Not a week goes by where Calgarian’s voices on urban sprawl and planning go unheard. From roads to the redevelopment of neighbourhoods, the topic of how Calgary’s landscape will be shaped elicits ideas and, sometimes heated, debates.
For 13 years, the University of Calgary’s Urban Lab has been contributing research on urban design, with many projects based on the challenges Calgary is currently facing. Through various funders, the Urban Lab has been able to complete projects on middle ring neighbourhoods, walkability, community planning and the relationship between an area's design and the ability of its residents to connect with one another.
“I’ve noticed a huge change in the city since we’ve started in 2000,” says Beverly Sandalack, associate dean and professor of Environmental Design. “Really, over the last five or six years there’s been such an evolution in the city of what people are talking about, what their expectations for the city are and a real improvement of the amount and level of discussion.”
Part of the Urban Lab's mission is also to be a place where urban and environmental design students can gain knowledge outside of their textbooks. Through internships at the lab, 45 students have been able to complete practical and applied research projects.
“It gives them professional experience on real projects and it’s a really interesting way for them to learn,” says Sandalack, Urban Lab’s research leader.
Research assistant and Master of Environmental Design student Lance Robinson has been with the Urban Lab for over two years. He says his experiences from working on projects such as the planning of expansions at St. Mary's University College have helped him learn the skill set he needed after transitioning from a career in broadcasting.
“It’s an exciting place to learn because everything you’re doing is real,” he says.
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