Environmental Design (END)

Environmental Design addresses the arrangement, appearance, and functionality of neighborhoods, towns, and communities. In addition, environmental design is concerned with the way these places are experienced and used, as well as other aesthetic elements that contribute to the quality of community environments. Environmental design promotes the best use of a community's land and physical resources for residential, commercial, institutional, and recreational purposes. Environmental Design provides students with the skills to understand, analyze, and solve development problems with a view toward community planning and the design of sustainable environments. The purpose of environmental design is to gain a better understanding of community environments, and then apply that knowledge to improve physical surroundings. University at Buffalo Environmental Design addresses issues in the dynamic bi-national Buffalo-Niagara region as a laboratory for planning, design, and development.

An introductory urban environments course. Studies how physical, design, social, political and economic forces interact to shape and reshape our urban environments. Examines concepts and content related to cities, suburbs, and metropolitan regions within and outside the U.S. From multidisciplinary perspectives, covers media images of cities and suburbs, patterns and trends in urban environments over time and place, urban observation, demographics, culture, and design. Assesses contemporary urban issues, including race relations, environmental issues, and population problems. Involves lectures, discussions, and fieldwork. Open to all SUNY undergraduate students.

The one credit UB Seminar is focused on a big idea or challenging issue to engage students with questions of significance in a field of study and, ultimately, to connect their studies with issues of consequence in the wider world. Essential to the UB Curriculum, the Seminar helps transition to UB through an early connection to UB faculty and the undergraduate experience at a comprehensive, research university. This course is equivalent to any 198 offered in any subject. This course is a controlled enrollment (impacted) course. Students who have previously attempted the course and received a grade of F or R may not be able to repeat the course during the fall or spring semester.

The three credit UB Seminar is focused on a big idea or challenging issue to engage students with questions of significance in a field of study and, ultimately, to connect their studies with issues of consequence in the wider world. Essential to the UB Curriculum, the Seminar helps students with common learning outcomes focused on fundamental expectations for critical thinking, ethical reasoning, and oral communication, and learning at a university, all within topic focused subject matter. The Seminars provide students with an early connection to UB faculty and the undergraduate experience at a comprehensive, research university. This course is equivalent to any 199 offered in any subject. This course is a controlled enrollment (impacted) course. Students who have previously attempted the course and received a grade of F or R may not be able to repeat the course during the fall or spring semester.

Urban and Environmental Planning (END 212) provides an introduction to the planning, design, and development of cities, communities, and the natural environments in which they are situated, with the creation of sustainable communities as the overall goal. Through urban and environmental planning, sustainable neighborhoods are seen as places which maintain and restore our natural and built environments, thereby creating a higher quality of life for residents. Topics include the foundations of urban and environmental planning, techniques used, the development process, and urban design issues. Examines urban and environmental planning foci, such as urbanization, physical sprawl, environmental design, land use, sustainable development, neighborhood planning, transportation systems, historic preservation, and environmental assessment. Open to all undergraduates.

Topics vary annually. END 271 may cover topics including community health and food, environmental sustainability, land use development, neighborhood planning, community development, historic preservation, real estate development, urban design, or economic development. The content of this course is variable and therefore repeatable for credit. The University Grade Repeat Policy does not apply. May be offered on an intermittent basis.

Explores the planning and design history of the Buffalo Niagara region in relation to the future. Examines proposals aimed at revitalizing development, improving the quality of life, and preserving the environment of Buffalo Niagara for future generations. Involves historical plus current plans and designs accompanied with lectures, discussions, films, fieldwork, and readings. Introduces urban design and regional development theory and practice. Provides an opportunity to understand community preservation, the full scope of small to large scale regional work, and comprehend location of place and space in relationship to the Buffalo Niagara region. Researches the history of Buffalo Niagara communities, examine the place as planned, and critically interpret its history, plans, and designs.

Examines contemporary perspectives on environmental design. Focuses on the complex relationships between people, the natural and constructed environments, and landscapes. Introduces new ways of seeing, understanding, and communicating landscape design. Considers problems in the landscaped environment including greenspace, complex urban centers, post-industrial wastelands, physical infrastructure, and entire watersheds. Reviews how the planning and development of our landscaped settings affects quality of life in physical environments within the context of environmental design. May be offered on an intermittent basis. Open to all undergraduate majors.

