Room of Our Own - Four Ways COVID May Change Design
August 12, 2020
How do we efficiently retrofit and create healthy buildings that not only meet public health requirements but enhance our feeling of well-being? How are we reimagining the use of interior and exterior spaces while increasing their interconnectedness? What innovations are being accelerated in real time, like the rapid deployment of lightweight architecture and modular construction?
This 1-hour episode of WDC Online presented four possible impacts of the CoronaVirus, some that are already unfolding, and others that may be futuristic, as considered by this provocative video by IIDA CEO Cheryl Durst.
Katie Faulkner (Boston) and Rebecca Martinez (Los Angeles) led this interactive salon exploring how we think about design and all of the physical spaces where we live, work and gather due to COVID pandemic disruption. To leverage the varied experiences, perspectives, and geographies of our members, the presentation included real-time surveys, anecdotes and questions posed to the group.
in conversation with developer charmaine curtis
July 29, 2020
In addition to being passionate about the work I do, my career has been driven by a desire to prove that a Black woman can succeed in development, because if you can't see it, you can't be it. Charmaine Curtis, Curtis Development
Charmaine Curtis discussed how she sources, structures and develops complex urban infill projects that have transformed the Bay Area’s urban landscape, pioneering sites to build community, provide thousands of beautiful homes for a broad spectrum of residents and demonstrate that Black women developers can build financially successful and inspiring projects.
ROOM OF OUR OWN - CREATIVE PLACEMAKING WITH JUANITA HARDY
July 16, 2020
As proven by Juanita Hardy, the synthesis of art and culture in tandem with great urban design has the power to bring communities together. Inspired projects have stitched together neighborhoods in beautiful ways. Examples of such creative placemaking include the 11th Street Bridge Park over the Anacostia River. of Washington, DC. Another project, Crosstown Concourse, grows from a defunct Sears Distribution Center transformed into a mixed use “urban village” in Memphis, Tennessee. In a lively Room of Our Own session, Juanita Hardy takes us on a tour.
PROJECT FORUM - PEGY BRIMHALL, FIGURD DEVELOPMENT
June 25, 2020
An experienced panel and WDC audience provided feedback and advice to Pegy Brimhall of Figurd Development on her latest project, Pine Street. A seasoned entrepreneur, Pegy is stretching her experience with a 48-unit mid-rise development in an emerging neighborhood. Her pro forma considers the specifics of San Antonio where condos are severely under supplied. Looking an comps and regional standards, Pegy walked the group through her progress to date, pointing out some of the challenges with financing and deal structure.
Room of Our Own - what’s happening with healthcare and healthcare real estate in response to COVID-19?
June 18, 2020
COVID-19 has had a supernova effect on Healthcare. Mary Beth Kuzmanovich, Lillibridge
COVID-19 is affecting healthcare delivery, driving changes in real estate, and sponsoring innovation. Introduced by Emma Littlejohn of Emma and Company, this session highlights the paradox of financial strain on healthcare systems, which are central to the successful navigation of the pandemic crisis, yet losing critical operating funds.
Development Forum with All Women Team of Reina
June 11, 2020
What's it like working on Reina?
The feeling is very different but the development process is the same. Taya Cook, Urban Capital
No reason for posturing! Heather Rolleston, Quadrangle Architects
Moderated by Renée Gomes of First Gulf, this forum's focus is Reina, a Toronto development that places women and families at its center. The Reina team has gotten international attention as an all women endeavor, which in itself is noteworthy, but their legacy may be their unprecedented process of engagement including multiple public meetings/forums, and a recent kids’ design competition during this quarantine.
In Conversation with Developer and Entrepreneur Eve Picker
June 4, 2020
Every small change is a step toward big change. Eve Picker, Small Change
That she is just one person is hard to accept. A native Sydneyian and longtime resident of Pittsburgh, Eve's footprint on social media is large, her range of projects is large, and her enthusiasm for teaching and learning about real estate development is enormous. In this session Eve highlights her trajectory, shows some projects, and explains the concept of crowd source funding and its potential impact on real estate.
WDC Dreams of Our Own, Amy Erixon, Avison Young
May 28, 2020
It’s scary to do a pioneering project...[as] pioneers get all the arrows.. Amy Erixon, Avison Young
Yet, she continues to love flying through these arrows as she pioneers new development ventures that disrupt the status quo across the globe. This candid conversation shares our hopes and dreams that a silver lining of COVID-19 will be global leadership to tackle climate change while redesigning a sustainable, inclusive economy. Amy discussed what she is observing with "green recovery" efforts in Canada and Europe in conversation with WDC Founder, Libby Seifel
WDC Room of Own
May 21, 2020
WDC Online Launch!
In this interactive salon, we discussed how COVID-19 is affecting our communities and each of us, what we are each doing to make a difference, and how WDC can help us and our communities to successfully navigate through these challenging times.