02.18.25
February Urban Design Panel - A Comprehensive Approach to Sustainable Urban Design Despite wide agreement about its importance to the future of humanity, sustainable urban design remains a complicated, largely fragmented field of practice. The diversity of issues, scales, disciplines, and contexts make it challenging to deliver integrated outcomes that measurably advance sustainability goals.
The Sustainable Urban Design Handbook hopes to change this–through the presentation of a comprehensive approach that makes sustainable urban design achievable in every project, at every scale, in every city. Authors Nico Larco, Professor at the University of Oregon, and Kaarin Knudson, Mayor of Eugene, Oregon, will share their work and introduce this comprehensive approach.
01.21.25
January Urban Design Panel In our first UDP presentation of the year, Portland State University presents two exciting projects that have the potential to help lead the renaissance of downtown Portland while reshaping the campus and south downtown for the next 50 years.
PSU is partnering with the city of Portland to build a new performing arts and culture center on the current home of the University Place Hotel at SW 4th and Lincoln. This $600+ million project will include a 2400 to 3000 seat broadway capable theater owned by the city of Portland as well as a 1,200 seat theater and associated academic space owned by PSU. The project is also envisioned to include a 150 key hotel and conference center and space for a performing arts organization.
In addition to this exciting project, PSU recently completed an international design competition for Placemaking. This unique competition brought teams from across the US and Internationally to the PSU campus to develop Placemaking strategies and plans to help transform the PSU campus while also providing ideas that can be used throughout downtown.
01.08.25
COTE Digital Design Series In 2020, Multnomah County voters approved a historic measure to modernize and expand their library spaces, creating an opportunity for inclusive and culturally affirming approaches to civic design. This session focuses on Colloqate's transformation of Midland library with partner firm Bora Architecture, through the interplay of participatory design, public art, and connections to the land. Join Colloqate to discuss how community priorities around climate justice informed their approach to placemaking, and explore strategies for deeper community partnership in architecture.