Placemaking and Belonging research addresses how cities, neighborhoods, and landscapes foster identity, access, and social connection. Our faculty and students partner with communities to address pressing social and spatial challenges—ranging from rural and urban contexts to historic preservation and civic revitalization—while advancing participatory approaches to shaping places that matter.
Community Engagement & Placemaking focuses on collaborative processes that bring stakeholders into the planning, design, and activation of spaces that support social interaction, identity, and belonging. Projects may include participatory design, policy strategies, and long-term partnerships with local organizations.
History, Heritage & Preservation investigates the historical development, conservation, and future adaption of buildings, cultural landscapes, and urban systems. Projects may involve archival work, materials analysis, design interventions, and the examination of influences that shaped the built environment.
Rural Development & Regional Planning examines the challenges facing rural communities and opportunities for coordination across a larger geographic scale. Projects may address housing, economic development, and access to services in lower-density contexts.
