51ÁÔĆć

Parks for everyBODY: Moving Beyond Accessibility to Universally Inclusive Parks

Headshot of Damian Buchman overlayed on an image of people at the beach.

The Innovative Cities Lecture Series

“Parks for everyBODY: Moving Beyond Accessibility to Universally Inclusive Parks” presentation by Damian Buchman, co-founder of The Opportunity Center, Inc. and founder and Executive Director of The Ability Center.

Lecture Summary

While the intent of public parks is to be accessible to the public, in reality, their design often prohibits full use by people with disabilities and their loved ones. In this lecture, Damian Buchman will discuss ways to make parks not only accessible but also universally inclusive. He will discuss previous park and playground renovations and construction projects as well as current work on an 18-acre universally inclusive park in Wauwatosa. Learn about the breadth of accessibility considerations, common questions and issues, funding sources, and considerations for all stakeholders – from planners and architects to elected officials and neighborhood advocates.

Biographies

Damian Buchman is the co-founder of The Opportunity Center, Inc. and the founder and Executive Director of The Ability Center. He is a public speaker, an advocate for people with disabilities, and a cancer survivor. His work in Milwaukee and beyond focuses on enhancing accessibility in and inclusivity of recreation opportunities. Damien has been involved in adding accessibility features to three Milwaukee parks and is currently working to transform a Wauwatosa park to be universally inclusive.

AICP-CM credits will be awarded. AICP CM Credit 

Pedestrian Safety at Night: Strategies to Create 24/7 Safe Streets Networks

Side by side headshots of Dr. Bob Schneider and Dr. Rebecca Sanders.

The Innovative Cities Lecture Series

“Pedestrian Safety at Night: Strategies to Create 24/7 Safe Streets Networks” presentation by Dr. Rebecca Sanders, Founder and Principal Investigator of Safe Streets Research & Consulting, LLC, and Dr. Bob Schneider, Co-Chair of the Department of Urban Planning at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Lecture Summary

Pedestrian fatalities have increased dramatically over the last fifteen years, and over 75% of those pedestrian deaths occur in dark conditions — despite the fact that many fewer people walk at night than during the day. In this presentation, Dr. Sanders and Dr. Schneider will discuss key findings from their research on strategies to improve pedestrian safety at night. Come learn about key contributing factors to pedestrian fatalities at night; strategies for improving pedestrian nighttime safety; and guidance for implementing the proposed strategies as part of the Safe System Approach.

Biographies

Rebecca Sanders is the Founder and Principal Investigator of Safe Streets Research & Consulting, LLC. She brings 17 years of academic and consulting experience analyzing and addressing pedestrian, bicyclist, e-scooter, and motorist safety, behavior, and mobility through crash analysis, survey research, and design. Dr. Sanders is currently involved in multiple national and regional research efforts, including studying pedestrian safety in darkness and pedestrian crossing behaviors and preferences; bicycle facility safety; pedestrian and bicyclist exposure and safety modeling estimation; and innovations in High Injury Network development, Vision Zero strategies, and systemic safety methodologies and applications. Dr. Sanders earned her PhD and Master in City & Regional Planning from the University of California-Berkeley, where she conducted research through SafeTREC, and a Bachelor of Arts as a University Scholar concentrating in Spanish, French, Music, and Religion from Baylor University.

Bob Schneider is a Co-Chair of the Department of Urban Planning at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and he has 25 years of practical and research experience in the sustainable transportation field. Dr. Schneider’s safety research has identified roadways with the highest concentrations of pedestrian fatalities across the US, produced a new method for classifying pedestrian and bicycle crashes, and identified factors associated with pedestrian safety at night. Dr. Schneider earned his PhD in City and Regional Planning from the University of California-Berkeley, Master of City and Regional Planning from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a Bachelor of Arts in Geography and Mathematics from Augustana College.

AICP-CM credits will be awarded. AICP CM Credit 

Dr. Newman named dean following a national search

Headshot of Dr. Elysse Newman

Winifred (Elysse) Newman has been named Dean of the College of the Arts and Architecture, effective June 2, 2025.

