Zeynep Toker

Education

• Post Doctorate. 2005 University of Cambridge, Architecture

• Ph.D. 2004 North Carolina State University, Community and Environmental Design

• M.C.P. 2000 Middle East Technical University, Urban Design

• B.C.P. 1998 Middle East Technical University, City and Regional Planning

Courses Taught

• URBS 150 – Urban Scene

• SUST 300 - Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Sustainability (team taught course)

• URBS 340B – Qualitative Urban Research Methods

• URBS 310 Growth and Sustainable Development of Cities

• URBS 440 – Community Based Urban Design

• URBS 441 Advanced Urban Design

• URBS 450 – Urban Problems Seminar

• URBS 490C – Fieldwork

• URBS 685 – Qualitative Research in Urban Planning

• URBS 690 – Field Project in Urban Planning

Selected Publications and Presentations

Book:

Sanoff, H., Toker, Z. (2003) Three Decades of Design and Community. Raleigh, NC: North Carolina State University Office of the Vice Chancellor and the College of Design.

Peer Reviewed Journal Articles:

• Rigolon, A., Toker, Z., & Gasparian, N. (2018). Who has more walkable routes to parks? An environmental justice study of Safe Routes to Parks in neighborhoods of Los Angeles. Journal of Urban Affairs, 40(4), 576-591.

• Toker, Z., Minassians, H. (2018). “Miscalculated opposition of businesses to street improvements” Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers – Urban Design and Planning. 171:2, 55–60.

• Toker, Z. (2015) “Walking beyond the Socioeconomic Status in an Objectively and Perceptually Walkable Pedestrian Environment” Urban Studies Research, vol. 2015, Article ID 919874, 15 pages.

• Toker, Z., Minassians, H. (2012) “Good cities and healthy communities in the United States” Urban Design and Planning Journal, Special Issue on Quality of Life. 165:3, 137-145.

• Toker, Z., Pontikis, K. (2011) “An Inclusive and Generative Design Process for Sustainable Urbanism: The Case of Pacoima” Journal of Urbanism: International Research on Placemaking and Urban Sustainability 4:1, 57-80.

• Toker, Z. (2010) “New Housing for New Households: Comparing Cohousing and New Urbanist Developments with Women in Mind”Journal of Architectural and Planning Research 27:4, 325-339.

• Toker Z. (2007) “Recent Trends in Community Design: The Eminence of Participation” in Design Studies. 28.3, 309-323.

• Toker, Z., Toker, U. (2006) “Community Design in its Pragmatist Age: Increasing Popularity and Changing Outcomes.” METU Journal of the Faculty of Architecture 23:2, 155-166.

• Toker, Z. (2001) “Influences of Cultural Differences on the Formation of ‘Home’ Constructs,” in International Association for People-Environment Studies (IAPS) Autumn 2001 Issue of the Bulletin of People-Environment Studies: Special Issue on Housing.

Encyclopedia Entry:

• Toker, Z. (2014) “Sidewalks” in Mark Garrett (Ed.) Volume 3 Encyclopedia of Transportation: Social Science and Policy, Los Angeles: Sage Publications, 1222-1225.

Articles in Peer Reviewed Conference Proceedings:

• Sanoff, H., Toker, U., Toker, Z. (2005) “Research Based Design of a Child and Family Education Center” in Proceedings of the 36^th International Conference of the Environmental Design Research Association (EDRA 36).

• Barrett, P., Short, A., Sterry, P., Sutrisna, M., and Toker, Z. (2005) “Briefing for Arts Construction Projects: Capturing the Needs of Arts Clients” In: Kazi, A. S. (Ed.), Volume 3: Systematic Innovation in the Management of Construction Projects and Processes, CIB 2005 Symposium: Combining Forces - Advancing Facilities Management and Construction through Innovation Series, Helsinki.

