Sustainable Influence: Shamara Smith '22 BS SBE

Students in the ARC 410F/510F Advanced Studio Urban Design course, part of CAPLA’s Senseable Environments track, recently traveled to Oakland, California, to explore the complex social, economic, and environmental issues shaping the Bay Area. Guided by Senior Lecturer Eduardo Guerrero, the studio integrates research and design to address real-world urban challenges such as housing inequality, gentrification, and climate resilience. Through field visits, meetings with local leaders, and tours of leading design firms, students gained firsthand insight into how empathy and context inform effective urban design. By semester’s end, they’ll translate their experiences into forward-looking proposals that reimagine a more equitable and sustainable Oakland.

Neti Gupta, senior academic advisor, supports Architecture majors (last names M–Q) and Sustainable Built Environments majors/minors. With over 10 years of experience, she’s passionate about helping students succeed through thoughtful advising, problem-solving, and career preparation. Neti is excited to be part of CAPLA’s socially and environmentally conscious community.

London, an undisputed global city, is well known for having some of the world’s most expensive housing but also boasts a substantial amount of low-cost social and affordable housing. This talk sketches the historic roots of affordable housing in London, explains how it is currently built and operated, and explores current political and practical challenges—some of which are shared by Arizona cities despite their very different contexts.