Urban Lab seeks input on Mason Street competition

Urban Lab logoThe UniverCity Urban Lab -- an organization based in Fort Collins that advocates for high-quality urban design and a livable city through community involvement and collaboration -- is seeking input and guidance from the public as it shapes guidelines for a design competition to be launched early in 2015. It's holding an open house on Friday, Dec. 5, to collect that input. Centered on the Mason Street transportation corridor, the competition will invite professional designers, students and others from around the world to propose improvements to the Mason Street Downtown Corridor, excluding the railroad right-of-way, that will enhance vehicle safety and the pedestrian environment. The goal of the competition is to inspire design possibilities that create a unique and memorable experience for those who visit the area. The Urban Lab wishes to solicit feedback from the public on the proposed format of the competition as well as the specific requirements that competitors should prioritize. Possible topics include pedestrian and vehicular safety, sidewalk enhancement and public art. Feedback can be provided at the lab's second annual open house event scheduled for 5-9 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 5 at the former John Atencio Jewelry space at 1 Old Town Square in Fort Collins, during the First Friday Art Walk. A feedback message board will also be available online at urbanlab.colostate.edu. All interested community members are encouraged to attend and become involved in the initiative. About Urban Lab The UniverCity Urban Lab is a catalyst organization dedicated to transforming the urban environment by convening private, public and academic partnerships to cultivate innovative change. Based in Fort Collins, the Urban Lab is a cooperative venture between Colorado State University, City of Fort Collins, Fort Collins Downtown Development Authority, professional designers, real estate developers, businesses and private citizens that was established in the summer of 2013. Other current Urban Lab initiatives include the installation of the first "living wall" in Fort Collins, scheduled for the spring of 2015, and the development of design and implementation guidelines for the Nature in the City Program, both in cooperation with the City of Fort Collins. The Urban Lab also contributes to the research agenda of Colorado State University, with a variety of funding streams from within the University to conduct research on a wide range of topics regarding the urban built environment. Contact To learn more about the Urban Lab and the Mason Street competition, contact: Colin Day, Urban Lab Coordinator Institute for the Built Environment Colorado State University 970.491.5041 colin.day@colostate.edu

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Brewing class taps into Odell ‘Study Break IPA’

poster for eventStudents in Colorado State University’s Brewing Science and Technology course are inviting the public to hop into Odell Brewing Company Thursday to tap into the fizzy fruits of their labor: “Study Break IPA … Cascade into Hoppiness.” The beer, brewed by the students in FTEC 460 this semester, will be offered for the first time at the Nov. 20 tap room celebration from 4 to 6 p.m. Uncle Cuz will provide live music at the event. Odell is located at 800 E. Lincoln Ave. in Fort Collins. Study Break IPA, which was created by CSU students with brewer Doug Odell at the Odell Brewery on Nov. 1, represents the capstone learning exercise of the entire course. The IPA will also be on tap at the Ramskeller in the Lory Student Center for the remainder of the semester. Students in the course have also created two beers in the on-campus brewery this semester: Belgian Holiday Spice Ale and Black and Blue Belgian Dark Stout. In addition, they brewed “Fall-Out Brown Ale” at Equinox Brewing Co. on Oct. 11, currently on tap at the Equinox Tap Room, and “Brett-Sacch Saison” at Funkwerks on Oct. 25, available soon.

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