Dr. Newman comes to 51ÁÔĆć from Clemson University where she serves as the Associate Dean for Research and Faculty Affairs, Mickel Professor of Architecture, and Director of the Institute for Materials, Systems, and Environments in the College of Architecture, Art, and Construction. Previously, she was Head of the Department of Architecture at the University of Arkansas, and Director of Advanced Studies at Florida International University (FIU).

“Dr. Newman’s deep understanding of the performing arts, visual arts, architecture, and urban planning make her an ideal choice for our college,” said Kevin Hartman, Interim Dean of the College of the Arts & Architecture. “Under her leadership, I am confident the Peck School of the Arts and the School of Architecture & Urban Planning will continue to flourish and grow together.”

Dr. Newman has maintained an academic career as a researcher, historian, and theorist. She received $18 million in NSF and other funding to study spatial perception and neuroaesthetics with active research in neuroscience and architecture, data visualization, STEM education, and histories of technology and science.

Dr. Newman completed her PhD in Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Planning, and Urban Design, MPhil, and MArch at Harvard University. She has a BArch and a BS in History from the University of Texas at Austin and was a candidate for a BFA in Music Theory and Composition.

The College of the Arts and Architecture, which comprises the School of Architecture and Urban Planning and the Peck School of the Arts, formed in 2023 as a key component of 51ÁÔĆć’s 2030 Action Plan. The college offers a wide range of academic programs and initiatives through the Departments of Architecture, Art & Design, Dance, Film & Animation, Music, Theatre, and Urban Planning.

Developing with TIF: Innovative Practices and Lessons Learned

Side by side headshots of Julie Emslie and Patrick Schloss.

The Innovative Cities Lecture Series

“Developing with TIF: Innovative Practices and Lessons Learned” presentation by Patrick Schloss, Economic Development Executive Director for the City of West Allis, and Julie Emslie, Economic Development Administrator for the City of LaCrosse.

Lecture Summary

Tax Incremental Financing (TIF) is one of the most influential, effective tools that municipalities have to realize change and spur (re)development within their communities – yet it’s also one of the most confusing. In this lecture, Julie Emslie and Patrick Schloss will begin with but ultimately go beyond the basics of TIF. They will address lessons learned in utilizing the tool in West Allis and LaCrosse, and they will highlight specific projects in which an innovative use of TIF brought about transformation in and created long-term value for their communities.

Biography

Patrick Schloss is the Economic Development Executive Director for the City of West Allis as well as the Vice President of the First Ring of Industrial Redevelopment Enterprise, Inc. (F.I.R.E). With over 25 years of experience in economic development, Patrick is actively engaged in redevelopment projects for an urban city that involves the deployment of multiple federal, state, and local funding sources and programs. Patrick also serves as the Vice President of a successful Community Development Entity called First-Ring Industrial Redevelopment Enterprise, Inc. (F.I.R.E.), whose efforts have included allocating over $353 million in New Market Tax Credits to support regional economic growth in Milwaukee, Racine, and Kenosha Counties. Additionally, Schloss currently services on the Vice Chair of the Board of Wisconsin Business Development, Inc. and is a Past President of WEDA. Patrick received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Marquette University.

Julie Emslie is the Economic Development Administrator for the City of La Crosse. Her work brings her to the helm of directing projects and teams that labor to support businesses and effect positive development across the city. Julie previously worked for the Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative (WWBIC) helping small businesses thrive, and in 2022 she was nominated as a Rising Star by the 7 Rivers Alliance. Prior to moving to Wisconsin, she lived in Alaska where she divided her time between her family’s remote homestead in the Alaskan bush, and Fairbanks, where she worked as a Project Manager for the Fairbanks Economic Development Corporation.

Julie is an active community member and has served in a variety of volunteer roles, such as the Chair of both the Fairbanks Young Professionals Council and Viroqua Area Montessori School Governance Council, Vernon Economic Development Association board member, Viroqua Business Park Commissioner, and she currently volunteers with the Vernon County Teen Court, a restorative justice program. Julie holds a Master of Arts in Rural Development from the University of Alaska-Fairbanks through the Peace Corps Masters International program, and she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Olivet Nazarene University.

