romantic-style. After a site reconnaissance and research visit, class members developed several proposals for different treatments of the cemetery, all of which emphasized and enhanced the historic character of the grounds. Faculty also worked with a citizen’s group to ex-plore ways to locate unmarked graves, which are nu-merous at the Glenwood site.

Above, students tour Glenwood Cemetery with residents of Groveton. Inset, one of the student-de-signed solutions for a pathway system and pavilion at Glenwood Cemetery.

Students help Groveton residents revitalize scenic historic cemetery


ACHIEVEMENT

NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATIONA&M landscape architecture students pose with instructor Tom Woodfin during ground-breaking ceremonies for Mustang Way, a park the students designed around a frequently traveled trail connecting two Bryan ISD schools and adjacent to the city’s largest Habitat for Humanity neighborhood, Sharon’s Court. The park, designed on land owned by the school district, is a project of the Milam-Jones Neighborhood Association and the Bryan Rotary Club. The trees to be planted at the park will be donated by Keep Brazos Beautiful. The plans and additional details about the Mustang Way project will be featured in the Fall 2005 archone. newsletter.


A team from Texas A&M’s Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning earned first place honors in a design competition held last spring in Austin by the Texas Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA). The competition engaged teams from land-scape architecture programs at Texas universities in a one-day charette. The teams included stu-dents, a faculty sponsor and a former student in practice. The Aggie team was composed of Yan Wang and Yan Long, master of landscape archi-tecture students; Margarita Padilla and Amanda Stewart, fifth year bachelor of landscape archi-tecture students; Tom Woodfin, a member of the

LAUP faculty at Texas A&M; and Roberto Garcia ’83, a practitioner in Austin. The competition, which began at 9 a.m. in a large meeting room in the Austin hotel, involved teams from the University of Texas-Austin, Uni-versity of Texas-Arlington and Texas A&M Univer-sity. The 20-acre competition site was part of the 600-acre Robinson Ranch north of Austin, the last large contiguous private land parcel in the north Austin growth corridor. The students were asked to create a “town center” at the intersection of a proposed commuter rail line into downtown Austin and two future highways. The Aggie team worked until 5 p.m., producing three 1:20 urban design plans of the city center, as well as sections of commuter rail/downtown park designs.

AWARD-WINNING DESIGNAbove, a sketch of a proposed town center designed by A&M students Holly Dawson and Elizabeth Larkin that was part of the design project that earned second place honors at the Environmental Design Research Association conference last May in Vancouver, Canada.At left is the land use plan of an “active living” community proposed by Dawson and Larkin for south College Station.

Aggies’ active living designs earn EDRA

honors in Vancouver Designing for “active living” is currently a hot re-search topic in design and behavior studies. Fueled by such wide-ranging concerns as overuse of auto-mobiles and childhood obesity, many researchers, agencies, and cities are putting greater emphasis on creating places that allow people to incorporate physical activity into their daily schedule. It was this topic of active living that provided the theme for a design competition held at the Environ-mental Design Research Association conference in Vancouver, Canada in May. Of the 16 awards made for student design propos-als, five were taken by fourth-year landscape archi-tecture students from a design studio conducted by Ming-Han Li and Nancy Volkman. Holly Dawson and Elizabeth Larkin were awarded the highest prize given to an A&M student, 2nd place overall in the competition.

RECOGNITION

A&M student’s transit center design places first in state ASLA competition

Dr. Michael D. Murphy has just pub-lished a new book, Landscape Archi-tectural Theory: An Evolving Body of Thought. His point of departure is the nature of landscape architec-ture as a process, responding to biological, physical and cul-tural systems. As practiced, he wrote, “design is our way of manag-ing the continuing process of change to enhance quality of life and create meaningful and compelling places as settings for human activity.” Following an introductory section, Murphy discusses theories influencing landscape architecture in two broad categories: substantive theory and pro-

cedural theory. Areas of substantive theory include biophysical conditions and human behavior. Procedural the-ories include design and programming

process, as well as, theories re-lated to collaborative design. This work is an important ad-dition to the very small body of literature that synthesizes the broad and varied theories upon which landscape archi-tecture depends. Published in 2005 by Wave-land Press, Landscape Archi-

tectural Theory: An Evolving Body of Thought continues Murphy’s lifelong commitment to advancing landscape architecture as a discipline and profes-sion.

