OU Institute for Quality Communities (IQC)
Established in 2008, the University of Oklahoma Institute for Quality Communities (IQC) offers conceptual design and planning assistance from the OU College of Architecture. This page provides an overview of how to submit a proposal for your community to work with IQC. You can also download this page as a printable PDF.
Download this page as a printable PDF →
IQC Assistance Projects
Community assistance projects are a collaborative effort between IQC and representatives from communities in Oklahoma. Projects provide conceptual design and planning assistance. Common topics include land use, urban design, public spaces, historic preservation, streetscapes, and other aspects of the built environment.
Oklahoma Municipal League Matching Funds
An opportunity to receive matching funds is available through the Oklahoma Municipal League. To apply for matching funds, include with your proposal a letter of support from a city staff member or elected official.
Project Partners
Community partners are typically governments, non-profits, or community groups. Most projects will include community engagement efforts to gather input from the public.
Project Formats
Projects range from a 1-day site visit with a follow-up report to semester-long collaborations with several meetings and a plan document.
Project Teams
Project teams are led by IQC staff or faculty in the OU College of Architecture, and team members consist of graduate assistants in the IQC office or students in classrooms and design studios.
Questions?
Hope Mander, IQC Associate Director
umander@ou.edu
(405) 325-2434
Proposal Instructions
Please respond to the following questions to provide an overview of your community, site, and project proposal. You may include additional information, photographs, graphics, or maps. The IQC team may contact you for additional details. If your proposal is accepted, the IQC team will work with community partners to further develop a scope of work, timeline, and estimate of cost.
- Primary Contact: List the contact information, organization, and title for the primary contact.
- Project Partners: Describe the role or mission of the primary project partner(s) in the community.
- Partnerships: Include 3-5 brief statements of support for the project from partners or residents within the community.
- Site: Describe the area or specific site where the project will take place.
- Need: Describe the challenges of the site or the needs that could be addressed by conceptual design assistance.
- Funding and Resources: Describe available funding or background resources identified to support the project.
- Impact: Describe the potential impact of this project for the community.
* Project costs vary depending on scope, generally ranging from $1,500 and $25,000. Funding assistance may be available. IQC may determine to waive project costs for a community based on need. Background resources that may help the IQC team include data, background information, and related prior efforts. (GIS, AutoCAD, documentation, previous planning efforts, etc.)
Submission Instructions
Submit your proposal in electronic format (Microsoft Word, PDF, etc.) to umander@ou.edu by February 15, 2018.
Selection Criteria
Assistance projects are selected each year based on their fit with the OU College of Architecture’s current curricula, student learning objectives, and timelines. IQC strives to include communities with a mix of population sizes and geographic locations.
Proposal Timeline for Projects in July-December 2018
| Proposal Workshop* |
January 10, 2018 – 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Gould Hall Gallery – 830 Van Vleet Oval Norman, Oklahoma RSVP to umander@ou.edu. * Attendance at the workshop is not required. |
|
Proposals Due |
February 15, 2018 |
|
Notification of Selection |
March 30, 2018 |
