Every fall semester, the 2nd-year MRP graduate students in the Department of Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning at UMass Amherst undertake a professionally oriented Planning Studio course. Under the guidance of a faculty member, this course allows students to work on real-world planning projects with actual clients. This experience reinforces the student’s education as they apply their knowledge and skill within a community setting and serving a professional client. Communities and/or partner agencies also benefit from student project work at a substantially reduced cost. 
 
UMass has undertaken many such studio projects over recent decades.  Some previous Planning Studio projects include:
 
Imagine the Future of the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority
https://www.valleyonboard.org/
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Bicycle and Pedestrian Network Plan (Chicopee, MA)
http://scholarworks.umass.edu/larp_grad_research/51/
 
Turners Falls Canal District Plan (Montague, MA)
http://scholarworks.umass.edu/larp_grad_research/52/
 
Master Plan Implementation Strategies (Pittsfield, MA)
http://scholarworks.umass.edu/larp_grad_research/48/
 
Revitalization of the Lower Worthington Street District (Springfield, MA),
http://scholarworks.umass.edu/larp_grad_research/31/
 
Climate Change Adaptation Chapter (Marshfield, MA)
http://scholarworks.umass.edu/larp_grad_research/23/ 
 
Those interested in regional studios should reach out directly to the studio instructor:
Camille V. Barchers, PhD, AICP
Assistant Professor, Department of Landscape Architecture & Regional Planning
University of Massachusetts Amherst, USA
https://www.umass.edu/larp/people/camille-barchers-aicp