• Toker, Z. (2003) “Gender Division of Household Space through Housework” in Proceedings of the Gender Bound?: Representations of Difference in Environmental Design Symposium. Tempe, AZ.

• Toker, U., Toker, Z. (2003) “Family Structure and Spatial Configuration in Turkish House Form in Anatolia from Early Nineteenth Century to Late Twentieth Century,” in Proceedings of the Fourth International Space Syntax Symposium. London, UK.

• Toker, U.; Toker, Z., Rifki, F. A. (2002) “Research Based Decision Making in Architectural Programming of Workplaces: Case of Pamlico County Government Offices, North Carolina,” in Proceedings of the ARCC/EAAE 2002 International Conference on Architectural Research, Montreal. Quebec, Canada.

• Toker, Z., Toker, U., Rifki, F. A., (2001) “Promoting Sustainable Development through Participatory Design in a Small Town: Mebane, North Carolina” in Proceedings of the Association Collegiate Schools of Planning (ACSP) 2001 43^rd Annual Conference, Cleveland, OH.

• Toker, Z., Toker, U., Rifki, F. A. (2001) “Making a Small Town Livable: Promoting Sustainability Through a New Urbanist Approach in Mebane, North Carolina” in Proceedings of the Architectural Research Centers Consortium (ARCC) Spring 2001 Research Conference at Virginia Tech., Blacksburg, VA.

Conference Presentations:

• Guandique, C., Toker, Z. (2017) “Physical Activity in Latinas’ Daily Routines: The Role of Cultural and Gender Identity and Neighborhood Characteristics.” Paper presented at Environmental Design Research Association (EDRA) Conference, Madison, WI.

• Toker, Z., Olwert, C., Taimoorian, S. (2016) “Minor Interventions for Great Streets: A Case from Los Angeles.” Paper presented at EDRA 47^th Environmental Design Research Association Conference, Raleigh, NC.

• Toker, Z., Minassians, H. (2015) “Missed by the merchants: Benefits of improving infrastructure for pedestrians and bicycles and public transportation” Paper presented at the American Collegiate Schools of Planning (ACSP) Conference, Houston, TX.

• Toker, Z. (2015) “The power of perception: The perceived quality of the streets and reported walking in three different socioeconomic status neighborhoods” Paper presented at EDRA 46^th Environmental Design Research Association Conference, Los Angeles, CA.

• Tamoorian, S., Toker, Z. (2015) “From Garden City to New Urbanism: The Questionable Success of Green Open Spaces” Poster presented at EDRA 46^th Environmental Design Research Association Conference, Los Angeles, CA.

• Toker, Z. (2014) “Everyone likes green and hates trash: Common perceived pedestrian environment characteristics in different socio economic status neighborhoods” Poster presented at the Active Living Research Annual Conference, San Diego, CA.

• Toker, Z. (2013) “Fostering Walking Behavior in Neighborhoods: Enumerated Street Characteristics and Safety Indicators in Two Cities with Opposite Socioeconomic Conditions” Paper presented at the 42^nd Environmental Design Research Association (EDRA) Conference, Providence, RI.

• Toker, Z., D'Alfonso, D. (2012) “Moving Forward: Better Bike Accommodations for a More Sustainable Campus” Poster presented at the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education Conference, Los Angeles, CA.

• D'Alfonso, D., Toker, Z., (2012) “Not Just a Bike Path: Assessment of Bike Culture at California State University, Northridge” Poster presented at the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education Conference, Los Angeles, CA.

• Toker, Z. (2012) “Pedestrians’ Streets: Assessment of Walkability Criteria on Santa Monica Boulevard in Los Angeles” Paper presented at the American Collegiate Schools of Planning (ACSP) Conference, Cincinnati, OH.

• Toker, Z., Hernandez, C. (2012) “Developing research Based Design Guidelines for a river Improvement overlay in Northeast Los Angeles” Paper presented at 41^st Environmental Design Research Association (EDRA) Conference, Seattle, WA.

