The Community Design Collaborative is publishing a new book, Leverage: Strengthening Neighborhoods through Design, to mark its 20^th year as a community design center.

Leverage features 20 projects  drawn from two decades of pro bono design, essays about the evolving practice of public-interest architecture, and a conversation between Maurice Cox, Alan Greenberger, and Beth Miller that takes a 360-degree  view on the Community Design Collaborative’s impact and future—and  the power of design.  Leverage will be available on October 11 at the AIA Bookstore and Design Center, 1218 Arch Street. Pre-order a copy.

Here’s a sampling… an excerpt from an essay by contributor Jess Zimbabwe.

 “Forty-three years ago, when Whitney Young, Jr. spoke before the annual convention of the American Institute of Architects in Portland, he excoriated the profession for doing too little to engage with the crises that were facing American cities in 1968: ‘As a profession, you [have] not distinguished [yourself] by your social and civic contributions to the cause of civil rights, and I am sure this has not come to you as any shock. You are most distinguished by your thunderous silence and your complete irrelevance.’

“In the years since, architects and their professional organizations have come a long way, creating dozens of community design centers that serve the needs of nonprofit organizations and underserved communities across the country. But the fact remains that within the larger profession of architecture, public interest design is still a marginalized mode of service delivery. In 1996, a seminal Carnegie Foundation report on the state of architectural education concluded that ‘schools of architecture could do more … to instill in students a commitment to lives of engagement and service.’

“Community design, with its focus on delivering a useful service, downplays the popular myth of heroic architects employing abstract design ideas in novel ways. To a public that is skeptical that architects contribute anything besides elitist abstractions, community design centers present a potent counterargument of committed architects who can listen to the community and effectively communicate—without jargon—with their clients and the public at large.”

Jess Zimbabwe  is an architect and planner and Executive Director of the Daniel Rose Center for Public Leadership in Land Use at the Urban Land Institute.

Exhibition, opening reception, conference, public keynote, the  launch of a new book… Can’t keep track of all the exciting Collaborative events happening in October? Tap into your inner child and create your very own Collaborative Catcher, which comes with easy to follow instructions (we hope!).

Print one, two, or ten and share with your colleagues, friends, family, and neighbors. Spread the word and celebrate our 20^th anniversary in style! Print your own: Collaborative Catcher

UPCOMING EVENTS:

October 1-23, 2011: Leverage Exhibition on display at the Center for Architecture

October 5, 2011 | 5:00-7:00 PM: Leverage Exhibition Opening Reception + GRID Party RSVP

October 9-11, 2011: Design in Action 2011 Conference

October 10, 2011 | 5:30-7:30 PM: Public Keynote with Teddy Cruz RSVP

October 11, 2011: Book Available at AIA Bookstore

Twenty years ago, the Community Design Collaboration was launched by a handful of progressive designers. Today, we’re powered by 1,000 vibrant volunteers who are igniting the creative spark of URBAN ENERGY throughout greater Philadelphia. Join the Collaborative’s network of design practitioners, community development experts, financial and real estate professionals, and nonprofit leaders committed to strengthening neighborhoods through design.

Support a series of programs and events recognizing the Collaborative’s twenty years of community engagement and service—and help us build a foundation for delivering innovative design services and initiatives in the future. A special anniversary gift from the William Penn Foundation will match each dollar raised in 2011 up to $150,000—immediately doubling your investment. The pro bono work of our professional volunteers will quickly quadruple your donation!

Programs and Events

National Conference A conference hosted by the Collaborative will bring three national design advocacy organizations—the Association of Community Design, the Association of Architectural Organizations, and Architecture + Design Education Network—to Philadelphia.

Publications An illustrated book published by the Collaborative and a special supplement produced by GRID magazine will highlight our innovative work with urban neighborhoods.

Charrettes Teams of volunteer designers will work with communities to develop design solutions addressing specific neighborhood Urban Energy issues and present their ideas in a public forum.

Exhibition A call for projects will be released nationally to seek projects, built and unbuilt, that demonstrate the importance of community design and engagement in transforming urban neighborhoods.

