The Design Process

Participating public officials from the South Florida region are given the opportunity to understand design principles and to apply that understanding to specific sites in their communities based upon the projects they have identified.  For each session, a resource team is assembled from an extensive array of professional fields.  These experts are able to assess urban design and city planning projects quickly and can move from initial concept to specific options in a short time. The expertise of the resource team is selected to match the needs identified in the projects that the participants have selected.  Each of two annual sessions (spring and fall) involves four public officials, eight to ten design experts and is convened at the Florida Atlantic University Jupiter campus, located in the new urban community of Abacoa.

A briefing book, including the participants' case studies, maps, photographs, related articles, as well as background information of participants and resource team members, is prepared and sent in advance to participants and the resource team.

The Program

After officials are accepted into the program, the staff of Florida Atlantic University's Center for Urban and Environmental Solutions meets with the officials and their staff to discuss their projects and explain the program. Design Institute staff, along with students in FAU's Department of Urban and Regional Planning program then works with community staff to collect background information and prepare the briefing book to be distributed to all participants and resource experts. An explanation of the two-day Institute program follows.

Day One

Port St. Lucie Site Visit

West Palm Beach Site Visit

The program formally begins with a site visit by one or more of the resource team members to the project area identified by each public official participant. This allows the resource team member to directly view the participant's project or problem areas and for that team member to become a second voice to the officials regarding the site during the Design Institute session. The elected official is expected to conduct both this tour of the project area and a briefing by staff.

Keynote Speaker: Charles Jordan

The evening activities begin with a reception, a keynote address by a prominent official or design expert and dinner. The evening's activities are held in the new urban community of Abacoa in Jupiter, usually with the keynote address and reception held at the Florida Atlantic University Campus. This presentation is open to the public and marketed to planning and design professionals, citizens, academics and the development community. It is a unique educational opportunity for a broad audience that emphasizes the importance of design in community planning. Co-sponsorship of the evening event usually includes professional organizations such as the Florida Chapter of the American Planning Association, the American Institute of Architects, the American Society of Landscape Architects and local Boards of Realtors.

Day Two

The full day session is conducted at Florida Atlantic University's Jupiter Campus. Each official presents his or her project. The design experts who visited the site add additional comments. The eight-member design team then presents their analyses and participates in an open discussion of options. The other officials offer their insights and experience. All elements of design are in play-planning, urban design, landscape design, economic development, density, infrastructure planning, and financial realities. The design process and the influence public officials can have on the form and quality of their communities is emphasized.

The day continues with presentations by each public official, each of whom, in turn, presents their community's issue or project. The resource team examines a range of design ideas, precedents, and improvement strategies. The team identifies issues, offers suggestions, and discusses alternatives for the officials' case studies. This process is intended to offer new perspectives and lead to innovative and creative problem solving. The official leaves with a strategy of short range and long-range options. A final report is produced shortly thereafter and distributed to the public officials and resource team and other interested parties.

Council Member Elizabeth Tennyson

Design Institute Moderator Marie York

Palm Beach County Commissioner Jeff Koons