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Request for Proposals – Tulane City Center Community Design & Planning Program The Tulane City Center (TCC) is inviting proposals from New Orleans based non-profit and community-based organizations for pro-bono design and planning services. Proposals must be for a specific project (i.e. not for ongoing design services for the organization), and the project must address a stated need that exists in the New Orleans area. We have enjoyed good relationships with many local organizations in the ten years our program has existed, and we look forward to new opportunities to pursue excellence in design and planning for all residents of New Orleans. Who we are The Tulane City Center houses the Tulane School of Architecture’s applied urban research and outreach programs. We work with community groups throughout New Orleans to address difficult problems with good design. TCC offers opportunities for faculty and students to provide technical assistance in design development, planning, and construction for community based organizations in New Orleans. In all of our work, our goal is to bring these services into communities traditionally underserved by the design and planning professions. We aim to maximize community involvement and leadership in efforts to rebuild and improve our region. Thanks to a gift from Johnson Controls, Inc., this RFP is offered in its sixth year, focusing on design visioning and design/build projects. Please see our website (www.tulanecitycenter.org) for specific examples of previous projects completed, or see the last pages of this document for descriptions of prior years’ selected proposals. Do you qualify for the program? If you are a New Orleans based non-profit organization (or operate under the fiscal sponsorship of a non profit organization), and you have a specific project for which you need design and planning services, then you qualify for this program. The TCC has a track record of working with large and established non-profit organizations and small and less formal community organizations and we welcome proposals from groups at either end of the scale. Description of services provided to successful applicants In working with numerous non-profit organizations, we see our community partners consistently thinking big to address big challenges. We also understand the significant budget limitations that most – if not all – non-profits face daily. Often a great idea benefits from professional services that can help to define the project and attract funding & support needed to execute a built project. This program exists to fill that gap and ensure each group is well prepared to make the next critical steps toward realizing their visions.
tulanecitycenter.org Richardson Memorial Hall 6823 St. Charles Avenue New Orleans, LA 70118 504.314.2330
Our Process The TCC has tackled a wide variety of visioning, planning, and design/build projects with a host of dynamic community partners. These projects vary in scale and scope, but generally benefit from one of two types of services TCC can provide. Please see pages 5-9 of this document for examples of past community-driven projects. TCC will work with successful applicants to determine which services will best advance their project: Visioning/Planning This service supports projects that range from mapping public transportation routes to developing strategies and designs for renovating a non-profit headquarters. Students and professional staff will work with the partner to define the project’s goals, create designs, and provide project documentation and booklets. These booklets generally include cost estimates and preliminary designs to help promote the project for development funding, and provide a baseline for the partner to work with an architect and developer going forward. Due to the variety of project scales, we will work with successful applicants to establish a timeline individual to each project. Design/Build This service supports projects for which organizations already own a site, and range from a community garden with an outdoor classroom to an arts and performance space. Design/ build projects will be structured within the timeframe of an academic semester (Fall 2015 or Spring 2016). During the semester, students will be guided through 4-5 weeks of design, during which participation and feedback from the partners will be critically important. Once designs are complete, students will construct the project throughout the semester’s remaining 7-8 weeks. The typical progression of a project includes: 1. Research: The TCC team will have multiple meetings with successful applicants to learn more about their projects, and conduct visits to the proposed site. We will research the appropriate building codes and zoning ordinances, and become familiar with examples of similar projects. 2.Visioning & Design: The design and planning process will involve a series of proposals from the TCC student and staff design team, incorporating your feedback until we have accurately captured your project aspirations. 3. Finalize Design: Together we will select the best design scheme, develop it in detail, provide basic cost estimates, and try to set the project up for success in future phases. 4A. Visioning/Planning Document: When a design and development scheme has been finalized, we will incorporate the work into a single document, both printed and digital, for ongoing promotion and fundraising purposes. 4B. Design/Build: For projects that will be built by TCC staff and students, the final product will be the constructed project itself. The scope of what can be completed within the semester-based timeframe will be discussed in detail during the research and design process. tulanecitycenter.org Richardson Memorial Hall 6823 St. Charles Avenue New Orleans, LA 70118 504.314.2330
Making a proposal To apply for the Community Design & Planning Program, prepare a single packet that contains the following information and mail to the TCC (either email OR hard copy) no later than May 15th, 2015 (Friday). For email proposals, please send in pdf format: njenisch@tulane.edu For hard copies, please send to: Tulane City Center - 2015 RFP 1725 Baronne Street New Orleans, LA 70113 Project Information Provide the following information on a single page at the beginning of your application packet: -Name of Organization -Name of project for which you are requesting pro bono design and planning services -Phone # -Email address -Contact person Project Proposal Answer the following questions in no more than 3 pages: - Describe the work of your organization (please include your mission statement if you have one) - What are your major accomplishments in the previous 3 years? - Describe the project for which you are seeking pro bono design and planning services - Why is this project important to your mission? - How will you sustain your efforts towards developing and then managing this project after our
work is completed?
