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A research project to identify the growing number of Municipal Design Studios in the US
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Municipal design studios and centers2011
Vancouver, BC
Seattle, WA
Portland, OR
San Francisco, CA
Los Angeles, CA
Municipal Design Studios
Private Design Studio (Future)
University Design Studio (Future)
Davenport, IA
Nashville, TN
Chattanooga, TN
Raleigh, NC
Charleston, SC
Dallas, TX
Orlando, FL
What is a Municipal Design Studio or Center?
Municipal design studios and centers are an out growth of municipal planning departments. Though each studio or center has a vast array of different projects and responsibilities each rep-resents the same goal. Working to ensure a higher quality of development and in turn a higher quality of living in their city.
Municipal design studios and centers deploy a variety of different tools to achieve desired mile-stones. Tools in the workbox of a municipal design studio or center include:Design Review, Peer Review, Visioning Workshops, Public Project coordination and facilitation, Design Guidelines, Design Assistance to other Departments, Educational Seminars, Hosting Char-rettes, Implementation Workshops, Neighborhood, Corridor, and Community Planning, Drafting Amendments and Review of Zoning Codes, Best Practices Research, Project Conceptualization and Budgeting, Grant Application and Administration, Consultation Procurement, Community Outreach and Engagement, Streetscape Planning, Design Studies at various scales, Public Art Coordination
and Competitions.
Charleston Civic Design Center .....................................................3
Chattanooga Planning and Design Studio....................................4
Dallas CityDesign Studio.................................................................5
Davenport Design Center................................................................6
Los Angeles Urban Design Studio..................................................7
Nashville Planning Department Design Studio.............................8
Orlando Land Development Studio...............................................9
Urban Design Studio, Bureau of Planning and Sustainability...............................................................................10
Raleigh Urban Design Center.......................................................11
San Francisco City Design Group..................................................12
Seattle City Design.......................................................................13
Vancouver Urban Design Studio..................................................14
INDEX
Charleston, SC
Chattanooga, TN
Dallas, TX
Davenport, IA
Los Angeles, CA
Nashville, TN
Orlando, FL
Portland, OR
Raleigh, NC
San Francisco, CA
Seattle, WA
Vancouver, BC
Resources:Congress of New Urbanism - Image Library http://www.cnu.org/Form Based Code Institute http://www.formbasedcodes.org/Urban Land Institute http://www.uli.org/SiteFocus http://sitephocus.com/home/Association of Architecture Organizations http://www.aaonetwork.org/Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals http://www.apbp.org/Project for Public Space http://www.pps.org/
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Introduction:The Charleston Civic Design Center is an urban design initiative of the City of Charleston to pro-mote a positive vision for the future of the city. The role of the CCDC is to enhance the quality of life in Charleston by engaging the community in creating a dynamic urban design direction for the city. The Center collaborates with citizens, neighborhood organizations, property own-ers, developers, interest groups, design professionals, city departments and elected officials to build upon the city’s progressive traditions and to promote the highest standards for commu-nity design. The CCDC helps to guide citizen involvement towards a productive definition of Charleston’s identity, promoting a forum for public dialog by sponsoring lectures, symposia, exhibitions, and design workshops. It engages difficult urban design challenges for the future of the city, with an integrated urban design studio that works across disciplines to foster innova-tion and sensitivity in promoting the best Charleston possible. The Center aims to demonstrate in concept and in detail how civic discourse can bridge often divergent commitments: historic preservation and urban progress; neighborhood stabilization and gentrification; quality of life and economic development; continuity and change. In this way, a more inclusive and integra-tive approach to making the city can flourish, raising the processes of urban design and com-munity development in Charleston to a new level of civic art.
www.charlestoncityinfo.com/ccdcStephen Risse
Charleston Civic Design CenterCharleston, SC 2002
Method: Recommendation from the City of Charleston’s 1999 Downtown Plan and through the leader-
ship of Mayor Joseph P. Riley Jr.
Scope: The Charleston Civic Design Center is an urban design office for the City of Charleston who works, in addition, to collaborate with stakeholder groups to promote good urban design stan-dards within the City of Charleston. CCDC has been involved in many different aspects of proj-ects, but is typically focused in the early conceptual and outreach components.
Structure: The Charleston Civic Design Center is structured as a special office to the mayor, and is within the Executive Department. Within the Center is an advisory board made up of civic leaders who participate and help guide the Center.
