What is the SDAT Workshop?

The Sustainable Design Assessment Team (SDAT) initiative is a national, competitive program of the American Institute of Architects. The program is a community assistance program that focuses on the principles of sustainability. SDATs bring teams of volunteer professionals (such as architects, urban designers, planners, landscape architects, hydrologists, economists, attorneys, and others) to assist community decision-makers and stakeholders to help them develop a vision and framework for a sustainable future. Visit the AIA SDAT website for complete information.

The SDAT process helps communities:

• understand their structure at various scales and contexts;
• explore interactions between ecological, sociological, economic, and physical systems;
• visualize potential futures;
• articulate the qualities of a place;
• advance the principles of sustainable communities; and
• define the role of stakeholders and players in both the public and private sectors.

Workshop Organization

The workshop is a three-day affair, concentrating on gathering community input on Wednesday, interpretting that input into several alternative visions and policies for the future on Thursday, and wrapping everything into a cohesive story for a public presentation on Friday.

The workshop will have two tracks: a macro-policy/analysis track focused on large-scale public policy and community structure issues related to sustainable neighborhood renewal, and a charrette track focused on exploring how those macr0-policies mesh with community desires and manifest themselves on the ground in the neighborhood. The macro-policy track will develop a series of policy and community recommendations, while the charrette track will develop up to three graphic, alternative visions for what the area might look like in the future based on those recommendations and community input. All work will be evaluated against a series of Policies and Goals previously identified through the Smart Growth Renewal process.

• All food (and good food at that!) and snacks will be provided.
• We will have standard charrette supplies, but you are welcome to bring your own materials.
• You will work alongside local and national design professionals (and future employers) and have the ability to network in a creative environment.
• You have the ability to shape the future of this neighborhood in very real and profound ways. The last workshop of this sort resulted in the creation of White River State Park in downtown Indianapolis in what was a crumbling industrial area along a dirty river.
• You will receive recognition in the report.
• You are eligible to claim 1 credit hour of elective CAP 400/500 Community Based Project credit (unless you are required to participate as part of another course).

The charrette track will work in three multidisciplinary teams to explore alternative renewal scenarios and be led by a local professional. Full-workshop (October 28, 29, 30) participation is critical to maintain concept continuity and we ask that you register for as many days as possible. If you only can dedicate one day, Thursday is probably the most critical. Download a complete schedule.

Participation Opportunities

Wednesday, October 28th

5:30-8:30pm: Town Hall Meeting

Thursday, October 29th

8:30am-1:30pm: AM Work Session
1:00pm-9:00pm: PM Work Session

Friday, October 30th

8:30am-1:30pm: AM Work Session
6:30pm-8:30pm: Presentation

• All events will be held at the Washington Park Family Center, 3130 E 30th Street.
• Download a complete schedule (PDF)

Register to Participate

We want you to experience a world-class, community-based design workshop. Sign up to volunteer for a portion of, or the full, workshop.