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This second project continued the partnership between the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) and the Community Engagement, Design and Research (CEDaR) Center to translate data from the Denver Shade Canopy Assessment into performance-based shade design guidelines for five typologies of public spaces. The goal was to provide public agencies and designers with actionable strategies for integrating sun safety, comfort, and equity into urban design.

Building on the findings of the Denver Shade Canopy Assessment, this phase focused on five key public space typologies—schoolyards, playgrounds, urban trails, transit stops, and residential or commercial streets. The process combined document and precedent review, participant observation, and parametric design and environmental simulation to evaluate shade performance and inform design recommendations.

A public survey gathered feedback from Denver residents on preferred shade types, comfort levels, and design priorities. Respondents favored hybrid solutions that combine vegetation and built structures, emphasizing the importance of shaded seating and flexibility across seasons.Ìý

The resulting Shade Design Guidelines offer quantitative shade thresholds, design options, and policy recommendations that can be adapted for cities across Colorado. By bridging environmental data, design innovation, and community input, the project provides a replicable model for creating healthier, more resilient public spaces.Ìý

The resulting Shade Design Guidelines offer an evidence-based toolkit for advancing health equity, sun safety, and climate resilience in Denver and beyond.Ìý

This project was led by:

ÌýSara Tabatabaie, Teaching Assistant Professor, with interns Mary Miller (CDPHE Liaison), Gabrielle Rodriguez, Emily VanGuilder, and Taylor Martin.

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Link to Phase 1 Shade Canopy Assessment — Mapping Sun Risk and Equity in Denver