Housing Colorado's 2013 Design by Community Charrettes and Workshop are an educational participatory experience for Colorado's entire affordable housing network that create innovative affordable housing design solutions for rural and urban settings all across Colorado. The Design by Community Charrettes are a tool to expand our vision of creative design alternatives for community-based affordable housing; explore sustainability, enhance neighborhoods and promote an empowered citizenry. In addition, the Charrettes serve as a springboard for projects within their communities and within the affordable housing community at large. As a professional interested in affordable housing, you can share your skills and expertise with organizations and people in Colorado who desperately need it.

2013 Charrettes Featured at the 24th Annual Housing Colorado NOW! Conference
In 2013, three teams of affordable housing professionals including architects, landscape architects, planners, engineers, financial & sustainability experts, developers, & construction professionals will work together with students, housing authorities, residents and municipal leaders to design affordable housing concepts for the sites during the 25th Annual Housing Colorado NOW! Conference in Vail.

Collaboratively, they will create unique solutions for each of three real projects submitted by Colorado housing authorities representing different affordable housing needs across the State. Conference attendees will be invited to engage with the design teams and provide feedback on the design process during the Conference.

New for 2013! On-Site Design By Community Charrette and Workshop Pilot for Rural Communities!
In 2013, Housing Colorado will pilot the next phase of the Design By Community Charrettes and Workshops Program in which we will bring the benefits of the program TO YOUR RURAL COMMUNITY! This is intended to benefit small rural communities in Colorado that will gain additional benefits from Housing Colorado’s ability to bring talented professionals to your site and work closely and carefully with your community in order to identify the special and unique needs that you face. In addition, the On-Site Charrettes are intended to specifically help those housing authorities and community development corporations in rural communities that struggle the most with finding the resources (time, money, talent) necessary to bring their projects to life. Our team of affordable housing professionals will work together in your community with your staff, residents and municipal leaders to design affordable housing concepts and solutions for your site over the summer. The results of the On-Site Pilot projects will then be presented at the 25th Annual Housing Colorado NOW! Conference in Vail!

2013 Project Applications
We are inviting nonprofit organizations and housing authorities to submit a project and site for both the Conference-based and On-site Design By Community Charrettes and Workshops! The Charrettes could provide pro bono pre-development services for an affordable housing project in Urban, Mountain/Resort, Rural and Greater Colorado communities. A team of professionals led by architects, landscape architects and planners will collaborate together with construction, sustainable design, financial, and development professionals to work with the organization and community to create unique affordable housing design concepts for each site chosen. For examples of project outcomes from the 2012 Design By Community Charrettes and Workshop, please follow this link. You may also download the 2013 Request For Projects.

Please forward a link to this page to organizations in your community whom you feel might benefit from this great process! Contact Elicia Ratajczyk at elicia@housingcolorado.org or at 303-883-6175 for more information or questions.

About the Housing Colorado Design By Community Charrettes
Housing Colorado/AIA Colorado Design Charrette for Affordable Housing
A Design Charrette is an intensive, hands-on pre-development workshop that brings people from different disciplines and backgrounds together to explore architectural and development options for a particular area or site. Housing Colorado and the American Institute of Architects Colorado organized a series of design charrettes focused on affordable housing at the 2010 Housing Colorado NOW! Conference. In 2011, Housing Colorado organized charrettes focused on affordable housing projects in urban, rural, mountain resort and Greater Colorado communities coordinated both on-site in Colorado communities and during the 2011 Housing Colorado NOW Conference in Vail, Colorado.