Three Ways We Put the Community Back in Community Housing

Successful community housing is about so much more than providing a place to live. At its best, it strengthens neighborhoods, supports existing residents, and creates space for people to connect and thrive. Achieving that demands a deep understanding of the people who will call a place home and a long-term commitment to the community at large.

In conversation with DAC Partner and National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) member Morgan Embt, we compiled three guiding philosophies that shape our approach to community housing.

Holistic Site Selection

Selecting the right site requires looking beyond available land and zoning requirements to understand the needs of the people who live there.

Every community faces different challenges. In some neighborhoods, older residents may be looking to downsize. In others, working families may be searching for housing closer to jobs, schools, healthcare, or essential services. Holistic site selection means identifying locations that respond to multiple community needs rather than serving a single population.

Another important consideration is helping residents remain connected to the communities they already know and love. A home without access to a person's support system, daily routines, favorite gathering places, or cultural anchors can undermine the very stability housing is meant to provide. Thoughtful site selection considers proximity to the places that make a neighborhood feel like home.

Artem on Gay is a great example of this philosophy in action. Upon completion in 2027, this community housing development will be located at the intersection of work and play, situated on the corner of East Gay Street and West Grant Avenue on High St, between the Discovery District and Downtown Columbus. This 71-unit building will feature two community spaces: one dedicated to residents and another open to the broader public, creating opportunities for connection both within and beyond the building itself.

Designing With Empathy

While planning studies, demographic data, and owner briefs provide valuable information, there is no substitute for speaking directly with the community. Understanding how people experience a neighborhood day-to-day often reveals insights that reports and maps can’t capture.

A major component of designing with empathy is recognizing that architects do not always share the lived experiences of the people who will ultimately occupy the spaces they design. According to the latest data from National Council of Architectural Registration Boards, white men comprise roughly 60% of all licensed architects in the United States. This makes community engagement even more crucial in ensuring diverse perspectives are represented throughout the design process.

"You have to talk to people," Morgan says. "It's one of those things you just can't assess from a bird's-eye view."

Meaningful engagement happens everywhere: libraries, community centers, farmers markets, YMCA facilities, local festivals, neighborhood meetings, and everyday gathering spaces. These conversations help uncover the challenges residents face, the assets they value, and the opportunities they envision for their community's future. They provide a level of context and nuance that data alone can’t replicate.

Continued Advocacy

As Morgan explains, "A home is more than just a house."

Designing effective community housing doesn’t end with a ribbon cutting. Long-term success means staying up to date on the evolution of a neighborhood and ensuring there are resources available to the people who live there. Neighborhoods are dynamic. Resident’s interests evolve, the economy fluctuates, all these factors impact whether people decide to keep living in their communities or if they’ll move on. 

Are there grocery stores nearby? Can parents safely walk their children to school? Are there sidewalks, bike lanes, and crosswalks that support daily life? Is public transportation accessible? Is there something missing that the community has been asking for? By continuing to advocate for the communities surrounding the final structures, we help ensure residents are not only housed, but supported. 

Through holistic site selection, empathetic design, and continued advocacy, we strive to create developments that strengthen communities rather than simply occupying space within them. At the end of the day, our goal is simple. As Morgan says, "We want our buildings to be loved." 

One of her favorite ways to live by these principals is through her work with Project Pipeline, a four-day summer camp dedicated to empowering young people to create change in their communities through design. As a volunteer counselor for nearly four years, Morgan helps Chicago youth understand the power of the built environment while learning firsthand what they would like to see in their own neighborhoods. Together, they transform the floor into a miniature cityscape, filling it with models that reflect the places, opportunities, and connections they hope to see in their communities, while equipping them with the skills and confidence to help bring those ideas to life.