Research by K-State architecture students leads to urban design interventions to increase walking, biking opportunities

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Source: Susanne Siepl-Coates, 785-532-1122; scoates@k-state.edu
Note to editor: Carrie Mertes is a Maize High School graduate.
News release prepared by: Erinn Barcomb-Peterson, 785-532-6415, ebarcomb@k-state.edu

Friday, December 8, 2006

RESEARCH BY K-STATE ARCHITECTURE STUDENTS LEADS TO URBAN DESIGN INTERVENTIONS TO INCREASE WALKING, BIKING OPPORTUNITIES

MANHATTAN -- An urban area undergoing redevelopment can be a strategic front in the battle against obesity, some Kansas State University faculty and students have found.

A group of fifth-year architecture students from K-State's College of Architecture, Planning and Design have used their emerging knowledge to offer urban design interventions that can be used in the downtown Manhattan redevelopment project, as well as redevelopment efforts in other Kansas towns.

Led by Susanne Siepl-Coates, professor of architecture, the student-generated urban design interventions will be part of SLIM DOWNtown, a project to promote healthier lifestyles for citizens by making changes in an automobile-dominated, car-dependent culture. The project proposes that changes in urban design can combat obesity by promoting walking and bicycling, activities that are accessible and easily adopted by most people.

The students used some of the city of Manhattan's goals and design principles to develop recommendations that would make streetscapes safer and more attractive for pedestrians and bicyclists. The recommendations also suggest connecting downtown Manhattan with other desirable locations. In addition, the students offer creative ideas to make unsightly places more attractive.

The students researched the topic from various angles, including downtown streets and urban spaces, downtown living and connecting the community to the nearby Kansas River. They presented their findings recently to K-State faculty and city leaders with the intent that Manhattan and any other Kansas community undergoing redevelopment could benefit from their suggestions.

"SLIM DOWNtown: Reducing Obesity Through Community Redevelopment" is a project of co-principal investigators Siepl-Coates and Madlen Simon, associate professor of architecture at K-State. It was funded in 2004 by the Topeka-based Sunflower Foundation: Healthcare for Kansans.

Participating students are fifth-year seniors in architecture. Students and their areas of research for the project include:

Carrie Mertes, Colwich, downtown streets and urban spaces; Abbie Wharton, Garden City, linking destinations with pedestrian and bicycle paths; Eric Vossman, Lake Quivira, linking destinations with pedestrian and bicycle paths; Sarah Karlan, Topeka, transforming parking lots to parks; and Luke Dolechek, linking destinations with pedestrian and bicycle paths, and Carmen Simon, storm water retention near the Linear Trail, both of Wichita.

From Missouri: Adam Hutschreider, Holts Summit, safe routes to school; Aubrey Slaybaugh, Kansas City, downtown streets as urban spaces; Amanda Sullivan, Poplar Bluff, bus routes to connect the community; Kristina Nelson, Smithville, connecting the community to the Kansas River; Chris Schneider, St. Louis, using storm water to "green" the city; and Katie Harms, Weatherby, downtown living.