The UTA Center for Metropolitan Density, AIA Dallas Communities By Design, and ULI North Texas District present a

Roundtable: New Live/Work High Density Solutions

Monday, April 2, 2012
6:00-8:00 p.m.
Dallas Center for Architecture
- 1.5 CEH

Moderator Michael Buckley
Director, UTA Center for Metropolitan Density

Panelists

Brent Brown
CityDesign Studio

Joseph Pitchford
Crescent Real Estate Equities

Richie Butler
City View

Kevin Sloan
Sloan Studio Landscape Architects

Larry Good
Good Fulton & Farrell

William Lyle Burgin
Brook Partners

Taner Ozdil
University of Texas at Arlington

Veletta Lill
Dallas Arts District

Michael O'Hanlon
Behringer Harvard

J. Mark Wolf
JHP Architects

UTA’s Center for Metropolitan Development (CfMD) conducted a recent Survey on High Density with co-operation of AIA Dallas, ULI North Texas, TREC and NAIOP. The results showed astounding endorsement of higher densities for living and working –provided certain amenities and retail/cultural offering were included. The recent CfMD Research Journal shows 80% agreed “we need more high density prototypes –and new design-oriented solutions” while a whopping 85% respondents asked for “architectural character that expands quality of life”.

The Roundtable will explore challenges and new product solutions with a variety of professional viewpoints, including Cultural Management. Private equity, Architecture and Urban Design from the invited Panelists listed above who will asked to respond to a set of suggested Topics, including:

• Survey respondents expressed interest in not only Urban Open Space but also new design thinking on Personal Space. What design and new product potentials can be foreseen for new easy to create Private Urban Space?
• Reclamation and redevelopment of In Fill sites which are already close-in to urban cores, and well-served by Infrastructure, are seen as risky endeavors. Any way to reduce the risk to facilitate more dense solutions?
• High Density Residential design hasn’t changed significantly except for opening the granite-topped galley kitchens into the living area. What prototype designs /layouts could be achieved?
• Will residential renters/buyers accept slightly smaller interior spaces for more exterior features?
• Workplace Density has proven to be directly supportive of Innovation and Productivity increases due to the proximity of other influencers in the workplace district. Yet the cost of urban sites deters corporate end users. Any solutions for convincing cities to assist in Land-banking?
• Challenges to keeping young families in high density districts with new school age children are clear option with Charter schools and Magnet schools?
• Retail and Foodservice within walkable secure districts are considered essential for success of viable Live/Work environments --how can these amenities be encouraged in new settings?
• Is there an emerging Architectural process that can drive large scale innovation in building systems/scale/cost?
• There are very potent fiscal advantages created by higher-density residential and office space –especially for generating city tax ratables so important to upgrade educational offerings. How can cities front key investment /development hurdles in advance, with reassurances that tax proceeds will increase?
• The Pension Real Estate Association which is a major funding source for real estate has recently recognized the Premium which accrues to walkable pedestrian-friendly projects—so the question remains will users pay more a to recognize the benefit?
• The Dallas CBD has survived two decades of suburban competition for office space, and residential options, and has almost lost the battle for specialty retail –all challenges to its distinctive high density form. What role will the new concentration of arts facilities, new parks with event programming play in changing perceptions?

This is a large panel deliberately crafted to generate an intense, fast-paced debate featuring a range of viewpoints. Short opening statements by the Panelists, will be followed by directed questions from the Moderator—with the intention of exploring a wide set of new possible design/development direction.

Case Studies #3: Arts District

CxD publishes a Case Study of the Dallas Arts District based on AIA's '10 Principles for Livable Communities'. Click on images below for larger version:

Case Studies #2: Addison Circle

In continuing our Case Studies, AIA Dallas CxD is reviews a local development to see how it stacks up to the AIA's '10 Principles for Livable Communites'.

Case Studies - Victory Park

(cont.) We are reviewing various neighborhoods and areas using criteria from the AIA's 10 Principles for Livable Communities. See entry on 9.8.11 for more introduction. Click on images below for enlargement

Urban Places - Case Studies

To continue the push toward good urban design, AIA/Dallas Communities by Design has embarked on a project to perform 'case studies' of some existing urban neighborhoods within the AIA Dallas area.

We are reviewing the urban design aspects of these neighborhoods within the framework the AIA's 10 Principles for Livable Communities Criteria; what makes a community 'livable', or rather, what makes a community rich with the best aspects of 'urban' living. It could be a suburban area, but in the case of Addison Circle, for example, the characteristics of the neighborhood are distinctly urban. It has a quality density, a sense of place, access to transportation, etc., etc. The purpose of this effort is to applaud those areas that offer these rich environments, but also encourage - or simply be another reminder of - the benefits and opportunities available with true urban environments.

These case studies are aimed at...anyone, really...to see the many benefits of active, urban places. Many architects 'drank the Kool Aid' on this topic long ago, but we think they would find it interesting as well. These areas are not published in any particular ranking or order. We may do that later. But, while we felt we would simply present compelling case studies and thereby encourage others to appreciate urbanism, we have found it has thoughtfully provoked our committee members in such a way as to, hopefully, better our individual practices of urban design. In other words, if its not helpful or interesting to anyone else, its at least been interesting to us!

The first case study is of Victory Park in Dallas, followed shortly by Addison Circle. We plan to issue these occasionally, as our schedules permit. If you have questions or comments, please feel free to send them to aiadallascxd@gmail.com.

Creek Daylighting – Enhancing Urban Creeks & Greenways

Presented by: Bud Melton, Bowman-Melton Associates, Inc.
Friday, July 29th
12:00 - 1:30 p.m.
Dallas Center for Architecture
$15 AIA Member, $25 AIA Non-Member

Mr. Melton will discuss how we develop our civic spaces associated with the creeks and watercourses in our urbanized areas. His interest is in long range active transportation and mobility planning, which often includes utilization of creekways, and which often is impacted – sometimes fatally - by other development influences.

Learning objectives include:

1. To more easily visualize greenway connections – what they can look like and how they can function in the context of sustainable developments associated with ecological enhancements.
2. Better understand how embracing restoration of creeks and creek daylighting can be beneficial – along with strategies for developing the discipline to complete every connection.
3. Orienting redevelopments to creeks and greenways – helping developers and their financiers aim their strategies toward higher returns on investments.
4. The retrofit conundrum – helping city dwellers and their environments stay healthy and fit, and other meteoric challenges.

Lunch will be provided.

Lake Highlands Town Center

Interesting input from StreetWorks on this development that has been stalled by the economy...