CAPPA students presenting a vision for UTA, Arlington
Graduate students in The University of Texas at Arlington’s College of Architecture, Planning and Public Affairs (CAPPA) will present their creative urban design projects as part of Gathering at the Wellspring: A Vision for Arlington’s Future.
The event is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Oct. 27 at the newly remodeled Theatre Arlington, 305 W. Main St.
The students, who are in Ursula Emery-McClure’s design class, address issues and innovative possibilities for the future health of Arlington’s infrastructure and urban systems. Emery-McClure is a Ralph Hawkins Visiting Professor in CAPPA.
This exhibit will unveil the design for the new Wellspring on Main community building. Wellspring is a newly formed community nonprofit organization in Arlington aimed at making the city welcoming, vibrant, diverse and caring. The effort was launched by the nonprofit Arlington Center for Community Engagement; partners include UT Arlington, Theatre Arlington, the Arlington Museum of Art, Create Arlington, St. Alban’s Episcopal Church and the Arlington school district’s Dan Dipert Career and Technology Center.
The ideas presented at Gathering at the Wellspring will highlight both UT Arlington and the city of Arlington and what the two entities are doing to engage the community. Among the public space creation topics addressed by students in their projects are the handling of stormwater runoff, pollution capture systems, transportation, alternative housing and power generation options.
“The Arlington project required them to look at the future and design proposals that address and resolve some of the direst issues urban environments face,” Emery-McClure said. “By taking on such issues the students feel more empowered and able to make a difference.”
CAPPA student Ryan Playle said the project provided a unique opportunity to investigate the city’s infrastructure systems.
“It allowed us to reimagine the future of Arlington through the development of innovative solutions and see the city in a whole new perspective,” Playle said.
“As a designer working on the project, it showed me that architecture has the power to address aging infrastructure, overcrowding and land degradation so we could create a positive impact on the future,” said CAPPA student Shahrzad Rokn.