Urban Studio Third-Years Explore Intentional Urbanism in Savannah

Five people walk along a sidewalk through a grassy, tree-lined park area on a cloudy day, with buildings and parked cars in the background.

In February, Urban Studio third-year students traveled to Savannah, Georgia with adjunct faculty Ben Wieseman and Matt Leavell to study one of the most enduring examples of human-scaled urbanism in the country.

Through a series of tours, walking analyses and ward sketching sessions—from the Drayton Hotel to Chippewa Square, Columbia Square and River Street—students engaged Savannah as both a historic precedent and a living urban system.

What emerged was a consistent theme: intentionality.

Five people standing in front of a large white fountain in a park, holding drinks and smiling, with trees and cloudy sky in the background.
Adjunct faculty member Matt Leavell (right) with the students in front of the 1858 Forsyth Fountain.
Four students sit on a bench outdoors, each holding papers and bags at their feet, with trees and buildings in the background.
The students spent time sketching in the many Savannah parks.

“Everything feels connected,” said third-year student Jackson Miller. “The building setbacks, consistent heights and strong design code all make the city feel like one cohesive place instead of separate pieces.”

Savannah’s framework—defined by its ward system, walkable grid and network of public squares—continues to reinforce a pedestrian-first experience. Students repeatedly identified how this structure creates both clarity and comfort.

“The predictable paths, wide sidewalk and frequent pause areas make it one of the most walkable cities I’ve experienced,” James Moshier said.

Four people with backpacks sit on a maroon couch under a decorative arch in a modern lobby, with plants and soft lighting nearby.
The Drayton Hotel opened in 2019 in the 1890s American Trust and Bank Building, one of the city’s oldest landmarks.

Beyond walkability, the city’s layered experience—architecture, landscape and programming—keeps movement dynamic and engaging.

“There’s always something pulling you forward,” said Tyson Lee. “Historic buildings, retail and public spaces all within close proximity.”

Students also recognized Savannah as a clear precedent for New Urbanist principles, long before the term existed.

Several open notebooks on a table display architectural sketches, handwritten notes, and diagrams, with some pages featuring landscape drawings.
The student’s diagrammed parks in the city’s famous Oglethorpe Plan.
A group of six people stand and talk outdoors near a bench and trees on a paved pathway in a park-like setting.
A walking tour of the city allowed the students to see how principles of New Urbanism exist in one of the oldest cities in the U.S.

“The grid of streets and squares makes it easy to navigate and creates a strong sense of place,” said Hannah Easterling. “It’s one of the most walkable places I’ve visited.”

Savannah demonstrates how disciplined urban form, paired with incremental growth over time, can produce a city that is both functional and memorable.

For the studio, the trip reinforced a core idea: great cities are not accidental—they are designed, tested and continuously reinforced through both policy and place.

See more in:
Student Experience, Urban Studio

Related people:
Alex Krumdieck, Jennifer Cloe, Ben Wieseman