Sustainable Cities Institute

🎓✨ Spring 2026 SCYP Final Presentations Are Here! ✨🎓

This week, University of Oregon and Portland State University students are showcasing the research and recommendations from their hands-on class projects developed in partnership with Oregon communities.

This term's projects address real-world challenges in the Cities of Eugene, The Dalles, and Tualatin—from downtown activation and bicycle transportation to GIS analysis, public relations campaigns, and civil and environmental engineering projects.

📚 This summer, a SCYP student report writer will compile each project's findings into final reports for our city partners, creating lasting resources that communities can use long after the term ends.

A huge thank you to our faculty, students, and community partners for another incredible term of collaboration, learning, and impact across Oregon. 💛🦆

🎉 We’re excited to celebrate the conclusion of an incredible year-long partnership with the City of Tualatin - Government!🌿✨

The event celebrates the 2025-26 academic year collaboration between the City of Tualatin and the University of Oregon’s Sustainable City Year Program (SCYP). Throughout the partnership, students and faculty from across disciplines engaged in course projects that helped support community priorities, with a particular focus on supporting downtown revitalization efforts.

A big thank you to all faculty, students, staff, elected officials, and community members for supporting the partnership.

👉 Visit the Virtual Open House, to learn more about this year’s projects and outcomes of student work. https://lnkd.in/g2uYUrKE

✨Eugene Class Highlight: Bicycle Transportation (PPPM 4/538) taught by Professor Marc Schlossberg ✨

Students are partnering with City of Eugene Transportation to explore strategies that encourage more people to bike in Eugene more often. Through infrastructure redesign concepts, encouragement campaigns, and policy recommendations, students are developing ideas to support a more accessible, safer, and connected bicycling experience across the community.

🚲 Join us at the Farmers Market Pavilion on Wednesday, June 3, from 2-4 pm to view class posters and connect with students about their ideas to support the future of bicycle transportation in Eugene.

The event is free and open to the public — we hope to see you there!

✨Eugene Class Highlight: PR Campaigns (J COM 472/572) taught by Attila Schillinger✨ How to Bring More People to Downtown Eugene

University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication Public Relations students are working with Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Eugene to develop new approaches and create ideas, strategies, and tactics on how to increase the number of people who visit downtown Eugene to work, eat, play, and shop.

University of Oregon student Dana Cowley, reflected, “Working on the project has made me more aware of everything downtown has to offer. Being a student, it’s so easy to get caught up in the university, and UO and Eugene become interchangeable in your head. Being able to take a step back and take the time to intentionally learn about and visit downtown has instilled a new sense of pride for this city in me.”

👉 Check out recent photos from the team’s visit to discover all there is to love about downtown Eugene!

✨New Partnership Spotlight: City of Eugene✨

This term, the City of Eugene Government is teaming up with University of Oregon students and faculty across three courses to explore strategies that support a more connected, vibrant, and active downtown.

SCYP projects in planning, public administration, transportation, and public relations are working alongside city staff and stakeholders to advance downtown efforts—conducting qualitative analysis, transportation connectivity studies, and public relations campaigns to support downtown activation.

In Professor Robert Binder’s Qualitative Methods for Public Decision-Making course (PPPM 410/510), students are heading into the field to find out how residents and visitors interact with the Famers Market Pavilion and surrounding public spaces. Using interviews, observations, and focus groups, students are uncovering what makes Eugene’s downtown spaces vibrant, welcoming, and functional. Their research will directly support the City of Eugene to design and develop open spaces downtown that supports community wellbeing.

Early in the term, students had the opportunity to conduct a site visit of the study area lead by Eric Brown, Eugene Downtown Manager. 👉 Check out photos from the field!

We're thrilled to partner with the City of Tualatin - Government this academic year to support downtown revitalization efforts!

Architecture students did incredible work last term developing imaginative concepts for a more connected, walkable, and nature-filled downtown area — reimagining Tualatin as a “village within a village.”

Explore their visionary ideas and the City’s partnership in action:
https://tualatinlife.com/featured/uo-architecture-students-reimagine-downtown-tualatin/?fbclid=IwY2xjawRnMLpleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFRUkJQNWZFbVhWNkp2YXgzc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHo-bVj6KZ-h_suUHC0AFuMT1Z7XFEkAOpaxGQgrWOL_2JamsJ94I5aYZ9n_K_aem_yi5x0MAXaClxgcCyFq2O1Q

As part of the Sustainable City Year Program's partnership with the City of Tualatin - Government, a UO Architecture class designed and presented concepts to fulfill the community's mission of rejuvenating its downtown area.
https://tualatinlife.com/featured/uo-architecture-students-reimagine-downtown-tualatin/

✨Student Spotlight: Ava Tai✨

Meet Ava Tai ’27 who is double majoring in architecture and ethnic studies!

During fall term, an Architecture Design Studio focused on Middle Housing in the City of Oakridge. University of Oregon School of Architecture & Environment students partnered with the community to design innovative middle housing solutions for infill in Uptown and a three-acre site to gain hands-on experience while addressing real community needs.

Ava shared, “Writing the SCYP report for Oakridge helped me to think about architecture and design through a more community-based lens! Balancing affordable housing needs while maintaining historical character and local spirit was a fun challenge. I am incredibly thankful for the opportunity to have an engaging and collaborative course that worked closely with community members and local government to envision a beautiful future for the city."

👉 Check out Ava’s final report summarizing work from the class on University of Oregon Libraries Scholars Bank: https://hdl.handle.net/1794/32494

Thank you, Ava, for sharing your experience with us!

✨ Student Spotlight: Claire Sebree ✨

Meet Oregon Law JD Candidate Claire Sebree!

During fall semester, students in the Land Use Law course partnered with the City of Gresham - Government to explore updates to the City’s Municipal Sign Code. Working with Professor Adams, students analyzed legal frameworks alongside community priorities like aesthetics, safety, and economic vitality—delivering tailored recommendations grounded in real-world legal precedent.

Claire shared: “I’m honored to have helped compile our class research into a project with real-world impact. It’s been an incredible opportunity to apply what we’ve learned while supporting the City of Gresham.”

🔗 Check out the final report on University of Oregon Libraries Scholars Bank!

Thank you, Claire, for sharing your experience with us!

✨ Student Spotlight: Jake Surprenant ✨

Meet Jake, a University of Oregon PPPM Master in Community & Regional Planning student!

This fall, Jake and his classmates developed a vision for a 41-acre site in downtown City of Tualatin - Government focusing on walkability, age-friendly design, and economic opportunity. Their work highlights compact infill, vibrant public spaces, and people-first infrastructure.

💬 “SCYP was an incredible introduction to the planning and design process… I couldn’t have imagined a better community partner than the City of Tualatin.”

👉 Check out Jake’s final report summarizing work from the class on University of Oregon Libraries Scholars Bank: https://scholarsbank.uoregon.edu/items/61dfc45c-1745-4a78-bf1d-2172e529eaaf

✨Class Project Spotlight: Planning for Tigard’s Future✨

Students teamed up with the City of Tigard Government to explore how local plans and policies align with changing state and federal transportation and land use requirements.

This term, students:
🔎 Conducted a policy audit to identify what’s working and where gaps exist
🚦 Explored Tigard during a site visit, then developed future mobility and land use scenarios
📊 Shared their findings with city staff during week 10

The goal? Provide Tigard with actionable insights that support proactive planning and long-term decision-making. Congratulations to students on their fantastic work this term!