AICP-CM credits will be awarded. AICP CM Credit 

New 51ÁÔĆć center aims to confront discrimination in urban planning, policies

Dr Kirk Harris speaking at a podium on a stage, with a large screen behind them reading “Center for Equity Practice & Planning Justice” over a city skyline image.

The University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee has established a new research center focused on confronting racial discrimination in housing and urban planning. Led by experts in 51ÁÔĆć’s School of Architecture & Urban Planning, the initiative will examine how planning policies have historically shaped—and often harmed—communities of color, with the goal of informing more equitable approaches going forward.

Read the full story on .

Leaders gather for launch of the Center for Equity Practice and Planning Justice

Erika Sanders, president and CEO of the Metropolitan Milwaukee Fair Housing Council, greets guests Friday at the introduction of the Center for Equity Practice and Planning Justice at 51ÁÔĆć. With her at the front is Kirk Harris, 51ÁÔĆć urban planning professor and the center’s founding director.

About 75 city and county leaders, representatives of community organizations, land-use planning groups and foundations, and 51ÁÔĆć faculty and staff gathered Friday to celebrate and officially launch the new 51ÁÔĆć Center for Equity Practice and Planning Justice.

The center, based at 51ÁÔĆć’s School of Architecture and Urban Planning, will be a hub for innovative planning practices, zoning and land use reforms, and equity-driven economic development approaches.

Kirk Harris, 51ÁÔĆć urban planning professor and the center’s founding director, calls it “a think tank – and a do-tank.”

Some of the notables attending the event were (from left) Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson, Kirk Harris, Provost Andrew Daire and Kevin Hartman, interim dean of the College of the Arts & Architecture.
Some of the notables attending the event were (from left) Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson, Kirk Harris, Provost Andrew Daire and Kevin Hartman, interim dean of the College of the Arts & Architecture. | Photo by Tyler Lonadier

The center will draw together thinkers, leaders and activists from across Milwaukee, many of whom attended the architecture school event to speak about their hopes and plans for the center. It’s intended to dismantle the structural impacts of segregation, in which societal benefits are distributed unequally and are dependent on place.

“This center is the first of its kind in the nation,” Harris said. “It’s a national model of how to leverage collective action to deconstruct and mitigate the causes and consequences of segregation.”

Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, a 51ÁÔĆć alum, noted the potentially wide impact of the center. “By achieving racial equity, we can become the healthiest county in Wisconsin,” Crowley said. “It will require collaboration … where all of us are building a stronger community, no matter what ZIP code we live in.”

Kirk Harris greets Sumaiyah Clark, chief equity officer for Milwaukee County. | Photo by Tyler Lonadier
Kirk Harris greets Sumaiyah Clark, chief equity officer for Milwaukee County. | Photo by Tyler Lonadier

51ÁÔĆć Provost and Associate Vice Chancellor Andrew Daire noted that the center fits well with the mission of the university.

“This center embodies a Research-1, community-engaged, urban-serving, access university,” Daire said. “The center leverages our research expertise and will offer solutions that are replicable across the nation.”

The Center for Equity Practice and Planning Justice will serve as a resource hub for community organizations, government agencies and urban planners striving to deconstruct racially segregated placemaking. Activities will include public forums on equitable economic development and research initiatives focused on zoning reforms, transportation justice and other areas of concern for marginalized communities.

The center is supported by key partners and other community leaders committed to advancing equity and social justice. These collaborations will help drive the center’s research, outreach and advocacy efforts to create more equitable planning practices throughout the region.

This story originally appeared on 51ÁÔĆć Report.

Saving Wisconsin Sacred Places: Our Wisconsin Treasures – CEU 1

Graphic slide reading “CEU #1: Our Wisconsin Treasures- International Challenges of Saving Sacred Places” over a dusk photo of a modern building with white geometric line patterns.

Presented by Historic Preservation Institute (HPI) at 51ÁÔĆć SARUP.

Summary

This opening session of the 2-day workshop at Taliesin – Save Wisconsin’s Sacred Places – will present examples of saved sacred places. The workshop focuses on places in small towns in Wisconsin. This opening session however, will offer an international perspective. These sacred places from around the world will be important case studies of the challenges and complexities of preserving buildings of the highest historic value and age.

