VIRTUAL Lisbon Livable Cities

Abstract

The Community Design Workshop (CDW) is an outreach arm within the School of Architecture and Design at the University of Louisiana Lafayette and has dedicated itself to community urban design, particularly the revitalization of small towns. Serving as its Director for over 29 years, the CDW has focused on the redevelopment of downtown districts and neighborhoods adversely affected by suburban sprawl and the rise of strip malls and suburban housing. This paper highlights a recent project in St. Martinville, Louisiana, a small town in south Louisiana where the CDW collaborated with local stakeholders to create a Master Plan and Vision Study. Involving 37 undergraduate students, 29 graduate students, and 5 faculty members, the project engaged participants in public meetings focusing on urban and architectural design issues. The CDW also partnered with architects, planners, engineers, and state government agencies to propose key urban proposals, including streetscape redesign, new and redeveloped neighborhoods, park improvements, and infrastructure upgrades. The final design also featured a new bypass road and a bike path. Hosting public workshops and charrettes ensured community involvement in the design process. The paper’s focus on how the integration of urban design studios into both graduate and undergraduate curricula demonstrates how public participation enhances the design process, enriches student learning, and contributes to the development of sustainable urban solutions for small-town centers and neighborhoods.