Covers concepts and practices of urban land use and development in U.S. Topics include zoning, growth management, site design, environmental issues and land use evolution. Involves lectures, discussions, and fieldwork.

Examines the relationship of urban and natural environments, focusing on sustainable development and global climate change. Emphasis on biodiversity, pollution, efficiency, and renewable energy. Considers appropriate use of resources that are environmentally sound. Involves lectures, discussions, and fieldwork. May be offered on intermittent basis.

Introduces how communities look to urban transportation systems to address environmental design challenges, including urban development, congestion, pollution, sprawl, public safety, obesity, and physical isolation. Explores multi-modal transportation (walking, bicycle, public transit, vehicle) in U.S. cities and metropolitan areas in order to explain the central role of transportation in shaping environmental design, urban communities, and the lives of people. The course is both historical and topical; it examines the tandem evolution of transportation systems and urban development, and investigates current transportation debates such as environmental impacts, urban design, congestion, air quality, the role of government, and strategies for sustainable transportation travel. Includes lectures and field work. May be offered on an intermittent basis. Open to all SUNY undergraduate students. Fulfills the SUNY Humanities and SUNY Social Social Science General Education Requirements.

Explores methods for creating public knowledge, awareness, and understanding toward the physical planning of our natural and urban environments. Develops competency and skills for environmental designers in presenting urban environmental information through education, communication, and performing an environmental assessment. Involves lectures, discussions, and fieldwork. May be offered on an intermittent basis.

Topics vary annually and may include urban design, sustainable development, environmental policies, land use development, neighborhood planning, community development, historic preservation, real estate development, transportation analysis, urban analytics, healthy communities, landscape studies, or economic development. The content of this course is variable and therefore repeatable for credit. The University Grade Repeat Policy does not apply. May be offered on an intermittent basis.

Explores current health issues found in urban and physical environments. Examines diverse public health conditions, including environmentally-caused diseases, pollution-related diseases, aging populations, and the globalization of illness. Considers various community-based social and physical environmental solutions. Involves lectures, discussions, and fieldwork. May be offered on an intermittent basis.

Topics vary annually and may include urban design, sustainable development, environmental policies, land use development, neighborhood planning, community development, historic preservation, real estate development, transportation analysis,community health, landscape planning, or economic development. The content of this course is variable and therefore repeatable for credit. The University Grade Repeat Policy does not apply. May be offered on an intermittent basis.

Traces evolution of urban form and character from Greek city-states to the present. Emphasizes how technological, social, economic, and political changes affect urban layout and functioning. This course is the same as ARC 316.

Provides insights to the process and outcomes of local government decision-making. Topics include the types and powers of various local government entities, including: the influence of politics, how governments determine agendas, and implement projects/policies. May be offered on an intermittent basis.

Through weekly film and multi-media screenings, discussions, readings, and critiques, explores themes of architectural design, urban imagery, inner cities, suburbia, environmental design, physical development, community planning, politics, and their futures in mass media. The built environment serves as a medium that transmits, reinforces and reproduces social values, attitudes and behaviors. Examines how institutions attempt to shape public perspectives using images of the built environment through mass media. May be offered on an intermittent basis. This course is the same as ARC 320, and course repeat rules will apply. Students should consult with their major department regarding any restrictions on their degree requirements.

A discussion course in which students explore the history of and current issues within the design disciplines, including Architecture, Design Studies, Environmental Design, Urban Planning, and Historic Preservation. Researches and analyzes historical and contemporary topics, and considers design's impact on society. Investigates ongoing design issues, historical national trends, and events affecting people, place, and the built environment.

Introduces ways historical conceptions of race and place have impacted the shape and design of our built environment. Examines critical influence of race science on civilizational narratives used to determine meaning and content of 19th century American architecture and designed environments. Traces effects of racial discourses on domestic interpretations of African, Asian, and Latino building traditions. Reviews tools American architects and designers have used to represent social and cultural values of different racial and ethnic groups, from Victorian houses of New England towns to campus planning and design strategies of Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Challenge interpretations how past racial politics continues to shape design, structure, and character of today's built environment. Evaluates how social construction of racial identity still influences patterns of residential segregation, voting districts, land-use, and material investments in the public sphere. This course is the same as ARC 322 and course repeat rules will apply.

