The UNIVERSITY of OKLAHOMA
Institute for Quality Communities
2016 ANNUAL REPORT
The UNIVERSITY of OKLAHOMA
Institute for Quality Communities The University of Oklahoma’s Institute for Quality Communities, while serving and strengthening Oklahoma’s towns and cities, educates the next generation of Oklahoma’s leaders. We collaborate with OU faculty staff, and students, as well as practitioners from around the world to enhance our understanding of the built environment’s influence on quality of life. Through the Institute’s engagements with communities and civic leaders, our OU team helps the people of Oklahoma reshape their towns and cities in ways that improve our state’s social ties, environment and economy. More information is available online at iqc.ou.edu.
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INSTITUTE FOR QUALITY COMMUNITIES ASSOCIATES 2016 American Institute of Architects - Oklahoma • American Planning Association of Oklahoma Association of Central Oklahoma Governments • Bricktown Association • Chickasaw National Recreation Area City of Elk City • City of Midwest City • City of Muskogee • City of Norman • City of Oklahoma City Creative Oklahoma • Downtown OKC, Inc. • Durant Main Street • Elk City Chamber • Frank House National Park Service • Norman Arts Council • Norman Chamber of Commerce • Norman Downtowners Oklahoma Arts Council • Oklahoma Brownfields Program • Oklahoma Main Street • Okmulgee Main Street OU Urban Design Studio • Project for Public Spaces • Red Carpet Country • State Historic Preservation Office Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust • Tulsa Transit • University of Texas School of Architecture Urban Land Institute of Oklahoma
2016
The year took IQC staff and students across the state- from Elk City to Muskogee, and Durant to Fairview. This report covers highlights of our community engagements in 2016, which dealt with placemaking in midcentury suburbs, planning for historic downtowns, and more. Looking back on our progress over the past five years, we find that IQC is continuing to fulfill its mission of engaging with students and communities to encourage best practices in placemaking and development in Oklahoma.
Progress Since 2011 100+ students 30+ community partners 70+ guest experts 30+ assistance projects 70+ events 3,500+ attendees
ASSISTANCE PROJECTS
OKMULGEE INTERIM DESIGN Okmulgee | Spring 2016 An IQC team worked with the City of Okmulgee and Okmulgee Main Street to consider short-term improvements to walkability downtown. Downtown Okmulgee is experiencing a resurgence as historic buildings in the downtown area are converted into new residential space, university housing, and dining. Okmulgee has united around the theme #OkmulgeeRising. As more activity and life returns to downtown, Okmulgee Main Street asked IQC to recommend priorities for interim street design to improve walkability. The IQC strategy for street design in Okmulgee included 5 priorities:
• • • • •
Calm traffic in the heart of downtown. Make more space for people on sidewalks. Create shorter and easier pedestrian crossings. Maintain or increase on-street parking. Look at possibilities for citywide bicycle routes.
The report showed key interventions that could help the town work toward these priorities. Today, Okmulgee’s leaders are working toward implementing these measures.
CHICKASAW NATIONAL RECREATION AREA Sulphur | Spring 2016 In 2016, the National Park Service turned 100 years old, and the National Historic Preservation Act is celebrating its 50th year. Students in the Spring 2016 Environmental Design Capstone Course celebrated both anniversaries with recommendations to the Chickasaw National Recreation Area. The park is one of three National Park Service properties in Oklahoma, along with the Oklahoma City National Memorial in downtown Oklahoma City, and the Washita Battlefield National Historic Site in Cheyenne. The course was led by Ron Frantz and Hope Mander, with students Samuel Crabtree, Matthew Festa, Jared Hopkins, Jessika Poteet, and Natalia Pulido. The group worked with park staff to improve amenities for visitors to the recreation area. In addition to learning about this Oklahoma park and the national park system, students also learned about the Chickasaw Nation that has a huge presence in this area. Field work and special activities complemented classroom lectures and work sessions. Students gathered information about the park, the park system, and the Chickasaw Nation. The context of historic “parkitecture� and current standards for new park buildings informed conceptual designs for new facilities.
MIDWEST CITY ORIGINAL MILE Midwest City | Fall 2016 A team of IQC staff and graduate assistants collaborated with the CIty of Midwest City, to examine the historic center of town, known as the Original Mile. The neighborhood sits just north of Tinker Air Force Base, and was a model planned community during the mid-century period. The City of Midwest City sought to identify planning, design, and programming concepts for key public spaces and potential nodes of activity that could bolster the Original Mile’s brand and identity. The IQC team conducted a walking tour to observe conditions in the area, led stakeholder interviews, and discussions with Original Mile Steering Committee members to inform a series of recommendations. The final report focused on five distinct locations and the a network of pedestrian-friendly streets to connect them. Physical strategies were guided by the following principles:
• Reinforce and encourage the “complete community” found within the Original Mile.
• Reimagine buildings and open spaces in key locations to demonstrate possibilities for activity node development.
