University of Oregon architecture students displayed their designs of downtown plazas for Springfield in the lobby of the City Hall this Tuesday, Jan. 21.

In participation with the UO Sustainable City Year Program, these students are making an effort toward improving education, service, public outreach and research for the development of sustainable cities.

The city hired Crandall Arambula, a Portland-based urban design firm, to craft a strategic plan for the renovation.

The students worked within a budget for the last three months. They had to satisfy the City Council-approved Downtown District Urban Design Plan. This allowed them to be creative and constructed a strategy to revitalize the town.

The public, as well as Mayor of Springfield Christine Lundberg, attended the event and were very pleased with the designs that the students produced, according to an article by The Register-Guard. The city is currently focused on buying property downtown but could utilize some of the ideas for crosswalk treatments within nine months from now.

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