Parklets: Design & Build Fall 2015 Syllabus. 1-2 units Date : TBA Location: TBA. Head Facilitator Arami Matevosyan (aramimatevosyan@berkeley.

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1 Parklets: Design & Build Fall 2015 Syllabus 1-2 units Date : TBA Location: TBA Head Facilitator Arami Matevosyan (aramimatevosyan@berkeley.edu) Assistant Facilitators Laura Yepez (yepez.laura@berkeley.edu) Hannah Stommel (hannahstommel@gmail.com) This DeCal is sponsored by The Green Initiative Fund for the following project: Berkeley Parklets, Bike Corrals, and Art Lots * Course will be eligible for community service/volunteer work 1. COURSE CONTENT Project Purpose: The purpose of this project is to involve UC Berkeley students and affiliated adjunct faculty as leaders in a community effort to create sustainable alternatives to automobile-centric transportation through building parklets and artlots; educate and provide experience to students and community members about the design/build process; and engage participants in working with other students to design an affordable prototype that can be replicated so that all neighborhoods in Berkeley can potentially afford a parklet. Project goals include: 1) Create a long term vehicle for teaching UC Berkeley students about developing urban micro spaces as vehicles for promoting transportation and urban sustainability alternatives; 2) Engage students as leaders in promoting long-term environmental justice in Berkeley s most disadvantaged neighborhood(s) that can potentially be replicated in other neighborhoods; 3) Bring experts in the field and community leaders together to collaborate on projects with students; 4) Share expert experience and knowledge with students in order to create a robust How To booklet/website as a sharable resource. 2. LEARNING OBJECTIVES This project expands sustainability on the UC Berkeley campus by directly involving students in the process of planning for and implementing a design-build project. This project demonstrates the depth of commitment required between students, the City, and the community to improve the livability and functionality of city and campus space. Moreover, it provides the opportunity to put theory into practical use discovering what it takes to make change happen. Moreover, students will be able to apply the skills they learn from collaborating on this project to anchor future undertakings, applications, and research. Students will: 1. Be introduced to the design-build and permitting process 2. Conduct on-site analysis and communication with clients and the community 3. Aid in the construction of a parklet and artlot 4. Create a How-To booklet/website that documents the design-build process to share with the city This course will include guest speakers and field trips to the project site (Berkeley Lorin District: Ellis Street and Alcatraz Avenue). Lectures will guide students in the design-build process and allow students to engage with the community at the site and implement the final design through construction. 1

2 Some time may be required to complete work outside of class, such as readings and constructing the parklet. 3. METHOD OF INSTRUCTION Each class period runs for 2 hours each week. The class schedule has the following breakdown: 30 min: Lecture 20 min: Discussion 60 min: In-Class Work / Construction Papers: Students are required to complete writing assignments to pass the class. Assignments must be completed by the following class (e.g. Week 1 Assignment due by Week 2 class). This will be a 1-2 unit lower and upper division class. Students have the option to choose between two to three units so long as the facilitator is notified and the requirements listed above are met. 1 unit: participate in the construction of the parklet, complete readings, and submit representative written portion of manual/booklet 2 units: in addition to fulfilling the requirements for 2 units, write/design additional section for manual/booklet, complete 2 reflection papers, and attend 3 parklet team meetings (which will be discussed during class) Writing Component: In addition to aiding in the construction process, students will collectively create a How-To manual/booklet that documents the parklet design/build process - abstract/introduction, community meetings, design process, permitting process, construction process, methods, challenges, results, conclusion, and a condensed step-by-step information guide for others who may be interested in building their own parklets. Each student will be assigned a section to focus on after spring break. Reflection papers (2 units only): - midterm reflection paper focusing on weeks final reflection paper on weeks with final thoughts on course WEEKLY SCHEDULE (Reading List on pages 4-5) Week/Date Topics Assignments Week 1: Week 2: Week 3: - Introduction to class, purpose, & expected results - Recap of Fall Parklet/Artlot project - Understanding the design-build process - Review of community engagement and gentrification - How to read plans/sections - Understanding the construction process - TGIF application - Community engagement notes from meetings - Gentrification - Design-Build process - How to read plans/sections - Construction process - History of Lorin District - History of parklets - Notes for artlot design 2

3 Week 4: - What is a Parklet? - What is an Artlot? - Different parklet applications: comparing SF and LA Week 5: FT: [Building the parklet] - Youth Arts Exchange: parklet project Week 6: FT: [Building the parklet] - Berkeley Parklet Pilot Program: city consent/action calendar item Week 7: FT: [Building the parklet] - Maintenance and upkeep Week 8: FT: [Building the parklet] Reflection: - Submit Midterm Reflection Paper Week 9: FT: [Completing the parklet] --- Week 10: SPRING BREAK Week 11: - Introduce writing component of manual/booklet Reading: - Review SF Parklet Manual Week 12: [Writing the manual/booklet] Paper: - First Draft of assigned section Week 13: [Writing the manual/booklet] Paper: - Second Draft Week 14: [Writing the manual/booklet] Paper: - Submit Final Draft Week 15: [Completing the manual/booklet] Reflection: - Submit Final Reflection Paper FT = Field Trip Entrance to class: Interested students must complete a survey prior to enrolling for the class. CCNs will be given to those who complete the survey and are accepted into the class during the first week. 4. STUDENT EVALUATION 50% Attendance -AND- Participation 25% In-class Assignments 25% Homework Assignments Grading & Absences: Grading will be based on effort, participation, and completion of assignments as outlined. 3

4 Each student is allowed two excused absences. Students who miss more than two classes are in danger of failing. Absences will only be excused if the facilitators are notified in advance with a valid reason and all assignments for the missed class are submitted. [This syllabus is subject to change] --- READING LIST * = material for this reading will be compiled by the end of the fall semester WEEK 1: TGIF Application [The link to the application is on the website page; students should also review the page for all updates on the project] Community engagement notes from meetings * [All notes are currently in a designated dropbox folder for team meetings. Team meetings will continue till the end of the semester, after which they will be compiled into one readable document for students to be able to read] Gentrification Gentrification in Neighbourhood Development: Case studies from New York City, Berlin and Vienna // Yvonne Franz - Concept of Gentrification (pp ) - Future Necessities: The Role of Gentrification for Neighbourhood Transformation (pp ) WEEK 2: Design-Build Process Cities for People // Jan Gehl - The Human Dimension (pp. 3-30) How to read plans/sections Permit Application * [The permit application will be submitted by the end of November to the City of Berkeley for review. It will be made available for students to review by the beginning of the spring semester] Construction Process Sustainability in Engineering Design and Construction // J.K. Yates and Daniel Castro-Lacouture - Sustainable Construction Materials (pp ) Sustainable Building Systems and Construction for Designers // Lisa M. Tucker - Part IV: Green Building Implementation // Chapter 13: Construction Operations and Commissioning 4

5 WEEK 3: History of Lorin District History of parklets Notes for Artlot Design * [All notes for the Artlot Design are currently in a designated dropbox folder. These notes will continue to be taken till the end of the fall semester, after which they will be compiled into one readable document for students to be able to read] WEEK 4: Different parklet applications: comparing SF and LA [San Francisco Parklet Manual] [Los Angeles Parklet Manual] WEEK 5: Youth Arts Exchange: parklet project WEEK 6: Berkeley Parklet Pilot Program: city consent/action calendar item WEEK 7: Maintenance and Upkeep Environment and Behavior December 1980 // Craig M. Zimring and Janet E. Reizenstein - Post-Occupancy Evaluation: An Overview (pp ) 5