Professor Michael Murphy’s new book delves into nature of landscape architecture theory

Gene Schrickel Jr. ‘50 Endowed Scholarship in Landscape Ar-chitectureRobert Folzenlogen and Jason Hayes

Samuel E. Garrett Jr. Endowed Memorial ScholarshipElizabeth Larkin

Robert F. & Florence H. White Endowed Scholarship in Land-scape ArchitectureJeffrey Boutte

ASLA Texas Chapter Maurice Philips ScholarshipPaul Samson

Antonio F. Sarabando Jr. “Spirit of Place Award”Holly Dawson

TBG Partners/Robert Castro Memorial ScholarshipMichael West

Texas Chapter of the Ameri-canPlanning Association Scholarship Established by the Education Foundation of the Texas Chapter APAKristina Harpst and Ji Li

R. Joseph Reeves Endowed Memorial ScholarshipBo Yang

MSLD Gibson ScholarshipAnnie Walters and Tim Bextel

Colonel James E. Ray ’63 Endowed ScholarshipKitipat Supasirisin

Jesus Hinojosa Endowed Urban Planning ScholarshipSudha Arlikatti

Wolfgang Roeseler ScholarshipWes Highfield – Fall Meghan Wieters – Spring

David Pugh Outstanding MUP Student AwardPaula Lorente

Guests at the banquet included three scholar-ship donors and honor-ees:Florence White donor Robert and Florence White Scholarship

Alice Garrett donor Samuel Garrett Endowed ScholarshipJesus Hinojosa honoree Jesus Hinojosa Scholarship.

The annual LAUP award banquet, which the students attend without cost, would not have

been possible without the support of our gen-erous sponsors:

Jim Gray Rialto Studio San Antonio, Texas;

George Seagraves Alexandria, Virginia

Dunaway Associates, LP Ft. Worth, TX

Recipients of the Department Head Honor Roll award (from the left): Anthony Simmons, Jeffrey Boutte, Sudha Arlikatti, Jonathan Lynch, Praveen Maghelal, and Robert Folzenlogen

Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning department awards scholarships totaling $50,000Sixteen students were honored last April at the Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning’s annual Student Scholarship and Awards Banquet. The honored students represented all five programs in the deparment.

Above, section of the Texas A&M students’ winning tran-sit center design. At left, a sketch of the overall design. See Aggie, Page 8

Maghelal

Yun Zhao’s Bodhi Center meditation garden design.

Modeling the Adoption of Earthquake Hazard Adjustments by HouseholdsBy SUDHA ARLIKATTIDr. Michael Lindell, dissertation advisor

This research assesses differences in the extent to which households having differ-ent levels of seismic vulnerability vary in their adoption of earthquake protective measures. It will advance theory by con-trasting three cities in a high seismic hazard area (California) with three other cities from a moderate seismic hazard area (Washing-ton). Two previous studies have analyzed data collected in 1997 and this study will analyze parallel data collected during 1999. Comparing the two time periods will assess the stability of risk perceptions and provide further insights into the process by which households adopt earthquake hazard ad-justments.

Geographic Distribution of Health Care Needs in the Brazos ValleyBy NOEL BOWMANSherry Bame, advisor

Noel Bowman, MUP 2005, has been studying unmet health needs in the Brazos Valley. Working with Dr. Sherry Bame, he mapped the distribution of telephone calls from people requesting information and re-ferrals for health and human service needs from the new 2-1-1 non-emergency help line. Like 9-1-1, the new 2-1-1 number is be-ing implemented nation-wide, but was only initiated in Central Texas recently. Noel applied GIS methods to depict the distribution of community needs, as re-vealed by the callers. This project is intend-ed to help agencies and policy makers set priorities for developing outreach services, as well as allocate funds to target at-risk populations needing medical, dental, and pharmaceutical services.

Exploring the Effects of Local Development Regulations on LandscapeBy JINKI KIMDr. Christopher D. Ellis, dissertation advisor

An ecological approach to land-use plan-ning is essential to maintain the long-term sustainability of ecosystem benefits, ser-vices, and resources in urban communities. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between ecological landscape structure and local development regula-

tions over time. Comparative analysis was conducted between two areas that had sim-ilar pre-development ecological conditions,

but were developed under vastly different regulatory environments. The Wood-lands (regulated to protect ecological conditions) and the North Houston area (which followed tradition-al subdivision regulations) were examined at three different developmental time periods: predevelop-

ment, early development (after 10 years), and mature development (after 30 years). It was found that the ecologically planned community, the Woodlands, had a less frag-mented forest pattern, and the more restric-tive development guidelines there resulted in more ecologically structured environ-ments, in contrast to the North Houston area. Understanding how elements of local development regulations affect ecological landscape patterns is important for land-scape architects, planners, and administra-tors because it can lead to better strategies for planning and designing sustainable communities.

Healthy Transportation — Healthy Communities: Developing Pedestrian Suitability Index using GIS and Testing Significance of Pedestrian Variables on Choice of Transit as a Mode of TravelBy PRAVEEN KUMAR MAGHELALDr. Christopher Ellis, dissertation advisor

Health and transportation profession-als encourage and promote methods to improve the overall health of communi-ties. This dissertation, funded by the Robert

Wood Johnson Foundation (Active Living Research Dis-sertation Grant), addresses three immediate urban issues: increasing pedes-trian activity in communi-ties along transit stations; measuring the suitability of walking in 1, 1/2, 1/4 mile around the Dallas Area Rapid Transit stations; and

significance of pedestrian determinants in choosing transit as a travel mode. The dis-sertation analyzed spatial data using the or-dered weighted averaging method to study the pedestrian suitability of each light rail station and to understand its direct effect on transit ridership.


