Canalscape Symposium explores unique canal project

Grady Gammage, senior research fellow for the Morrison Institute for Public Policy, speaks at the Canalscape Symposium on Feb. 6 on the ASU Downtown Phoenix campus.

Historians, planners, urban designers, engineers, attorneys, architects, artists, policy-makers, and developers gathered at this event to discuss the potential for one of the region's most important pieces of critical infrastructure: the canals.

Under the direction of Nan Ellin, director of the Urban & Metropolitan Studies Program in the School of Public Affairs, the Canalscape project explores the possibility of an authentic, sustainable desert urbanism for metro Phoenix comprised of vital urban hubs where canals meet major streets.

A Canalscape Workshop run by Professor Ellin is currently underway, with 22 students from 10 different programs around ASU, in tandem with a studio of 15 additional students from University of Colorado taught by landscape architect Lori Catalano.

The event was co-hosted by ASU's Urban & Metropolitan Studies program and the Global Institute of Sustainability, in conjunction with other ASU and community partners.

For information about Canalscape, contact Nan Ellin at Nan.Ellin@asu.edu.