• Toker, Z., Richter, D., de Oliveira, S. O. A. A., de Souza, L. C., de Souza, V. C. (2012) “Walking in the City: Comparing High School Students in the U.S. and Brazil” Paper presented at the 41^st Environmental Design Research Association (EDRA) Conference, Seattle, WA.

• Toker, Z., Prieto, E. (2011) “Campuses and their surrounding communities collaborating for sustainability: U.S. and Brazil”Paper presented at the American Collegiate Schools of Planning (ACSP) Conference, Salt Lake City, UT.

• Toker, Z., Minassians, H. (2011) “Good cities and healthy communities” Paper presented at the American Collegiate Schools of Planning (ACSP) Conference, Salt Lake City, UT.

• Toker, Z. (2011) “Reading the Home Landscape of an Immigrant Community: The Case of City of San Fernando” Paper presented at the International Conference of The University of Massachusetts Amherst Center for Heritage and Society: Why does the Past Matter?, Amherst, MA.

• Toker, Z. (2010) “Designing a Walkable Neighborhood with the Pedestrians” Paper presented at the 51^st Anniversary American Collegiate Schools of Planning (ACSP) Conference, Minneapolis, MN.

• Toker, Z. (2010) “Farmers’ market: The new piazza on the block” Paper presented at 41^st Environmental Design Research Association (EDRA) Conference, Washington, DC.

• Toker, Z., Covington, K. (2009) “Assessing the outcomes of service learning in urban planning courses: A case for a service learning component designed for general education courses” Paper presented at the 50^th Anniversary ACSP Conference, Crystal City, VA.

• Toker, Z. (2009) “Community, again? Sustaining life outside of home and work in a neighborhood fighting against environmental injustices” Paper presented at the 39th Annual Meeting of the Urban Affairs Association in Chicago, IL.

• Toker, Z. (2008) “Women in Academia: City Planning Departments in the United States” Thirty Ninth Annual Conference of Environmental Design Research Association (EDRA). Veracruz, Mexico.

• Toker, Z. (2008) “Community Participation in Los Angeles: With and Without” Twentieth International Association of People-environment Studies (IAPS). Rome, Italy.

• Toker, Z. (2007) “View from the Alley: Hidden Faces of Suburban Houses in Los Angeles.” Tenth Annual Conference of the American Association of Behavioral and Social Sciences (AABSS). Las Vegas, NV.

• Toker, Z., and Toker, U. (2007) “Women in Academia: A special Case for City Planning Departments in California.” Thirty Eighth Annual Conference of Environmental Design research Association (EDRA). Sacramento, CA.

• Kocher, S., Toker Z., (2006)“Siting a Coastal Trail: A Phenomenological Approach.” Poster presented at the 37th Environmental Design Research Association (EDRA) Conference, Atlanta, GA.

• Toker, Z., Lasai, C. (2003) “Characteristics of Current Cohousing Developments around the World” Poster presented at the 34th Environmental Design Research Association (EDRA) Conference. Minneapolis, MN.

• Toker, Z. (2001) “Current Practices of Community Design Centers: A New Phase or a New Definition” Paper presented at the 32^nd Environmental Design Research Association (EDRA) Conference. Edinburgh, Scotland.

Research and Interests

As a proponent of community design, I have been working with communities in different cultural settings helping them shape their built environments. My experience of working with communities includes projects such as Designing Dynamic Environments for the Performing Arts in Cambridge, UK; Sandhills Community Center in Spring Lake, NC; Laguna Child and Family Education Center in Laguna, NM; Programming of County Office Buildings in Pamlico County, NC; and Urban Revitalization of Downtown Mebane, NC. I have also designed and participated in research projects utilizing different methodologies with quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection. My research agenda aims to understand spatial representations of cultural, social and gender identities in everyday lives of individuals and communities, both placeless and place-bound. My research interests focus on the ways to accommodate user needs and preferences generally in built environment, especially in housing.