Global Issues in Design Practice provides an overview of important global movements in the practice of art, architecture, and environmental design over the past century. Key movements will be examined in relationship to the social, political environmental and economic contexts which either played a role in its formation, or was a reaction against. Develops a framework to recognize the regional societal forces that may impact the production of art, architecture, and environmental design practice. Surveys small, cutting-edge global design organizations through the lens of critical regionalism theory,¿ utilizing methods of design inquiry to reinforce and/or question its validity. Examines the work of artists, architects, and designers working in different countries across the world. Considers how global climate change is a transformative force, and has renewed interest in environmental design through local practices. Facilitates an understanding and studies the relationship of the design process by various artists, architects, and environmental designers to the particular social, political, environmental, and cultural milieu of the global region their work is generated within. This course is the same as ARC 330 and course repeat rules will apply. Students should consult with their major department regarding any restrictions on their degree requirements.

Introduces a multi-dimensional exploration of the new urban China. Reviews how China urbanized over 350 million people since 1980, and may add over an additional 300 million by 2040, leading to Chinese urbanization that is both immense and rapid, while concurrently 'out of sync.¿ Understand how China¿s urbanization is based on government policy, marketplace demands, and the Chinese public. Explores the varying government-marketplace-socioeconomic processes experimented in different cities, creating intended and unintended local problems. Through lectures, discussions, and projects, examines the unprecedented transformation of contemporary Chinese urban environments by investigating the trends and connections in the areas of population migration; public transportation and mobility; housing and suburbanization; community walkability; environmental impacts, and public health issues as a result of policies and technology advances. Considers the evolving nature of the challenges and responses, both formal (e.g. environmental design, planning, and development) as well as informal, across China¿s 600+ cities.

Topics vary annually and may include urban design, sustainable development, environmental policies, land use development, neighborhood planning, community development, historic preservation, real estate development, transportation analysis, planning and design for health, landscape planning, or economic development. The content of this course is variable and therefore repeatable for credit. The University Grade Repeat Policy does not apply. May be offered on an intermittent basis.

A majors-only core studio workshop. Introduces how to integrate research inquiry, information analysis, and environmental design. Provides students with methodologies in gathering, analyzing, interpreting, and communicating qualitative and quantitative information about the contemporary physical and urban environment. Data sources include U.S. Census materials, state and regional agency databases, community master plans, historical archives, and online and hardcopy reports and surveys. Involves lectures, discussions, and fieldwork. Enrollment in END 350 requires official admission to the Environmental Design BA, Junior class standing, a prerequisite GPA of 2.50 in END 120 plus END 212 plus ENG 105 or ENG 101, and an overall UB GPA of 2.33. Concurrent enrollment in the following courses is prohibited: END 120/END 350 and END 350/END 450.

Covers basics of geographic information systems (GIS) and other computing tools for understanding, mapping, and analyzing natural and built environments. Includes weekly computer lab. May be offered on an intermittent basis.

The grand challenges of the world's environment today, such as the global refugee crisis, are highly complex. Cultural, economic, political, environmental, and technological issues are intertwined, and these grand global challenges demand creative problem solving. This course, therefore, introduces and leverages multiple creative problem solving and environmental design thinking strategies to prepare students for engaging some of the greatest challenges of human history.

A majors-only core studio workshop. Examines modes of visual literacy for comprehending the built environment. Introduces rudimentary graphic representation skills for visually communicating urban planning and design concepts through readings and hands-on exercises. Class activities include drawing, drafting, design fundamentals, generating computer graphics, and urban observation. Involves lectures, discussions, and fieldwork. Enrollment in END 360 requires official admission to the Environmental Design BA, Junior class standing, a prerequisite GPA of 2.50 in END 120 plus END 212 plus ENG 105 or ENG 101, and an overall UB GPA of 2.33. Concurrent enrollment in the following courses is prohibited: END 212/END 360, END 360/END 494, and END 360/END 498.

