2025 MLK Day of Service Request for Proposals
EskewDumezRipple, the architecture, interior design, and urban planning practice based in New Orleans and Washington, DC, will lead its 11th annual Day of Service on January 17, 2025, to honor Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy.
This year, and for the second time, the program will include eight additional architecture and design firms, including Atelier Design, Bell-Butler, GOAT, CICADA, Campo Architecture, I Need an Architect, Hue Architecture Studio, and Woodward Design + Build.
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.
** If you are an A/E firm interested in participating in the program, please reach out to our Program Coordinators through the email provided at the bottom of the page!
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 building on our expanded 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.
Process
1. SELECTION: Interested organizations should submit a proposal by 5pm on October 15, 2024. The review committee will assess each proposal and select ones based on outlined criteria (see page 3 ). 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 6, 2024, and December 20, 2024, from 4:00 to 5:30 pm. An optional third meeting can be arranged for January 10, 2025.
3. DAY OF SERVICE: The Day of Service, on Friday, January 17, 2025, 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 & 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
How to Apply
For detailed information and proposal submission requirements, please download and read the RFP document by clicking the button below.
Please submit a brief proposal totaling 1,000 words or less that responds to each of the ‘Proposal Requirements’ below. Proposals are due via email by 5:00pm Central Time on October 15, 2024.
Please send a PDF file via email to doscoordinator@eskewdumezripple.com with subject line “New Orleans Day of Service 2025 | Organization Name” or “DC Day of Service 2025 | Organization Name.”
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
NOCCA
Site and Program Visioning Package
New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA) is a regional, pre-professional arts training center that offers students intensive instruction in culinary arts, dance, media, music, theater, etc. NOCCA worked with EDR to envision a new building on their campus that is more connected to the surrounding neighborhood.
EDR worked with STEM NOLA to create:
Vision Package:
Site design
Program breakdown
Concept and material recommendations
Interior and Exterior Renderings
Cost Estimate for the Project
Zoning and Code Analysis
COMMUNITY BOOK CENTER
Interior Renovation Visioning
Community Book Center is a community pillar on Bayou Road and shines a light on African-centric books, arts, fabrics, and jewelry. EDR worked to improve the space utilization for increased flexibility, assess existing conditions, and provide recommended building improvements.
EDR worked with STEM NOLA to create:
Vision Package:
Program Analysis
Interior Floor Plans
Scoping Narrative
Cost Estimate for the Project
Zoning Analysis
LOUISIANA CENTER FOR CHILDREN’S RIGHTS
Interior Visioning & Hallway Mural Design+ Build
Louisiana Center for Children’s Rights (LCCR) is a nonprofit law office that provides holistic legal defense to address children’s needs both inside and outside the courtroom. LCCR worked with EDR to design interior spaces where children interact the most and paint a mural in the hallway that connects these spaces.
EDR worked with STEM NOLA to create:
Interior Vision Package:
Existing Conditions Analysis
Furniture Selections
Mural Design
Painted Mural
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
Samantha Lindley or Blake Rambo at doscoordinator@eskewdumezripple.com or at 504.276.5485.