2010 Search for Shelter Charrette: Save the Dates: February 5-7, 2010

2009 Search for Shelter Charrette
The 2009 Search for Shelter Charrette, sponsored by AIA Minnesota's Housing Advocacy Committee, was held January 23-25 at Rapson Hall at the University of Minnesota. This annual Design Charrette focuses on non-profit organizations that address issues of affordable housing and homelessness in our community. Many of the organizations use the designs from the Charrette to help kickstart their funding drives and gain support from neighborhood groups. This was a great opportunity for architects and designers to use their talents to help benefit those who are especially struggling this year due to the housing market crash.

The Housing Advocacy Committee would like to extend a huge thank-you to everyone who participated in our 22nd Annual Search for Shelter Design Charrette! The Charrette was a great success, with 30 volunteers and committee members working on four different community projects. This year, the projects included a remodel of the shelter at Simpson Housing Services, preliminary planning for a youth shelter for Plymouth Church Neighborhood Foundation, sustainable design initiatives for Lyndale Neighborhood Association and an exterior remodel for 180 Degrees.

One client noted that the Charrette was "universally positive" and that they "were very impressed with the professionalism and skill of our team members." Thanks especially to the College of Design for hosting the Charrette again this year and to Bruegger's Bagels, ABT PolyDrain, HGA Architects and Engineers for food and supplies donations.

Participants started the weekend with opening presentations and a light dinner on Friday night. Saturday was a working day, and Sunday concluded with final presentations to the clients. Professionals, interns, and students from all design disciplines participated. IDP participants earned Community Service hours, and professional architects earned 9 CE hours.

Read the 2009 Search for Shelter Press Release (PDF)

If you have questions about the charrette, please contact Alysia Ulfers at AIA Minnesota.

Volunteer for the 2009 SFS Charrette (pdf) - For reference, 2010 coming in December

See the 2009 Charrette Information (pdf) - For reference, 2010 coming in December



2009 Project Boards

Simpson Housing Services (PDF) (7MB, 7 pages)

180 Degrees (PDF) (16MB, 4 pages)

Lyndale Neighborhood Association (PDF) (4MB, 6 pages)

Plymouth Church Neighborhood Foundation (PDF) (22MB, 26 pages)

February 15-17, 2008
The Housing Advocacy Committee hosted the 21st annual Search for Shelter Charrette from February 15th to 17th. The event took place in Rapson Hall at the University of Minnesota. Friday’s opening reception included dinner, sponsored by the Greater Minnesota Housing Fund, speaker Katie Swenson, the Director of Enterprise’s Frederick P. Rose Architectural Fellowship program, and a chance for agencies to introduce themselves to all the volunteered participants. This year, we welcomed many returned participants from previous charrettes, but we were fortunate to have 6 new participants, faculty and students, from the other U of M, University of Manitoba. On Saturday, the teams visited their project sites and came back to the University of Minnesota for an intense day of design. On Sunday, scrambling to finish their projects before the ‘digital’ cart came to collect, the teams presented their findings and final designs to the agencies. Six local housing agencies and neighborhood groups, 40 volunteers, and 24 hours later, we concluded with over 30 presentation boards, numerous ideas, and one of the most successful charrettes ever.

Read the 2008 Search for Shelter Press Release (pdf)

In November 2008, members of the Housing Advocacy Committee toured Aeon's affordable housing properties, including the Crane Ordway (pictured here)