David Boeck, an associate professor with the Division of Architecture, has been collaborating with the City of Norman and the Norman Police Department in order to implement “Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design” (CPTED) into the design standards of Norman.
Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) is a design concept that promotes the use of urban and architectural design and management of natural areas to deter criminal activity. Implemented in cities like Aliso Viejo, California, CPTED heavily focuses on access and visibility. Boeck explains, “You want to look at where the stairs are, the entrance points, the elevators and the lighting, because visual access improves safety. It’s all about creating a safer community and a safer city.”
CPTED has been incorporated into many aspects of the built environment in Norman over the years, even unintentionally. Public art installations like the bike rack sculptures that line Main Street or a conversion to brighter, outdoor LED lights are both actions in Norman that help promote CPTED.
The Norman Police Department has been working with apartment complexes in Norman for nearly a decade to incorporate CPTED and receive a Crime Free Multi-Housing certification. An example of a design suggestion in place for the Crime Free certification is to plant a dagger plant outside of first-floor windows to deter burglaries.
While CPTED has not been implemented into Norman’s building codes, Norman City Manager Darren Pyle recognizes the merits of CPTED and sees a future for its further implementation in Norman, especially as the city grows.
This article was adopted from an article in the Norman Transcript, subscription is required.
Robert L. Wesley, a pioneering architect and beloved mentor, has died at age 88. A graduate of the University of Oklahoma, Wesley joined Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) in 1964 and became the firm's first Black partner in 1984. Throughout his career, he contributed to significant architectural projects while maintaining a strong commitment to civic engagement and professional mentorship.
The Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture is proud to celebrate a series of recent accomplishments by Dr. Jim Collard, Professor of Practice in the Division of Planning, Landscape Architecture, and Design, whose work continues to shape conversations around Indigenous economic development nationally and internationally.
University of Oklahoma Gibbs College of Architecture Dean Hans E. [PA1.1]Butzer returned to one of his most significant works on December 15, joining survivors and past and present board members for the groundbreaking of a $15.8 million expansion of the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum.
