51ÁÔĆć

W51ÁÔĆć talks with Kirk Harris about his research on redlining and barriers to homeownership 

A beige map outlining many lines and locations of Milwaukee's urban expansion. In the lower right corner are the words, "Suburban Development Survey" in bolded text and a simple diagram of a compass. At the top of the page are the words "Survey of Milwaukee's Phenomenal Suburban Expansion Illustrated in Map Form".

Dr. Kirk Harris spoke with W51ÁÔĆć 89.7’s Eddie Morales on his research into redlining in Milwaukee, and how this stops people from buying homes.  

As the Founding Director for the Center for Equity Practice & Planning Justice, Harris has been researching this topic for a long while. The segment and accompanying article investigate the history of redlining in Milwaukee and its impact on the community. 

“Well, people that are most affected by redlining in Milwaukee, and other places typically are Black communities,” explains Harris. “Milwaukee is one of the most highly segregated cities in the country. You can look at the communities in which many Black communities exist, and you can see the stark segregation that exists between them and their peer white communities.” 

To listen to the full segment and read the full article, visit . 

Architecture and urban planning student draws up plans to make a difference

51ÁÔĆć student Dulce Carreno sits with her laptop open in front of her

Architecture has always been an area of interest for 51ÁÔĆć master’s student Dulce Carreno, but in high school, she didn’t consider it a viable option. Instead, after graduating from her Las Vegas high school, Carreno served in the U.S. Air Force for six years, preparing and maintaining aircraft for military use.

Her military journey was borne out of necessity — to help her pay for a college degree — but in hindsight, Carreno says her military service ultimately charted her course to architecture and urban planning.

“In the military, I saw the real-world difference I was making through my job,” she said. “I knew I wanted to pursue a career that allowed me to impact people’s lives.”

Today, Carreno is enrolled in 51ÁÔĆć’s joint Master of Architecture and Urban Planning degree program, where she is learning how to build strong communities. The dual degree allows students to pursue two related professional degrees at once and complete them both in less time than it would take to earn them separately.

A surprising foundation

During her military service, Carreno worked full-time and earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Southern New Hampshire University. After graduating in 2022, she briefly worked in the digital marketing field before realizing it wasn’t the right fit for her.

“Even though marketing can be fulfilling, I didn’t feel the same level of impact as I did in the military,” she said.

As Carreno was considering what she might explore next, she learned about UW-Milwaukee from her boyfriend, who grew up in the Milwaukee area. The coordinated MArch and MUP degree program was uniquely appealing, because it offered courses that would prepare her to design buildings and create communities that support people’s well-being and health.

Committed to community

Carreno, who is Mexican-American, understands firsthand the systemic issues affecting people of color and other marginalized groups. The first in her family to pursue a master’s degree, Carreno sees her background as an asset.

“With a more diverse workforce, we can better meet the needs of different communities,” she said. For example, architects of color may have specific ideas about what resources and spaces communities of color need to thrive.

After graduation, Carreno hopes to work as an architect designing community-focused buildings such as libraries and K-12 schools. Her long-term dream is to use her skills to work in disaster zones and help communities as they rebuild.

For now, Carreno’s commitment to community shines through in her role as co-president of the student chapter of the . The chapter leads architecture firm tours and helps students establish direct connections in the field before they graduate.

“Even one professional connection can help someone get an internship or even a job,” Carreno said.

More architects and urban planners from diverse backgrounds means urban spaces and communities that serve and address the needs of everyone — not just a few. Carreno is glad to be a part of the effort, saying, “I truly feel most fulfilled when I’m helping people and communities thrive.”

Story by Ashley Abramson | Explore more in Make New Waves

The Washington Post quotes Urban Planning co-chair on surge in pedestrian deaths

Headshot of Robert Schneider in front of a street.

Dr. Robert Schneider (Professor & Co-Chair, Urban Planning) was featured in The Washington Post for his expertise on the rise in pedestrian fatalities and strategies to reduce them. Schneider is recognized nationally for his research on pedestrian safety and for co-developing , which the authors of the article used to identify concentrations of pedestrian fatalities.

In the article by Ian Duncan and Emmanuel Martinez with graphics by Dylan Moriarty, Schneider discussed how road design, high vehicle speeds, and inequitable investment contribute to dangerous conditions for pedestrians.

“Wherever we have these hotspots, these communities are not getting what they need,” Schneider said. “Yes, it’s the design, but it’s more than that. There’s bigger socioeconomic problems, lack of political power, recognition, those are consistent.”

Read the full story at  

Marketplaces: Where Food Access, Health, and Economic Impacts Grow

Photo collage of the two speakers with an outdoor market in the background.

An Innovative Cities Lecture

Explore how public marketplaces—from farmers markets to food halls, and many more in between, provide social, economic, and health benefits; they are so much more than just a market.  Learn about the evolving ecosystem of market typologies and their implications for zoning and planning. Dive into a case study of a Milwaukee marketplace as an entrepreneurial incubator and hub for mental and physical wellness for both business owners and customers. Discover how municipal planning and zoning currently considers, and can better support, thriving marketplaces of all shapes and sizes. 