Cities and Globalization: Global Development Planning explores issues, trends, and debates in environmental design, planning, and urban development for cities in the Global South. Focuses on how governance, environmental planning, and urban development policies and strategies influence social, environmental, and health equity for cities of the Global South. Introduces the history, theories, and governance structures that gird global city planning, design, and development discourse. Examines environmental design, planning, and urban development topics affecting cities in the Global South including housing, environment, infrastructure, food equity access, and socio-economic equity. Considers opportunities and limitations of environmental design, planning, and urban development for cities located within the Global South.

Topics vary annually. In the past this course addressed environmental planning, methods of design inquiry, environmental information systems, urban design, historic preservation, and real estate development. May be offered on an intermittent basis.

A major or minor elective. Topics vary by semester.

Introduces students to the fundamentals of real estate development, including planning, site acquisition, project feasibility, finance, and physical development in urban environments. Uses case studies, small group activities, fieldwork, readings, and discussions. May be offered on an intermittent basis.

Introduces strategies and methods of property management, including creating financial reports, knowledge of property marketing, understanding leasing contracts, awareness of emerging practices in energy management, evolving security and emergency procedures, and enhancing tenant relations. May be offered on an intermittent basis. Includes lectures, discussion, and fieldwork. This course is dual listed with END 503 and URP 503.

Studies theories, concepts, and practices of housing and community development, emphasizing neighborhood planning and design in urban environments. Involves lectures, discussions, and fieldwork. May be offered on an intermittent basis.

The content of this course is variable and therefore it is repeatable for credit. The University Grade Repeat Policy does not apply. A major or minor elective. Topics vary by semester.

Explores the intersectionality of race, class, gender & the city in the knowledge economy-based urban environment. Reviews how the shift from an industrial to knowledge-based economy reshaped and recreated the central city and its surrounding suburban region. In the new knowledge-based central city and suburban region [the urban metropolis], the interplay among race, class, gender, and income shapes urban structure, environmental design, and social interaction. The new urban metropolis is characterized by uneven neighborhood development, gentrification, and exclusive residential development. Examines the dynamics of race, along with social and gender inequality, and considers ways to reimagine underdeveloped neighborhoods. Discusses strategies to build "the just city," where equity and inclusive neighborhoods of choice dominate the urban landscape. This course is dual listed with URP 508.

Topics vary annually. In the past this course addressed the policies and politics of local government. May be offered on an intermittent basis.

A major or minor elective. Explores environmental design and urban development problems and possible solutions using information systems incorporating various data sources. Evaluates information and reports on trends for understanding planning, design, and development shaping our urban and community environments. Provides a setting in which students build upon computing and analytic skills utilizing information systems for supporting decision-making in environmental design. Involves lectures, discussions, and fieldwork. May be offered on an intermittent basis.

Topics vary annually. In the past this course addressed legal issues in planning, design, and development. May be offered on an intermittent basis.

Topics vary annually. In the past this course addressed the development and management of real estate property. May be offered on an intermittent basis.

Overcoming global health disparities is a defining challenge of the 21st century. Finding sustainable, global solutions to end poverty and hunger, deliver clean water and quality shelter, and improve education and healthcare, however, is exceedingly complex and difficult. Using a creative, interdisciplinary approach and workshop format, the Global Innovation Challenge takes on major problems in global health, such as air pollution or refugee resettlement, to find viable solutions.

Covers theory, concepts, and practices in contemporary economic development planning. Considers alternative approaches to job growth, including industrial development, workforce training, and quality of life strategies. May be offered on an intermittent basis.

Examines site planning, design, and development of residential, commercial, and industrial properties within various community settings. Reviews property site selection procedures and community landscape planning. Investigates activities within site development including planning, design, aesthetics, landform preparations, and renovations within urban environments. May be offered on an intermittent basis.

Historic preservation theory related to urban and environmental planning, emphasizing preservation practice, including tools of effective preservation, legislation, community roles, economics, adaptive use, and management. Involves lectures, discussions, and fieldwork. May be offered on an intermittent basis.