Supporting Material Please provide a copy of your 501(c)3 letter of determination (or if you operate under a fiscal sponsorship, the letter from that organization and a letter confirming your relationship). You also need to submit two letters of support from groups with whom you have worked or who are familiar with your work. Selection Process Not sure where your project fits in? Come to the Tulane City Center on Tuesday, April 14th, 6pm (1725 Baronne St.) for a chance to talk to staff about this process. Proposals are due to the TCC no later than May 15th, 2015 (Friday) The TCC will let all applicants know of their selection no later than June 12th 2015 (Friday).
tulanecitycenter.org Richardson Memorial Hall 6823 St. Charles Avenue New Orleans, LA 70118 504.314.2330
The following are examples of projects done through our annual Request for Proposals Process. Projects fall into two main categories, Visioning Studies, and Design Build Projects.
JCI/TCC Pro Bono Community Design and Planning Program Visioning Study Projects
A.L. Davis Park - Visioning Study Non Profit Project Partner: NONDC The A.L. Davis Park master plan and visioning study was a comprehensive effort led by longtime neighborhood residents who hope to build on the park’s important history in the neighborhood. The program distribution incorporates many requests and suggestions by the community for park activities and infrastructure. Services provided by TCC: Development and implementation of community outreach strategy for design and planning input (with NONDC and Urban Outreach LLC), development of 2 alternative site design and development proposals, production of a project booklet that promotes the proposed park improvements and estimated costs for subsequent partnership development and fundraising.
Jane Place Neighborhood Sustainability Initiative - Visioning Study Non Profit Project Partner: JPNSI A recently established housing and community development nonprofit, Jane Place Neighborhood Sustainability Initiative (JPNSI) works to increase the range of affordable housing options available to low and moderate income residents by encouraging resident-controlled development; advocating for shared-equity models of homeownership, renting, and cooperative housing; and promoting communitybuilding initiatives that advance equitable housing patterns, neighborhood stability, and community-driven land-use planning. Services provided by TCC: development of specific schematic design proposals for the 4-plex apartment building they currently own, as well as exploring a broader
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range of coordinated neighborhood development including the adjacent furniture
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warehouse building and future possible land and building acquisitions. This project represented our first significant collaboration with faculty and students from TSA’s new Masters of Sustainable Real Estate Development program.
tulanecitycenter.org Richardson Memorial Hall 6823 St. Charles Avenue New Orleans, LA 70118 504.314.2330
JCI/TCC Pro Bono Community Design and Planning Program Visioning Study Projects New Orleans Dance Collective - Visioning Study Non Profit Project Partner: NODC The New Orleans Dance Collective (NODC), a non-profit youth organization, actively links dance with social work and seeks to address the overwhelming need for positive, life-affirming, esteem-building cultural activities for inner-city at-risk youth in postKatrina New Orleans. The TCC worked with NODC to develop schematic design proposals for a new Dance Studio to serve their programs needs. Based on research of similar programs accross the nation and intensive dialogue with NODC and their partners the TCC team developed a series of design proposals. Services provided by TCC: development of design schemes and a phased development scenario. Work was compiled into the final ‘visioning document’ for NODC to use in support of fundraising and other promotional activities as they work towards full project implementation.
Ride NOLA Transportation Advocacy - Visioning Study Non Profit Project Partner: Ride New Orleans Ride New Orleans’ mission is to enhance the quality of life in the New Orleans region
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by promoting safe, convenient and affordable transportation options. This reserach and advocacy project targets a few major interesctions in the city and suggests
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improvements to the city’s infrastructure to encourage saftey and increased ridership. The TCC along with the project partner, Ride New Orleans, are looking at ways to advocate for safer interchanges and spread awareness to riders.
Services provided by TCC: The team helped the community partner establish a set of parameters for the design problem and propsed specific safe interchanges between TRANSIT ORIENTED different modes of transportaion and placed these proptotypical ideas within theDISTRICT PROJECT
larger transportation context within the city. The project resulted in a booklet used by Ride NOLA to advocate for their ideas.
