West Michigan Community Design Collaboration
Kyle Wigboldy, Laura Smit, Nathan Poel - Calvin College
Proposed Initiative
Promote and aid neighborhood revitalization through
the West Michigan Community Design Collaboration
and college students in the Grand Rapids Area.
Basis for this Initiative
Grand Rapids already recognizes a need for neighborhood
revitalization and community development. The WMCDC
seeks community through projects that improve the quality
of life and raise awareness of architecture and place. The
collaboration strengthens community when citizens and
students work together to offer services that affect the
neighborhoods from which they come.
Case Study: Cherry, Lake, Diamond Project
Design
Purpose
To build a monument,
way-finding device,
give sense of place
to that area
Final concept incorporates the East Hills “center of
the universe” theme. It includes an interactive map
detailing walking distances to four local business
districts and a spherical monument to serve as a
community landmark.
Participants
Calvin American Institute of Architecture Students,
American Institute of Architects Grand Valley, Uptown
Committee
Process
• Uptown Committee expressed need for community
focal point in Uptown area
• Initial design charette took place at Calvin College
in October 2005. The goal of the charette was to
generate three designs for approval
WMCDC
Goals
• Enrich the community through design
• Demonstrate the value of design and raise the
public’s perception of architecture
• Raise the awareness of environmental sustainability
• Illustrate that well thought out design can be
economical
• After presenting to the Uptown Committee, another
charette was held to refine the designs into one final
concept
• After approval, the design was finalized by AIA
Grand Valley and is scheduled to be built by Calvin
students in spring 2006
Benefits to community groups
Benefits to college students
• Place to bring ideas for community improvement
• Students gain experience through
actual design work
• Visuals generate interest for community ideas
• Work is done at little or no cost to community
groups
• Gives a basis from which to write grant proposals
• Build valuable contacts (professional
and otherwise)
• Fosters a community-oriented mindset
Contacts: Nate Gillette, AIA Grand Valley Vice President Nate@bazzani.com
Nathan Poel, Calvin College AIAS President njp4@calvin.edu
Observations
The design process fostered interaction between
students, communities and businesses and challenged
them to consider common priorities.
It is hoped that the monument will give the Uptown area
a sense of ownership and place. It should promote the
walkability of the neighborhood and four business
districts.
Looking Forward
The WMCDC is an excellent tool for creating
relationships with local colleges, neighborhood
associations and charitable organizations to
actualize the community development goals of
Grand Rapids. Some good examples of these
would be streetscape deve3lopment, park and
playground design and monuments that give a
sense of place.