In today’s interconnected world, many of the most pressing issues facing our communities, such as climate change, rising cost of living, and socio-spatial injustices, transcend traditional municipal boundaries. Regions have (re)emerged as critical units for planning and policy-making, encompassing the complex systems and relationships that shape our urban and rural landscapes.
This advanced planning studio responds to these regional-scale challenges by exploring issues in regional growth management, environmental sustainability, and socio-spatial justice. Through collaboration with the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region (WMR) and other relevant partners, students gain hands-on experience developing innovative strategies for sustainable and equitable development. The studio integrates spatial analysis, policy development, and physical design, while remaining attentive to the interplay between local design practices and regional dynamics. Each year, the studio takes on a theme that reflects regional priorities.
In the Winter of 2024, the studio projects addressed revitalization of main streets in selected small towns across the WMR (Stonewall and Oakbank). The projects evolved from conversations with municipalities in the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region who are exploring ways to boost their local economies, attract new businesses and residents, and create vibrant, livable communities. In collaboration with the Rural Manitoba Economic Development Corporation, students conducted field observations to assess the current state of main streets in selected towns, developed a toolkit for evaluating main street vitality, and proposed context-sensitive design and policy interventions to revitalize these areas as hubs of community life and economic activity.
