‘It Takes a Community’

Living Deanwood is a living building design Washington, DC’s historic Deanwood neighborhood. The project features 10 affordable homes, a community garden, a pocket park, and a community center. image: Christopher Winnike, AIA, Brittany Williams, AIA, and Eric Hull / courtesy of the American Institute of Architects
Living Deanwood is a living building design Washington, DC’s historic Deanwood neighborhood. The project features 10 affordable homes, a community garden, a pocket park, and a community center.
image: Christopher Winnike, AIA, Brittany Williams, AIA, and Eric Hull / courtesy of the American Institute of Architects

With the theme ‘It Takes a Community,’ the 2016 exhibit from the American Institute of Architects’ Center for Emerging Professionals showcases the work of architecture students, recent graduates, and emerging professionals that offer a well-rounded approach, encompassing much more than structures alone when looking at community design. The selected projects focus on community impact and engagement as well, ranging from applying adaptive design principles to address homelessness to housing that responds to resource scarcity.

The Emerging Professionals exhibit includes 30 projects, from across the country and the globe, and here we highlight a few that incorporate the surrounding landscape and well-designed outdoor spaces, from community gardens to pocket parks, as integral to the overall design.

Crowdus Pop-Up Park, created for the Congress for the New Urbanism 23 Conference, demonstrates the importance of active and inclusive public spaces that combine architecture and landscape. image: Eduardo Castaneda, Assoc. AIA; Michael Friebele, Assoc. AIA; Yu Xin, Assoc. AIA; Naishi Bu, Steve Knox, Carlos Mireles, Assoc. AIA; Susan Hubenthal / courtesy of the American Institute of Architects
Crowdus Pop-Up Park, created for the Congress for the New Urbanism 23 Conference, demonstrates the importance of active and inclusive public spaces that combine architecture and landscape.
image: Eduardo Castaneda, Assoc. AIA, Michael Friebele, Assoc. AIA, Yu Xin, Assoc. AIA, Naishi Bu, Steve Knox, Carlos Mireles, Assoc. AIA, Susan Hubenthal / courtesy of the American Institute of Architects
The Navajo Code Talkers Museum and Veterans' Center is the result of research on the history of the Code Talkers, Navajo traditions and culture, site conditions, and building feasibility. image: Amanda Schwarz and Ryan Baxter, University of Arizona School of Architecture / courtesy of the American Institute of Architects
The Navajo Code Talkers Museum and Veterans’ Center is the result of research on the history of the Code Talkers, Navajo traditions and culture, site conditions, and building feasibility.
image: Amanda Schwarz and Ryan Baxter, University of Arizona School of Architecture / courtesy of the American Institute of Architects
Fred and Pamela Buffett Place presents a sustainable renovation design for affordable housing. The project aims to provide a safe harbor and support services for the homeless in Chicago. image: Victor Jimenez, AIA / courtesy of the American Institute of Architects
Fred and Pamela Buffett Place presents a sustainable renovation design for affordable housing. The project aims to provide a safe harbor and support services for the homeless in Chicago.
image: Victor Jimenez, AIA / courtesy of the American Institute of Architects
Symbiosis proposes a design for earthquake-resistant structures in Sichuan, China. The plan upgrades irrigation, energy, and waste systems without compromising existing landscape and architecture. image: Kin Lam and Xibing Yang / courtesy of the American Institute of Architects
Symbiosis proposes a design for earthquake-resistant structures in Sichuan, China. The plan upgrades irrigation, energy, and waste systems without compromising existing landscape and architecture.
image: Kin Lam and Xibing Yang / courtesy of the American Institute of Architects
10 Years/10 Stories: Architecture of Recovery examines the role of architects in post-Hurricane Katrina recovery. image: Jose Alvarez, AIA, Mary Bullock, Assoc. AIA, Amy Garrett, Assoc. AIA, Mary Gilmore, AIA, Gretchen Gottfried, Chuck Perret, Amanda Rivera, AIA, Miriam Salas, AIA, Janina Scalfano, AIA, Thom Smith, AIA, Jordan Stewart / courtesy of the American Institute of Architects
10 Years/10 Stories: Architecture of Recovery examines the role of architects in post-Hurricane Katrina recovery.
image: Jose Alvarez, AIA, Mary Bullock, Assoc. AIA, Amy Garrett, Assoc. AIA, Mary Gilmore, AIA, Gretchen Gottfried, Chuck Perret, Amanda Rivera, AIA, Miriam Salas, AIA, Janina Scalfano, AIA, Thom Smith, AIA, Jordan Stewart / courtesy of the American Institute of Architects

All of the projects featured in the exhibit can be seen on the AIA Emerging Professionals’ website or at AIA National Headquarters, located at 1735 New York Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, until Labor Day weekend. The exhibit is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Monday through Friday.

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