4Chattanooga Planning and Design StudioChattanooga, TN 1990
Method: The Chattanooga Planning and Design Studio started as a partnership agreement between the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Regional Planning Agency, City of Chattanooga, The River City Company, The Lyndhurst Foundation and the University of Tennessee’s Architecture program. Today the Chattanooga Planning and Design Studio is completely funded by the City of Chat-tanooga and Hamilton County.
Scope: The work Chattanooga Planning and Design Studio includes, design review, neighborhood and district planning, visioning, charrette hosting, public project coordination and facilitation, writ-ing design guidelines.
Structure:Chattanooga Planning and Design Studio is a division of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Regional Planning Agency
www.chcrpa.org/Design_Studio.htmKaren Hundt, [email protected]
423-668-2262
Introduction:The Chattanooga Planning and Design Studio provides coordination, design guidance, and recommendation of standards for downtown and riverfront development to both the public and private sectors. Since 1990, the Design Studio has played a role in both public and private investment, transforming Chattanooga’s downtown and riverfront into a vibrant, active place. Our directive is to provide design review for urban areas in several of our zoning categories.
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Introduction:The Dallas CityDesign Studio, housed within City Hall, blends together the broader design com-munity and the City of Dallas. The purpose of the Dallas CityDesign Studio is to elevate the design consciousness and culture of Dallas, while working to balance social, economic, environ-mental, and design stainability towards enhancing livability for all Dallas residents. There are four core objectives of the Dallas CityDesign Studio. Raising awareness about the importance of urban design to city building and the future of Dallas. Providing advisory services on urban design issues through development of urban design policies for the city, peer review of signifi-cant projects, and input into development applications. Direct urban design services on projects to other departments within the city on significant projects and collaborating on urban design consultations with the City. Development of urban design programs for areas along the Trinity Corridor.
Method: It is a public private partnership between the Trinity Trust and the City of Dallas. The Trust has given the City a grant made possible by Deedie and Rusty Rose to support the creation and operation of the Studio over a five year period. Over the course of the gift, the City will take an increasing fiscal share of the Studio’s operation with each budget year.
Scope:The Studio has four main functional areas: 1) Capacity building – raising awareness within city hall, the design/development professions, and the public at large regarding the importance of urban de-sign to our city; 2) Advisory services where the studio provides input into key development projects [zoning, TIF, etc], works to establish a peer review process, and leads policy development initiatives impacting the urban experience; 3) Direct design where the studio collaborates on consultants and provides design guidance for city projects; and 4) Urban design programs where the studio under-takes long range planning initiatives.
Structure:The Studio is a division of the City Manager’s Office and report directly to the City Manager.
http://dallascityhall.com/citydesign_studio/index.htmlBrent Brown
Dallas CityDesign StudioDallas, TX 2009
6Davenport Design CenterDavenport, IA 2003
Method: The Davenport Design Center was a proposal by the City Administrator, and adopted by City Council.
Scope:Work includes: visioning; design review; transportation planning; comprehensive planning; design assistance to other relevant departments; liaison to private sector development; design guidelines; educational seminars; hosting charettes; graphic design assistance for all depart-ments. The Design Center is actively involved with the Chamber of Commerce on projects in the downtown and riverfront redevelopment ares.
Structure:The Design Center is a distinct division within the Community Planning and Economic Develop-ment Department. Staff currently involves: City Designer, Senior Planning Manager; Planner II. Design Center staff reports to CPED Director, and/or City Administrator.
www.davenportiowa.org/designcenterDarrin [email protected]
563-888-2252
Introduction:The Davenport Design Center’s goal is to elevate Davenport’s quality of life through thought-ful design of the built environment and engagement with the public in the design process. The Design Center administers the Downtown Design Overlay District, and associated design guidelines and design review process.
7Los Angeles Urban Design StudioLos Angeles, CA 2007
Method:Created by political mandate and Director of Planning.
Scope: Policy development and adoption, community outreach and training, staff training, consultant to various city agencies and review of large public works projects, street redesign, collaborate with City departments of public works, transportation and redevelopment on city wide engi-neering standards, streets manuals and construction details. Collaborations with universities and colleges.
