community design studio

redefining affordable housing
through architecture & design

services offered

CDS specializes in providing professional design services to like-minded individuals, private and non-profit developers, community design corporations, and other community based organizations. All of our services work in conjunction so that we can give our clients assistance throughout the design and planning process from start to finish. We provide all of our services with a strong focus on sustainable development and green building practices. We offer all our clients the following services:

• Architectural and Sustainable Building Design
• Landscape Architecture
• Design Charrettes
• Planning and Technical Assistance

architectural and sustainable building design

The CDS collaborative design team, under the direction of Colin Arnold, AIA,LEED® AP, provides not just building design services, but also sustainable development and planning practices. CDS team members are experienced in LEED® and EarthCraftTM design and building standards, as well as cohousing community development.

landscape architecture

At CDS, architecture and landscape architecture are considered two parts of a whole in which the landscape expands interior living spaces, while also anchoring buildings within their larger context.

Through landscape design, CDS interprets the way people use their living spaces within the ecological framework of the site. The CDS design team understands that landscapes--which are systems of resources that include sunlight, plants, soil, and water--are engaging spaces that link wildlife habitats, buildings, drainage systems, and communities of people. CDS creates productive landscapes that provide gathering spaces and gardens for residents, habitat and food for wildlife, and advocates the use of natural fertilizers and integrated pest management for ecologically-responsible landscape maintenance.

design charrettes

CDS' collaborative design-build approach uses an integrated and total systems philosophy to the development process. In our design charrettes, we bring together the expertise of various design, construction and engineering disciplines to create designs that benefit all stakeholders. CDS also invites residents or end-users to participate in design charrettes to include their needs and concerns in the design process.

planning and technical assistance

CDS provides valuable planning and technical assistance to non-profit developers, community design corporations, and other community based organizations in their design projects: