Rebecca Dobrinski

Optometric Education is published three times per year. To access Optometric Education online, please go to www.opted.org. A limited license to use Optometric Education for your personal, educational or other noncommercial use is provided to ASCO members and the general public. No part of this journal may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means for any commercial purpose without permission in writing from ASCO. Use of information in this journal is voluntary.

For those who spent their final academic year living and learning in Birmingham, that impact was tangible. Immersed in the fabric of a living city, these students navigated its historic footprint, engaged with community leaders and developed thoughtful responses to complex urban challenges.
“The Urban Studio is designed to prepare students for what working in a firm will actually be like,” said Director Alex Krumdieck ’86...

At Urban Studio, internships come in all shapes and sizes. From the wide variety of local firms to individual projects, students get a taste of what their work life will be like after graduation.
For fifth-year student Han Li, an internship offered the opportunity to bring together Urban Studio and the City of Birmingham’s Office of Resilience and Sustainability (ORS).
Originally organized in 2023 as part of the Civic Design Team, ORS is tasked with developing recovery frameworks for the city...

These internships are a bridge between their academic learning and future professional practice. Students are immersed in both the practical experience and real-world situations, giving them a launching point for their post-graduation job search...

At its April meetings, Birmingham’s Design Review Committee approved the next phase of the Lakeview Marina development, signage plans, and portions of two new construction projects.
The multiuse courtyard at Lakeview Marina will also serve as an outdoor music space for acts who draw smaller crowds, a sized space the Birmingham music scene is lacking.
The Lakeview Marina courtyard will feature a stage, food truck parking, children’s play area, covered dining, and permanent airstreams...

2025 Communications Contest First Place Winner for "Writing - Continuing Coverage or Unfolding News" for my coverage of Auburn University's Urban Studio.

Optometric Education is published three times per year. To access Optometric Education online, please go to www.opted.org. A limited license to use Optometric Education for your personal, educational or other noncommercial use is provided to ASCO members and the general public. No part of this journal may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means for any commercial purpose without permission in writing from ASCO. Use of information in this journal is voluntary.

Last semester, Urban Studio fifth-year students dove into creating a master plan for the revitalization of one of downtown Birmingham’s busiest one-way streets, Fourth Avenue North.
Through their research, they discovered how such a significant project has the potential to reconnect neighborhoods like Smithfield to downtown and rejuvenate this critical corridor....

DesignAlabama continues to make a transformative impact across the state through its DesignVision program, a dynamic professionalstudent-community partnership. This annual initiative exemplifies our commitment to fostering collaborative design processes that benefit Alabama’s communities while providing invaluable real-world experience for future architects. The 2024 DesignVision Charrette is another testament to how design can bring together diverse voices to create meaningful change.

Throughout the school year Auburn’s Urban Studio hosts regional schools for field trips and recruiting visits.
Last month, Birmingham’s Red Mountain Community School (RMCS) visited Auburn in Birmingham for an exciting Friday architectural scavenger hunt and to learn more about architecture and the role of architects.
Local ACE (Architecture, Construction, Engineering) Mentor Program volunteers joined the Urban Studio team to lead small groups through downtown Birmingham...

Residential renovations and additions, plus a master signage plan update and a new park space came before Birmingham’s Design Review Committee in February.
The UAB campus is getting a new park space adjacent to the Altec/Styslinger Genomic Medicine and Data Sciences Building. First presented as part of the overall building plans at the May 25, 2022, meeting but not approved at the time, the team returned for approval of the park phase of the project...

Written by Kenn McCracken, the photo of the band was taken by me in 2004.

What’s scarier than an apocalypse? For many, it’s public speaking. But what if learning to present wasn’t so terrifying—and actually, a little absurdly fun? Enter Apocalypse Pants: a hilariously interactive crash course in crafting compelling presentations.
Led by presentation coach Rebecca Dobrinski, this talk starts with key insights...

Last summer, Interior Architecture students arrived in Birmingham for a workshop amidst their summer thesis. By immersing themselves in the hustle and bustle of an urban setting, they were able to draw inspiration from the city’s rich culture, diverse restaurant scene and historic architecture to shape their design projects. They explored how context and community influence restaurant design, and through hands-on research and collaboration at the Urban Studio...