Fanshawe College Joins Forces With Habitat for Humanity in Collaborative Charrette

For five gruelling weeks, students from Fanshawe College's School of Design worked collaboratively on a design partnership between the College and Habitat for Humanity. True to the College's promise to provide real-world experience, teams from the Interior Design, Interior Decorating, GIS and Urban Planning, Integrated Land Planning and Landscape Design programs, were presented with the challenge of providing Habitat for Humanity with five innovative solutions for a site and home design to be constructed on an infill site in East London. The site, which is situated in an established residential area, will provide Habitat for Humanity the opportunity to build up to four affordable housing units, two of which have already been earmarked for families in need of assistance.

Students were briefed on the project in early November and continued to work in groups of 10 until final presentation. A faculty team member met with the student teams each week to guide them through the research and design process. Spearheaded by Interior Design Program Co-ordinator Julie McIntyre, the cross-disciplinary faculty panel included Russell Schnurr, Program Co-ordinator of the GIS and Urban Planning program and Eli Paddle, faculty member in the College's Landscape Design and Integrated Land Planning programs. "The Habitat for Humanity design charrette provided a unique and exciting opportunity for the students and faculty of Fanshawe to be involved in a commendable community effort. The project offered students experience working with other programs, industry professionals and a real client. It was a pleasure to collaborate with Habitat for Humanity on a project that will have profound impact on the lives of four families in London," McIntyre said.

Charrette presentations were held at the College on Friday, December 11, 2009, to a panel of Habitat for Humanity organizers, City of London Planners, a local architect, College staff and academic advisors. Each group was given 25 minutes to make their presentation to the panel who in turn, gave the groups a critique of their work. Approximately 70 people attended the two-and-a-half hour presentation. "All of the presentations were professional and well received by the critique panel and guests," said Schnurr. Evaluation was based on design suitability, client needs, project goals, professionalism and innovation.