tulanecitycenter.org Richardson Memorial Hall 6823 St. Charles Avenue New Orleans, LA 70118 504.314.2330
JCI/TCC Pro Bono Community Design and Planning Program Visioning Study Projects
Project Home By Hand - Visioning Study Research and Design for a new model of Self Help Housing The Tulane City Center teamed up with Project Home Again, a New Orleans Residential Rebuilding Non-Profit, to research the history of Self Help Housing in the US and propose 4 new house prototypes based on a new and localized response to the Self Help Housing Model. Project Home Again is committed to building several of these affordable housing prototypes and is investigating a program model which will allow community members currently non served by traditional affordable housing providers (such as small families, formerly incarcerated, and at risk populations) have a path to home ownership. Services provided by TCC: research into similar programs and mid-century modern building styles in Gentilly, initial design schemes for 4 houses, and a booklet which summarizes Project Home by Handâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s goals, history, program model, and the housing schemes. The booklet is currently being used by Project Home Again to raise funds and build a coalition of interested groups.
tulanecitycenter.org Richardson Memorial Hall 6823 St. Charles Avenue New Orleans, LA 70118 504.314.2330
JCI/TCC Pro Bono Community Design and Planning Program Design Build Projects Guardians Institute - Design Build Non Profit Project Partner: Guardians Institute The Guardians Institute project involves a master plan for the Guardians Instituteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s campus in the Upper Ninth Ward. The Guardians Institute is dedicated to preserving, promoting, and celebrating African American tradition and culture. The design team developed a site plan and built an 800 square foot performance space. The space is used for Mardi Gras Indian performances, community-oriented programing, and as a support space for the Guardians Literacy Program. Services provided by TCC: Site planning, performance pavilion design, landscape design, coordination with city agencies to gain necessary zoning adjustments and permits (in partnership with Alembic Development Company), construction. Project Ish Outdoor Enrichment Room - Design Build Non Profit Project Partner: First Grace Community Alliance A team of students from the Tulane School of Architecture designed and built a 400 square foot outdoor enrichment room for children and residents of a transitional home during the fall semester of 2010. The design build project is a 400s.f. playroom and educational space that was added to the back of the existing transitional home. The scheme includes a linear storage wall, a loft playspace, and a butterfly roof which collects rainwater for an adjacent community garden. Services provided by TCC: Design, permit application, and construction of the 400s.f. space for use by Hagar House residents and their children.
Pyramid Wellness - Design Build Non Profit Project Partner: Pyramid Resources Wellness Institute Located in Mid City, Pyramid Resources Wellness Institute (PRWI) provides treatment services for persons in the greater New Orleans area who are homeless, have mental illness diagnosis or co-occurring substance use and mental illness. PRWIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s day treatment facility was in need of additional group therepy, outdoor dining, and activity space. The studio team worked with the staff and residents of the Pyramid Wellness to design and build the outdoor space into an area that can adapt to the multiple needs of the residents and provides a calming outdoor space for the clients and staff of the facility. Services provided by TCC: Site planning, designing of outdoor recreation and eating space, construction. An additional graphic design project followed this design build to help PRWI inform their clients of their mental crisis options.
tulanecitycenter.org Richardson Memorial Hall 6823 St. Charles Avenue New Orleans, LA 70118 504.314.2330
JCI/TCC Pro Bono Community Design and Planning Program Design Build Projects
Parisite Skatepark - Design Build Non Profit Project Partner: Transitional Spaces Parisite began as a Do-It-Yourself skatepark and in 2013 it was officially recognized by the city of New Orleans as the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first official Skatepark Recreation Area. TCC teamed up with a group of skaters, known as Transitional Spaces, to help make the transition from idea to official city park. In process we have engaged skaters and community members in the master planning process to create a vision for a space that is inclusive, fun and educational. The park officially opened February 28th, 2015. Services provided by TCC: TCCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work began by developing a vision for the skatepark and advocating for its legitimacy. Through this process, Transitional Spaces became strong advocates for the park, and succeeded in getting a set of ramps donated by Red Bull/Sphon. TCC students continued their work through design and construction of an entrance to the park, signage, planting, benches and handrails to make the skatepark a welcoming community park space. Planted areas address the need for stormwater catchment and filtration from the overpass.
TCC Headquarters/Baronne Buildout - Design Build Making a community based home for the Tulane City Center Tulane City Center moved into its new home at 1725 Baronne Street in Central City in the fall of 2014. The new TCC headquarters provides ample workspace for staff, fellows, and interns as TCC expands, as well as community-based project studio space. The building also houses community events and resource space, as well as a fully outfitted shop for fabrication and staging of community design-build projects. Most importantly, the new site helps to bring TCC geographically closer to its project sites and partners as the Center seeks to both strengthen existing relationships and forge new ones with community members, nonprofits and government agencies.. Services provided by TCC: assessment of user needs and the design and fabrication of custom interior buildouts to accomodate those needs. Community members, TCC Staff, and Tulane Students were all taken into account to create a series of flexible spaces for a range of programs related to community, design, and the city.
tulanecitycenter.org Richardson Memorial Hall 6823 St. Charles Avenue New Orleans, LA 70118 504.314.2330