2002 HOPES Conference
Introduction
Design Charette
Keynote Speakers
Schedule
Workshops
Panels
Registration
Lodging
Volunteer info
Other Information
DESIGN CHARRETTE

Daylighting the Millrace

People + Water + Technology + Art + Education + Time
Design Charrette:
Thursday, April 18th - Friday, April 19th
Opening Presentation - Thursday 5:00 p.m.
Charrette Review:
Friday, April 20th at 4:00 pm.
Keynote Speaker:
Friday, April 20th at 8:00 pm.

To present a unique Ecological Design Charrette, the EDC has fostered partnerships with the City of Eugene Department of Planning, the Institute for a Sustainable Environment, the Center for Housing Innovation, the Eugene Water and Electric Board, the University of Oregon Departments of Architecture and Landscape Architecture and more.

This year’s design problem focuses on a critical riverfront site and connection found at the center of the Eugene/Springfield metropolitan area. The problem provides an opportunity to explore the wide array of issues and develop the interdisciplinary relationships central to ecological design. Teams will be coordinated to include a diverse range of pre-professionals, design professionals, and community members.

Each team will design and present a proposal for daylighting the tail end of the old millrace waterway, connecting downtown and the University of Oregon to the Willamette River. The charrette will generate a body of knowledge and exploration helpful to the real planning and development process happening for the site. It is our hope that the ideas brought forth through the charette will help expand the possibilities under consideration, and guide the people of Eugene in crafting this critical area of their city.

The 24-hour charrette will begin on Thursday afternoon with an introduction to the site and a presentation of the critical issues by a group of professors, students, local officials, and conference guests. A panel of speakers, professors and professionals will review the work on Friday at 4 pm, before the opening keynote address.

Goals Include:

  • improve and sustain the health of the adjacent Willamette River ecosystem;
  • manage automobile, railroad and mass transportation moving through the site;
  • design effective storm water drainage systems;
  • revitalize, reopen and clean the old, logging millrace
  • develop a vital, and interconnected civic waterfront;
  • make a stronger connection between the UO and Eugene’s downtown;
  • design a new residential enclave with affordable housing alternatives;
  • accommodate the new Eugene Federal Courthouse proposed for the center of the site;
  • integrate the new design with the existing civic, governmental and University initiatives.
The participants of the charrette will develop an idea about our relationships to each other and the natural environment and present a serious but hopeful vision for our future, based on a holistic, ecological and culturally sustainable foundation.