Studio Fall 2022
How might we improve the quality of life through reimagining land use for the University Crossing community?
The University Crossing Public Improvement District, often referred to as the UCPID, is a Public Improvement District within the City of Dallas. University Crossing is a vibrant neighborhood consisting of more than 200 dynamic businesses and organizations – including shops, restaurants, arts attractions and more – all thriving with a 122-acre service area. The UCPID provides services supporting public safety, public infrastructure improvements, common area maintenance, pedestrian amenities, and local businesses. This specific project focused directly on one piece of vacant land within University Crossing called the Matilda Lot and how transformations to this space would help improve the quality of life of the entire community.
View the final Client Presentation by clicking here.
TEAM ONE: TEAM GRASSHOPPER
Emma Goff | Steve Kinder | Harrison Tassopoulos | Aline Zuniga
TEAM TWO: KDUBZ
Kenedy Kundysek | Tanner Williams | Dubzeey Wu
This studio project initially began with two separate design teams. Each team conducted its own design research in the first part of the semester. After presenting the client with prototype concepts, the two teams merged into one design team for purposes of implementing the design prototype and final recommendations.
PROJECT OVERVIEW & DESIGN RESEARCH
This project aimed to provide the University Crossing Public Improvement District with community-based evidence to inform future design improvements to the Matilda Lot. These design research efforts focused on generating feedback of what the community might want to see in this space if it were to be reimagined. Specifically, the design teams followed three guiding questions:
- Who are we designing for and with?
- How is the Matilda Lot currently being used?
- How does the community want to use the Matilda Lot in the future?
The student design teams employed several community engagement efforts including observations, neighborhood canvassing, multiple surveys, and interviews with key community stakeholders and subject matter experts in landscape architecture, public spaces, and placemaking. Across all research efforts, the design teams distilled what they heard into the below key learnings to help inform their prototype direction.
- The Matilda Lot is currently being used primarily by residents of the North Stonewall Terrace neighborhood who are dog owners, families with children, and general walkers.
- Community members are interested in improvements to the Matilda Lot but would prefer if these improvements maintained the current use of the space as open and flexible.
- An underlying goal of the community is improving the feeling of safety in University Crossing, and the Matilda Lot could be used to support this effort.
- Investment in the Matilda Lot could lay the groundwork to support future investment in the University Crossing Trail and the amenities along the trail.
Following the research phase, the design teams presented several initial prototype concepts to the client for feedback. From there, the teams designed and deployed a final prototype to continue to learn more about specific ideas and concepts within the space that would inform design principles and future recommendations for the project overall.
PROTOTYPE
The culminating prototype effort was the Matilda Lot Community Event on Saturday, November 19, 2022 from 10am to 1pm. This designed event included adding temporary improvements to the Matilda Lot and provided the design teams with an opportunity to learn more about three overarching questions.
- Do enhancements to the edges improve visitors’ feelings of safety in and invitation to the Matilda Lot?
- What specific park-like elements do visitors want to see in the interior of the Matilda Lot?
- Would the community be interested in low-impact programming such as community cleanup days?
To help answer these questions, the design teams designed, built, and installed temporary improvements including benches, planters, bollards, and a painted entrance crosswalk. At the event, the design teams engaged participants in a site plan co-design activity and an organized trash cleanup activity. Additionally, the design teams left the temporary improvements (benches, planters, bollards, and crosswalk) in the space over the subsequent two weeks to see how participants would respond to these improvements in their normal use of the Matilda Lot.
The design teams engaged in more than 30 detailed conversations from the Matilda Lot Community Event and reviewed 16 additional survey responses to develop the below prototype findings.
- The neighborhood is interested in low-impact improvements that maintain the integrity of the current use of the space (open and flexible) and align with the current aesthetic of the space (natural and raw).
- Survey respondents overwhelmingly felt entrance additions such as a crosswalk and bollards made the space feel more welcoming.
- When asked if they felt safe, welcome, part of a community, engaged, and likely to return after spending time in the space with these temporary improvements, the majority of survey respondents agreed or strongly agreed.
- 100 percent of survey respondents would be interested in participating in, rather than planning or organizing, future Matilda Lot cleanups.
KEY DESIGN PRINCIPLES & RECOMMENDATIONS
From the prototype learnings, the design team developed the following four design principles to help guide any decisions around the future of the Matilda Lot. Overall, the design team recommends that improvements should maintain the integrity of the space’s current use (flexible and open) while aligning with the current visual aesthetic (natural and raw).
- Address the Edges – Addressing the perimeter edges of the space would make the space more welcoming. To address the edges specifically, the design team recommends the UCPID consider the following four recommendations: 1) replace the bollards; 2) clean up and address the bridge underpass; 3) address the fence line and tree line along DART; and 4) paint a mural on the Matilda Street bridge wall.
- Enhance the Interior – Improvements to the interior of the Matilda Lot should support visitor’s current flexible use of the space and complement it as a natural space. To enhance the interior specifically, the design team recommends the UCPID consider the following four recommendations: 1) install low-impact improvements such as benches and planters; 2) add low-impact landscaping (trees, grasses); 3) add a walking path around the perimeter; and 4) consider natural play elements for children.
- Implement Ongoing Maintenance – A thoughtful and comprehensive maintenance plan is required for the long-term success of any improvements. To implement ongoing maintenance specifically, the design team recommends the UCPID consider the following three recommendations: 1) add and service University Crossing trash cans; 2) add and service dog waste receptacles; 3) partner with North Stonewall Terrace to organize community cleanups.
- Engage the Community – The North Stonewall Terrace neighborhood should be considered as an active community member and stakeholder for future plans of the space. To implement ongoing maintenance specifically, the design team recommends the UCPID consider the following two recommendations: 1) maintain an open line of communication with North Stonewall Terrace and 2) involve North Stonewall Terrace in future conversations around the Matilda Lot.
