University ecodistrict event

The Center for Academic Excellence invites Portland State students, faculty, staff and Portland community members to explore the elements of ecodistricts tomorrow from 8:30 a.m. through 10:30 a.m. on campus.

Tim Smith, director of urban design at SERA Architects, will speak at the second part of a two-part series on ecodistricts, co-sponsored by Portland State’s Finance and Administration office.

The interactive event will be held in the Multicultural Center, located in Smith Memorial Student Union, room 228. After Smith’s presentation, participants will have maps at their tables and will get the chance to use game pieces representative of ecodistrict elements to plan their own districts.

The first part of the series, which was held on Oct. 29, brought together 200 community members, students and faculty to discuss the basics of what an ecodistrict is and what a university ecodistrict might encompass.

“We are putting on these events as part of an initiative to create campus conversations about salient issues,” said Amy Spring, assistant director of community university partnerships.

The presenters at the first event were Rob Bennett, executive director of the Portland Sustainability Institute and Mark Gregory, associate vice president for Finance and Administration.

The second phase of the event focused on a discussion between Smith, Heather Spalding, outreach coordinator for campus sustainability, and Jennifer Allen, associate professor of public administration. The three comprised a panel focused on how community partners, students and faculty can get involved in the development of the Portland State EcoDistrict, according to the university’s sustainability Web site.

During the third phase of the event, participants were asked to write their questions and ideas for how to facilitate broad community engagement. The audience remarks were transcribed and posted at www.pdx.edu/sustainability/ecodistricts.

 

What is an ecodistrict?
An ecodistrict is a highly integrated district or neighborhood that is:
–Resource efficient
–Captures, manages and reuses a majority of energy, water and waste on site
–Is home to a range of transportation options
–Provides a rich diversity of habitat and open space
–Enhances community engagement and well-being
—www.pdx.edu/sustainability/ecodistricts