Retrofitting Suburbia

This Thursday, February 3, 2011 features a free public lecture at the Baker Downtown Center in Eugene by Ellen Dunham-Jones, AIA, a world-renowned expert on urban and suburban design. Widely recognized as a leader in finding solutions for aging suburbs, she will speak about how the design of where we live is critical to some of the most pressing issues of our times: reducing our ecological footprint and energy consumption, improving our communities, and providing living options for all ages. In particular, she will explain why shifting demographics are impacting how and what we build.

With co-author June Williamson, Dunham-Jones wrote Retrofitting Suburbia: Urban Design Solutions for Redesigning Suburbs (Wiley, January 2009). The book includes more than 50 case studies from across North America of “underperforming asphalt properties” that have been redesigned and redeveloped into walkable, sustainable vital centers of community. Retrofitting Suburbia received a 2009 PROSE award for scholarly and professional excellence from the Association of American Publishers, and was featured in Time Magazine’s March 23, 2009 cover story “10 Ideas Changing the World Right Now.”

If you’d like a preview of Ellen Dunham-Jones’ presentation, check out her TED video, one of that series’ riveting talks by remarkable people:

http://www.ted.com/talks/ellen_dunham_jones_retrofitting_suburbia.html

Dunham-Jones’ talk in Eugene will be the latest in the City Design Lecture Series produced by the University of Oregon School of Architecture and Allied Arts, the Oregon Transportation Research and Education Consortium, the University of Oregon Urban Design Lab, and AIA-Southwestern Oregon. The goal of the City Design Lecture series is to inform area professionals, students, and the broader public about transportation and land use strategies that improve livability, enhance safety, reduce congestion, offer mobility choices, and increase housing variety.

Don’t miss this important event. Here are the details:

What:  Retrofitting Suburbia, a lecture by Ellen Dunham-Jones, AIA

When:  Thursday, February 3, 2011, 7:30 PM

Where:  Baker Downtown Center, 975 High Street, Eugene, OR

Related articles

• 'Retrofitting Suburbia' co-author sees new future for aging, sprawling suburbs (seattletimes.nwsource.com)