The Center for Communities by Design Sustainable Design Assessment Team (SDAT) is a community assistance program that focuses on the principles of sustainability. The SDAT program will bring a team of volunteer professionals (such as architects, urban designers, planners, hydrologists, economists, attorneys, and others) to work with community decision-makers and stakeholders to help them develop a vision and framework for a sustainable future The SDAT program is based on the AIA’s goal of helping communities create a sustainable relationship between humans, the natural environment, and place. By achieving balance between cultural, environmental, and economic systems, communities can sustain a place as a stage for human settlement.

A Message from Erica Gees, AIA, President, AIA Western Massachusetts:

Our participation in the Center for Communities by Design Sustainable Design Assessment Team (SDAT) program provided the opportunity for our local architects to assist their communities in developing a vision for sustainability in our region. I encourage other chapters and components to apply for the SDAT program; the process has helped solidify our presence as an organization in our region and continues to validate the importance of our profession in positively shaping the future of our communities.

Both Pittsfield and Northampton, Mass., were recipients of the SDAT award in 2005. Through the community design charrette process, the SDAT interdisciplinary team, with great sensitivity, thoroughly addressed the relevant issues in each community before making their recommendations. Through this process which included our local members, we were able to raise the community’s awareness of the value of good design, a sustainable vision, and the critical role architects can play in the future of their communities.

The SDAT grant also provided an excellent opportunity for our chapter to promote other programs, such as “Learning by Design” - a K-12 curriculum that can be tailored to specific grade levels or subject matter and engages students in the design process, building awareness of the built environment and the profession as a whole. Learning by Design as a program provides a wonderful opportunity for public outreach and conversely fosters increased participation by parents in the SDAT implementation phase.

The team visits and SDAT activities generated a number of media pieces in print and broadcast outlets, radio roundtable discussions, and record levels in positive readership response for all the local newspapers. Overall, the SDAT program brought much needed attention to the issue of sustainability in our region and both our participating cities and members benefited greatly from the team of independent interdisciplinary professionals. Our communities can now truly embrace in an informed way, a sustainable vision for their future.

For more information contact: Ann Livingston, Esq., Director, Center for Communities by Design alivingston@aia.org or visit www.aia.org/liv_sdat.