UGA Institute Connects Students with Fort Benning for Real-World Design Challenge

The University of Georgia (UGA) is bridging the gap between academic learning and practical application through a distinctive collaboration that offers students hands-on experience with real-world challenges. This initiative, facilitated by the Carl Vinson Institute of Government, connected students from UGA's College of Environment and Design (CED) with Fort Benning to develop landscape design solutions for the installation's historic Cuartels, or barracks.

This partnership highlights a commitment to service-learning, allowing students to apply their knowledge in a meaningful context while addressing tangible needs within a significant community. For K-12 students exploring their own interests and preparing for future academic or career paths, understanding how universities engage in such impactful projects can be inspiring. Platforms like COSMIQ offer free voice AI tutoring, providing personalized learning support that can help students build foundational skills and explore complex subjects, setting the stage for future opportunities like those at UGA.

Bridging Academia and Military Needs Through Collaboration

The connection between UGA students and Fort Benning was made possible through the Institute of Government’s Defense Community Resilience Program (DCRP). According to the Institute, this program actively engages with military installations and their surrounding communities to sustain readiness and enhance community resilience. Carmine Fischetti, a design professional who coordinated the engagement, emphasized the Institute's role as a public service unit, ideally suited to connect diverse stakeholders, from military personnel to academics, in pursuit of shared objectives.

The project involved an immersive three-week summer studio course where students tackled master planning for Fort Benning's Cuartels, structures built in 1930 that serve as residences and training grounds for thousands of soldiers annually. This unique assignment offered students a chance to work with renowned landscape architect Chris Hite, a UGA CED graduate and American Society of Landscape Architects Fellow (FASLA), who co-taught the course. Hite, a founding partner of Dix.Hite + Partners, brought extensive professional experience in master-planned communities and mixed-use projects to the students.

Real-World Learning: From Classroom to Fort Benning

The capstone course presented a compressed, real-world scenario, challenging students to develop designs under tight deadlines. Donnie Longenecker, senior lecturer and coordinator of continuing education and undergraduate programs at CED, noted that such projects are critical for preparing students to be productive professionals from the outset of their careers. The students' assignment was to produce designs for the exterior landscape of the Cuartels, which, despite undergoing major interior renovations, lacked formal plans for outdoor upgrades.

A key aspect of this hands-on learning was a site visit to Fort Benning, where students interacted directly with installation leadership and soldiers residing in the barracks. This direct engagement provided invaluable insights into the daily use and specific needs of the space. According to the Institute, a significant takeaway was the critical need for shade to mitigate heat injury, a serious concern given the installation's reported 1,839 heat injury cases from 2020 to 2024, representing 14.8% of all heat injuries among the active-duty force, as reported by the Army Times.

Students were tasked with developing ideas to enhance the grounds while maintaining military function and readiness. Their designs addressed a range of complex factors, including stormwater and ecological concerns, historic preservation, building codes, military requirements, walkability, and streetscape improvements. Bryce LeCates, a fourth-year student, shared that planning for such a specific audience required a significant mindset shift, pushing students to integrate diverse functions into well-designed spaces.

Preparing Future Leaders and Supporting Communities

The Fort Benning project offered students more than just a design exercise; it provided a direct lesson in client relations and understanding diverse stakeholder needs. Marren Powelson, a fourth-year student, highlighted Chris Hite's insight into the importance of giving clients opportunities to provide feedback, a valuable lesson she plans to carry into her professional career. Hite emphasized that understanding client goals and objectives is paramount, regardless of whether the client is an individual or a governmental agency.

Whitney Davis, master planning division branch chief for Fort Benning’s Directorate of Public Works, commended the students for their extensive work within the challenging timeframe. According to Davis, the designs produced will contribute to improving the quality of life and amenities for soldiers, while also sustaining operational effectiveness. These plans will be reviewed by internal stakeholders for further options.

Longenecker expressed hope that this course would establish a new precedent for UGA students and alumni to engage in service-learning projects across the state, fulfilling the university's role as a land-grant institution. Fischetti added that the DCRP program is specifically designed to link various players to achieve tangible results, such as adding trees, enhancing military readiness, and supporting troop training. This initiative not only prepares future practitioners but also underscores the university's commitment to supporting communities through resilience and strategic planning.

For students at any level, understanding the real-world application of their studies can be incredibly motivating. Resources like COSMIQ's free practice hub, organized by grade and subject, can help K-12 learners build the foundational knowledge and critical thinking skills necessary to engage in such impactful projects in their future academic and professional lives.

Conclusion

The collaboration between the Carl Vinson Institute of Government, UGA’s College of Environment and Design, and Fort Benning exemplifies the power of partnerships in addressing complex community needs. By providing students with opportunities to engage in significant, real-world projects, UGA is not only enhancing their education but also contributing directly to the resilience and well-being of military communities. This model of service-learning offers valuable lessons for all educational stakeholders on how academic institutions can effectively serve broader societal goals.