Urban Design: Introduction to Contempary Design

The course explores the changing demands on urban environments in the twenty-first century and the latest policies, technologies, and design approaches being developed to address them. Topics will include analyses of the factors that shape cities' physical form, including zoning and regulatory contexts, real estate development patterns, transportation infrastructure, environmental challenges, and aesthetics. The material will be introduced as case studies and surveys, with presentations by design professionals, city officials, and real estate developers. Students will gain literacy in zoning, real estate metrics, planning, and issues related to architectural design and large-scale urban design. The semester will conclude with a final project synthesizing many of the topics covered.