Structure:Report to the Director of Planning, work with Department of Transportation, Public Works, Re-development Agency, Department of Cultural Affairs.
www.urbandesignLA.comSimon Pastuch
213-978-1475
Introduction:Imagine if we shared a vision for the direction of our city and set a framework for city design to implement that vision. Imagine if our vision was squarely aimed at cultivating a livable, memo-rable city, one of delights, variety, convenience, connections and sustainability; honoring our past; respecting our essential urban, suburban and rural qualities of our neighborhoods. Our mission is to partner with all Angelenos to transform Los Angeles into a tapestry of distinctive, healthy and sustainable neighborhoods. City Planning Commission and Director of Planning have set directives for policy development, project review and community outreach.
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Introduction:The Planning Commission guides growth and development as Nashville and Davidson County evolves into a more socially, economically and environmentally sustainable community, with a commitment to preservation of important assets, efficient use of public infrastructure, distinc-tive and diverse neighborhood character, free and open civic life, and choices in housing and transportation.
Method:Executive Director created the Design Studio by reallocating existing operating funds.
Scope:Review of permits within design-based zoning districts; Creation of design-based zoning districts and overlays; Neighborhood, corridor and community planning; Hosting charrettes during planning efforts; Acting as consultant to Planning Department staff, other Metro Departments, and private sector developers and property owners on various urban design issues and on development applications; Writing text amendments to the Zoning Code.
Structure:The Design Studio is a division within the Metro Nashville/Davidson County Planning Depart-ment. The Design Studio and Planning Department staff reports to the ten-member, appointed Planning Commission.
www.nashville.gov/mpcJennifer [email protected]
615-862-7210
Nashville Planning Department Design StudioNashville, TN 2000
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Introduction:Orlando Land Development Studio’s aim is to enhance the quality of life in the City by delivering public services in a knowledgeable, responsive and financially responsible man-ner. The Land Development Studio focuses on three related urban planning functions: land development review, urban design/architectural review, and historic preservation. The Growth Management Plan and Land Development Code describes the role and responsibly for the Historic Preservation Officer and Appearance Review Official.
Method:The Studio is part of the City Planning Division of the Economic Development Department for the City of Orlando.
Scope:Current Planning, long range planning, community visioning, writing design guidelines and Code standards, review permitting drawings, manage the Downtown Development Review Committee, Appearance Review Official, management of the Historic Preservation Board by the Historic Preservation Officer
Structure:Report to the City Planning Division Manager, and Downtown Development Board Executive Director.
www.cityoforlando.net/planning/cityplanning/LDStudio.htmHolly Stenger
Orlando Land Development StudioOrlando, FL
10Urban Design Studio,Bureau of Planning and Sustainability
Portland, OR 2001
Method:Created through political mandate.
Scope:The Urban Design Studio (UDS) engages in long-range planning, visioning and implementation processes and projects, collaborating within BPS and other public agencies. The UDS also hosts design charrettes, helps draft design guidelines, and otherwise acts as an “in-house” design consultant for the bureau.
Structure:City of Portland, OR, Bureau of Planning and Sustainability, Mayor Sam Adam’s Commissioner in Charge.
www.portlandonline.com/bps/index.cfm?c=43729Mark Raggett or Lora [email protected], [email protected]
503-823-6030
Introduction:TThe Urban Design Studio of Portland is meant to explore, develop, and implement urban de-sign visions, concepts and approaches for the ongoing and intentional evolution of the City of Portland. While there is no single directive, urban design is an integral part of every long-range planning effort. The Urban Design Studio applies the design process to all its work. Typically, the design process includes existing conditions analysis, issue identification, concept development, alternatives analysis, refinement and selection.
The UDS explores new and/or different urban design ideas that frame existing land use patterns and forms while giving shape to new places throughout the city. The studio’s exploration of new places offers an ongoing opportunity to describe and strengthen Portland’s existing strong sense of place, high quality of life and rich diversity of natural and built forms.
The studio takes the initiative in leading and facilitating design discussions that are not always intended to arrive at broadly shared consensus or compromise. This process of testing new ideas, engaging in deliberate, targeted debate and weighing important choices offers critical opportu-nities for the introduction of innovative design solutions to different urban design issues.
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Introduction:The Raleigh Urban Design Center is a team of urban designers and planners who envision and design solutions that create a better built environment for the City of Raleigh. By engaging and leading the people of Raleigh in deliberate, targeted design discussions, The Design Center builds consensus around innovative solutions that encourage all people to be active in shaping the physical form of their community.