• Identify strategies to create linkages for walking and biking between nodes, within the neighborhood, and to nearby destinations.
• Incorporate art and culture into design solutions to add interest and to strengthen the brand of the neighborhood.
FRANK HOUSE Sapulpa | Fall 2016 Students in Historic Preservation Planning, led by Ron Frantz, produced an audit of conditions at the historic Frank House in Sapulpa, with maintenance and repair recommendations. The Frank House was designed and built by Bruce Goff in 1955 for John Frank, founder of Frankoma Pottery. The home’s unique design incorporates ceramic tiles hand-made by the homeowners. Overseen by Kandy Steeples, a long-time employee of Frankoma Pottery, the home is in need of maintenance and repairs. Students traveled to inspect the home and produced a detailed audit of the conditions observed, with recommended tasks for preservation of the landscaping and grounds, exterior facades and outbuildings, and interior rooms and materials.
HERITAGE HILLS EAST SURVEY Oklahoma City | Fall 2016 Students in the Historic Preservation Planning course, led by Ron Frantz, assisted in the preparation of an Intensive-Level Survey of the Heritage Hills East neighborhood of Oklahoma City. The survey work included photographing and documenting nine blocks of historic residential and commercial buildings in Heritage Hills East. The survey will be used for the Oklahoma Landmarks Inventory managed by the State Historic Preservation Office of the Oklahoma Historical Society.
Heritage Hills East Key HHE Streets Contributing Non-Contributing 0
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Drawn by: Ryan Conner University of Oklahoma RCPL 5893
BRICKTOWN PUBLIC LIFE DATA Oklahoma City | Spring 2016 Students in the Environmental Design Practicum course followed up on a 2015 study by IQC that made recommendations regarding accessibility in Bricktown. The 2015 study had suggested new crosswalks and other enhancements in Bricktown. However, project partners at the Bricktown Association and Downtown OKC, Inc. needed data to support the need for these improvements. While studying methods for collecting data about public life, students produced a report on the behavior of pedestrians in Bricktown. They also set up video cameras at key locations to measure the quantity of pedestrian traffic. In one key finding, thousands of pedestrians per day were recorded making mid- block crossings of Mickey Mantle between the Bricktown Ballpark and Canal. This data will support the need for adding a safe crosswalk for pedestrians at this location. In another location along busy Reno Street, the data showed that there were more pedestrians per hour on a weekend evening than vehicles, even though most of the road space is dedicated to cars. This project highlights the importance of collecting data about pedestrian traffic to support walkability enhancements.
MUSKOGEE DOWNTOWN PLAN Muskogee | Fall 2016 A team of IQC staff and students joined with the OU-Tulsa Urban Design Studio for a master planning project in downtown Muskogee. Working with the City of Muskogee Planning Department and other local partners, a steering committee was established to serve as the project partner. The fall semester has been dedicated to data collection, analysis, and community engagement. In November, a public open house attracted more than 100 attendees. At the open house, Muskogee residents participated in various activities to express their ideas about downtown. A highlight was the 8’x6’ scale model of downtown Muskogee, which allowed participants to interact with buildings downtown and place their ideas into the cityscape. In the upcoming semester, the project will continue as the team addresses the following priorities in the plan:
• • • • •
Increase downtown activity with new businesses and residents Make better connections through street design and infrastructure Save or stabilize historic buildings remaining downtown Introduce green space that is an active part of downtown Revitalize Arrowhead Mall
The Arrowhead Mall recommendations will be developed through an interdisciplinary design competition with teams formed from several College of Architecture studios.
LECTURES & EVENTS
SELECTED LECTURES & EVENTS Lectures and events by IQC staff reached over 1,000 attendees in 2016.
University of Oklahoma Scholars Day | Norman
National Town Builders Association | Oklahoma City
Shane Hampton delivered a presentation to prospective students and their families about the importance of making places that matter.
Shane Hampton gave a tour of Bricktown for New Urbanist developers visiting Oklahoma City for an annual meeting. Big 12 Faculty Fellowship | Norman and Oklahoma City
Building Guthrie: A Museum Meet-Up | Guthrie Ron Frantz led a tour of downtown Guthrie in collaboration with the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art exhibit, Picturing Indian Territory 1819-1907.
IQC hosted Dr. Robert Patterson of the University of Texas, who shared his research tools with several academic units on campus and professionals in the metro area. Leadership Arts Oklahoma | Norman
Sightseeing Sooners | Italy Hope Mander served as an OU host for an OU Alumni trip to Italy, and shared information with trip participants on public spaces and urban design. The trip included a visit to OU in Arezzo. Pro Walk Pro Bike Pro Place | Vancouver, BC Shane Hampton delivered a presentation about advocacy efforts against large highway projects in central cities.
Shane Hampton and Ron Frantz delivered a presentation about placemaking in Oklahoma communities to the Oklahoma Arts Council’s annual leadership class. Statewide Preservation Conference | Enid Ron Frantz served as an emcee for the conference banquet and delivered a presentation about maintenance as the ultimate approach to preservation.
