*Reading and homework assignments should be completed prior to the class session where they are listed. All readings are listed by author’s last name with the exception of government websites which are listed by title. PDFs are available on Blackboard.
Week 1 Course themes and key terms introduced; paying attention; public space
Aug 25 Introduction; public space; Stavrides
Aug 30 Spaces and feelings; paying attention
Reading: Gehl; Odell (excerpts)
Week 2 Site Visit #1 MetroTech Commons and Downtown BK; Guest lecture: land use and urbanism history (Jason Montgomery, Architectural Technology Dept), Cadman Plaza Architectural Tour (Michael Duddy, Architectural Technology Dept); ownership of space
Sep 1 Cadman Plaza Architectural Tour (guest facilitated)
Reading: New York City’s Privately Owned Public Spaces; “About that Square”
Sept 6 Metrotech Commons
Reading: Shepard & Smithsimon (excerpts)
Week 3 Sociopolitical dimensions of walking / disappearing spaces / spatial rules / “empty” spaces; Guest: Gowanus Plant Walk facilitated by Ellie Irons
Sept 8 Land use and urbanism history (guest lecture); research using historic photos and newspapers
Reading: Pujol “Walking Urban Memories”
Sept 13 Vacant spaces / Gowanus plant walk
Reading: Irons
Week 4 Guest lecture: Brooklyn waterfront history (Susan Phillip, Hospitality Dept); ecology and industry; zoning; neighborhood research
Sept 15 Your neighborhood; my neighborhood
Homework: Observational research activity in your neighborhood
Reading: Busá
Sept 20 Guest Lecture: Brooklyn waterfront
Homework: Site report #1 Due
Sept 22 My Brooklyn (film) and discussion
Sept 27 No Classes Scheduled
Sept 29 Classes follow Monday Schedule
Oct 4 No Classes Scheduled
Viewing: Citizen Jane
Week 5 Site Visit #2 Brooklyn Bridge Park
Oct 6 Online Documents; Government Documents research
Reading: Kensinger
Oct 11 Brooklyn Bridge Park Visit
Reading: Dawson
Week 6 Guest lecture: Juan Barahona (SMJ Development); land use research
Oct 13 Guest lecture; East Side Coastal Resiliency Project
Reading: Kimmelman, Kiel
Oct 18 Occupy Sandy / flooding in Red Hook; Research methods: Library sources
Homework: Site Report #2 Due
Week 7 Site Visit #3 parts 1& 2: Red Hook Visit (Guest Facilitator: Marcus Wilford, Landscape Designer, Architect & Urban Planner); performance and disruption
Oct 20 Red Hook Visit (guest facilitated)
Reading: Montalbano
Oct 22 Community District Profiles; Public social science research methods
Homework: Red Hook community survey / questionnaire design based on Community District Profiles
Week 8 Guest Lecture: Anna Tsomo and Aderinsola Babawale (No North BK Fracked Gas Pipeline Coalition) with students from the Teen Climate Justice Program; Land Back
Oct 25 Red Hook Visit; Invisible theater & disruptive interventions
Reading: Boal
Oct 27 Final project introduced; Groups assigned for final projects; community and issue research
Viewing: Climate Changes Reverend Billy (film); Next Epoch Seed Library (film)
Week 9 Site Visit #4: Intervention sites; community and issue research; final projects
Nov 1 Sixth Street Community Center Visit (guest facilitated / lecture)
No Pipelines / Sacrifice Zones
Reading: Moran
Nov 3 Podcast overview / examples
Homework: Research for Annotated Bibliography; listen to a podcast–take notes on format and research integration and be prepared to share with the class.
Homework: Site Report #3 Due
Week 10 Research Seminar: Research Questions, Proposals, Annotated Bibliography
Nov 8 Final project group work
Reading / Listening: Boyd & Mitchell; “Social Justice Tours.”
Nov 10 Final project group work; annotated bibliographies and copyright
Homework: Final project proposal due
Week 11 Podcast recording and editing
Nov 15 Final project group work; Podcast tech instructions
Nov 17 Final project group work; OpenLab tech instructions
Homework: Annotated bibliography Due
Week 12 Final site visit
Nov 22 St. Ann’s Warehouse visit / Adaptive reuse (guest facilitated)
Nov 24 College Closed; No Classes Scheduled
Week 13 Final project group work; Podcast final editing and Documentation
Nov 29 Final project group work
Dec 1 Final project group work; Develop Openlab project sites
Week 14 Group work: documentation
Dec 6 Final project group work
Dec 8 Final project group work
Week 15 Final project presentations & reflections
Dec 13 Final project presentations & reflections
Dec 15 Final project presentations & reflections
