On January 17, 2025, EskewDumezRipple and a group of talented architecture and design firms came together for our annual Day of Service, working on ten impactful projects across New Orleans and Washington, DC. These projects addressed key community needs, from housing and resilience to environmental preservation, in collaboration with local nonprofit partners.

A big thank you also goes to our community partners who worked with us on projects to bring light to issues in our communities: High Voltage NOLA, Pontchartrain Conservancy, People’s Housing+, First Grace Community Alliance, Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana, Pointe-au-Chien Indian Tribe, Algiers Economic Development Foundation, Baldwin House Community Collective, Bennett’s Village, and SBP.

We’d like to give a special shoutout to the participating firms: Woodward Design+Build, Cicada, GOAT, Atelier Design, I Need an Architect, and Hue Architecture. Together, we’ve made a lasting impact on the communities we serve.

In this blog, we'll review the work completed during the 2025 Day of Service and highlight the impactful projects that made a difference in our communities.

1. Baldwin House Community Collective

For the Baldwin House Community Collective in Washington, DC, the design team developed a comprehensive visioning package focused on building upgrades and exterior sustainability efforts.

This limited-equity housing cooperative and mutual aid hub, which provides affordable housing for the local community, faced challenges with accessibility and building resilience. The design proposed enhancements such as accessible entries, solar canopies, permeable paving surfaces, and solar roof panels. These upgrades were designed to not only improve accessibility but also to strengthen the building’s role as a resilience and mutual aid center. The package included cost estimates and a phased implementation plan for the proposed improvements.

Team Leaders: Malina Pickard and Camille Kreisel
Team: Roshell Grant Wesley, Sarah Rivard, Mohan Sagar, Noah Marble

For more info, visit https://baldwin-house.org/.

2. High Voltage NOLA

EskewDumezRipple, Hue Architects, and I Need An Architect teamed up with High Voltage to transform Esperanza Academy’s blacktop into a vibrant, engaging space. The team designed and painted a multicultural border celebrating the school’s diverse community, added the school’s eagle logo at center court, and created bilingual playground games like 4-Square, Hopscotch, and a tricycle track. The basketball court was also restriped thanks to KF Striping, who generously donated their supplies and services.

Team Leaders: Mignon Antoine and Kijuan Poland
Team: Hussein Alayyan, Alison Toussaint, Chris Jackson, Courtney Jones (of Hue Architects), Jeannine Ford, Jenifer Navard, Whitney Smith, and Mike Ballard (of I Need An Architect)

For more information, visit https://www.highvoltagenola.org/.

3. Pontchartrain Conservancy

In collaboration with the Pontchartrain Conservancy, the design team reimagined the New Canal Lighthouse and its site to enhance its role as an educational hub for environmental sustainability. The conceptual package proposed key improvements, including a new roof canopy with an extended deck, a bioswale rain garden for stormwater management, and additional storage solutions. Interior renovations focused on retrofitting the gift shop, educational center, and restrooms, ensuring the space better serves visitors and the Conservancy’s mission.

Team Leaders: Aidan Taylor and Ashlen Davis
Team: Jill Traylor, Will Netter, Kristin Davis, and Wendy Kerrigan (of Atelier Design)

For more information, visit https://scienceforourcoast.org/.

4. People’s Housing+

With the passage of the Small Multifamily Affordable (SMFA) zoning amendment, our team designed flexible, energy-efficient infill housing units optimized for 30’x100’ lots—perfect for vacant lots or behind existing shotguns. These modular, repeatable designs support higher-density development while meeting universal design standards for accessibility. The team also provided best practices for shotgun renovations, ensuring the preservation of historic housing stock. People’s Housing+ is eager to begin implementing them right away!

Team Leaders: Chris Pietsch and Caroline Garfield
Team: Katie Nguyen, Collyn Clark, Cynthia Dubberley, Jose Alvarez, Mike Johnson, Travis Jore, and Will Netter

For more information, visit https://phplusnola.org/.

5. First Grace Community Alliance

For First Grace Community Alliance, the team developed a visioning package for two tiny homes designed to support families on their path to homeownership. These homes will provide independent living opportunities while allowing residents to save toward purchasing their own homes. Prioritizing healthy, sustainable materials, the design ensures a safe environment for occupants while minimizing environmental impact.

