USU LAEP Students' Studio Project Receives Second Statewide Award

During the Fall 2018 semester, students in the Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning’s (LAEP) Urban Theory and Design studio, led by Caroline Lavoie, completed a project with the City of Ogden. Their work, which previously received a Utah American Society of Landscape Architects Honor Award, recently won a 2019 Utah American Planning Association Outstanding Award.

The project focused largely on reimagining the railyard and sites around the Ogden and Weber Rivers. Students developed plans to reconnect these sites to the city and enrich the city’s identity. Four themes emerged through their work: rediscovering history, reconnecting community, significance of the rivers and reconnecting assets.

Students worked closely with LAEP alumnus Greg Montgomery, a planner for the City of Ogden, to provide an analysis and develop conceptual designs for the project. Class members presented their work to the Ogden City Council in April, and their vision, plans and ideas were embraced enthusiastically by city officials.

Following completion of the project, Montgomery nominated the project for an APA award. Lavoie said having a client put in the time and effort to submit nomination materials for a project isn’t typical, and everyone involved in the project feels fortunate to have worked with Montgomery and the City of Ogden.

To learn more about this project, visit laep.usu.edu/files/ogden-railyard-project-2018-19.pdf.