Biographies

Amanda Maria Edmonds is a sustainable food systems consultant and researcher. She is a systems-change, big-vision thinker who translates ideas and values into pragmatic, on-the-ground strategies and policies. Edmonds founded and directed Michigan-based nonprofit Growing Hope for 15 years, improving healthy food access through farmers markets, urban agriculture, youth programs, economic development, and good food policy. Between 2014-2018 she served as the Mayor of Ypsilanti, Michigan. She served under Governor Granholm on the Michigan Food Policy Council, was a founding member of the Washtenaw Food Policy Council, and has been part of the Michigan Good Food Charter leadership group for 15 years. After living in London, UK from 2019-2024, she returned to Ypsilanti, Michigan and continues consulting, focusing on policy, evaluation, & strategy, particularly as related to markets. She is also completing a doctorate in spatial planning at Wageningen University in the Netherlands, researching municipal policy and planning related to farmers markets. She has BS and MS degrees from U-Michigan’s School of Natural Resources & Environment. 

Kelly Verel oversees the Market Cities Program as the Co-Executive Director of Project for Public Spaces, an urban planning and design nonprofit based in New York. She has been with the organization since 2006, managing all projects related to planning, designing, and developing public markets. Kelly and her team have produced feasibility and business plans for the Boston Public Market and NewBo City Market in Cedar Rapids, IA. They have worked with the Granville Island Public Market in Vancouver, BC, and the ByWard Market District in Ottawa, ON, to develop revitalization strategies and plans for these historic markets. Kelly directs the organization’s annual How to Create Successful Markets training and the International Public Markets Conference (2009, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2023, and 2025). Before Project for Public Spaces, she was on the administrative team at GrowNYC Greenmarket, New York’s largest farmers market network, and has a seat on their Farmer Community Advisory Committee. 

AICP-CM credits:

Community Design Solutions announces its all-alumni 2025-2027 Industry Advisory Committee

Black-and-white collage of seven adult headshots with text reading Community Design Solutions 2025–27 Advisory Committee

Community Design Solutions (CDS), a design center housed in the School of Architecture & Urban Planning at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, has announced its all-alumni 2025-27 Industry Advisory Committee.

CDS connects students, faculty, and staff with neighborhoods, nonprofits, and public agencies across Wisconsin to support design projects that foster equity, sustainability, and meaningful community impact.

This new committee of SARUP alumni will help guide CDS’s strategy, mentor students, and strengthen partnerships that bridge academia and practice. Members include:

  • Brandon Biederman (PORT)
  • Ever Clinton (Workshop)
  • Richie Hands (Gensler)
  • Ali Kopyt (Korb Architecture)
  • Dennis Milam (Borderless Studio)
  • Lyssa Olker (HGA)
  • Chris Rute (CR Design)

“I’ve been fortunate to meet many amazing SARUP alumni with the expertise to help guide CDS forward,” said CDS Director Krisann Rehbein. “There is so much important work to be done in Milwaukee and, working alongside the Industry Advisory Committee, CDS can leverage the resources of the School of Architecture & Urban Planning to produce design and research in needed areas.”

Together, CDS and its Industry Advisory Committee will continue to advance design projects that build stronger, more resilient communities in Milwaukee.

“It is a privilege to work with people who have a connection to the school, the city, and CDS to brainstorm, share ideas, and guide our student interns.” 

SARUP students recognized by the American Institute of Architecture Northeast Illinois 

Gustafson, wearing a blue suit stands to the left of Sanchez-Magana, who is wearing white. They are posing with their awards in and smiling in front of a backdrop with the text "AIA Northeast Illinois"

Third year architecture students Zach Gustafson and Emiliano Sanchez-Magana were honored by the American Institute of Architects Northeast Illinois during its 2025 Design Awards. They were recognized for second-year studio work completed at the College of DuPage, where both previously studied.

According to a release by the College of DuPage, they were the only students to earn an award among a group of professionals and firms.

“Gustafson was awarded for his Environmental Education Center project, which featured the design of an innovative and thoughtfully conceived prairie education center on campus. Sanchez-Magana was recognized for his Urban Infill project, which involved the design of a sustainable community arts center that included galleries, studio workspace and a small residential unit to accommodate visiting artists in Chicago.”

To read the full story, visit .

Community service work grounds urban planning student in her career pursuit

Urban planning student Elaina Rodriguez stands with her hand on her hip wearing a blue hard hat at a Habitat for Humanity construction site.

Elaina Rodriguez always had an interest in health care, but knew she didn’t want to be a nurse or doctor. Instead, she saw herself using her bilingual English-Spanish skills in administrative work and followed that vision to a bachelor’s degree in health care administration from Carroll University in 2023.

“I did my undergrad during the Covid-19 pandemic, and there were a lot of conversations about the connection between health care and affordable housing. After all, access to health care depends largely on community design,” she said. “I spent a lot of time considering how public health affects community development.”

It was the spark of what would lead Rodriguez to UW-Milwaukee’s Master of Urban Planning program. She was attracted to the curriculum.

“When I saw that the program leaned heavily into learning how to engage with one’s community to make sure everyone’s voices are heard — I was interested,” she said.

