Environmental Design Capstone

University of Oklahoma Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture
SP26, EnD 4993, Monday 5:00 - 7:40 PM, Gould Hall 395
Dr. Wei Liu, AICP, CNU-A, Assistant Professor, wliu@ou.edu
Office Hours: Mondays 2:00 – 3:00 PM at Gould Hall 245L or remotely by Zoom, request by email

Assignments

Assignment instructions will be posted on this page. All submissions must be made through Canvas.
For group assignments, one submission per group is required. Submitted work will be shared with all group members.

Assignment 1: Preliminary Research

On February 2, you will be introduced to the final project for this course. This assignment serves as the preliminary research phase, intended to help the class understand the project context and prepare for upcoming activities.

For this assignment, the class will be divided into groups of 4–5 students. Group formation applies only to this assignment; groups may change for future tasks.

Submissions should be in Word or a compatible format. Quality is more important than length.

All groups should be prepared to briefly present their findings during class on February 9.

Group Tasks

Each group will be responsible for one of the following research components:

• History of the Place
  Research the historical development of the study area across multiple dimensions (e.g., settlement patterns, economic development, transportation, and major transformations). Use concise narratives and relevant images to illustrate the evolution of the place.
• Basemap
  Create base maps for the study area. Right-of-way (R.O.W.) maps will be provided; however, your group is expected to produce clear, well-scaled maps that include key dimensions and spatial references.
• Socioeconomic Information
  Research demographic and socioeconomic conditions relevant to the study area. Use concise narratives supported by diagrams, infographics, or charts to communicate key findings.
• Environmental Context
  Conduct a virtual environmental audit using tools such as Google Street View. Use captured images and written descriptions to document existing environmental conditions, including streetscape character, shade, comfort, and potential constraints.
• Land Use & Activities
  Analyze existing land uses and activity patterns within and around the study area, with particular attention to how spaces are currently used throughout the day.
• Stakeholder Interview Preparation
  Develop a set of interview questions for community stakeholders. This group is responsible for reviewing findings from other groups and synthesizing key themes to inform the interview framework.

Submission Deadline

Assignment 1 is due on Monday, February 9 at 12:00 PM (noon).
The Stakeholder Interview Preparation group could submit their work by 11:59 PM on February 9, as this task requires reviewing and synthesizing findings from all other groups.