Current projects Raleigh Urban Design Center include: Planning for 17 light rail stations, Capital Boulevard control study, Kaplan Drive neighborhood streetcape and traffic calming, New Devel-opment Code design guidelines, Community Gardens programs and policy development, Blue Ridge District study, and Jones Franklin Area study.
Method:Planning director policy initiative.
Scope: The UDC is a thought center for the discussion and testing of design and planning theories and the impact they have on the urbanization of the City. The Design Studio provides the City of Ra-leigh with an in-house resource that designs solutions to specific projects that have significant impact on the quality of the public realm throughout the city. The Design Studio uses the design process to amend and/or develop new methods for how City-initiated and private development projects are conceived, designed, reviewed, and approved.
Structure:The Design Studio reports directly to the Chief of Planning and Economic Development. We are
one of three divisions within the department of City Planning.
www.raleighnc.gov/urbandesignCharles Grant Meacci
Raleigh Urban Design CenterRaleigh, NC 2003
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Introduction:The City Design Group’s mission is concern for the three-dimensional quality of the city and the
quality and vitality of the public realm and the space between buildings.
Method:The City Design Group was created by the Planning Department to direct the City’s efforts on urban design and on the quality and design of the public realm. The City Design Group also encourages innovation in use of the public realm.
Scope:The City Design Group provides full service from preparing public realm plans, capital planning, project conceptualization and budgeting, design from schematic through concept design, de-sign review, grant application and administration, consultation procurement, permitting, public workshops, installation review, and public advocates of good public realm programming and design.
Structure:The City Design Group consists of a program manager and staff of ten urban designers. It reports
ro the Director of Planning. It coordinates and collaborates extensively with other city agency.
www.sf-planning.org/ftp/CDG/index.htmDavid [email protected]
San Francisco City Design GroupSan Francisco, CA 2006
13Seattle CityDesignSeattle, WA
www.seattle.gov/dpd/Planning/CityDesign.aspLyle Bicknell, Geoff Wentlandt
Introduction:CityDesign transforms and shapes the civic character of Seattle’s built and natural environ-ment by: developing and maintain an urban design vision for Seattle consistent with our department policies and goals, acting as an urban advocate of design excellence in the City’s built environment upholding standards of consistency and coordination between public and private agencies,facilitating collaboration between the City of Seattle depart-ments, property owners, other commissions, developers, community in general, groups and agencies responsible for the public realm, facilitating citizen dialogue on urban design issues, policies, and actions affecting the public realm.
CityDesign leads the design of Seattle’s public realm. It uses its professional design and facilitation skills to bring together government agencies, project developers and Seattle’s citizens to tackle projects that address the city’s large-scale urban design needs.
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Method:Studio was formed by Larry Beasely, former Director of Planning, with staff funded under the Planning Department budget as Permanent Full Time City of Vancouver employees.
Scope:Community planning; workshop facilitation; community engagement and outreach; inter-nal design advice; urban design strategies; planning program strategy and support; citywide strategies; urban design guidelines; streetscape plans; design review/development planning; design studies at various scales; site specific investigations for development potential/valua-tion, communication graphics and drawing support; strategic thinking, public art coordination, general advocacy and mentoring, collaboration with local universities.
Structure:Studio reports directly to the Director of Planning. The Design Studio is part of the overall Plan-ning Department but is not attached to any specific Planning Division within the department. Studio works freely with all City Departments including Engineering, Parks, Heritage, Cultural Affairs, Housing, Real Estate, as necessary.
http://vancouver.ca/commsvcs/currentplanning/urbandesign/index.htmScot Hein, Matthew [email protected]
Vancouver Urban Design StudioVancouver, Canada 2004
Introduction:The Studio’s mission is to ensure that an authentic, place-based urbanism, derived from the deep understanding of our distinctive neighborhoods and City, continues to evolve Vancouver towards a sustainable city. Our work is rooted in urbanism excellence, and our role is to ensure that it is achieved across the entire city. The Design Studio is an advocates for responsible and beautiful design. The Design Studio gets involved early in a planning process, and provides planning strategy as well as design assistance. The Design Studio does not have a mandate to get involved at certain stages of any project - generally it’s when the Director of Planning requests our presence on a project, or when a project team requests our involvement.
