COMMUNITY DESIGN WORKSHOP
The Community Design Workshop, (formerly called the CU-City of Boulder Design Workshop), was developed in 2017听by CEDaR, initially as a听partnership between the city of Boulder and 精品SM在线影片.
During 2018-2019, we听partnered听with听six听精品SM在线影片 faculty members in three projects: revitalization of University Hill; restoration of the Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse; and听revitalization of听the Longmont downtown.听Through听four design studios听and听four听regular听classes听we听trained more than听250听students听while听providing planning, design and design/build services and听supporting community dialogue on neighborhood and downtown revitalization.听
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Projects
Alpine-Balsam
The first year of the design workshop, 2016-2017,听focused听on听the Alpine-Balsam听initiative, a major听long-term planning, design and development initiative of the city of Boulder, centered听at the site previously occupied by Boulder Community Hospital. The goal of the 2016-2017 workshop was to create a baseline of knowledge and ideas听supporting community dialogue around urban design and planning opportunities听at the site and in nearby neighborhoods. The project relied听on听collaborative work across multiple disciplines, including faculty and staff in environmental sciences and design, and children and youth organized through Growing Up Boulder. The project was听funded by 精品SM在线影片's Office for听Outreach and Engagement.
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Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse
Primary partner: Boulder-Dushanbe Sister Cities Program,听whose mission is to听encourage听cultural exchange,听understanding, and communication between the peoples of the United States and Tajikistan.听
The Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse, built in听Tajikistan听and subsequently located听in the听Boulder听civic area听in 1987,听is widely听recognized听as a symbol of cultural diversity and friendship.听In听collaboration with听the听city of Boulder, Boulder-Dushanbe Sister Cities,听and a network of artists and advocates,听CEDaR听supported a听traditional听artist from Tajikistan to work听with 精品SM在线影片 students听to renovate teahouse artwork. This generated broad community interest and听led听to听proposals听for听design of听an adjoining gazebo that serves as a civic area performance space听for small community events, linking the teahouse to other parts of the civic area, including the farmer鈥檚 market.听
The teahouse project will improve business outcomes by generating excitement about the downtown, drawing in customers听and creating patterns of connectivity that will improve access to Boulder's听popular farmer鈥檚 market.听It听involves the development of a beautiful structure with functional and artistic dimensions. Improvements to social relationships include bringing more voices to planning and design discussions, including voices from vulnerable communities. Participation in successful design听processes will lead to听social outcomes including听confidence, a sense of community efficacy听and neighborhood identity. Finally, the creation of a program听and new partnerships听that can replicate these experiences across Colorado听will broaden support for placemaking in the state.听听
Planned Schedule~Boulder-Dushanbe Teahouse
Fall 2021鈥揝pring 2023: Planned听implementation for the Dushanbe Teahouse.
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鈥婾niversity Hill鈥揅ommunity Living Room
Primary partner: the city of Boulder, Office of Arts and Culture,听which听commissions a wide variety of artworks representing innovative approaches to contemporary practice in the arts, works of enduring value, and a diversity of artists and arts experiences within the city of Boulder.听
University Hill听includes a听commercial district and听residential area听in Boulder听with听mixed听student and family housing.听The neighborhood has seen a high degree of student-resident听conflict.听CEDaR听staff organized听an听assessment听of听growth听conflicts and student-resident interactions听through a听collaboration听between听neighborhood groups听and 精品SM在线影片 classes听from听different disciplines, leading to a proposal for听an听art听installation/meeting space in a park听at the intersection of the neighborhood's student and resident areas.听 The project was subsequently named, "The Community Living Room."
The project听is a sculptural听platform听supporting听small community events and meetings. Much of the work on design and development of construction documents is complete.听Funding for this project will be used to support听management of听community engagements;听management of construction/fabrication including work by students and interns; and听post-construction assessment of the project and the process.听听A $50,000 match听has been established听through听a contract approved by both the city and the university to support fabrication.听Marcel听deLange, architect and assistant clinical professor at the 精品SM在线影片, managed student work on this project.
Through the project on University Hill in Boulder, student and faculty work听through the Community Design Workshop has addressed multiple design and development opportunities, including revitalization of the commercial district and planning for adjoining residential areas;听urban design around proposed hotels and a conference center; improvements on the Broadway corridor and related walking/bicycle routes; and facilities planning at the university. These projects will affect the vitality and livability of central Boulder and the 精品SM在线影片.听
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Planned Schedule~Community Living Room
Fall 2018鈥揝pring 2021
Research and conceptual designs听for听Community Living Room听were developed and reviewed in community events.听Further designs and construction diagrams developed for Community Living听Room were submitted to relevant city and arts agencies and approved. Zoning and building approvals were obtained.听
Summer/Fall 2021鈥揝pring 2022
Installations for the Community Living Room听will be fabricated and constructed听by students working with professionals as required.听
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Associated Researchers
