Connecting Fanshawe students with community mapping, urban design & planning projects

The Urban 360 Lab at Fanshawe College is a dynamic work study program where students collaborate with community partners on community design, urban planning, GIS mapping and landscape projects. Led by Fanshawe faculty, students gain real-world projects that centre around affordable housing, public space, sustainable solutions and community building.

Three people smile while holding brochures in a tech-themed room with posters and screens in the background. The mood is welcoming and enthusiastic.
A group of four men gather around a table, focused intently on documents. One man with tattoos gestures towards the papers, explaining something. The setting is a modern, well-lit space, conveying a collaborative and educational atmosphere.

How does the Urban 360 Lab work?

  1. During the summer term, students from Fanshawe’s GIS & Urban Planning, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Honours Bachelor of Environmental Design and Planning, and Landscape Design Technician programs may apply to work with the Urban 360 Lab in a paid work placement, funded by Fanshawe College, our partners, grants and donors.
  2. Fanshawe faculty lead the students in projects that have been submitted by community partners, such as in research, GIS mapping, site plan drawing, city planning and urban design. Faculty also liaise with community partners to see the projects through to completion.

10+ years of urban planning & design collaboration

Since 2014, the Urban 360 Lab has collaborated on over forty community-based projects. In collaboration with municipal governments, non-profit organizations, business and heritage committees, students and faculty in the Urban 360 Lab have provided a wide range of work in the urban planning and design field.

  • Urban plan analysis
  • Design concept planning
  • Site design
  • Urban design research
  • Urban design concepts & drawings
  • Site plan & concept drawings
  • Planning & design workshops
  • Data & land mapping
  • Tour & event mapping
  • GIS inventories


 

Community Projects

Homes for Heros

A design proposal was developed for 51 Front Street, emphasizing affordable housing and the creation of open space within the downtown core. In addition, a concept plan for the potential redevelopment of the Kenwick Mall site was created, aligning with the design principles outlined in the Downtown Strathroy Master Plan.

View All Community Projects

Faculty Partners

Russell Schnurr

Russell Schnurr - Director, Urban 360 Lab | Professor, GIS & Urban Planning

Russell holds a Bachelor of Applied Arts in Integrated Land Planning Technologies and an Urban Design Diploma from Fanshawe College, with over 24 years of GIS and planning experience in both the public and private sectors. He co-founded the Urban 360 Lab, and coordinates the GIS & Urban Planning program at Fanshawe College. Russell also serves on several City of St. Thomas committees, including Heritage, Community Improvement, Property Standards, and the Downtown Development Board.

Andrew Clark

Director, Urban 360 Lab | Professor, GIS & Urban Planning

Andrew is a Professor of GIS at Fanshawe College, with over 20 years of GIS experience. He holds a PhD in Transportation Geography from McMaster University focusing on examining the environmental influences to active transportation. Andrew worked with the Human Environments Analysis Laboratory at Western University, where he was a senior researcher on projects examining environmental influences on children’s health and well-being. Andrew brings a passion for community building, student engagement, and collaboration to the Urban 360 Lab.
 

William Pol

External Consultant, Urban 360 Lab | Professor, GIS & Urban Planning

William is a Registered Professional Planner with over 40 years of experience in municipal planning, consulting, and teaching. He holds degrees in public administration from Western University and in land use planning from Toronto Metropolitan University. His teaching emphasizes experiential learning, guiding students to collaboratively apply land use planning theory, GIS mapping analysis, and presentation graphics to address real world challenges. He has led the annual planning design charrette and Environmental Design Competition at Fanshawe College.

My Urban 360 Lab experience was very rewarding. Not only did I get practical hands-on experience, I also got a first hand glimpse of the decision making process as we presented ideas and received constructive feedback from City personnel. The real world experience was invaluable.

- Oran Young ,
GIS & Urban Planning program, Urban 360 Lab 2018

Partners

Funding for the Urban 360 Lab is provided by Fanshawe College and the generosity of our partners, grants, and donors. 

Contact Us

The Urban 360 Lab is committed to improving our communities through collaborative urban planning and design projects. Please reach out if you are interested in working with us at urban360@fanshawec.ca.