91¸£ÀûÉç

COMMUNITY DESIGN WORKSHOP

The Community Design Workshop, (formerly called the CU-City of 91¸£ÀûÉç Design Workshop), was developed in 2017Ìýby CEDaR, initially as aÌýpartnership between the city of 91¸£ÀûÉç and 91¸£ÀûÉç.

During 2018-2019, weÌýpartneredÌýwithÌýsixÌý91¸£ÀûÉç faculty members in three projects: revitalization of University Hill; restoration of the 91¸£ÀûÉç 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 91¸£ÀûÉç, centeredÌýat the site previously occupied by 91¸£ÀûÉç 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 91¸£ÀûÉç. The project wasÌýfunded by 91¸£ÀûÉç's Office forÌýOutreach and Engagement.

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91¸£ÀûÉç Dushanbe Teahouse

Primary partner: 91¸£ÀûÉç-Dushanbe Sister Cities Program,Ìýwhose mission is toÌýencourageÌýcultural exchange,Ìýunderstanding, and communication between the peoples of the United States and Tajikistan.Ìý

The 91¸£ÀûÉç Dushanbe Teahouse, built inÌýTajikistanÌýand subsequently locatedÌýin theÌý91¸£ÀûÉçÌýcivic areaÌýin 1987,Ìýis widelyÌýrecognizedÌýas a symbol of cultural diversity and friendship.ÌýInÌýcollaboration withÌýtheÌýcity of 91¸£ÀûÉç, 91¸£ÀûÉç-Dushanbe Sister Cities,Ìýand a network of artists and advocates,ÌýCEDaRÌýsupported aÌýtraditionalÌýartist from Tajikistan to workÌýwith 91¸£ÀûÉç 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 91¸£ÀûÉç'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~91¸£ÀûÉç-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 91¸£ÀûÉç, 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 91¸£ÀûÉç.Ìý

University HillÌýincludes aÌýcommercial district andÌýresidential areaÌýin 91¸£ÀûÉçÌýwithÌýmixedÌýstudent and family housing.ÌýThe neighborhood has seen a high degree of student-residentÌýconflict.ÌýCEDaRÌýstaff organizedÌýanÌýassessmentÌýofÌýgrowthÌýconflicts and student-resident interactionsÌýthrough aÌýcollaborationÌýbetweenÌýneighborhood groupsÌýand 91¸£ÀûÉç 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 91¸£ÀûÉç, managed student work on this project.

Through the project on University Hill in 91¸£ÀûÉç, 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 91¸£ÀûÉç and the 91¸£ÀûÉç.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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