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Grad School advice - best programs for "adaptive reuse" planning & design

Submitted by adwel81 on Mon, 10/29/2007 - 12:35.

Hello,

I've read the Planetizen graduate program guide and pored over the course descriptions and professor bios of many of the listed programs.

However, I'm still having a difficult time grasping how programs feel about adaptive reuse/infill and getting an education to become a sustainable, efficient developer (instead of a planner). I want to learn all of the skills and theory that would allow me to work in a community on redevelopment/reuse projects either on the design side or matching up developers with the "right" sites for their needs (to promote well-functioning CBDs AND save land...).

A) Which programs/schools might be best for this kind of experience? (i.e., design research methods, technical site planning aspects, basic RE finance, and the ability to take studio/design classes)

B) Writing my personal statement, is it better to focus in on this specific goal (admitting that I probably won't become a planner...) or speak more broadly to avoid "pigeonholing" myself as a future developer?

Thanks a lot!!

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Adaptive Reuse

Submitted by Bhouck on Sat, 01/05/2008 - 17:24.

I am applying to three schools for planning graduate study next fall, and I've come across some research that sounds right up your alley. Rutgers has the National Center for Neighborhood and Brownfields Redevelopment, and Chapel Hill has the Center for Sustainable Community Design. I've seen articles in Dwell magazine about homeowners using existing, abandoned industrial buildings for open-type living and studio areas and it sounds really interesting. I live in western Charlotte (NC) and a large swath of industrial land will soon undergo residential rezoning and redevelopment and it will be interesting to see the change that will occur.

Adaptive reuse planning school.

Submitted by Dano on Mon, 11/26/2007 - 13:39.

UW in Seattle has the Runstad Center for Real Estate, in addition to many programs to get Environmental Planning education (and a new Green Infrastructure program by the time you're ready to enroll). I'd look there because WA is one of the best states in the nation in which to plan and there's lots of opportunity for studio.

As far as personal statement, I don't know about focusing solely on that, but there's nothing wrong with that goal at all so definitely expand on it. You should ensure that you say you are open enough that the new experiences you enjoy while at school are will add to your learning & not come across as being locked into such a narrow focus.

Best,

D

Me too!

Submitted by blueplanet42 on Sat, 11/24/2007 - 19:19.

Hey-
I'm having the same problem! I'm looking at all these cool environmental planning programs, and the best I can figure out is narrow your choices down by a)where you live or want to live b)programs with strong environmental emphasis and other tangential departments you're interested in taking classes from (for me, science, architecture, natural resources) c)programs in which professors are doing what you're talking about and d)programs that other students recommend.

For Planning that reduces greenhouse gases and supports land preservation, I'm looking at Berkeley, UMD, UPenn, UT Austin, and UNC chapel Hill.

Another idea is to look into real estate development programs--you may have to create it somewhere--you could look for a program that is flexible enough to include the classes you want.
--Amanda

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