Taner Ozdil visiting downtown Bryan, one of his Main Street case study sites.

GRADUATE RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS


GRADUATE PROGRAM BRIEFS

Master of Landscape Architecture Program

The academic year 2004-05 has been a very busy one for the Master’s of Landscape Architecture (MLA) program. Topping the list of important events was a five-year accreditation review March 19-23. The team

was favorably impressed with what they saw and passed the program on all nine areas considered. On April 18, they recommended re -accreditation for six more years. The program will graduate 14 MLA students this year and has accepted 22 new students into this fall’s class of 2008. Thirty-four students will continue on in

the program. The summer internship program continues to flourish. This past summer students were placed in JJR, EDAW, EDSA, Design Workshop, Carol Johnson, Walker and Macy, as well as other outstanding firms. The faculty played a large role in this success. Professors Tom Woodfin, Chris Ellis, Chang-Shan Huang, Ming-Han Li and Jodi Naderi successfully carried MLA students through to their final projects.

Master of Land Development Program

On Saturday April 2, the Master of Land Develop-ment (MSLD) program held its first reunion and ban-quet. The reunion session featured Andrew Ozuna and Rick Rodriquez conducting a “Connection Deals” session. In the evening, 80 students, faculty, former students

and partners got together at the College Station Hilton. Dean Regan and Dr. Ndubisi provided an official welcome from the college and department, then a video of program memories was shown. After dinner, yell practice cleared everyone’s thoughts before the recognition award recipients were announced. This year’s honorees included:

Andrew Ozuna, the 2005 Appreciation Award; Rick Ro-driquez, the Class of 1985 Award; Mike Huszti, the Class of 1994 Award; and Jeremiah Gore, the Class of 1999 Award. To a standing ovation, Atef Sharkawy received a surprise recognition award for “outstanding dedication, sacrifice and support to the MSLD program, its students and alumni.”

Master of Urban Planning Program

The MUP program welcomed new leadership in January when Dr. Elise Bright joined the faculty as program coordinator and professor. Dr. Bright was off to a running start with the

program’s re-accreditation self-study report due in June. The report is a comprehensive description and evaluation of the entire MUP program. Its preparation involves communicating with students, alumni, faculty and many other stakeholders. “The preparation of this report provides a great

opportunity to gain in-depth knowledge about the program very rapidly,” Bright said.

She is also working with Dr. Ndubisi to form an MUP Advisory Council composed of interested planners who wish to assist in program development. Anyone interested in serving on this council should contact Bright at [email protected].

This fall, she plans to organize an update the Former Students Directory and the development of a strategic plan for the MUP. “Keeping in touch with our alumni is very impor-tant,” said Bright, adding that a similar effort at UT Arlington (where she served as program coordinator before coming to Texas A&M) had not only strength-ened the program, but also provided unexpected oppor-tunities for networking among the alumni and student populations.

Ph.D. in Urban and Regional Science

The Ph.D. program in Urban and Regional Science has admitted 11 new students so far, with six students having already committed to attending Texas A&M University next year. Two of these committed students

received highly competitive Regent’s Fellowships. The program will be forming an external advisory board with the intention of meeting for the first time in Kansas City at the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning meeting in October. Anyone interested in serving on this important advisory com-mittee should contact George

Rogers at [email protected]. The Jesus Hinojosa scholarship has been given for the first time to Sudha Arlikatti. This award is the only scholarship given to doctoral students based upon their academic scholarship and leadership. The award is an endowed scholarship that has yet to reach its goal. As such, it has taken nearly five years to make this first award. Contributions are needed to fully endow this fund so deserving students can be recognized on a more regular basis. Gifts may be sent to George Rogers, URSC Program Coordinator at Mail Stop 3137. Checks should be made payable to the Texas A&M University Founda-tion, with “Jesus Hinojosa Endowed Scholarship Fund” in the memo field.

The American Bodhi CenterBy DIPTI TRIVEDI and YUN ZHAODr. Chang-Shan Huang and Dr. Ming-Han Li, project advisors

The American Bodhi Center in Hemp-stead, Texas is establishing a large campus to serve the education, retreat and monas-tic needs of American Buddhists. Two Mas-ter of Landscape Architecture students took the assignment of developing master plans for this campus. Dipti, a native of India, used concepts and images from the Theravada form of Buddhism found in her homeland, while Yun, from China, referenced the Ma-hayana form common in that country. Both students worked from the same design pro-gram, but produced somewhat different plans with very different visual characters, due to the variations found in these two versions of Buddhism. This dual approach yielded two options for the center to con-sider as they progress with their planning and design development.

