Theory and Practice of Community Design Charrette

This segment shares the content and application of curriculum developed by the University of Wisconsin-Extension on Theory and Practice of Community Design Charrette. Community Design Charrettes are high-energy community planning activities that concentrate public involvement into a 3-day period (the charrette) that generates energy and momentum needed for implementation.

The Community Design Charrette is based on the Minnesota Design Team model that since 1983, has assisted more than 120 rural communities discover their shared visions for the future.  During the three-day charrette, a team of 12-20 volunteer planning and design professionals live and work with a community to collaboratively develop short-, medium-, and long-term visions.  A “workbook” is used to help guide the community 6-8 months prior to the charrette with planning and logistical activities designed to prepare the community for the charrette and for implementation.

 

Community Design Charrette Process

Unlike a traditional strategic planning process, the community design charrette approach concentrates public engagement into a 3-day event.  The event or “visit” consists of a flurry of interactive activities that encourage the exchange of ideas while generating the energy needed for implementation.  Like a traditional strategic planning process, the community design charrette involves months of preparation and deliberation involving key stakeholders.  Contrary to public opinion, the community design charrette process involves just as much time and effort as a traditional process and merely projects the illusion that it is quick, fun, and simple.  This illusion is by design and is critical to successful public participation and implementation.

A Typical Timeline (3-day community-wide charrette)

Step 1:  Community contacts local UW-Extension Educator (6-10 months prior to the charrette)

  • UW-Extension Educator works with the UW-Extension Community Vitality & Placemaking Team to introduce Design Wisconsin Program.
  • UW-Extension Educator works key stakeholders to assemble a Community Leadership Team.
  • Community Applies for a Design Wisconsin program to UW-Extension Community Vitality & Placemaking Team.

Step 2: UW-Extension Community Vitality & Placemaking Team reviews application and schedules a site visit with the Community Leadership Team and local UW-Extension Educator.

Step 3: UW-Extension Community Vitality & Placemaking Team selects community.

  • UW-Extension Community Vitality & Placemaking Team:
    • Assembles a Design Team of volunteer planning and design professionals, engineers and scientists.
    • Develops a community profile to provide background information to Design Team members prior to the charrette.
    • Develops community survey and other public participation materials for the charrette.
    • Works with the local UW-Extension Educator to provide “Community Capacity for Positive Change” curriculum for the Community Leadership Team.
  • Community Leadership Team:
    • Half of the fee is paid to the UW-Extension Community Vitality & Placemaking Team prior to the assembly of the team, the other half is paid 1 week prior to the charrette
    • Participates in several workshops to develop local capacity for positive community change and to prepare for the charrette.

Step 4:  The Charrette:

  • Thursday, 7-9 PM:  Team members meet Community Leadership Team and host families
  • Friday, 9 AM – noon:  Ten 10-minute community presentations to the Design Team
  • Friday, noon – 1:30:  Focus group lunches with 3 different community groups (businesses, seniors, and “other”)
  • Friday 1:30 PM:  Bus/walking tour of the community
  • Friday 3:30 PM:  Team meeting to prepare for community visioning workshop
  • Friday 6 PM:  Community supper
  • Friday 7 PM:  Community visioning workshop
  • Friday 9 PM:  Adjourn
  • Saturday 8 AM:  Design Team meeting and work session
  • Saturday noon:  Design Team working lunch
  • Saturday 5 PM:  Design Team working supper
  • Saturday 6 PM:  Design Team rehearsal
  • Saturday 7 PM:  Design Team presentation to the community
  • Saturday 9 PM:  Adjourn

Step 5:  Post-Charrette Reporting

  • UW-Extension Community Vitality & Placemaking Team:
    • Online video of the final presentation (1 week following the charrette)
    • Implementation workshop (within 1 month following the charrette)
    • Summary Report of the entire process (1-2 months following the charrette)
  • Community Leadership Team & UW-Extension Educator:
    • Implementation/action groups begin working on outcomes

Step 6:  Follow-Up Visit (6 months after the charrette)

  • UW-Extension Community Vitality & Placemaking Team meets with Community Leadership Team and local UW-Extension Educator to assess impacts and collect feedback.

UW-Extension Pilot Program: Grantsburg, WI

In April of 2014, the University of Wisconsin Extension partnered with the National Park Service, the University of Minnesota Center for Rural Design, and the Minnesota Design Team of the Minnesota Chapter of the American Institute of Architects to conduct a Community Design Charrette in Grantsburg, Wisconsin.  The team included architects, landscape architects and planners from Wisconsin and Minnesota along with Community Resource Development educators from the University of Wisconsin Extension’s Community Vitality & Placemaking Team.

If your community is interested in a community design charrette, please contact Todd Johnson, Land Use & Community Development Outreach Program Manager at twjohnson6@wisc.edu.