Citizen Planning School is a project- based, research-intensive, experiential learning course exploring the role of civic engagement in community-based planning and design efforts, promoting sustainable development in the Buffalo Niagara region through land use, transportation, housing, energy and climate, access to food, and more. Through a combination of academic preparation and firsthand experience engaging with diverse public constituencies, students will hone skills, identify key gaps in community planning, design, development, and set the stage for a more sustainable Buffalo Niagara. Citizen Planning School combines public engagement with action research to help meet the economic, environmental, and social challenges of the 21st century. Includes lectures, discussions, fieldwork, and site visits. This course is the same as ARC 436.

Historic preservation efforts take place within the context of accepted definitions of heritage within a variety of contexts. These definitions of cultural heritage have undergone a significant shift over time, as well as space: they can have vastly different meanings from one country or region to another. Historic preservation of cultural heritage is also increasingly contested, even within developed countries like the United States. This course explores how concepts of heritage have developed and evolved, and what heritage means in different contexts. Includes lectures and fieldwork, emphasizing a close reading of the texts, leading to intensive discussions.

This course introduces students to management issues in the nonprofit sector. Topics will include nonprofit: governance, board structure, planning, financial management, fundraising, grant writing, leadership, personnel management, and ethics. Involves lectures, discussions, and fieldwork. May be offered on an intermittent basis.

A major or minor elective. Examines theory and practice of urban revitalization with a focus on downtown and commercial revitalization in metropolitan central cities. Place-based and people-based strategies for urban revitalization will be investigated and explored. Best Practices in urban planning and design, including current research and scholarship, will be analyzed. May be offered on an intermittent basis.

A majors-only capstone studio workshop. Engages students in community planning and environmental design fieldwork in Western New York. Under the instructor's supervision, students work with clients and neighborhood groups to understand complex community planning and environmental issues, research best practices, and develop final plans, comprehensive designs, and proposals. Involves lectures, discussions, and fieldwork. Enrollment in END 450 requires official admission to the Environmental Design BA, Senior class standing, END 350 plus END 360, an END/PD prefixed GPA of 2.50, and an overall UB GPA of 2.33. Concurrent enrollment in the following courses is prohibited: END 350/END 450.

Introduces concepts and techniques of inclusive design in our communities including site planning, property development, physical infrastructure, public spaces, accessibility, and landscapes. Considers the goal of creating beautiful and functional environments that can be used equally by everyone, irrespective of age, gender, or disability. Involves lectures, discussions, and fieldwork. May be offered on an intermittent basis.

Examines a variety of specific tourism and recreation ventures and explores how they can be used to enhance development. Considered from several perspectives; including the role of tourism in economic development and the community level relationship between hosts and guests. May be offered on an intermittent basis.

A majors-only environmental design and development practicum. Engages students in community planning, environmental design, and urban development fieldwork in Western New York. Under the instructor's supervision, students work with clients and neighborhood groups to understand complex community planning and environmental issues, research best practices, and develop final plans, comprehensive designs, and proposals. Involves lectures, discussions, and fieldwork. Enrollment in END 460 requires official admission to the Environmental Design BA, senior class standing, END 350 plus END 360, an END/PD prefixed GPA of 2.50, and an overall UB GPA of 2.33. Concurrent enrollment in the following courses is prohibited: END 360/END 460.

Introduces principles, operation and design of physical infrastructure systems including roads, public transportation, community facilities, public open space, surface drainage, and electric, gas, water, waste disposal, and telecommunication services.

Explores the current practice of urban design in the context of the United States. Examines new opportunities and constraints in environmental assessment, and management structure in local government; mechanisms for land-use controls or incentives; public investment strategy; and case studies assessing major development strategies used in today's practice. May be offered on an intermittent basis.This course is the same as ARC 465 and course repeat rules will apply. Students should consult with their major department regarding any restrictions on their degree requirements.

Urban Design: Built Environment Case Studies examines how American cities are so thinly spread out compared with many other nations. What is density and what does it mean? What are the relations between density and sustainability? This graduate seminar is intended to examine density as a most profound indicator of human settlement pattern especially in urbanized areas. One of hypotheses that the class addresses is this: Is denser the city, the greener it is or is it? Through the use of provocative readings and comparative analysis and mapping techniques, we compare major cities around the world to understand the relation between urban density and urbanism, its economic and environmental robustness: placemaking, good urban form and great streets -- all contributing to making cities great and robust ecologically, economically and socially. This course is the same as ARC 466 and course repeat rules will apply. Students should consult with their major department regarding any restrictions on their degree requirements.

