[PROJECTS]

Public Spaces | Public Life Project

The Green Futures Lab worked with the Copenhagen firm of Gehl Architects to develop pedestrian plans and recommendations for Seattle's downtown. Students from the Lab were trained by Gehl Architects to collect data on environmental quality and existing pedestrian use of public open space, and worked with the firm to develop design solutions for a more vibrant, pedestrian-friendly urban environment. The International Sustainability Institute of Seattle helped coordinate the efforts of the studio team, Gehl Architects, and the City of Seattle.

Public Spaces | Public Life for Seattle's Downtown and Neighborhoods Alive!

In the spring of 2009, interns Katherine Wimble and Eric Scharnhorst adapted Gehl methodology to conduct a study of the pedestrian environment around three light rail stations (Othello, Mt. Baker, and Beacon Hill) in order to capture baseline data on existing conditions of the areas before Sound Transit operations begin in July 2009. Within a 1/4 mile radius of each of the three stations, they mapped existing infrastructure in the right of way (sidewalks, places to sit, awnings, etc.) as well as spatialized, qualitative data (issues of scale, invitation, eyes on the street, evidence of illicit behavior, etc.). All of the data has been digitized with Arc-GIS and will be presented to the City of Seattle and Neighborhood Planning groups in the summer of 2009.

Public Spaces | Public Life for Seattle's South Downtown

In coordination with Gehl Architects and with the support of the Scan|Design Foundation and the UW College of Built Environments, the 2008 Scan|Design Master Studio recently published a compilation of graduate student research and design. This interdisciplinary studio included students from the departments of landscape architecture, architecture, and urban planning, and was led by Professors Nancy Rottle and Kathryn Merlino with the assistance of teaching assistant Liz Stenning. Posters of student design work are currently on display in the offices of the International Sustainability Institute and Feet First at 314 1st Avenue in the Pioneer Square District.

download the complete studio document here

visit the websites of participants and sponsors:
Gehl Architects
Scan|Design Foundation
UW College of Built Environments
Seattle Department of Transportation
Seattle Department of Planning and Development
International Sustainability Institute