AIA sustainable design program kicks off with Oct. 6 meeting

Detroit was selected as one of nine cities to participate in the Sustainable Design Assessment Team program by the American Institute of Architects, and it is an opportunity being seized with relish by those involved. “We have a chance to make Detroit into a model for sustainability,” says Eleanore Eveleth, who is working to coordinate the SDAT process, which is focusing on the Southwest Detroit, Mexicantown, Corktown, Downtown, Eastern Market, Midtown and New Center districts.

The
SDAT program will look at four realms of sustainability:
transportation, energy, land use and the new economy. Local experts in
each area will get teamed with national ones in a three-day charette
from Oct. 30 to Nov. 1 — but first, the locals are gathering on Oct. 6 to orientate and plan.

“We want to have a more productive meeting on the
30th,” says Eveleth. “We will give an overview of the SDAT process,
which is what the folks from out of town are coming to do.”

Eveleth
expects community organizations, residents, people that work within the project boundaries and those already working on green products and issues to
participate. “There are a lot of people already working on small bits
and pieces of this,” she says. “This is a way to bring all these people
together and learn from folks that have done this in other cities.”

SDAT has made a survey available on-line to help frame the process’ roadmap. Click here to get started.

The
SDAT kick-off is on October 6 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. and will be held
at the Ecumenical Theological Seminary, located at 2930 Woodward in
Detroit. The three-day charette will be held at the University of
Michigan Community Design Center, also in Midtown. For more
information, call Zachary & Associates at 313-831-6100.

Source: Eleanore Eveleth, SDAT
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh
Photo by Marvin Shaouni