The Long Beach Community Design Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides pro bono design services to low-income and underserved communities, nonprofit organizations, and assists municipal agencies in community economic development.
We match our clients with skilled volunteers from the fields of urban planning, architecture, and engineering. Our volunteers provide clients with design expertise and tools to engage their communities, define their visions, and advance to the next stage by gaining support, raising funds, and equity focused projects.
We match our clients with skilled volunteers from the fields of urban planning, architecture, and engineering. Our volunteers provide clients with design expertise and tools to engage their communities, define their visions, and advance to the next stage by gaining support, raising funds, and equity focused projects.
DESIGN SERVICES
LBCDC’s purpose is to make high-quality design services accessible.
To do that, we provide pro bono design services to 501(c)(3) organizations through a community-engaged design process. We provide these services by matching organizations with volunteer design professionals from a variety of fields.
Pro bono conceptual design services are critical.
They enable organizations and communities to drive physical improvements, raise and leverage funding, and guide projects to implementation. Pro bono conceptual design services also lay the groundwork for more equitable and just development.
Conceptual design encompasses about 10% of the overall design process.
Access to conceptual design is critical to the successful outcome of development projects envisioned by nonprofit organizations. Unfortunately, nonprofits and community groups rarely have the resources to pay for conceptual design.
Conceptual design establishes a shared project vision; promoting collaboration, critical thinking, and decision making.
It allows nonprofits, community groups, and volunteer design professionals to explore options prior to beginning intensive design. Conceptual design provides a more defined project vision, scope, and budget, which allows construction drawings to proceed more efficiently.
LBCDC delivers design services in three ways: core grants, initiatives, and technical assistance.
We work with you to determine the most appropriate set of services to meet your needs.
To do that, we provide pro bono design services to 501(c)(3) organizations through a community-engaged design process. We provide these services by matching organizations with volunteer design professionals from a variety of fields.
Pro bono conceptual design services are critical.
They enable organizations and communities to drive physical improvements, raise and leverage funding, and guide projects to implementation. Pro bono conceptual design services also lay the groundwork for more equitable and just development.
Conceptual design encompasses about 10% of the overall design process.
Access to conceptual design is critical to the successful outcome of development projects envisioned by nonprofit organizations. Unfortunately, nonprofits and community groups rarely have the resources to pay for conceptual design.
Conceptual design establishes a shared project vision; promoting collaboration, critical thinking, and decision making.
It allows nonprofits, community groups, and volunteer design professionals to explore options prior to beginning intensive design. Conceptual design provides a more defined project vision, scope, and budget, which allows construction drawings to proceed more efficiently.
LBCDC delivers design services in three ways: core grants, initiatives, and technical assistance.
We work with you to determine the most appropriate set of services to meet your needs.
CORE GRANTS
Conceptual design increases the likelihood that your project will be successfully completed. Core grants prepare you for the next stage of community development: gaining support, raising funds, and building projects. Our services will provide you with the tools to advance your project, such as:
When you receive a design grant, we work with you to determine the best approach and scope of services to meet your needs. We then match you with volunteer design professionals, including architects, planners, landscape architects, engineers, interior designers, and sustainability consultants. The Community Design Center also works with you to engage your community and other stakeholders through the conceptual design process.
Core grant recipients pay a suggested donation based on project scope, financial circumstances and ability to pay to offset the Community Design Center’s overhead costs.
- Conceptual drawings to share your vision.
- Feasibility studies to prove the project can be done.
- Preliminary cost estimates to guide fundraising.
- Organizational and community engagement to build capacity and consensus.
When you receive a design grant, we work with you to determine the best approach and scope of services to meet your needs. We then match you with volunteer design professionals, including architects, planners, landscape architects, engineers, interior designers, and sustainability consultants. The Community Design Center also works with you to engage your community and other stakeholders through the conceptual design process.
Core grant recipients pay a suggested donation based on project scope, financial circumstances and ability to pay to offset the Community Design Center’s overhead costs.
INITIATIVES
Initiatives support innovation and establish new partnerships to reactivate the built environment of communities by providing:
Each initiative provides a unique, integrated package of conceptual design services. Topics, programming, timeline, and budget are determined through consultations between LBCDC and prospective initiative partners. A suggested donation associated with initiatives will vary based on project scope, financial circumstances, and ability to pay.
- Access to significant intellectual capital through the pro bono services of design professionals across disciplines.
- Opportunities to convene and engage diverse stakeholders, including design professionals, community leaders, real estate development professionals, policymakers, public officials, funders, and the media.
- Opportunities to communicate the capacity of the design process to solve significant community problems, re-envision physical assets, and support equitable development.
- Tools to advocate and promote change.
Each initiative provides a unique, integrated package of conceptual design services. Topics, programming, timeline, and budget are determined through consultations between LBCDC and prospective initiative partners. A suggested donation associated with initiatives will vary based on project scope, financial circumstances, and ability to pay.
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
LBCDC provides consultation services to assist you with specific aspects of the design and development process or the delivery of pro bono design services. Technical assistance can include advisory services, brief assessments, presentations, or referral services.
LBCDC will work with you to determine the appropriate type and scope of technical assistance to address your goals and needs most effectively. A suggested donation associated with technical assistance services will vary based on project scope, financial circumstances, and ability to pay.
LBCDC will work with you to determine the appropriate type and scope of technical assistance to address your goals and needs most effectively. A suggested donation associated with technical assistance services will vary based on project scope, financial circumstances, and ability to pay.
