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AIA Selects Two Communities for Community Assistance Program to Promote Long-term Sustainability
Deadline for proposals from communities is November 14th
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For Immediate Release |
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Washington, D.C., October 28,
2008 — The American Institute of Architects (AIA) Center for
Communities by Design has selected Orange, Mass. and Port Angeles,
Wash. as two of the communities that will receive technical
assistance under the Sustainable Design Assessment Team (SDAT)
program in 2009. The collaborative SDAT brings together architects
and other professionals assembled from across the country to
provide a roadmap for communities seeking to improve their
sustainability – as defined by a community’s ability to
meet the environmental, economic, and social equity needs of today
without reducing the ability of future generations to meet their
needs.
For communities interested in participating in the program, the RFP
can be downloaded here. An independent panel of distinguished
judges will evaluate each community proposal and apply weighted
criteria to determine the awards. All applicants will be contacted
when the award is made in December 2008.
“As the SDAT evolves is in its third year, the response
continues to be very favorable as we try to help communities
address neighborhood revitalization, transportation infrastructure
challenges, and job creation strategies,” said Joel Mills,
director of the AIA Center for Communities by Design.
“It’s a chance for civic leaders and the general public
to come together with design and planning professionals and help
formulate a sustainable plan for their local community.”
An architect-led team of professionals including planners,
hydrologists, economic development specialists, and others will be
selected based on their credentials and the specific needs of each
community. The SDAT will work in conjunction with local
stakeholders to help shape the community’s strategy to
increase sustainability. To provide the most objective assessment,
team members volunteer their time and expertise and are selected
from areas outside the project communities.
Scope of issues examined in each community:
Orange, Mass.: To develop plan to
revitalize existing built environment and deteriorating
infrastructure. Address social inequities created by high
unemployment rates and educational cuts, and generate tools for
creating and retaining affordable and rental housing options.
Port Angeles, Wash.: To create a vibrant,
aesthetically pleasing tourist destination. Encourage occupancy of
vacant structures, plan for sustainable development of vacant land
parcels, provide tools for design improvement incentives, create
opportunities for multimodal transit, and maintain ample open space
and community access to the waterfront.
SDAT program elements
The communities were selected after submitting an application to
the 2008 SDAT review panel outlining the economic, environmental,
and social equity challenges facing their region. The SDAT
community assistance program provides the selected communities with
these components:
• Preliminary/scoping visit
• Three-day visit from a multidisciplinary team
• A report highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of the
community with regards to sustainability, along with the
opportunities and obstacles to change
• Consultations after the three-day visit (typically by phone
or email)
• One-day follow-up evaluation visit a year after the SDAT
report is delivered
To learn more about the AIA Center for Communities by Design or the
SDAT program visit:
http://www.aia.org/liv_sdat
About the AIA Center for Communities by
Design
The Center for Communities by Design is the clearinghouse for the
American Institute of Architects' many activities—from
promoting sustainable design to leading design based technical
assistance projects in communities—that influence the quality
of life in our nation's communities. The center is a nonpartisan
forum that provides information, develops policy, creates
partnerships, and assists in advocacy efforts to facilitate
discussions of community design and inform choices for
neighborhoods, cities, regions, and the nation. http://www.aia.org/liv_default
About The American Institute of
Architects
For over 150 years, members of the American Institute of Architects
have worked with each other and their communities to create more
valuable, healthy, secure, and sustainable buildings and
cityscapes. By using sustainable design practices, materials, and
techniques, AIA architects are uniquely poised to provide the
leadership and guidance needed to provide solutions to address
climate change. AIA architects walk the walk on sustainable design.
Visit www.aia.org/walkthewalk.
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