Strengthening neighborhoods through design.
The Community Design Collaborative is a community design center that provides pro bono predevelopment design services to nonprofit organizations, offers unique volunteer opportunities for design professionals, and raises awareness about the importance of design in community revitalization.
Early design assistance is a critical step in envisioning a better future, but there is little funding available for this stage of the development process. Most nonprofits can't afford these services on their own. It is this gap that led to the creation of the Community Design Collaborative.
The Community Design Collaborative provides early design assistance to nonprofits and underserved communities through several programs:
Early design assistance creates stronger neighborhoods. It helps nonprofit organizations assess their options, engage their communities, raise funding, use their resources effectively, and develop high quality projects that enhance both their missions and the larger community.
The Collaborative offers over 30 grants of predevelopment design services to nonprofit organizations each year. If purchased, the services provided by the Collaborative on a typical pro bono project would range from $15,000 - $20,000 in value.
- Infill Philadelphia
Infill Philadelphia helps urban communities re-envision their neighborhoods, leverage existing assets, rethink
the use of older spaces, and address the practical concerns of specific sites and the communities around them. Launched in January2007, Infill Philadelphia uses a design-centered approach that hinges on collaboration and promotes innovation, from start to finish. Guiding the approach is an intensive, interactive design process in which volunteer design firms work simultaneously to develop conceptual ideas for three real-life sites selected
by community-based organizations.
The initiative brings together design practitioners, community development experts, policymakers, funders and the media to address urban infill development—a significant neighborhood revitalization strategy for Philadelphia and older American cities. This unique initiative is being implemented in three phases, each addressing a specific infill development opportunity.
- rStore
rStore connects local business owners and/or property owners with design professionals to envision and plan for physical improvements to the exteriors of their buildings. Participating in the rStore program prepares business owners to apply for funding to help offset the cost of improvements. The program is inspired by Mount Airy USA’s Design Days.
rStore service grants are coordinated through community development corporations and other community-based organizations engaged in the revitalization of neighborhood commercial corridors. A typical rStore service grant matches six business owners and/or building owners with a design professional for a design consultation. Deliverables include a building sketch and may include a cost estimate. For more details and application information, download the rStore flyer.
In addition to early design assistance, the Collaborative hosts events and programs throughout the year on design and community revitalization, ranging from speakers to roundtables to exhibitions.
Nonprofits:
Apply for design services.
Design Professionals:
Volunteer to make a difference.
Friends:
Contribute to support our work.
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