Design Services Your sponsorship will also support the Community Design Collaborative’s design services and initiatives, which address design and development issues confronting older, urban neighborhoods and help build safer, healthier, and more vibrant communities.

Sponsorship Information

Download our Sponsorship Opportunities PDF
Contact Carryn Golden, Development Manager
Phone: 215.587.9290, Email: email hidden; JavaScript is required

Community Design Collaborative Urban Energy Honorary Co-Chairs:

John Claypool, AIA, AICP
Executive Director, AIA Philadelphia

Beverly Coleman
Assistant Vice President for Community Relations and Economic Development
Temple University

Phillip T. Eastman, Jr.
Manager, Economic Development, PECO Energy Company

Andrew Frishkoff
Executive Director, LISC Philadelphia

John Grady
Executive Vice President, Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation

Alan Greenberger, FAIA
Deputy Mayor, City of Philadelphia

CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF COLLABORATION
MORE THAN 600 NEIGHBORHOOOD PROJECTS
OVER 1,000 PROFESSIONAL VOLUNTEERS
AND $100 MILLION IN ECONOMIC DEVELOMENT POTENTIAL

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT

Design in Action 2011 will bring over 300 community designers, design educators, architectural organization leaders, and volunteers to Philadelphia to celebrate ingenious partnerships and emergent approaches in public engagement, youth education, and community design. The conference will offer practical insights from peers and investigate informative failures and persistent challenges.

The conference features pre- and post-conference activities, opening reception and keynote events, more than twenty breakout sessions, a community design exhibition, plus extended workshops, including hands-on building opportunities and mobile tours of community projects.

Design in Action 2011 is a joint conference of the Association for Community Design, the Association of Architectural Organizations, and the Architecture + Design Education Network. The Community Design Collaborative, AIA Philadelphia, the Charter High School for Architecture and Design, and the Center for Architecture are proud local hosts of the conference.

Learn more and register for Design in Action 2011.

Follow Design in Action 2011 updates on the Twitter feed at:
www.twitter.com/designinaction.

The Community Design Collaborative is hosting Leverage: Strengthening Neighborhoods through Design from October 1 through October 23, 2011 at the Center for Architecture in Philadelphia. This exhibition will highlight the best practices of design firms, nonprofit organizations, public agencies, and others engaged in community design. Over 40 diverse projects will be on display, representing projects and programs from New York City, Chicago, Dallas, and Philadelphia.

Leverage: Strengthening Neighborhoods through Design will coincide with the launch of a special 20th Anniversary publication and the DESIGN IN ACTION 2011 Conference, a joint conference of Association for Community Design/Association of Architecture Organizations/Architecture + Design Education Network to be held in Philadelphia. The exhibition will also be featured in Design Philadelphia 2011, the largest city-wide design festival in the nation.

Join us for the exhibition opening party!

Wednesday, October 5, 2011 at:
The Center for Architecture
1218 Arch St, Philadelphia, PA

Humanitarian… inclusive… colorful… experimental… local… universal…
These are some ways to describe the projects featured in the Collaborative’s upcoming exhibition, LEVERAGE: Strengthening Neighborhoods through Design.

The exhibition will present fifty innovative community design projects and programs by design firms, nonprofit groups, and public agencies October 1 through 23 at the Center for Architecture, 1218 Arch Street. You may walk by several of them  every day… others are the work of design activists and innovators in New York City, Chicago, Dallas, and beyond.

Join us for the opening reception on Wednesday, October 5 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, co-hosted by GRID magazine. RSVP. In the meantime, here’s a sneak peek of the show. Read Full Story

The Collaborative will be co-hosting Design in Action 2011 from October 9 through 11. The conference will bring together over 300 community designers, design educators, architectural organization leaders, and volunteers for a wide-ranging dialogue about ingenious partnerships and emergent approaches in public engagement, youth education, and community design, practical insights, informative failures and persistent challenges.

We hope you can join us…  for the entire conference, a single day, or the public symposium featuring Teddy Cruz on Monday, October 10. Read Full Story