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The
“Kansas Design Team” - Assisting Communities in
Finding Solutions to
Physical, Social, Environmental and Economic Problems
 The
Kansas Design Team is a framework developed by AIA Kansas to assist
communities large and small with challenges of growth and
development. The mission of the initiative is to:
- Increase awareness of the benefits
of quality design
- Preserve community identity
- Inspire community-based development
The framework approach consists of town meetings to identify the issue
to be addressed, community design workshops to develop solutions, and
an implementation plan. AIA Kansas will build
multi-disciplinary teams and coordinate the involvement of appropriate
government agencies, civic and business groups, and non-profits as
needed. AIA Kansas enlisted the support of the
state’s Department of Commerce and in January 2007 introduced
the Kansas Design Team initiative to members of the state legislature.
The May 4, 2007, tornado that destroyed 95% of Greensburg, Kansas,
presented the Kansan Design Team with its first project. The
commitment began with a pledge to the Governor to assist Greenburg in
coming back as the greenest locale in rural America. In the
days and months that followed AIA
Kansas
- Hosted a meeting of interested
associations and federal and state agencies
- Took the lead in hosting a Green
Fair in Greensburg
- Joined the Public Square Planning
Committee meeting weekly in Greensburg
- Worked with the school district on
requests for qualifications and requests for proposals for new schools
and assisted in evaluating the responses
- Established a website for
information on green housing at www.aiaks.org/info/, Green Guidelines
- Worked with onsite FEMA recovery,
USDA Rural Development, and the state’s Housing and Energy
divisions
- Organized, with Kansas Housing, two
Resource Fairs for green, sustainable design and construction for homes
and businesses
- Provided individual consultations
at the Resource Fair
 AIA
Kansas continues to coordinate the work in Greenburg while introducing
the idea of the initiative to other communities.
The website, www.aiaks.org, includes information on green building for
homes and commercial uses, has a paper on best practices for
sustainable design, and a Workbook outlining the Kansas Design
Team’s process.
View
all Blueprint Initiatives |
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