Urban Studies and Planning Commons^™

Campus Design: Assessing Outdoor Spaces At California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo To Improve Student Experience, Meha Patel

City and Regional Planning

The outdoor space of university campuses is an aspect of design which still remains, to a certain degree, uncharted. There are merely not enough relevant case studies and research in creating foundational principles which adhere to the design of a functional outdoor space on university campuses.

The success of the student body for a college, academically and socially, is dependent on creating a welcoming and holistic learning environment for students to thrive. Social spaces bridge the gap between the built and natural environment, therefore, providing proper physical components in an outdoor space becomes vital in creating a desired environment which …

Feeling Green: The Benefits Of Green Space On Urbanites' Mental Health, Kathryn A. Hoagland

Liberal Arts and Engineering Studies

This investigation intends to determine the best methods for incorporating public green space into dense urban areas, for the betterment of residents' mental health. Data from studies showing differences in the prevalence of anxiety and depression in urban and rural areas are discussed alongside data from studies looking at the effect that certain types of green space might have on mental health. While there is no exact consensus on the extent to which nature has positive effects on mental health there is enough of a correlation to argue for the implementation of public green spaces in urban design, in order …

Planning For Two Wheels: A Case Study Of How Portland, Oregon Created A Culture Of Cycling Through Design, Adam N. Norcott

Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Administration

As cities grow and the transportation needs of their population change, urban design has become increasingly crucial to a city’s ability to flourish. This shift in the transportation needs of citizens is showing a movement towards bicycling as a form of everyday transportation. One of the cities on the forefront of designing for this transition is Portland, Oregon. The purpose of this study was to examine Portland, Oregon from the perspective of bicycle-friendly urban design. The researcher designed a case study guide to assess the city’s strategies, and the results demonstrated that Portland was able to increase cycling among their …