For Immediate Release
Community Design Collaborative Exhibits The Results Of Design Challenge - Unveiling Innovative Solutions For Three Commercial Corridors
Open to the public; Held at Philadelphia's Charter School for Architecture & Design, event features a publication launch and student serving as gallery guides
Philadelphia, PA - Sept 20, 2007 - The Community Design Collaborative, a Philadelphia-based nonprofit organization, announces plans to connect students from Philadelphia's Charter School for Architecture & Design (CHAD) with one of the city's most unique volunteer projects, a design challenge that enlists architects, designers and community planners with neighborhood revitalization efforts. That connection will take place during an exhibit featuring the innovative work of local designers and a new report that outlines the process of a new initiative just finishing the first of three phases - one that looks at creating more vibrant commercial corridors in the city. The Community Design Collaborative's initiative is called Infill Philadelphia and is designed to include the design community's voice and expertise in the ongoing public dialogue about how the city can develop and sustain stronger neighborhoods.
Selected CHAD students, Jemal Kirkland '08, Ashton Harwell '08 and Terrance Jones '09, will serve as guides for the event - an ideal way to bring young Philadelphians with aspirations to become architects and designers into the community revitalization process.
The event and exhibit will take place at CHAD, located at 675 Samson Street, on Thursday, September 20, from 6 - 8 p.m. CHAD students will welcome guests and act as gallery guides. Those attending will learn about the goals of the design challenge and collaborative process behind it, as the Community Design Collaborative leaders and board members officially launch the Infill Philadelphia: Commercial Corridors publication, which captures innovative design solutions for three Philadelphia neighborhoods.
The design challenge charged three local design firms with creating inventive, yet practical plans for three commercial corridors in the city where there are great opportunities to improve existing sites and spur growth within the surrounding neighborhoods. The program was launched earlier this year with three goals: to generate workable design solutions for under-utilized physical assets in Philadelphia neighborhoods; to promote systems change by developing exciting ideas that will help Philadelphia leaders re-think the future of our neighborhoods and city; and to foster an understanding of the value of good design among community leaders and developers. The designs not only deal with physical assets and aesthetics, they also address safety, economic development, and community building.
Three local design firms volunteered to participate in the Commercial Corridors project. Historically, commercial corridors have been the pulse of healthy neighborhoods and today remain critical "zippers" in urban communities. These neighborhood shopping streets bind communities together, keep resident and business dollars local, and create local employment and entrepreneurship opportunities.
Infill Philadelphia: Commercial Corridors was funded by an 18-month, $175,000 grant from the William Penn Foundation and supported through a partnership with Philadelphia Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), a leading expert in the area of commercial corridor development.
The event is free and open to the public. The Infill Philadelphia: Commercial Corridors exhibition will remain on display Monday through Wednesday, from 12 - 4 p.m., until October 12. For more information, visit www.infillphiladelphia.org.
The Community Design Collaborative is a volunteer-based community design center that provides pro bono preliminary design services to nonprofit organizations; promotes best practices in community design and development; and offers design professionals a unique way to volunteer their skills in service of neighborhoods. Founded in 1991 as a program of AIA Philadelphia, the Collaborative is an independent 501 c3 with a network of more than 400 volunteers.
Philadelphia Local Initiatives Support Corporation helps resident-led, community-based development organizations transform distressed communities and neighborhoods into healthy ones - good places to live, do business, work and raise families. By providing capital, technical expertise, training and information, LISC supports the development of local leadership and the creation of affordable housing, commercial, industrial and community facilities, businesses and jobs.
The Charter High School for Architecture + Design is a learning community committed to an innovative program [of study,] integrating the design process with the mastery of a strong liberal arts education. The school offers each student the opportunity for success and the preparation for life-long learning and responsible citizenship. CHAD is a thoughtful academic environment that engenders love of learning, intellectual curiosity, and new ways of seeing, and prepares students for higher education.
Exhibits Featured Sites and Teams:
Restaurant Retrofit - Lancaster Avenue Commercial Corridor People's Emergency Center CDC & CICADA Architecture/Planning, Inc.
Theater Reuse - 60th Street Commercial Corridor The Partnership CDC & Terra Studio LLC
Gateway to Corridor - East Passyunk Avenue Commercial Corridor East Passyunk Avenue BID & Brown & Keener Bressi Urban Design and Place Planning
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