Designing for Impact: Presentation and Panel Discussion

Designing for Impact: building hubs and corridors in the Complete Communities
Presentation and Panel Discussion
Tuesday, February 2, 6pm

Presented by AIA Houston and the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA), in partnership with the City of Houston’s Complete Communities Initiative.

Design professionals, creative individuals, and students are invited to engage with residents, partners, and leaders by participating in a design workshop that will help bring ideas from Houston’s historically underserved communities to life. By lending your knowledge, experience, and skills we can move these projects forward.

Join us on Tuesday, February 2 at 6pm for a presentation and panel discussion, the kickoff event for the Designing for Impact initiative. At the first event, architects, advocates, and community leaders will discuss the City of Houston’s Complete Communities initiative, its ongoing efforts, and the importance of a community-led design strategy. They will share their varied perspectives and experiences around community-led design projects to help attendees prepare for the Community Engagement Workshop.

Presenters include Janis Brackett, AIA, of Kirksey Architecture and the Sunnyside Multi-Service & Health Center design team; Susan Rogers, Associate Professor of Architecture at the Hines College of Architecture and Design at the University of Houston and the Director of the Community Design Resource Center (CDRC); Meghan Venable-Thomas, Cultural Resilience Program Director, National Initiatives. Attendees will also be given an introduction to specific communities and associated anchor projects which will be featured in the upcoming workshop.

Designers are encouraged to sign up, as teams or individuals, for the community design workshop on Saturday, February 20.  Individuals will be matched with others to create teams. All teams will receive an anchor project from one of the Complete Communities action plans to charette ideas. During the community design workshop, teams will meet with Complete Community Neighborhood planners, developers, and community stakeholders to inform design ideas and provide community insight. Final presentations to the community will be on Saturday, March 6.

This discussion is eligible for 1.5 HSW

Important Dates:
Tuesday, February 2, 6pm – Kick-Off Panel Discussion
Friday, February 5 – Deadline for Design Team registration
Saturday, February 20, 10am – Community Engagement Workshop
Saturday, March 6, 10am – Community Presentation

Participating communities include:
Acre Homes, Alief-Westwood, Near Northside, Sunnyside, and Fort Bend Houston.

Registrations:
Kickoff Panel Discussion
Design Team Workshop Registration (each team member must register and enter the same firm/school and team name)
Residents or Stakeholder Workshop Registration

What is Complete Communities?
Complete Communities works to improve Houston’s historically underserved neighborhoods by enhancing quality services and amenities through attracting private capital investment. The Complete Communities approach involves working closely with the residents of communities to understand their needs, identify new and existing community projects and opportunities, and facilitate opportunities for collaboration with partners across the city.

How will these designs help?
Participants are expected to attend the kickoff panel discussion to learn more about the Complete Community initiative, the featured communities, community-led design strategies, and the anchor projects.

Complete Communities focuses on capital projects and strategic programming that eliminate structural barriers and improve the quality of life for Houston’s most vulnerable populations. The most significant outcome for the major anchor projects is to correct historic underinvestment (i.e., redlining) that remains evident in Complete Communities neighborhoods to this day.  The projects will serve as a catalyst to attract new development and expand resources throughout the area.

These workshops will include community residents from our Complete Communities, individuals with development interest in the communities, as well as design, planning, and development professionals. It is valuable to have many different stakeholders in one room, not only to provide input, but to create the opportunity to listen to each other.

Workshop Guidelines and additional information can be found here.