Brian Hendrickson, Principal of 180° Design Studio, partnered with Daryl Rantis Architects and the University of Missouri to actively engage the public through a charrette. The charrette process combines a creative, intense work session with public workshops and open houses at critical decision-making points. It is a collaborative planning process that harnesses the talents and energies of all interested parties to create and support a feasible plan that represents the public’s collective input on design. This charrette was for planning and designing ERIC, the university’s Educational Resource and Innovation Center.
Here, Brian talks about the building vision for ERIC.
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For more information about University of Missouri Extension’s ERIC visit, http://extension.missouri.edu/cooper/eric
What is a Charrette?
The core of our approach to urban design is the public charrette process. A charrette is a brief but intense design workshop in which stakeholders and interested citizens are invited to contribute to the work of an interdisciplinary team of planners and designers during the earliest stages of planning.
180° Design Studio is the only firm in Kansas City that has run a true, multi-day, multi-disciplinary public design charrette, according to the standards of the National Charrette Institute.
Our seven-day charrette for the complex and controversial New Longview Development in Lee’s Summit garnered a standing ovation by the 300 people in attendance at the final presentation. That process has since been suggested as a model by the Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas City, the Mid-America Regional Council, and the Historic Kansas City Foundation, which issued a Proactive Preservation award for the process.
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Good post. I have been to a few public charrettes, the more interesting of the two incorporated groups of people at tables which included the public, designers and city staff. Each team was given a site that was being considered for inclusion in the CRA and was asked to redesign. The friction between the more irate members of the public with young ambitious designers and typically stodgy city functionaries was pure entertainment. It was an incredible meeting of the minds! Check out the Delray Beach Florida CRA’s site for the final form of some of the ideas in action.