Team Leaders: Michelle Simms and Aida Ayuk
Team: Tyler Guidroz, Charles Weimer, Jack Sawyer, Joan Declet, Kim Nguyen, Michelle Carroll-Barr, Nathan Petty, Sheena Garcia, and Zach Chance

6. Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana

For the State of the Coast Conference (a collaborative project from CRCL, The Water Institute, and Coastal Protection And Restoration Authority), this team designed an immersive conversation space that fosters dialogue on Louisiana’s coastal ecosystem. Guided by a theme of interconnectedness, the design transforms the convention space with branding assets, a ceiling installation made from recycled local materials, and interactive elements that engage participants. The exhibit balances function and storytelling, creating an environment that encloses the space while embodying the conference’s mission of coastal restoration and resilience.

Team Leaders: Theresa Mark and Emma Ward
Team: Amanda Rivera, Andy Redmon, Michael Mantese, Rhiannon Hare, Christian Rodriguez, Rainey Charbonnet, Matt Kymes, and Amanda Murotake

For more information, visit https://www.crcl.org/.

7. Pointe-au-Chien Indian Tribe

In support of the Pointe-au-Chien Indian Tribe’s pursuit of Traditional Cultural Property (TCP) designation, CICADA worked to map ancestral sites along Bayou Pointe-au-Chien. Spanning 12 miles between Lafourche and Terrebonne Parishes, this cultural landscape is central to the Tribe’s identity and ongoing fight for federal recognition. To strengthen their application, the team gathered GIS data and drone imagery, helping to document historically significant sites and define the community’s enduring connection to the land.

Team Leaders: Dyani Robarge and Lane Kozicz
Team: Matt DeCotiis, Seamus McGuire, Adrienne Catalano, James Catalano, Paulo Perkins, Yue Xiao

For more information, visit https://www.pactribe.com/.

8. Bennett’s Village

In support of Bennett’s Village’s mission to create an inclusive, all-abilities play space in Charlottesville, we designed a modern, fully accessible public restroom facility. The wood-and-metal structure features a large open canopy, marking the park’s entrance while providing shaded gathering space. With four highly accessible restrooms, the design removes barriers to personal care, accommodating both mobility-impaired individuals and those with sensory sensitivities, reinforcing the vision of a play space where everyone can play.

Team Leaders: Whitney Hudson and Regina Davis
Team: Haley Robinson, Marta Fenollosa, Andy Redmon, and Chance Heath

For more information, visit https://www.pactribe.com/.

9. Algiers Economic Development Foundation (AEDF)

For Algiers Economic Development Foundation, a Development Ready Community focused on revitalizing the Behrman neighborhood in Algiers, this project centered on creating a comprehensive master plan. This plan included a Neighborhood Master Plan, Zoning Evaluation, and Potential Land Uses to help guide future redevelopment efforts. Designed as a tool for educating developers and city officials, the plan aims to drive the creation of new affordable housing and community amenities, ensuring long-overdue investment benefits the local residents.

Team Leaders: Patrice Uwizeyimana and Brianna Baldwin (of Woodward Design+Build)
Team: Thom Smith, Mark Hash, Steve Dumez, Z Smith, and Daniel Ruff from EskewDumezRipple + Jack Gustavson, Joseph Lantz, Elizabeth Mire, and Andrew Porton from Woodward Design+Build

For more information, visit https://www.algierseconomic.com/.

10. SBP

GOAT developed a visioning package for SBP to illustrate the impact of increased density on the revitalization of the Lower Ninth Ward. The team mapped out SBP’s existing and planned affordable housing developments, analyzing their proximity to schools, transit, and key infrastructure. Using site modeling and renderings, the team showcased potential future growth, demonstrating how 100% affordable, resilient housing could transform the area. This document will serve as a fundraising and advocacy tool, helping SBP communicate the urgent need for investment in sustainable, dignified housing solutions.

Team Leaders: Julie Ballard and Paula Bechara
Team: Ian Shaw, Peter Spera, Joanna Tanasescu, Ryan Harnish, and Colin VanWingen

For more information, visit https://www.sbpusa.org/.

A huge thank you to everyone who contributed their time, expertise, and creativity to this year’s efforts! The impact of this work extends far beyond a single day, helping to support communities, advocate for meaningful change, and create lasting solutions.

Finally, we want to thank our 2025 Day of Service Coordinators, Samantha Lindley and Blake Rambo, for their outstanding efforts in organizing such a successful initiative. Their dedication and hard work were essential in bringing this year’s event to life, and we couldn’t have done it without them.

We’re grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with such dedicated partners and can’t wait to do it all again next year!