Connected Tulsa | Tulsa
APA Oklahoma Conference | Quartz Mountain
Shane Hampton spoke on a panel about the importance of public transportation organized by Tulsa Transit.
Shane Hampton and Ron Frantz delivered a presentation about cultural district placemaking. Ron Frantz also led a tour of Jackson County courthouse square in Altus.
Oklahoma Creative Communities Retreat | Midwest City We Art Lindsey Street Workshop | Norman Shane Hampton spoke about supporting creativity through the built environment at this event organized by Creative Oklahoma. Elk City Chamber Lunch and Learn | Elk City Shane Hampton delivered a presentation about economic development and the built environment for business owners and chamber staff. Red Carpet Country Tourism Conference | Fairview Ron Frantz delivered a presentation about tips for welcoming tourists to your town, whether it is a mini-van or a bus load. TSET Statewide Training | Midwest City Ron Frantz participated in a panel discussion about active living and transportation. Oklahoma Brownfields Workshop | Altus Ron Frantz delivered a presentation about the work of the Institute for Quality Communities.
Shane Hampton worked with the Norman Arts Council to provide a workshop to artists seeking grants for placemaking projects on Lindsey Street in hopes of helping businesses during road reconstruction. Main Street Forum for Norman Downtowners | Norman Ron Frantz and Shane Hampton presented to Norman Downtowners about one-way and two-way streets for a discussion about Main Street. Muskogee Public Open House | Muskogee The IQC team and OU-Tulsa Urban Design Studio hosted more than 100 Muskogee residents to talk about the future of their downtown. Placemaking for the Original Mile | Midwest City Rachel Ware and Rhys Wilson presented to city staff about recommendations developed by IQC for Midwest City.
COLLABORATORS OU College of Architecture Hans Butzer, Interim Dean Leehu Loon, Associate Dean Charles Warnken, Associate Dean Shawn Schaefer, OU-Tulsa Urban Design Studio OU Institute for Quality Communities Shane Hampton, Director Hope Mander, Associate Director Ron Frantz, Professor of Architecture IQC Graduate Assistants Matthew Crownover, Landscape Architecture Sam Shreder, Regional & City Planning Rachel Ware, Landscape Architecture Rhys Wilson, Regional & City Planning IQC Undergraduate Assistants Brittany Frost, Architecture Farshid Motian, Architecture Yvan Tran, Architecture
Environmental Design Capstone Students, Spring 2016 Bachelor of Architecture Matthew Festa, Jared Hopkins, Jessika Poteet, Natalia Pulido Bachelor of Science Environmental Design Samuel Crabtree Environmental Design Practicum Students, Spring 2016 Bachelor of Architecture Amber Allen Bachelor of Science Environmental Design Natalie Boulos, Vireak They Students in Historic Buildings of Oklahoma, Fall 2016 Master of Adult Education Petya Stefanoff Bachelor of Architecture Grace Saunders Bachelor of Science Environmental Design Nolan Aparicio, Alex Autry, Julie Benyshek, Collin Power, Ian Ruhnke, Vireak They Master of Regional & City Planning Ryan Conner, Lora Gwartney, Carlos Moore, Mitchell Moore, Rhys Wilson, Jane Wyrick
The mission of the University of Oklahoma is to provide the best possible educational experience for our students through excellence in teaching, research and creative activity, and service to the state and society. Created by the Oklahoma Territorial Legislature in 1890, the University of Oklahoma is a doctoral degree-granting research university serving the educational, cultural, economic and health-care needs of the state, region and nation. The Norman campus serves as home to all of the university’s academic programs except health-related fields. The OU Health Sciences Center, which is located in Oklahoma City, is one of only four comprehensive academic health centers in the nation with seven professional colleges. Both the Norman and Health Sciences Center colleges offer programs at the Schusterman Center, the site of OU-Tulsa. OU enrolls more than 30,000 students, has more than 2,700 full-time faculty members, and has 21 colleges offering 171 majors at the baccalaureate level, 152 majors at the master's level, 79 majors at the doctoral level, 32 majors at the doctoral professional level, and 35 graduate certificates. The university’s annual operating budget is $1.8 billion. The University of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity institution. www.ou.edu/eoo
“Every decision should be made with the goal of increasing community.” OU President David L. Boren A Letter to America
“The mission of the Institute is to provide technical expertise and resources to help local communities retain a sense of unique identity by creating public spaces which are beautiful and livable.” OU First Lady Molly Shi Boren Sooner Magazine Spring 2013
For accommodations please contact OU Institute for Quality Communities at (405) 325-3449. This publication, printed by University Printing Services, is issued by the University of Oklahoma. 20 copies have been prepared and distributed at no cost to the taxpayers of the State of Oklahoma.
Report Prepared By: The University of Oklahoma Institute for Quality Communities College of Architecture 830 Van Vleet Oval, Suite 165 Norman, Oklahoma 73019-6141