REPORTS OF THE PANEL CHAIRMEN 635 



apathy, and neglect. These are forces which can be dispelled, and 

 education can be our major weapon in this task. Such a program 

 should be initiated immediately, with the help of Federal, State, and 

 local funds as well as contributions from foundations and private 

 industries. It should be aimed not only at mayors, city councilmen, 

 county supervisors, boards of education, zoning and building com- 

 missions and planning boards, but also at heads of private industry 

 such as insurance companies and other large industries which bring 

 to bear powerful influences on the urban environment. All must 

 be made to see most clearly their responsibilities, as leaders, in the 

 development of a more stimulating environment. 



The technological capacity of American industry must be har- 

 nessed with our design knowledge if we are ever to create 

 a higher order of urban environmental design. To achieve this 

 objective, the panel recommends that the professional societies con- 

 cerned create, with Federal aid, a National Urban Design Center. 

 Such a center would coordinate the work of architects, planners, 

 landscape architects, industrial and interior designers, manufacturers 

 and research corporations with all who contribute to total town- 

 scape design. The center would also coordinate the needs of all 

 agencies of Federal, State, and local government who post signs, 

 specify materials and fixtures, determine spaces and relationships 

 and uses. The Federal Government should assist, through grants 

 and other types of aid in the establishment of a National Design Cen- 

 ter and support its activities and educational program in the same 

 manner as it assists the Highway Research Board. 



Every city should develop a comprehensive design plan embrac- 

 ing elements of the environment, as part of its comprehensive plan- 

 ning program. The Federal Government should require that such 

 design planning be developed in comprehensive planning before 

 Federal development funds are released to a city or urban county. 

 Every American community must have an organizational frame- 

 work for performing the functions of sound environmental 

 design. Where such a framework does not now exist, it should be 

 created as soon as possible. In some cases, it might be feasible 

 to establish a special agency to oversee all elements of design in 

 city development. In every case, the function of urban design must 

 be performed in an effective and comprehensive fashion. 



Moreover, comprehensive design planning must be an integral 

 part of the decision making function of local or regional govern- 



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