Maine architects invited to assist National AIA Sustainable Design Assessment Team

Sustainable Design Assessment Team (SDAT) Visit

East Bayside, Portland, Maine

March 30 – April 1, 2010

CALLING THE PROFESSIONAL DESIGN COMMUNITY: OPPORTUNITY FOR SERVICE

Portland is one of seven communities nationwide to win a competitive grant from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) for technical assistance to turn the city’s East Bayside neighborhood into a model for a vibrant, sustainable, urban community.

On March 30, AIA’s Sustainable Design Assessment Team (SDAT) program will bring a team of national experts to the city for three days to develop recommendations for improving East Bayside: Maine’s most ethnically diverse neighborhood, with the most varied land use of any 100 acres in the city, and a major gateway to the peninsula. The SDAT will work with public officials, community leaders and residents over the course of three days to help shape a holistic strategy to address transportation, economic, social and environmental issues in East Bayside.

A Unique Opportunity

The SDAT will concentrate their first day (March 30) conducting key interviews and roundtables with East Bayside stakeholders, with a neighborhood meeting that evening.  On day 2 & 3 (March 31 & April 1) the SDAT will set up headquarters at the Wishcamper building (USM) to create their report to be presented Thursday evening, April 1, 6:00 pm @ the Portland High School.  The general topic areas to be covered in their assessment/report are highlighted by the SDAT member:

1. Connectivity/streetscapes; open space; urban design: Patricia Smith, ASLA, AICP [Los Angeles]
2. Transportation/bicycle & pedestrian planning: Seleta Reynolds, AICP [Seattle]
3. Green Infrastructure: Dave Rodgers, PE, LEEP AP, principal; SvR Design [Seattle]
4. Creative Economy/cultural development: Neil Takemoto, Cool Town Studios [DC]
5. Public Safety/Youth Development: Richard Goll, Onsite-Insight [Hampton, VA]
6. Housing/Neighborhood Revitalization: Reemberto Rodriguez, Silver Springs Regional Center [MD]
7. SDAT Team Leader: J. Todd Scott, AIA: Design Review Coordinator/Preservation [King County, WA]
8. Design Assistance: Erin Simmons, AIA: Director of Design Assistance; AIA Communities by Design [DC]
9. Facilitation: Joel Mills, Director; AIA Center for Communities by Design [DC]