  • Learning Objective 1: Understanding and examining restoration of sacred places from around the world
  • Learning Objective 2: Reviewing the techniques for restoration, repair, and replacement of fundamental building components
  • Learning Objective 3: Learn about potential collaborations with preservation schools in Italy and other parts of the world
  • Learning Objective 4: Meet the exports associated with restoration of international landmarks

Saving Wisconsin Sacred Places: Scanning Techniques – CEU 2

Graphic slide reading “CEU #2: Scanning Techniques” over a dusk photo of a modern building with white geometric line patterns.

Presented by Historic Preservation Institute (HPI) at 51ÁÔĆć SARUP.

Summary

This portion of the 2-day workshop at Taliesin will be about the most advance tools in building documentation. The first part will focus on photography, droning, and videography. The second part will focus on building laser scanning with the FARO Laser Scanner. The third part will be about the LEO object scanner.

  • Learning Objective 1: Learn about National Park Service standards for proper drawings, photographs, and videos
  • Learning Objective 2: Better understanding of laser scanners and their use in the future for building documentation
  • Learning Objective 3: Be part of a movement that helps heritage landmarks survive with quick and accurate tools
  • Learning Objective 4: Network with experts throughout the industry involved in building documentation

Saving Wisconsin Sacred Places: Student Presentations on Unity Chapel and Fish Hatchery – CEU 3/4

Saving Wisconsin Sacred Places: Student Presentations on Unity Chapel and Fish Hatchery – CEU 3/4

Presented by Historic Preservation Institute (HPI) at 51ÁÔĆć SARUP.

Summary

These two portions of the 2-day workshop at Taliesin will be about the laser scanning, photography, and proper documentation of two Wisconsin architectural landmarks: Bayfield Fish Hatchery located in Bayfield and Unity Chapel located in Spring Green.

CEU 3

  • Learning Objective 1: Laser Scanning workflow and process: Avoiding critical errors and producing material quickly.
  • Learning Objective 2: Applications and Examples of laser scanning for improved adaptive reuse possibilities.
  • Learning Objective 3: Benefits of Laser Scanning through better understanding of existing conditions.
  • Learning Objective 4: Post Processing Laser Scan Point Cloud Raw Data for better design and construction documents.

CEU 4

  • Learning Objective 1: Identify the benefits and drawbacks of DIY documentation methods versus professional services.
  • Learning Objective 2: Explain the advanced technologies used in building documentation and their HSW advantages.
  • Learning Objective 3: Examine the cost vs value proposition of professional documentation services for arch firms.
  • Learning Objective 4: Discuss strategies for selecting the right documentation products to meet specific project needs.

Saving Wisconsin Sacred Places: Student Presentations – CEU 5/6

Saving Wisconsin Sacred Places: Student Presentations – CEU 5/6

Presented by Historic Preservation Institute (HPI) at 51ÁÔĆć SARUP.

Summary

This portion of the 2-day workshop at Taliesin will be about the laser scanning, photography, and proper documentation of Wisconsin architectural landmarks. The following sacred places are Holy Trinity Church, located in Prairie du Chien, and Trinity Cemetery gatehouse, located in Milwaukee.

CEU 5

  • Learning Objective 1: Learn about how laser scanning can be beneficial even on very small projects.
  • Learning Objective 2: Find out how advanced technologies can be helpful as public awareness tools to save old buildings.
  • Learning Objective 3: Discover the mechanics of creating point clouds and post processing files for drawing creation.
  • Learning Objective 4: Building inspection over time — monitor the deterioration of old buildings for safety and records.

CEU 6

  • Learning Objective 1: Learn how scanners work and how data is being generated and transformed into digital format.
  • Learning Objective 2: Investigate future prospects for Historic Preservation Partnerships to save sacred places.
  • Learning Objective 3: Building inspection over time — monitor the deterioration of old buildings for safety.
  • Learning Objective 4: Configuring scan database for use within Revit. Importing a scan cloud directly into Revit.|
  • Learning Objective 5: Creating walls from cloud points. Creating lines/edges/topography from scan clouds