
The University of New Mexico
NEWS RELEASE
Contact: Carolyn Gonzales, 277-5920, cgonzal@unm.edu
April 18, 2006
UNM Center Receives Architectural Award
DPAC noted for service to Main Street Program
The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards has awarded the Design Planning Assistance Center in the University of New Mexico School of Architecture and Planning a $7,500 prize for their submission “Small Town Urbanism: The Main Street Studios.” Winners were announced at the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture national convention in Salt Lake City, Utah, late last week.
Recognizing that it is key to economic development, quality of life and conservation of natural and cultural resources, DPAC has been working with the Main Street Program in communities statewide since 2002 to provide planning, pre-design architectural services, and political attention to towns to revitalize their physical fabric, public spaces and community facilities.
The national competition of architecture schools noted DPAC for “a unique effort to integrate education and practice initiatives while allowing students to earn academic credit.”
In making their selection the jury noted, “At their essence, the Main Street Studios demonstrate the effective role that a university can play in improving small town design. Practitioners from 15 firms and UNM students develop and lead a series of community design charrettes and workshops, with a focus on nurturing small town urbanism. The Main Street Program is the primary funding source for these studios, allowing for a series of projects based on community strategy—as opposed to the development of several different and unrelated projects.”
Mark Childs, director of both DPAC and the school's graduate certificate program in town design, submitted the nomination.
“The western United States has a large percentage of its population in small towns. Depopulation, sprawl, and a lack of cultural vitality are critical issues facing many of these communities. The erosion of these small towns presents a set of sustainability problems,” he said.
Since the spring term of 2002, 94 students and eight faculty, working with the Main Street program, have provided pre-design services and planning to 12 towns and Native American settlements, and two paid student interns have worked on follow-up projects.
The projects have helped communities change zoning regulations, develop community plans, apply for grant monies, write proposal requests, and build the organizational capacity and vision of the local not-for-profit sector. Portions of the work have been directly referenced in community plans developed by planning and design firms.
“The set of projects has aided in the revitalization of the state Main Street Program and has resulted in new state appropriations for continued work between the state Main Street Program and UNM,” Childs said.
The Main Street Studios are an ongoing and evolving collaboration across UNM departments, state agencies, local professional firms, students and community members.
The University of New Mexico is the state's largest university, serving more than 32,000 students. UNM is home to the state's only schools of law, medicine, pharmacy and architecture and operates New Mexico's only academic health center. UNM is noted for comprehensive undergraduate programs and research that benefits the state and the nation.
www.unm.edu