COMMUNITY DESIGN WORKSHOP

The Community Design Workshop, (formerly called the CU-City of Â鶹¹ÙÍø Design Workshop), was developed in 2017Ìýby CEDaR, initially as aÌýpartnership between the city of Â鶹¹ÙÍø and CU Â鶹¹ÙÍø.

During 2018-2019, weÌýpartneredÌýwithÌýsixÌýCU Â鶹¹ÙÍø faculty members in three projects: revitalization of University Hill; restoration of the Â鶹¹ÙÍø Dushanbe Teahouse; andÌýrevitalization ofÌýthe Longmont downtown.ÌýThroughÌýfour design studiosÌýandÌýfourÌýregularÌýclassesÌýweÌýtrained more thanÌý250ÌýstudentsÌýwhileÌýproviding planning, design and design/build services andÌýsupporting community dialogue on neighborhood and downtown revitalization.Ìý

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Projects

Alpine-Balsam

The first year of the design workshop, 2016-2017,ÌýfocusedÌýonÌýthe Alpine-BalsamÌýinitiative, a majorÌýlong-term planning, design and development initiative of the city of Â鶹¹ÙÍø, centeredÌýat the site previously occupied by Â鶹¹ÙÍø Community Hospital. The goal of the 2016-2017 workshop was to create a baseline of knowledge and ideasÌýsupporting community dialogue around urban design and planning opportunitiesÌýat the site and in nearby neighborhoods. The project reliedÌýonÌýcollaborative work across multiple disciplines, including faculty and staff in environmental sciences and design, and children and youth organized through Growing Up Â鶹¹ÙÍø. The project wasÌýfunded by CU Â鶹¹ÙÍø's Office forÌýOutreach and Engagement.

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Â鶹¹ÙÍø Dushanbe Teahouse

Primary partner: Â鶹¹ÙÍø-Dushanbe Sister Cities Program,Ìýwhose mission is toÌýencourageÌýcultural exchange,Ìýunderstanding, and communication between the peoples of the United States and Tajikistan.Ìý

The Â鶹¹ÙÍø Dushanbe Teahouse, built inÌýTajikistanÌýand subsequently locatedÌýin theÌýÂ鶹¹ÙÍøÌýcivic areaÌýin 1987,Ìýis widelyÌýrecognizedÌýas a symbol of cultural diversity and friendship.ÌýInÌýcollaboration withÌýtheÌýcity of Â鶹¹ÙÍø, Â鶹¹ÙÍø-Dushanbe Sister Cities,Ìýand a network of artists and advocates,ÌýCEDaRÌýsupported aÌýtraditionalÌýartist from Tajikistan to workÌýwith CU Â鶹¹ÙÍø studentsÌýto renovate teahouse artwork. This generated broad community interest andÌýledÌýtoÌýproposalsÌýforÌýdesign ofÌýan adjoining gazebo that serves as a civic area performance spaceÌýfor small community events, linking the teahouse to other parts of the civic area, including the farmer’s market.Ìý

The teahouse project will improve business outcomes by generating excitement about the downtown, drawing in customersÌýand creating patterns of connectivity that will improve access to Â鶹¹ÙÍø'sÌýpopular farmer’s market.ÌýItÌýinvolves 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 designÌýprocesses will lead toÌýsocial outcomes includingÌýconfidence, a sense of community efficacyÌýand neighborhood identity. Finally, the creation of a programÌýand new partnershipsÌýthat can replicate these experiences across ColoradoÌýwill broaden support for placemaking in the state.ÌýÌý

Planned Schedule~Â鶹¹ÙÍø-Dushanbe Teahouse

Fall 2021–Spring 2023: PlannedÌýimplementation for the Dushanbe Teahouse.
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​University Hill–Community Living Room

Primary partner: the city of Â鶹¹ÙÍø, Office of Arts and Culture,ÌýwhichÌýcommissions 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 Â鶹¹ÙÍø.Ìý

University HillÌýincludes aÌýcommercial district andÌýresidential areaÌýin Â鶹¹ÙÍøÌýwithÌýmixedÌýstudent and family housing.ÌýThe neighborhood has seen a high degree of student-residentÌýconflict.ÌýCEDaRÌýstaff organizedÌýanÌýassessmentÌýofÌýgrowthÌýconflicts and student-resident interactionsÌýthrough aÌýcollaborationÌýbetweenÌýneighborhood groupsÌýand CU Â鶹¹ÙÍø classesÌýfromÌýdifferent disciplines, leading to a proposal forÌýanÌýartÌýinstallation/meeting space in a parkÌýat the intersection of the neighborhood's student and resident areas.Ìý The project was subsequently named, "The Community Living Room."

The projectÌýis a sculpturalÌýplatformÌýsupportingÌýsmall community events and meetings. Much of the work on design and development of construction documents is complete.ÌýFunding for this project will be used to supportÌýmanagement ofÌýcommunity engagements;Ìýmanagement of construction/fabrication including work by students and interns; andÌýpost-construction assessment of the project and the process.ÌýÌýA $50,000 matchÌýhas been establishedÌýthroughÌýa contract approved by both the city and the university to support fabrication.ÌýMarcelÌýdeLange, architect and assistant clinical professor at the Â鶹¹ÙÍø, managed student work on this project.

Through the project on University Hill in Â鶹¹ÙÍø, student and faculty workÌýthrough the Community Design Workshop has addressed multiple design and development opportunities, including revitalization of the commercial district and planning for adjoining residential areas;Ìýurban 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 Â鶹¹ÙÍø and the Â鶹¹ÙÍø.Ìý

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Planned Schedule~Community Living Room

Fall 2018–Spring 2021
Research and conceptual designsÌýforÌýCommunity Living RoomÌýwere developed and reviewed in community events.ÌýFurther designs and construction diagrams developed for Community LivingÌýRoom were submitted to relevant city and arts agencies and approved. Zoning and building approvals were obtained.Ìý

Summer/Fall 2021–Spring 2022
Installations for the Community Living RoomÌýwill be fabricated and constructedÌýby students working with professionals as required.Ìý

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