A lighting design solution for a proposed, two mile long, pedestrian and bike path was developed. The path, with sections both near to and distant from the roadway, bordered a University campus in the southern US and served to link existing University buildings, a University/community arena and parking. In 2005, research team members examined existing lighting conditions. The team considered existing spill lighting from nearby buildings and roadways. Following industry procedures, they took sample light meter readings utilizing a hand-held lux meter. After a five year delay in Federal funding, construction on the illuminated pedestrian and bike path project commenced. The bike path project, including the installation of high pressure sodium illumination by acorn head pole fixtures, was accepted by Federal and University officials. Immediately after the path's completion in 2012, the researchers re-measured light levels at the site. They compared their pre-and post-installation measurements to the industry recommendations in effect during these two time periods. The researchers also used a digital sky quality meter to determine light pollution in the vicinity of the path. The path is currently in use by the University and community stakeholders.

The Community Design Work Shop (CDW) is an Institute within the School of Architecture and Design at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. The CDW has been involved with the community urban design projects in architecture and planning for over twenty years. During this time, the CDW has been involved with the small town projects that promoted the revival of their downtown areas and neighborhoods along with the large infrastructure designs for interstate highways and major arterials for Municipalities and the State of Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development. The CDW was engaged in restoration projects for small towns following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastation in 2005. Additionally, the CDW has completed multiple projects for the University of Louisiana at Lafayette where the CDW team proposed the design, developed the construction documents and was involved with supervising the building construction. The purpose of the CDW is to function as an outreach Institute to the community for urban design and provide the graduate architecture students an opportunity to gain practical experience with real world design problems. The paper will focus on the process of engaging the university’s administration and students in charrettes and public meetings. Working as a team, the CDW produces the design, develops the construction documents and consults with local architects and engineers. The paper discussion will highlight three of the CDW’s projects: The University Bike Path – which links the University Research Park to the main campus completed in 2014; the redesign of the main campus Quadrangle completed in 2017; and the University International/Cultural Space, currently in progress. These three projects demonstrate how the public can be engaged in a design process; how the student learning benefits of all the students, the public, the development of the design show the construction process to completion.

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