Planning for health, building for equity

Rodriguez entered the MUP program as a Welford Sanders scholar, receiving a university scholarship that honors the late 51ÁÔĆć faculty member who spearheaded the development of Milwaukee’s Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.

She also interned at . There, she worked with homeowners, subcontractors and the state Department of Health Services to remove lead from the organization’s affiliate houses.

“It’s directly tied into what I’m studying: how health care and life relate,” Rodriguez said. “The lead abatement program is new, and it’s all about considering how where you live affects your health outcomes … how long you live, infant and child mortality, and even day-to-day quality of life.”

Forging connections

The thought Rodriguez brings to her studies is also evident in her extracurricular activities. She has volunteered with Best Buddies since her time at Carroll and continues to do so at UW-Milwaukee. The program fosters the development of close friendships with individuals with developmental disabilities.

“I’ve had my buddy since sophomore or junior year of undergrad and see him regularly,” Rodriguez said. “And then I have all kinds of informal buddies that I hang out with. We do dinner, Brewers and Admirals games, mini-golfing … You don’t realize the huge impact you can have on a buddy until you are fully invested in the organization.”

Rodriguez also created bridges at UW-Milwaukee, where she was an officer of the Milwaukee Student Planning Association. The organization provides opportunities for student members to attend planning-related conferences and lectures, propose solutions to real urban planning issues, and network with other students and professionals in the field.

As Rodriguez looks ahead to life after graduation, she’s excited to keep building on her core passion: “Engaging in community and making sure everyone’s voice is heard.”

Story by Kelly Aiglon | Explore more in Make New Waves

Urban Planning faculty present research at the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning Conference

Urban Planning faculty recently presented research at the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning Conference in Minneapolis. Professor Robert Schneider shared findings on traffic safety trends in large U.S. cities, a presentation that grew from his ongoing research with The Center for Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety (CPBS), a Tier-1 University Transportation Center funded by the US Department of Transportation. Schneider also joined an expert panel on mobility and accessibility.

Assistant Professor Lauren Nolan presented research at the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning (ACSP) conference about economic development subsidies for Amazon warehouse facilities and their connection to municipal fiscal distress in the Chicago region.

Bayfield Fish Hatchery project brings 51ÁÔĆć preservation students national recognition

Students pose with an example of their award-winning work.

Three students from the Historic Preservation Institute (HPI) have earned national recognition from the National Park Service, receiving honorable mention in the 2025 Charles E. Peterson Prize competition.

Under the guidance of Adjunct Assistant Professor Amanda Wagner, students Elizabeth Hanson, Michael Burrows, and Katie Tyree documented the historic Bayfield Fish Hatchery in Bayfield, Wisconsin.

Their award-winning set of measured drawings will be part of the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) collection at the Library of Congress, a distinction reserved for exemplary documentation of the nation’s architectural heritage.

The is a national competition hosted annually by the National Park Service in partnership with the American Institute of Architects, the Athenaeum of Philadelphia, and the Association for Preservation Technology.

The program promotes awareness and appreciation of America’s historic architecture through the creation of high-quality documentation that meets the rigorous standards of the Historic American Buildings Survey Programs (HABS) and the National Park Service’s Heritage Documentation Programs (HDP).

The Bayfield Fish Hatchery, also known as the Les Voigt Fish Hatchery and the R.D. Pike Fish Hatchery, was built in 1897 and designed by architect H.P. Padley. The Victorian brownstone originally served both as a residence for the superintendent and his family and as a facility to breed and spawn fish that helped, and continues to help, restock Lake Superior.

The HPI team’s work supported ongoing preservation efforts led by the Friends of the Fish Hatchery, who invited the group to document the building.

Using FARO Laser Scanners to capture detailed point clouds and developing their drawings in Revit, the students produced a HABS-standard documentation set that captured both the precision and artistry required of the competition.

“I am very proud of Elizabeth, Michael, and Katie,” Wagner said. “Through their careful study, they revealed the richness and quiet beauty of a building that might otherwise have been overlooked. Their work was rightfully recognized with a Peterson Prize.”

The students and their professor will attend the Charles E. Peterson Award Ceremony this November in Providence, Rhode Island, during the Association for Preservation Technology Conference. The win is marks a winning track record for the Historic Preservation Institute.

“This is the second time 51ÁÔĆć has been awarded the Peterson Prize, and only the second time we’ve submitted for it,” Wagner noted. “Our two-for-two record is a testament to the strength and quality of the preservation program at SARUP.”

Story by Oliver J. Johnson

Professor Schermer delivers talk at NC State, invited to write preface for forthcoming book

In October, Professor Brian Schermer visited NC State’s College of Design to deliver a talk titled The Amphibious Design Researcher and meet with PhD students. His talk explored how architectural research moves between the high, hard ground of theory and the murky swamplands of practice—where evocative ideas from both realms inspire design thinking and compelling research questions.

Professor Schermer was also invited to write the preface for a forthcoming book celebrating the legacy of Professor Henry Sanoff, who founded NC State’s PhD in Design program 25 years ago. The book honor Sanoff’s influential contributions to participatory design and design education.