On this page, you'll find descriptions of individual projects and overviews of the communities with which we've partnered.

Use the filter to search for kinds of projects, e.g., public art or engineering, or to locate a specific community.

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Mural Painting in Burlington Alleyway

Downtown Burlington Alleyway Art

Published
Thursday, June 5, 2025
Academic year
2024-2025

Visiting Assistant Professor in the School of Art & Art History Ali Hval engaged the Burlington community to activate a prominent downtown alleyway with public art. 

West Burlington Aerial photo

West Burlington GIS Data Development

Published
Wednesday, June 4, 2025
Academic year
2024-2025

Students in ICIGO created and mapped a wide range of data for the City of West Burlington using Geographic Information System (GIS) tools to help local officials identify opportunities for community improvements.

Two young woman stand side by side. Both have long brown hair and are wearing black tops.

West Burlington Trailhead Park Design

Published
Tuesday, June 3, 2025
Academic year
2024-2025

Two urban & regional graduate students in the School of Planning & Public Affairs worked closely with the West Burlington Trails Committee to design a unique and multi-faceted trailhead park at a prominent community location.

Overhead map

West Burlington - Downtown Streetscaping

Published
Wednesday, February 12, 2025
Academic year
2025-2026

The City of West Burlington sought an evaluation and redesign of its downtown area to enhance functionality and visual appeal, facilitate public events, attract visitors. For their capstone project, a group of Civil and Environmental students designed multiple components for the downtown area, including green medians, permeable paved roadways, covered parking, a pedestrian walkway, and reconfigured parking. 

Wonderful Westside Neighborhood group photo

Supporting Iowa City's Wonderful Westside Neighborhood

Published
Sunday, February 2, 2025
Academic year
2023-2024
Partner

Courses from two University of Iowa departments - the Department of Theatre Arts and the School of Planning & Public Affairs - merged to explore the role of arts & culture in community and economic development, with a focus on supporting the launch and visioning for the Wonderful Westside Neighborhood Association in Iowa City.   

four boxes of different shades of green and gold and a logo that looks like a green river

Pathfinders - Strategic Communications Tools & Practices

Published
Thursday, January 9, 2025
Academic year
2024-2025

Students in a capstone class in the School of Journalism and Mass Communications worked with Pathfinders RC&D to develop strategic communication campaigns and management. Working in teams and individually, students:

lit up siren

Burlington - Risk Assessment

Published
Monday, December 9, 2024
Academic year
2024-2025
three young people in winter coats standing outside on a sunny day with an industrial site behind them.

Burlington - South Riverfront Park Redesign

Published
Monday, December 9, 2024
Academic year
2024-2025

For their capstone project in Civil and Environmental Engineering, a team of students created engineering and design plans for a park to be located on a former industrial site. Located adjacent to the Mississippi River, the project had several obstacles, notably possible soil contamination and flooding. The team reviewed the site, selected amenities that worked with these challenges, and made recommendations for ways to incorporate the historic rail yard that formerly stood at the site.

map

Burlington - Parks and Forestry Facility Design and Engineering

Published
Wednesday, December 4, 2024
Academic year
2024-2025

For their capstone project, three senior Civil and Environmental Engineering students designed a Parks and Forestry facility that prioritizes energy efficiency, long-term durability, and architectural integration with the natural park environment in which the facility will be located.

old brick building

Burlington - Industrial Building Adaptive Reuse

Published
Wednesday, December 4, 2024
Academic year
2024-2025

The City of Burlington hopes to adapt several industrial buildings that are not currently in use. As part of their capstone work, students in Civil and Environmental Engineering will evaluate and redesign the former Dial Soap Building into a mixed-use residential structure. Key tasks include evaluating the building's structural health, developing the building concept, determining the architectural style, and planning the layout and structural design.

Red welcome sign

New Sharon - Subdivision Design and Engineering

Published
Wednesday, December 4, 2024
Academic year
2024-2025

As part of the senior design capstone project, students in Civil and Environmental Engineering designed a new subdivision on a greenfield site in New Sharon, Iowa.

