ISU Community Design Lab
DESCRIPTION
CONTACT NAME The ISU Community Design Lab partners with communities and
Courtney Long organizations to combine local knowledge and design research expertise to
create equity and resilience through inclusive, transferable, innovative
strategies and tactics. They are a partnership between Iowa State University
EMAIL College of Design and the Office of Extension and Outreach. The Lab
[email protected] encompasses many fields of expertise including landscape architecture,
architecture, sustainable agriculture, community and regional planning and
community engagement. Their primary areas of focus include: health and
PHONE
wellness, infrastructure and prototypes and community revitalization.
515-294-2213
Partnership with communities is the foundation of their work; while they bring
professional expertise and research-driven methodology to the table, the local
OFFICE ADDRESS knowledge and decision-making provided by their community partners is
2321 North Loop Drive, Suite 121
Ames, IA 50010 essential.
The Agricultural Urbanism Toolkit is a program that was created through a
Leopold Center Grant in 2014 at the Community Design Lab. Currently, they
TYPE OF WORK are developing local and regional food system plans in three Iowa
Community Based, Educational/School, Garden
Program communities: Cedar Rapids, Cresco and Des Moines. The toolkit process
was created to assist in decision making and design for local and regional
food systems using agricultural best management practices or tactics. The
COUNTIES
Howard
Linn
Polk
Story
Activities
Statewide
toolkit promotes public interest design through engagement and networking
with community leaders in efforts to build a holistic food system that is
uniquely designed for each community. This toolkit uses agricultural urbanism
tactics (i.e. school gardens, farmers markets, and food hubs) as a strategy to
promote local food system revitalization in communities.
HOW TO HELP
Communities or organizations who are interested in participating in the
process of the Agricultural Urbanism Toolkit can contact the ISU Community
Design Lab to learn more: [email protected].
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