Urban Centres in Universities: Institutional Alternatives for Urban Design

Abstract

University-based urban centres come in several types: research centres, university-based firms, community advocacy centres, extension agencies, studios, clearinghouses and umbrella or convening organizations. They all potentially link an innovative or educational milieu in the university to wider urban processes, though not all live up to this potential. In particular they can face difficulties interacting with students and faculty, staffing issues, and problems interacting with governments and the private sector.

Acknowledgements

The author thanks the editor, Taner Oc, and two anonymous reviewers for thoughtful comments on the paper.

Notes

1. Taher (1971, p. i), in an inventory from a high period of such centres, listed approximately 300 urban centres. Forsyth et al. (2000) studied 17 university-based urban centres, examining how they incorporated service learning into their missions, and how they served various constituencies: faculty, students, the larger university and the public being served. See also Association for Community Design (2005).