Tulane University
IN-3: Innovation 3

The Tulane City Center houses the Tulane School of Architecture's applied urban research and outreach programs. Tulane City Center works with community groups throughout New Orleans to address difficult problems with good design. Initiatives of the Tulane City Center share a focus on improving cities--particularly New Orleans. The project sites range in scale from small installations to neighborhood scale planning. The work is grounded in the values and culture of the community partners in dialogue with current environmental sensibilities and innovative design strategies. Beyond deep citizen engagement, an important aspect of the work is to ensure that the research results in a constructed design and/or advocacy and education. Each project operates within one of five categories of work: 1. Architecture - The projects in this category address specific sites and structures. The built work in and around New Orleans seeks to bring high quality design to diverse environments while fostering a strong sense of community. Recent projects range in scale from small pavilions to designs for cultural centers. 2. Design Build - Tulane School of Architecture's Engage-Design-Build program is a design studio offered every semester in which students design and build a full-scale, affordable, and sustainable project. Community partners are able to see small projects realized and students are given an opportunity to shepherd a project from design to completion. Projects have ranged from interior build-outs to a seven-acre farm. 3. Planning - These are projects larger than one single building or site and address neighborhood or city-wide issues. Through good planning, Tulane City Center wants to ensure that the city's future is addressed with innovative means of public participation, research, education and critical thinking; building a healthier, more inclusive New Orleans. 4. Graphic Advocacy - Community partners' projects benefit from advocacy through graphic design. Through visually compelling messages, Tulane City Center aims to communicate the spirit and goals of the community partners that reflect a shared commitment to promoting a just and equitable society. 5. Capacity Building - Tulane City Center aims to increase the capacity and effectiveness of individuals, non-profits and community groups through collaboration and design. Building organizational capacity is an investment in the future sustainability of a non-profit. An editorial describing the Tulane City Center's contributions to New Orleans post-Katrina can be viewed at http://architecture.tulane.edu/news/2015/05/article-1389

Tulane City Center has over 80 projects spread across the city of New Orleans and outlying areas.