The 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
