Designbridge Flyer09.indd
‘The world will not beat a path to our door. But we do have the ability to affect
what is happening in our own backyards. When architects are attentive to the
social and physical needs of their own communities, the larger world engages.
from an interview with Samuel Mockbee
pre-designBridge
Arch 407/507
Juli Brode and Nico Larco
Tues. /Thurs. 4:00-5:20
Room 279
designBridge is a multidisciplinary student group that focuses on community
based design and design/build projects. Previous designBridge projects include
a greenhouse for Northwest Youth Corps, a bike shelter at Edison Elementary,
an entry garden for HIV Alliance, a pavilion at Moss Street Childcare, and a bike
shelter at Roosevelt Middle School.
Pre-designBridge is the fi rst class of the ‘designBridge Year’ sequence that also
includes the designBridge Studio in the Winter and designBridge Tech/Build in
the Spring. Pre-designBridge acts as an incubator for designBridge projects,
provides an understanding of the topics of Pre-Design, and initiates the design
process. This course focuses on conceptualizing and investigating those as-
pects that directly engage the statement of the design problem. Anyone inter-
ested in participating in a designBridge project is encouraged to join.
Potential projects for next year include a bicycle shelter for Harris/Eastside
School, a UO DPS public safety station/kiosk on North Campus, a community
bandshell at Washburn Park, and a prototype for an Electric Vehicle Charging
Station. Priority will be given to projects that have a strong design component
and have the highest potential of being completed during the 09/10 academic
year. We will form groups that will develop selected projects throughout the
term. Students will engage with clients and develop projects through design
and into construction later in the year.
Through lectures, discussions, and work sessions, students will gain exposure
to various topics including pre-design, project management, and project devel-
opment. Students will work in groups on their selected projects and will focus
on Project Proposal, Client Interaction/Integration, Schedule, Site Evaluation,
Environmental Evaluation, Early Design Approaches, Legal Organization, and
the development of a Program Document and Cost Estimate. A fi nal verbal and
graphic presentation will conclude the term.
With the implementation of designBridge Year, there is curriculum in place to
support all phases of designbridge project. The intention is to fi nd students who
will commit to a project from beginning to end and to fi nd a number of others
who may be engaged for only one or two of the three phases. First priority
for Winter and Spring designBridge courses will be given to those working on
projects and enrolled in Pre-designbridge; next to those on a project team, not
enrolled in the course; last to those who are new to a project.
