Continuing Education Press Releases

Professional Academy for Architects and Planners Launches in Utah

Focus on Keeping Professionals Current on Sustainable Building Technologies

March 2, 2010 – The University of Utah will launch the Mountain West Planning and Design Academy in spring 2010 — a series of intensive workshops taught by national experts in city planning, demographics, economics, finance and architectural design and technology. Designed to keep professional architects and planners up-to-date on cutting-edge technologies and strategies, the Academy will focus on sustainability of the built and natural environments and the interactions between them.

"The Rocky Mountain West, with its grand landscapes, rich and variable community traditions and rapid growth provides an opportunity to create models of vibrant and sustainable community development," said Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker, FAICP. "Having a forum for design professionals throughout the region to share expertise is essential to that process. I look forward to seeing how the [U's Planning and Design] Academy can help shape our communities."

This new collaboration between The U's department of Continuing Education and College of Architecture and Planning will offer five courses during spring 2010, including Accessibility by Design, Technology in Planning and Designing for Total Building Life-Cycle Sustainability. Participants will receive highly specialized continuing education credits and gain direct access to the latest knowledge and research.

"These courses will help our city planners and architects be better armed to meet the daunting challenges that lie ahead," said Anne O'Brien, Director of Professional Education at the U. "Academy classes will not only provide a focused approach to vital problems, but also promote spirited discussion and innovation within the classroom as design experts come together to share their professional experiences."

"We believe in planning, designing and building sustainable communities that adapt with great sensitivity to local conditions," added Brenda Case Scheer, Dean of the College of Architecture and Planning, in describing the mission of the new program. "We believe in creating healthy buildings and cities that conserve resources, enhance their surroundings and uplift those who dwell in them."

Between now and 2040, the population of the United States will increase by more than 100 million people. In addition to 60 million new and rebuilt homes and a third more nonresidential buildings than exist now, nearly all the nonresidential buildings will be replaced. The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) estimates that buildings already account for 12 percent of water use, 30 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, 65 percent of waste output and 70 percent of electricity consumption in the United States.

"Staying current with new technologies is vital to creating the most efficient, environmentally-responsible structures — and ultimately the most livable future — that we can," said Dr. Arthur C. Nelson, Director of the Metropolitan Research Center at the U. "The West is developing incredibly rapidly, and we need to be as strategic and educated as possible in shaping how it will be built."

The Mountain West Planning and Design Academy at The University of Utah kicks off on March 10, 2010 with Technology in Planning. Professionals may enroll in as many or as few classes as they see fit. To register, or for more information, call (801) 585-1780 or visit proed.utah.edu.

Spring class details:

• Technology in Planning, March 10 – 11, 2010, 9 a.m – 5 p.m.
• Accessibility by Design, March 18, 2010, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Impact Fees: Methods and Trends, March 31 – April 1, 2010, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• U.S. Traffic Calming Workshop, April 14 – 15, 2010, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Integrated Design: The Process of Designing for Total Building Life-Cycle Sustainability, April 21 – 22, 2010, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

About Professional Education at The University of Utah
Professional Education at The University of Utah, part of the department of Continuing Education, offers custom training, professional academies and institutes, certificate programs and consulting in addition to individual professional development courses in budget, finance and administration; fundraising; project management; professional exam preparation, leadership; human resource management; and writing and communication. Most courses and programs are eligible for industry-recognized professional/continuing education credits. proed.utah.edu.

About the College of Architecture + Planning at The University of Utah
As the only architecture school in Utah since 1951, the College of Architecture + Planning facilitates an educational community of students, faculty and staff with interests and expertise in creative design, building, planning, computer technology, issues of social and ecological responsibility and the scholarly study of the history and theory of the built landscape. www.arch.utah.edu.

About the Instructors
Dr. Arthur C. Nelson, FAICP, is Presidential Professor of City & Metropolitan Planning at the University of Utah where he is also Director of the Metropolitan Research Center. For the past thirty years, Dr. Nelson has conducted pioneering research in growth management, public facility finance, economic development, and metropolitan development patterns. He has written nearly 20 books and more than 300 other works. Dr. Nelson's research has been front page news in such national newspapers as USA Today and the Wall Street Journal, and featured in the New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, and CBS Evening News. Newsweek calls Dr. Nelson's insights about urban redevelopment as the second of the ten most important trends to watch.

Dr. Reid Ewing holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Urban Planning and Transportation Systems from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a Master of City Planning and a Master of Science in Engineering and Applied Physics from Harvard University. His highly influential work — which focuses on transportation and the environment, transit-oriented developments, emergency evacuation, pedestrian and transit-friendly design, urban development and green house gases, and the relationship between sprawl and obesity — has been cited many times in national media outlets including USA Today, Time, US News and World Report, the Washington Post, ABC and National Public Radio.

Dr. Tom Sanchez conducts research in the areas of transportation, land use, environmental justice, and the social aspects of planning and policy. He is the Chair of the Department of City & Metropolitan Planning, a nonresident senior fellow of the Brookings Institution, review editor for the Journal of the American Planning Association, an editorial advisory board member for Housing Policy Debate, and chair of the Transportation Research Board Social and Economics Factors Committee. He is the co-author of two books, The Right to Transportation: Moving to Equity and The Social Impacts of Urban Containment.

Ryan Smith is the Director of the Center for Integrated Design and Construction. His research includes analyzing the integration process, players and collaborations including the use of BIM, energy, and lifecycle simulation, and has been published in leading urban affairs and planning journals — including the Journal of the American Planning Association, Housing Policy Debate, Urban Studies, Journal of Planning Education and Research, and the Journal of Urban Affairs. He has received the ACSA Collaborative Practice and the ACSA Creative Achievement Award for his industry collaborative teaching.

Roger Borgenicht is the Director of ASSIST, Inc., a nonprofit Community Design Center in Salt Lake City founded in 1969 that provides housing and accessibility design assistance for low-income households or persons with disabilities. Roger works with individuals and community organizations around the nation on issues of architectural design, community planning and development assistance with a focus on "visitability" and accessibility. He is co-author of The ASSIST Guidebook to the Accessible Home: Practical Designs for Home Modifications and New Construction.

Continuing Education at the U enriches the lives of people of all ages in the greater community and beyond by providing extraordinary learning opportunities from the university. The division encompasses nine programs: Academic Non-Credit, Lifelong Learning, Exam/Test Preparation, Professional Education, Technology Education, Youth Education, Distance Education, the Osher Institute for Lifelong Learning and the English Language Institute. Founded in 1911, Continuing Education offers credit and non-credit courses that serve over 30,000 students annually from around the world. Information about each of Continuing Ed's programs can be found at www.continue.utah.edu.