Civitas University Community Design Center, 112 W. Main St., Urbana, held an open house Friday to celebrate the steps the program has taken to interest students and community members in urban design since it opened last December.

Friday’s open house showcased an exhibit of community pictures taken by Genevieve Borich, Civitas student director.

Visitors sampled wine and cheese while examining “Urban Textures,” an exhibit of Borich’s photos. The goal of the exhibit was to “spark a sense of passion and respect for the way our cities have evolved,” according to the exhibit’s program.

The photos emphasized often-overlooked urban objects, with the hope of challenging people to notice everyday surroundings. One photo depicted a flower box below an apartment window with the caption, “someone cares.”

In addition to the use of gallery exhibits such as Borich’s to teach concepts of urban form, Pattsi Petrie, FAA faculty member, said the center, which is funded by the Vice Chancellor of Public Engagement, is a great resource for students and faculty from the School of Architecture, Landscape Architecture and Urban and Regional Planning.

“The Community Design Center helps engage students with the community and look at the design of the community,” Petrie said.

When Civitas opened last year, students created plans for renovations of Lincoln Square Mall and presented the ideas to Urbana City Council members and residents.

“The open house last year was a chance to show the students’ work on the plans for Lincoln Town Center,” Petrie said.

Kathleen Conlin, dean of FAA, said Civitas allows students to contribute to the community.

“Students take the work that they do in class and apply it to the community,” Conlin said.

Students also participate in community projects with neighborhood groups through the center.

David Sidney, senior in FAA, said there would be a program offered in the spring allowing students to help in the Champaign and Urbana neighborhoods.

“We will pick a few communities and provide them with the tools needed to improve those communities,” Sidney said.

He said the program would help improve the community by providing new sidewalks or streetlights.

Nikhil Prashar, senior in engineering and member of Students for New Urbanism, said his interest in urban planning got him involved with Civitas. SNU’s primary goal was promoting urbanism in a way that restores existing urban centers, redesigns sprawling suburbs into communities and conserving natural environments, according to SNU’s mission statement.

“It is a way to involve students and community members to push for new urbanism instead of the general sprawl that has been happening,” Prashar said.

Civitas members say community reaction to the group has been positive.

“Genevieve (Borich) has been very proactive in getting the center open to the public,” Sidney said.

In addition to community design, Civitas also looked to improve social issues in the area.

Individuals Together (IT), a Champaign County group, looked to “improve our social, cultural and economic landscape.” IT brings young members of the community from different walks of life together to discuss issues and improve the area.

Civitas, scheduled to host “voteIT” Friday, hoped to involve community members by discussing voting, candidates and the issues in November.

“It is a collaboration of young people getting involved and discussing plans for the community,” Borich said.