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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct 7, 2011    #173
Contact: Laura Byerley
(816) 235-1592

UMKC Urban Planning + Design students work with community to envision a resilient Joplin

Studio's redevelopment scenarios may be presented to Joplin City Council

KANSAS CITY, MO. - Following the May 22, F-5 tornado that devastated one-third of Joplin, Mo., nine students from the University of Missouri- Kansas City College of Arts and Sciences' Department of Architecture, Urban Planning + Design (AUP+D) and Gunnar Hand, AICP, president of Kansas City, Mo.-based MOCK Studio, LLC, are envisioning how such a devastating event could ultimately be a catalyst for change.

On Oct. 13 and 14, AUP+D's senior planning studio - Meta - will participate in a public charette hosted by the American Institute for Architects at Forest Park Baptist Church, 725 S. Highview Ave., Joplin, Mo. The charette will be held to stimulate ideas and further involve the public in the planning and design process. The two-day event will include a review of work by the Citizens Advisory Recovery Team (CART) at 4 p.m. on Oct. 13 and a final public presentation at 4 p.m. on Oct. 14.

Meta has been working with the Carl Junction, Mo.-based Harry S. Truman Coordinating Council, the regional planning council in Joplin, and the CART to develop a new vision for Joplin. Guided by recommendations from the community, Meta has been working to illustrate three Meta redevelopment scenarios. CART may present students' ideas to the Joplin City Council. Following the charrette, Meta will return to Kansas City to develop a final proposal for a more sustainable and resilient Joplin.

"Through research, outreach and public engagement, Meta is committed to creating vibrant communities," Hand said. "We are driven by the opportunity to rethink, redesign and rebuild the natural and manmade environments that will lead the way toward an increasingly sustainable future. Right now can be a pivotal moment for Joplin, so we encourage the public to come and share their thoughts and ideas for a resilient Joplin."

About AUP+D:
The Department of Architecture, Urban Planning + Design (AUP+D) offers educational excellence for students who seek a career in the professions of architecture, urban planning and design, historic preservation, landscape architecture and interior architecture/product design. AUP+D seeks to produce planning and design professionals who will bring a fresh approach to the spatial problems of the 21st century. AUP+D builds partnerships with neighborhoods, communities and municipalities in the Kansas City region and beyond to engage in applied research and give students experience in their chosen field of study.

About UMKC:
The University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC), one of four University of Missouri campuses, is a public university serving more than 15,000 undergraduate, graduate and professional students. UMKC engages with the community and economy based on a four-part mission: life and health sciences; visual and performing arts; urban issues and education; and a vibrant learning and campus life experience. For more information about UMKC, visit www.umkc.edu. You can also find us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and watch us on YouTube.

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This information is available to people with speech or hearing impairments by calling Relay Missouri at (800) 735-2966 (TT) or (800) 735-2466 (voice).

 

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