Former UG Interns Take Home State Honors
Published on October 27, 2022
The Department of Planning and Urban Design is pleased to report that two former department interns have taken home top honors at the Missouri Chapter of American Planning Association awards. Marlene Torres and James Molloy were honored for their student work completed in their senior year studio at the University of Missouri, Kansas City Department of Architecture and Urban Planning. The team worked on a complete streets proposal for Northwest Bell Road in Parkville, MO which was honored with the top student award.
"Our entire department was so fortunate to work with Marlene and James as they finished their studies and gained practical experience with the Unified Government," said Director of Planning and Urban Design Gunnar Hand, AICP. "Bringing complete street policies to life is key to our urban regeneration and resiliency across not just our county but the region. Congratulations to both James and Marlene for their well-executed studio project and thank you for your service to our organization."
The Unified Government adopted a complete streets ordinance in November 2020. The purpose of Unified Government’s Complete Streets Ordinance is to accommodate all road users equally by realizing a balanced road and trail network that safely moves people, not just vehicles. Furthermore, this Ordinance directs Unified Government Staff to consistently plan, design, construct, operate, and maintain streets to accommodate all road users, including, but not limited to, pedestrians, bicyclists, public transit riders, motorists, emergency responders, and freight and commercial drivers, and people of all ages and abilities, including children, families, older adults, and individuals with disabilities.
We're pleased to share that since completing his internship, Mr. Molloy has joined the Unified Government as a full-time Department of Planning & Urban Design employee. Congratulations to you both!
Photo Above: Former UG Interns Marlene Torres and James Malloy celebrate the honor with UMKC classmates.