2024 MLK Day of Service | Request for Proposals CLOSED
All proposals have been accepted. We will provide an update on 2024’s partners soon!
EskewDumezRipple, the architecture, interior design, and urban planning practice based in New Orleans and Washington, DC, will lead its tenth annual Day of Service on January 12, 2024, to honor Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy.
This year and for the first time the program will expand to include ten additional architecture and design firms, including, Campo Architects, Rome Office, Cicada, Bell-Butler, Albert Architecture, Goat, Atelier Design, Mathes Brierre, and Chase Marshall.
As architects committed to the civic realm and a sustainable future, these collective firms will donate time and talent to initiatives advocating for equity in the design of the built environment. The Day of Service is an annual initiative, intended to unite design and civic leadership to address social and urban issues with the power of good design and community engagement.
About Day of Service
As part of EskewDumezRipple’s commitment to building community, the firm implements an annual, skills-based and hands on service program to support nonprofit community organizations in the New Orleans and Washington, DC areas. Inspired by the legacies of Martin Luther King, Jr. and our firm’s founder, Allen Eskew, we dedicate an entire workday by our staff to engage in community-focused initiatives. This program offers selected nonprofit organizations an opportunity to collaborate with our seasoned team in a tailored design process that is aligned with their mission.
We’re here to help your organization’s potential project, whether it’s through architecture, interior design, construction, site planning, signage, budgets, zoning, marketing, furniture, hurricane recovery, public service, or related fields. This year, we are eagerly expanding our program through partnerships with local design firms, growing our capacity to support an even greater number of organizations. This collaborative exchange promises to enrich EDR, our esteemed partner firms, and the nonprofit community alike, by fostering a deeper understanding of our city through meaningful dialogues, in-depth explorations, and tangible deliverables crafted by dedicated design professionals.
Locations of prior Day of Service partners
Process
1. SELECTION: Interested organizations should submit a proposal by 5pm on October 30, 2023. The review committee will assess each proposal and select ones based on outlined criteria (see page 3 of the RFP). Each project will be assigned a team of 5-10 people from EDR or other local design firms.
2. PLANNING: Team members and their organization will engage in at least two planning meetings to get to know each other, and further define project scope and deliverables. Meetings can be held virtually or in person, with suggested dates of December 1, 2023, and December 8, 2023, from 4:00 to 5:30 pm. An optional third meeting can be arranged for January 5, 2024.
3. DAY OF SERVICE: The Day of Service (Friday, January 12, 2024) is a workday dedicated to producing the deliverables as agreed upon during the planning meetings. Representatives from the nonprofit organizations will check in with their design team to give feedback on progress.
4. FINAL PRESENTATION AND CELEBRATION: Following the Day of Service, each team will present their work to the organizations and participants. Final deliverables will be provided to each organization. The presentation is scheduled for January 26, 2024, from 4:00 to 5:30 pm, with details to follow.
5. FOLLOW UP: Lastly, all participants will complete a brief follow-up survey to evaluate the experience and impact of the Day of Service program.
Important Dates
2023
2024
How to Apply
For detailed information and proposal submission requirements, please download and read the RFP document by clicking the button below.
Proposals are no longer being accepted.
Proposal Requirements
Please clearly respond to each of the following sections in order:
1) Organization information:
Name, address, and logo of your organization
Name and address of the proposed project
Name, phone number, and e-mail address of the point of contact person
501(c)3 or fiscal sponsorship status
2) Describe the work of your organization. Include a mission and/or vision statement.
3) Share insights into the diversity of your organization, and any goals related to enhancing diversity.
4) Highlight some of your organization's recent accomplishments.
5) Provide a summary of the proposed project and the identified need it addresses in your community.
Specify which ‘key services’ (see below) you intend to address with the Day of Service.
Describe the community your organization serves and how the proposed project will impact it.
Explain how the proposed project aligns with your organization's mission.
6) Describe the next steps for your project after the Day of Service work is complete.
7) Optional Information: If relevant, feel free to include additional information and images of team members, community engagement, your facility, and the proposed project location.
Selection Criteria
Projects will be selected based on the following criteria:
Identified Need: Is there a clear connection between the project’s community impact and the identified need?
Organization’s Mission: Does the project meet the mission of the organization, and does it have support from those who will be impacted?
Relevance of Impact: Does the project support social justice, affordable housing, culture bearers, or climate resilience?
Project Viability: Is it feasible to meet the project’s needs within the identified time frame of Day of Service?
Organizational Capacity: Is there a clear plan of action after initial design services are provided?
Previous Day of Service
Project Examples
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STEM NOLA, dedicated to inspiring and engaging students in Science Technology Engineering & Math fields, particularly in underserved communities, acquired a 42,000 sq. ft. building for its headquarters. STEM NOLA worked with EDR to develop a vision package for the building, resulting in successful securement of $1.25 million for construction.
EDR worked with STEM NOLA to create:
Vision Package
Site Design and Stormwater Management
Programming for Interior Spaces, Interior Floor Plans, and Furniture Layouts
Interior and Exterior Renderings
Cost Estimate for the Project
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House of Tulip (HoT) is a collective, creating housing solutions for Trans and Gender Non-Conforming (TGNC) people in Louisiana. With a long-term vision of providing zero-barrier housing to TGNC people in need of a safe place to stay, HoT worked with EDR to create a vision package and roadmap for achieving that goal.
EDR worked with the House of Tulip to create:
Vision Package
Existing, Demolition, and Renovation drawings for a recently acquired property
Guide for future properties, including ADA compliance, programming, City resources, and housing types
Interior and Exterior Renderings
Cost Estimate for the Project
Zoning Analysis
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New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA) worked with EDR on a revitalization study and vision package for vacant land along the historic Press Street corridor (renamed Homer Plessy Way). NOCCA wanted the proposed plan to reflect their mission, generate revenue, and connect to the surrounding community.
EDR worked with NOCCA to create:
Vision Package
Site Plan and Improvements
Concepts and Programming for two NOCCA-connected buildings
Long-term Development Plan
Zoning Analysis
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Recirculating Farms works with community partners to foster ownership of spaces for growing food and to encourage healthy habits, including gardening and local food consumption. Recirculating Farms worked with EDR to help develop two of their growing sites so they could be ready for the Spring planting season.
EDR worked with Recirculating Farms to:
Design a fence to be constructed of recycled wooden pallets
Build the fence at the Recirculating Farms growing site
Construct a prefabricated storage shed
Key Services Definitions:
Vision Packages– A plan or strategy outlining the goals, design, and roadmap for a specific project or initiative, for fundraising, planning, and implementation. It can include architectural designs, layouts, cost estimates, and other elements to help understand and visualize the project.
Cost Estimate– An assessment or calculation of the expected expenses or budget required to complete a project, providing an estimate of the financial resources needed.
Zoning Analysis– An evaluation of land use regulations and zoning ordinances in a specific area, helping to determine how properties can be used and developed within legal constraints.
Design-Build– A project delivery method where both the design and physical construction are addressed, making for a more cost-effective project with improved communication during implementation.
Original video created after the first annual Day of Service in 2015.
Questions?
If you have questions or would like to discuss your proposal, please contact Thom Smith
at doscoordinator@eskewdumezripple.com or at 504.276.5485.