In 2025, LAEP saw a rare moment of transition where Logan City and USU were both gaining new leadership. Rather than looking outward for a capstone project, the department invited students to spend an entire semester planning and designing their own backyard: USU's Logan Campus. With a long-standing commitment to providing students with opportunities to shape real places for real communities. Leading up to the department's tradition of a week-long, department-wide Charrette, the students dug into campus history, mapped challenges, and identified opportunities. Eight interdisciplinary teams emerged, each tackling a different aspect of the campus experience. They included: This Charrette/Capstone project pushed students to examine their own backyard with fresh eyes and gave the university and city a glimpse of what the next chapter of campus life could look like. Teams presented their final ideas to USU President Mortensen and Logan City Mayor Anderson.