Dipti Trivedi’s Bodhi Center monastery gateway design.

Jon Rodiek

Atef Sharkawy

Elise Bright

George Rogers

Assessing the Economic Revitalization Impact of Urban Design Improvements: The Texas Main Street ProgramBy TANER OZDILDr. Andrew Seidel, dissertation advisor The Main Street Program, like 45 other state programs in the United States, has uti-lized a four-point approach (design, promo-tion, organization, and economic restruc-turing) to assist and revitalize communities throughout Texas for over two decades. The program claims to be one of the strongest of such programs in the United States. This research is an attempt to find and analyze the urban design and economic ac-tivity taking place within the 79 active Main Street program cities in Texas from data sources external to the programs them-selves. The indicators that comprise the four-point approach and the economic ac-tivity such as employment, the number of establishments, and commercial property values were analyzed. The preliminary results indicate that the Texas Main Street Program, part of which is urban-design oriented, is having a positive effect on economic activity within the ac-tive Main Street cities for the five-year pe-riod under investigation.

Faculty hires, strategic planning highlight Ndubisi’s first year as department head

Page 1

Planning students survey housing, health care needs for cities of Bryan/College Station

Page 3

LAUP students chalk-up another successful Workshop; the event attracts noted speakers

Page 6

LAUP students win first place honors in state-wide Texas ASLA design charette competition

Page 4

Professor Michael Murphy’s new book delves into nature of landscape architecture

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Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban PlanningCollege of ArchitectureTexas A&M University3137 TAMUCollege Station, TX 77843-3137

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

NON PROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDCOLLEGE STATION

TEXAS 77843PERMIT NO. 215

Perspectives NewsletterDepartment of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning

LAUP Web site • http://archweb.tamu.edu/laup/

Dept. of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning • 979-845-1019

College of Architecture Web site: http://archone.tamu.edu

Dean: Thomas Regan • 979-845-1222 • [email protected]

Department Head: Forster Ndubisi • 979-845-1019 • [email protected]

Editor: Nancy Volkman • 979-845-5041 • [email protected]

Designer: Ming-Han Li • 979-845-7571 • [email protected]

“Perspectives” is an official publication of the Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning in the College of Architecture at Texas A&M University. Correspondence should be directed to the editor.

WHAT’S INSIDE

http://archone.tamu.edu/laup

Bright

Elise M. Bright, Ph.D., was appointed last spring as professor and coordinator of the Master of Urban Planning pro-gram at Texas A&M University. Before coming to A&M, she taught at the Uni-versity of Texas at Arlington for 17 years. She completed undergraduate work at the University of Arizona, graduat-ing magna cum laude, and joined the Arizona welfare department as a social worker. Bright holds a Master in City Plan-ning degree from Harvard and a Doctor of Environmental Design degree from Texas A&M. She worked in planning po-sitions and as a consultant throughout the United States for 12 years before joining academia. For the past decade she conducted extensive research for the National Center for Central City Re-vitalization. Her book chronicling this effort, Reviving America’s Forgotten Neighborhoods, published by Rout-ledge/Taylor and Francis in 2000, won the Association of Collegiate Schools

of Planning Paul Da-vidoff Award for Best Book on Social Jus-tice. Bright’s current re-search focuses on the effects of prop-erty tax over-ap-praisal in low income neighborhoods and the importance of

regional containment in central city health. She has lectured on these issues at symposia around the world. Bright’s other areas of expertise in-clude economic development, zoning, environmental planning, and impact assessment. She is president of P&B Remodeling and Development, a firm specializing in renovating and selling homes for mod-erate income buyers. When time allows, this mother of three jogs, plays the fid-dle, and studies to obtain a real estate license.

Bright joins faculty as MUP coordinator

Judging the charette were the planning consultant team from Bosse and Compton and landowners from the area involved in the competition. “I believe that our approach proved successful be-cause we did three scenarios: the first, five years’ into the future with a town center and bus transit station before the rail is built, the second showed ten years’ growth, where the downtown city center has begun to grow with housing and mixed-use, and the third, twenty years’ into the future with the bus transit station converted to com-muter rail and a fully-developed mixed-use downtown commercial and residential sector. The A&M student’s downtown park, planned for the 100 percent corner at the two highways’ intersection, retained a small-town square sense of place as the com-munity grew around it over time” Woodfin explained. “Roberto Garcia’s vision and the students’ enthusiasm at embracing a difficult design challenge were keys to the winning design. “ “Also,” Woodfin added, “our students’ ability to sketch quickly and communicate their ideas effectively made the finished drawings strong communications documents.

Continued from page 3

Aggie landscape students place first in Texas ASLA competition

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