Taubman College M.U.P. Alums present capstone research solutions at APA Conference
On Saturday, April 14, 2012, M.U.P. ’11 alumni Jonathan E. Tarr, Angela Fortino and Amanda Irvine will present their 2011 winter capstone projects at the American Planning Association National Conference held in Los Angeles. Fortino’s and Irvine’s session will provide insight into the “Megacentralities capstone course,” an interdisciplinary studio, led by Assistant Professor Maria Arquero and Assistant Professor of Practice Lars Grabner which challenged students to create an urban design solution for a transit station in the neighborhood of Coyoacan, Mexico City. The studio, a collaboration between the University of Michigan and CC Arquitectos and Urban Travel Design of Mexico, demanded a thorough investigation of the city’s interchange systems, cultural mind, historical character and urban fabric in order to reconsider the transit hub’s design. Angela Fortino will present the proposal “Distrito Taxqueña” developed with Anand Amin, M.Arch ’12; Catherine Baldwin, M.Arch ’12; and Tara Mather, MUP ’11. Amanda Irvine developed her proposal “Ciudadela Taxqueña” with dual M.Arch and MUP ’12 students Maria Galarza and Jenny Wang.
Tarr’s project is entitled “Flipping the Switch: Establishing the Urban Alternatives House.” The capstone was led by Lecturer Eric Dueweke and Matt Weber. Developed in collaboration with the Genesee County Land Bank and the University of Michigan-Flint, this project detailed a plan for converting a vacant, tax-foreclosed house in Flint, Michigan into a LEED-certified property housing a green-energy demonstration center and affordable housing units. The Urban Alternatives House is undergoing a full renovation and is scheduled to open in September 2012. Five MUP ’11 graduates were Tarr’s co-authors: Jon Barth, Paul Irwin, Maria Ryen, Breanna Shell, and Kisaki Watanabe
For more information on the conference: planning.org/conference