New Sharon City Hall

New Sharon - City Hall Improvements

Published
Wednesday, December 4, 2024
Academic year
2024-2025

The City of New Sharon sought to renovate the building that currently houses its city hall to include other city offices, including the police department and public library. For their capstone project, three students in Civil & Environmental Engineering assessed the building and created plans to increase its interior footprint. Their designs provide an ADA-compliant elevator, a new garage for police vehicles, and exterior repairs to ensure the structure's longevity.

Jefferson County park

Jefferson County Parks Engineering and Design

Published
Wednesday, October 23, 2024
Academic year
2024-2025

As part of their Senior Design capstone project, a team of civil & environmental engineering students will provide designs, preliminary engineering reports, and cost estimates for a variety of improvements to county parks in Jefferson County. 

red brick building with an accessibility ramp

Pathfinders - Digital Archiving and Storytelling

Published
Wednesday, October 23, 2024
Academic year
2024-2025

Students from the School of Library and Information Science will assist Pathfinders RC&D staff in managing, archiving, and exhibiting the vast collection of the organization's records, helping tell the story of Pathfinder's impact across the region since its formation in the 1970s. 

group of five young people posing for photo

Pathfinders - Rural Development Policy Briefs

Published
Wednesday, October 23, 2024
Academic year
2024-2025

Students in the course Policy and Persuasion worked with staff from Pathfinders RC&D and the South Central Iowa Local Workforce Development Board to develop policy directions for issues related to five focus areas: rural development hubs, innovation, resource guides, workforce development, mental health, and community capacity.

person with a work time card

Navigating Youth Employment for Diverse Stakeholders

Published
Tuesday, October 22, 2024
Academic year
2024-2025

A team of law students who are enrolled in the the Community Empowerment Law Project (CELP) will assist Pathfinders Resource Conservation and Development (Pathfinders), together with the South Central Iowa Local Workforce Development Board (LWDB) to navigate the complex web of federal and state laws governing youth employment and child labor. The project is driven by the organizations’ shared belief that empowering young people is key to the sustainability of rural communities in Iowa.

A young man in a yellow hat, dark sweatshirt, and tan pants in a wheelchair on an outdoor dirt path.

Pathfinders - Mapping Accessibility in Iowa’s Cultural Destinations

Published
Wednesday, August 28, 2024
Academic year
2024-2025

Students from Public Affairs and from a GIS student organization will help Pathfinders RC&D develop a statewide database and map of accessibility features in Iowa's parks, natural areas, and cultural spaces.  

A new statewide initiative from Pathfinders Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) aims to help individuals with disabilities and their caregivers better navigate opportunities to enjoy Iowa’s parks and cultural spaces. 

Mutchler Center Engineering Project Team

Pathfinders - Mutchler Community Center Building Improvements

Published
Wednesday, August 28, 2024
Academic year
2024-2025

For their capstone projects, students in Civic and Environmental Engineering created designs, alternatives, scheduling, and costs to update a community center. Their work focused on several aspects of the building:  the parking lot, the building's entryway, layout and partition of the mainfloor, and connectivity of upstairs meeting room to entryway. 

Overhead photo of vacant lot

West Burlington - Deery Subdivision Engineering and Design

Published
Tuesday, August 20, 2024
Academic year
2024-2025

For their final capstone project, students in Civil and Environmental Engineering designed a site plan for a subdivision on a currently vacant property in West Burlington. The plans maximize the number of single-family homes that can be developed and includes a pocket park and trail.

Drawing of drainage plans

West Burlington - Luers Park Stormwater Drainage Engineering and Design

Published
Tuesday, August 20, 2024
Academic year
2024-2025

For their capstone project, Civil and Environmental Engineering students provided analysis, recommendations, designs, and costs to address flooding in West Burlington's Luers Park. 

Roughly 80% of West Burlington's stormwater drains into Luer’s Park, which in turn flows into Izaak Walton Lake to the north. The lake is experiencing severe erosion and sedimentation build-up. Its current outflow structure is unable to discharge an adequate volume of water.