Explores historical and legal foundations of planning and development. Provides a legal perspective on land use, zoning policies, environmental regulations, housing, and other areas of interest. Reviews political, legal, and administrative institutions related to the planning and development process. May be offered on an intermittent basis.

Covers theories, techniques, and applications used in geographic information systems, particularly as applied to problems and issues found in environmental design and urban planning. Includes weekly computer lab. May be offered on an intermittent basis.

Designed to provide a basic understanding of the physical planning, design, and development process. Examines environmental, man-made, and policy elements that impact the physical development planning. Introduces methods for analyzing physical planning and design problems, the applications of physical development planning standards, an understanding of physical planning approaches, and the creation of planning, design, and development solutions.

Compares significant themes in global issues, global development, and global relations shaping urban and community environments on both the local and international levels.

The content of this course is variable and therefore it is repeatable for credit. The University Grade Repeat Policy does not apply. A majors-only study abroad course. Locations vary annually. In the past, undergraduate students have participated in environmental design programs taught in Australia, Cuba, Costa Rica, Canada, the Dutch Antilles, the United States, and other international or domestic locations as organized by the Department of Urban and Regional Planning. Other in-house study abroad programs will be offered on an ad-hoc basis by the Department of Urban and Regional Planning based upon faculty and student interest. May be offered on an intermittent basis.

The content of this course is variable and therefore it is repeatable for credit. The University Grade Repeat Policy does not apply. A majors-only study abroad course. Locations vary annually. In the past, undergraduate students have participated in environmental design programs taught in Australia, Cuba, Costa Rica, Canada, the Dutch Antilles, the United States, and other international or domestic locations as organized by the Department of Urban and Regional Planning. Other in-house study abroad programs will be offered on an ad-hoc basis by the Department of Urban and Regional Planning based upon faculty and student interest. May be offered on an intermittent basis.

Topics vary annually. In the past this course addressed hidden systems of cities and urban environments- utilities, water, sewer, telecommunications, and transport. May be offered on an intermittent basis.

Topics vary annually. In the past this course addressed urban hazards and disasters and community revitalization planning. May be offered on an intermittent basis.

Topics vary annually. In the past this course addressed urban design, environmental design, community planning, landscape development, and placemaking. May be offered on an intermittent basis.

Topics vary annually. In the past, an examination of issues pertaining to environmental design, community planning, and regional development. Included historical, theoretical, formal, technical, and ethical concerns in planning, design, and development. Content defined by instructor; with group discussions focused on assigned readings and field trips. May be offered on an intermittent basis.

Environmental Design Colloquium 2 is a discussion course in which students will explore the current issues found within the design disciplines, including Design Studies, Environmental Design, Urban Planning, Real Estate Development, and Historic Preservation. Students will research, communicate, and analyze historical and contemporary discourse, issues, and trends facing design and the urban environment.

Student-led, faculty-guided reading course covers classic and contemporary books on the natural, built, and urban environments. An undergraduate senior capstone course.

Offers opportunity to work in urban or regional agencies in areas such as housing development, local government, strategic planning, transportation, community development, environmental affairs, land use, and urban design.

A required senior undergraduate research and creative activity course. Engages students in environmental design methodologies and individual research on a topic of contemporary interest. Topics vary annually. In the past this course addressed community gardens, urban food security, active living, community design, urban/suburban relations, urban subcultures, urban hazards and disasters, environmental planning, and urban development.

The content of this course is variable and therefore it is repeatable for credit. The University Grade Repeat Policy does not apply. Designed to add depth and breadth to a student's formal degree program. Students electing for END 499 Independent Study in Environmental Design must be accepted for work on a specific topic by a member of the University at Buffalo Urban Planning faculty, and must have the approval of the Urban Planning department chair. Students completing END 499 Independent Study in Environmental design will also participate in events sponsored by the University at Buffalo Center for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (UB CURCA). May be offered on an intermittent basis.