Environmental Design Capstone

University of Oklahoma Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture
SP26, EnD 4993, Monday 5:00 - 7:40 PM, Gould Hall 395
Dr. Wei Liu, AICP, CNU-A, Assistant Professor, wliu@ou.edu
Office Hours: Mondays 2:00 – 3:00 PM at Gould Hall 245L or remotely by Zoom, request by email

Assignments

Assignment instructions will be posted on this page. All submissions must be made through Canvas.
For group assignments, one submission per group is required. Submitted work will be shared with all group members.

Assignment 1 Preliminary Research

On February 2, you will be introduced to the final project for this course. This assignment serves as the preliminary research phase, intended to help the class understand the project context and prepare for upcoming activities.

For this assignment, the class will be divided into task-based groups of 4–5 students.

There are six tasks. Each student will be assigned one task. Students assigned to the same task are encouraged to coordinate and discuss how they plan to approach the work, identify sub-tasks. This is not a group project, each student is responsible for producing and submitting their own individual work.

Groupings apply only to this assignment; groups may change for future tasks.

All students should be prepared to briefly present their findings during class on February 9. Your work will be shared with the class as a reference for the project.

Tasks

Each student will be responsible for one of the following research components:

• History of the Place
  Research the historical development of the study area across multiple dimensions (e.g., settlement patterns, economic development, transportation, and major transformations). Use concise narratives and relevant images to illustrate the evolution of the place.
• Basemap
  Create base maps for the city and the study area. Your task is expected to produce clear, well-scaled maps that include key dimensions and spatial references.
• Socioeconomic Information
  Research demographic and socioeconomic conditions relevant to the study area. Use concise narratives supported by diagrams, infographics, or charts to communicate key findings.
• Environmental Context
  Conduct a virtual environmental audit using tools such as Google Street View. Use captured images and written descriptions to document existing environmental conditions, including streetscape character, shade, comfort, and potential constraints.
• Land Use & Activities
  Analyze existing land uses and activity patterns within and around the study area, with particular attention to how spaces are currently used throughout the day.
• Stakeholder Interview Preparation
  Develop a set of interview questions for community stakeholders. Your job is responsible for reviewing findings from other groups and synthesizing key themes to inform the interview framework.

Student List

Submission Deadline

Assignment 1 is due on Monday, February 9 at 11:59 AM (noon).
The Stakeholder Interview Preparation group could submit their work by 11:59 PM on February 9, as this task requires reviewing and synthesizing findings from all other students’ work.

Assignment 2 Complete Streets Brief

Identify a street you are familiar with that is currently automobile-dominant in design and use. This could be a street you experience regularly near campus or one from your hometown. Using this street as a case study, develop a Complete Streets Communication Brief Sheet.

Your brief sheet must include the following elements:

• Project Title
• Basic Project Information such as location and street length
• Problem Statement (150 words max.)
• Modal Focus Checklist (Include a checkbox chart addressing: pedestrians, bicycles, micromobility users, transit users, freight providers, motorists, or more)
• Project Context (150 words max.)
• Project Improvements (Two-column table format: problem and description of improvement)
• One image showing the existing condition
• One image showing the proposed condition (hand drawing or digital illustration)
• Reference

Submission Requirements

• Individual work
• File format: PDF
• Max. length: 2 pages
• Refer to the visual style and layout of the required readings (Complete Streets Case Studies)

Submission Deadline

Assignment 2 is due on Monday, February 23 at 11:59 AM (noon).

Assignment 3 Final Project Design Proposal (CANCELED)

Prepare a one-page proposal outlining your design recommendation for the streetscape of 5th and 6th Avenue in Durant.

Your proposal should include:

1. Streetscape Elements (Required)
   
   • Traffic lanes (number and/or width)
   • Bike lanes (width)
   • Sidewalks (width)
   • Green buffers/planting/furniture zones, if applicable (width)
   • On-street parking, if applicable (width)
2. Special Design Areas (Optional but encouraged)
   Identify any specific intersections or segments along the corridor that may require special design treatment beyond your typical streetscape proposal.
   • Use street names to clearly define locations (e.g., intersection of 6th Ave & Elm St, or the segment between Elm St and Live Oak St on 6th Ave)
   • Briefly explain what makes this location unique, such as adjacent land uses, higher pedestrian activity, key destinations or nodes, and/or strong connections to surrounding neighborhoods
   • Propose targeted design interventions, such as special paving materials, public space features, and/or placemaking elements.

Submission Requirements

• Individual work
• 1 page (concise and clear)
• Draft (work-in-progress)

Submission Deadline

Assignment 3 is due on Monday, March 23 at 11:59 AM (noon).

Assignment 4 Final Project Draft

Working in groups, prepare a draft of your final project for the Durant corridor (5th & 6th Avenue).
Your submission should include:

1. Context Understanding
   • Key site conditions (land use, community character, constraints, opportunities)
   • Insights from the charrette and preliminary study
2. Mobility Diagram
   • Overall circulation strategy
   • Movement of different users (vehicles, pedestrians, bikes, etc.)
   • Key connections across the corridor
3. Special Nodes and/or Sections
   • Identify important intersections or segments
   • Propose targeted design strategies
4. Streetscape Typology
   • Typical street sections or typologies
   • Include major elements (travel lanes, bike facilities, sidewalks, etc.)
5. Representation Reference
   • Select images that represent how you plan to visualize and present your design
   • These should be street-level views and/or plan views

Submission Requirements

• Group work
• PDF

Submission Deadline

Assignment 4 is due on Monday, April 6 at 11:59 PM.

Assignment 5 Final Project Draft Refinement

Working in groups, revise and strengthen your previous draft of the Durant corridor project (5th & 6th Avenue).

Submission Requirements

• Group work
• PDF
• Refined draft (more precise, but not final)

Submission Deadline

Assignment 5 is due on Monday, April 20 at 11:59 PM.

Assignment 6 AI-Assisted Representation Test

Using an AI image generation tool of your choice, develop at least two (2) visual representations of your project.

Each representation must be developed through a thread. A thread (or chat history) is the full sequence of interaction between you and the AI tool for the drawing. This includes:

• Your initial prompt
• All refined/revised prompts
• The AI-generated images at each step
• The iteration process

Submission Requirements

A Word/PDF document that includes:

• Prompt log
• Process images
• Final selected images
• Short reflection on what worked/did not work and what you learned about using AI for representation

Submission Deadline

Assignment 6 is due on Monday, April 27 at 11:59 PM.