STAR (Students Tackling Advanced Research) 2013 Project |
Throughout this 10-week program, I was employed by Drexel University's Pennoini Honors College to conduct research under mentors Rachel Schade and Simon Tickell.
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Urban universities have been facing a constant struggle with their surrounding neighborhoods: trying to balance a healthy relationship while not appearing intrusive. Although universities help neighborhoods prosper with knowledge that wouldn’t be there otherwise, the existing communities sometimes see this as offensive, feeling demeaned. Drexel has this issue with Powelton Village and Mantua as the campus extends north. Drexel explains its urban extensions as sharing “expertise and knowledge mutually in a new model of university-community partnership.” As architects, our research team decided that in order to develop in these communities, there must be a deep understanding of what already exists. For our project, we created a tool for future developers, architects, and students who are looking to build in, improve, or learn about the neighborhood. We created a series of map layers with information useful to develop projects, whether it is deciding where to start a community center, the best place for a grocery store, or a location for Habitat for Humanity to build their next home. Our layers include building functions, transportation routes, criminal activity, vacant land, property lines, mural art and more. We hope the existing community is considered when Drexel develops northwards in order to strengthen relationships.