Design, Health and Criminal Justice Students Unite to Examine Spokane’s Urban Growth

SPOKANE, Wash.—The Washington State University Design Institute’s third annual Design Research Symposium successfully united students in the disciplines of criminal justice, nursing, architecture, interior design and landscape architecture in an effort to address the challenges and opportunities created by the downtown Spokane housing boom. Each discipline was represented by a featured speaker who addressed the question, “What makes a Livable Community?”

Students also addressed this question for designated areas of Spokane when they gathered for the Gamelan, a brainstorming event modeled after a traditional Indonesian instrumental ensemble comprised of different percussion instruments that make a wonderful melody out of a mixture of rhythmical sounds. Seeing the students from each discipline collaborate with one another to find possible solutions to problems was music to the conference hosts’ ears.

After studying the four census tracts covering downtown Spokane, students came up with suggested strategies to address three areas of concern that surfaced during the Gamelan. The first concern was a need to develop a strategy to increase outreach to the disadvantaged. Students suggested strategies to strengthen financial incentives for development of community centers, reinforcement of support for current community centers, and a municipal land trust to minimize the cost of rent or housing.

The second area of concern focused on safety. “The Security Ambassador program of downtown Spokane is excellent,” said the students in their post-conference debrief. “It would be wonderful to expand this program and the boundaries of the area patrolled.”

Students suggested building on this and other security initiatives such as more comprehensive lighting throughout downtown. Making these changes would lead to measurable feelings of security, often more of a factor for downtown livability than actual security threats.

A final suggestion placed emphasis on connectivity—creating spaces that provide opportunities for interaction and improving existing networks of alleyways to create a better connection between indoor and outdoor areas.

To the students, this was a great opportunity to collaborate with the Downtown Spokane Partnership (DSP) and participate across disciplines to come up with strategies and solutions.

Gamelan moderator Nan Ellin, an associate professor of architecture at Arizona State University and a well-known urban and architectural theorist, summarized the students’ findings and recommendations and provided a theory of integral urbanism for downtown Spokane.

“If Spokane begins a new community conversation about existing networks between people and places, then we can find a way to enhance the ambiance of downtown while celebrating the local culture,” said Ellin.

“Having the opportunity to partner with the Design Institute on the Design Research Symposium resulted in further connecting students and faculty to our downtown,” said Marty Dickinson, president of the Downtown Spokane Partnership. “As downtown Spokane continues to evolve and grow, there is a constant need to partner and collaborate with groups like the Design Institute. This will maximize our design and growth plans while ensuring a focus on creating a balanced downtown that is appealing and affordable to all.”

About the Interdisciplinary Design Institute

The Interdisciplinary Design Institute at Washington State University Spokane advances knowledge to enhance the quality of people’s lives in the built and natural environment through interdisciplinary instruction, research and community service. Research and design at the institute focus in particular on people and place, design history and community service learning, with sustainable design being the theme throughout the curriculum. Faculty and students from all design disciplines are brought together for a one-of-a-kind opportunity in higher learning and discovery. Internationally renowned faculty and students from architecture, interior design and landscape architecture work collaboratively to improve people’s lives through the advancement of design. This distinctive interdisciplinary experience, combined with state-of-the-art facilities located near downtown Spokane, creates an outstanding professional academic and research environment.

About WSU Spokane

WSU Spokane is the urban campus of Washington State University, a land-grant research university founded in 1890. The campus features advanced studies and research in health sciences and health professions, the design disciplines, education, social and policy sciences, and science and technology. Washington State University is one of just 95 public and private research universities with very high research activity, according to the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching classifications. In addition, U.S. News & World Report ranks WSU as one of the top public research universities in the nation.

Web sites:

– Interdisciplinary Design Institute: www.idi.spokane.wsu.edu
– Downtown Spokane:  www.downtownspokane.net/downtownspokane/

– WSU Spokane: www.spokane.wsu.edu

– Past news release on Interdisciplinary Design: www.news.spokane.wsu.edu