Special Projects
From Green Garage Detroit
return to Winter 2009 - Design Studio Sessions
Contents
Food (Done)
Goals
We are trying to keep the initial design simple at the outset (think simple hospitality), and will incorporate more components as tenants determine the need. This will keep costs down (and thus help with lower rents for tenants) and better ensure that we have not overproduced the area with facilities that may not be required.
- To provide people working at the GG and visitors with access to food and drink.
- To make it easier for people to access healthy organic food and drink.
- To provide some storage space for employees' food, drink, and condiments.
- To minimize energy and water use through kitchen design and use.
- To provide a center for recycling, compost and garbage.
- To design an education program for employees that will describe our food and waste philosophies and practices. Education program will be modified with input from tenants.
- To minimize the effort that will be required to manage food and drink.
- To connect with local restaurants and food vendors effectively.
Deliverables
- Requirements for food at the GG to be discussed with the group at large and then passed on to Woody.
- kitchenette with full-size refrigerator, counter, sink, microwave, coffeemaker, cupboards or shelves (and room for dishwasher if needed later)
- another idea: locked cupboards (or divided cupboards) per business (14)
- recycling center with 4 spots for garbage; plastics, glass and cans; paper; and returnable cans
- place for compost bucket (can be on counter, in cupboard or on floor)
- individual containers (like baskets) for 20 people to store their tea bags, sugar, etc
- water filter at faucet
- Kitchen sketch based on requirements by Woody.
Additional components of the food program
- Water
- available to all for free
- plastic glasses or corn starch cups) available for visitors
- tenants keep own glasses, and perhaps glasses for their own guests
- Coffee
- co-op plan (add to rent for those wishing to participate - either in or out)
- employees have own mug
- mugs available to visitors
- bring own condiments (put in own cubby/basket)
- if employees have guests, they add predetermined amount to coffee fund (Dan - factor price in)
- need $ person to keep track of coffee funds and report monthly losses - group will determine solution
- Dan - idea of someone owning coffee shop inside building (a tenant) - would bring more of the public in
- Tea
- hot water will be available either on coffeemaker or electric kettle
- bring own bags or leaves
- bring own condiments (put in own cubby/basket)
- Other drink-related issues
- coffee co-op members take turns making coffee and washing out pot - make note of supplies needed
- visitors glasses/mugs washed out by relevant employee or tour guide
- right now don't know what to do with dish towels
- Peggy takes home every week
- everyone brings their own
- Dan - piggy back onto their linen service if laundromat not available
- Food brought from home
- bring only food required for day and take all back that night
- encourage use of reuseable lunch boxes (bags) that can be kept at desk or in refrigerator
- encourage reuse of food containers, which can be washed and dried after use (plastic bags taken back home)
- encourage cloth napkins from home
- if you need a plate, bowl, or silverware, bring these from home and take back
- Food brought in from restaurants
- encourage use of reuseable containers
- how do we work with restaurants to use reuseable containers? Dan says they can sanitize containers that are brought in.
- should we keep large bowls or round containers for pizza for people to use?
- or could we keep containers that have already come from restaurants to be used again?
- ask tenants to take containers home
- Dan - packaging engineer as tenant? packaging think tank? Dan thinks that we could have a tenant manufacture a reuseable container(s) that we could use - try to get a group of restaurants participating.
- encourage use of reuseable containers
- Group events
- either pot-luck or individual tenants take responsibility for own party (we could provide list of neighborhood restaurants/caterers)
- educational workshop - pay fee and food/drink would be included
- use composting plates, cups, silverware
- pitchers for water
- could encourage finger-food events
- need to develop price list for coffee and tea for events
- larger coffeemaker with hot water component
- carafes for regular and decaf and hot water
- might hire person to help with certain events
- Matt Naimi sells green products
- leftover food taken home by whoever ran the event or pot-luck participants
- Handling visitors
- water is free and tour guide washes glass
- employee buys guest coffee
Transportation (Done)
Goal
- To encourage the use of public transportation and pedestrian transport at the GG.
Method
- Provide information about options, develop incentives for use, and provide facility support at the GG.
Deliverables
- Specific plan to encourage people to use alternative transportation.
- Google map showing locations of bus stops with pictures.
Modes of Transportation
- public transportation
- nearest bus stops
- encouraging use of public transpotation
- Google provides bus passses and As far as self-commuting (walking, bike, etc.) they 'check-in' every day on a site and get to donate money to the charity of their choice at the end of each quarter, based on the number of days they self-commute.
- employee payroll deduction plan (tax free commuter benefit IRS tax code ssection 132(f))[1]
- rent deduction
- employee education program with personalized map route
- walkers
- bikers
- location of bike racks in GG
- facilities for showering and storage
- support: bike pumps, repair
- cars
- available parking for individuals and groups
- green taxi use
Ideas from Megan from TRU
- Incentive programs
- company can get federal tax deduction
- employee can buy bus pass a pre-tax benefit
- SMART's get a job, get a ride program
- contact SMART for maps (Buell bldg)
- DDOT's offices are on Warren E of 75
- AA's Get Downtown program (Nancy Shore)
- U of M's SMART program (Nancy Zielinski - 734-763-1190)
- should set up 1 work station with video conferencing
- set up education program on benefits of mass transit for clients
- use GOOGLE Transit
- can request bus stop - can adopt bus stop
- likes the idea of Flex Car use
- Detroit just approved non-motorized plan (Hub may know where it is)
- develop seasonal transportation options - how this would be mapped on walls (i.e. winter carpooling - park n ride)
- develop bus waiting plan (camera on roof and clients can wait in bldg for bus - see on monitor when it's coming)
Interview with Nancy Shore from getDowntown (734-214-0114) (4 Pm on Friday)
- the program was developed to address congestion issues in AA.
- big part of the program is the GoPass, a subsidized pass to encourage bus ridership (employers distribute passes to employees)
- example of transportation plan: Ann Arbor Architects Collaborative
- important to survey people to see what their needs are (What would make it easier for you to ride the bus more?)
- new to program: Zip cars
- can we offer car-sharing vehicle for people to use when downtown?
- Car Sharing Challenge in May
- would like to incentivise bike riding more - perhaps if you ride bike 3x a week, they'll provide voucher for bike shop tune-up
- can get current commute info from census and might look at reducing the number of car commuters by 10%
Resources
- New Urbanism Transportation Options
- SMART - Ride SMART Get a job, get a ride.
- SMART Maps
- Google Transit
- TransitCenter
- Get Downtown - Commuting Opportunities in Ann Arbor (Nancy Shore - contact)
- SMART at U of M promoting sustainable mobility (Susan Zikelinski - contact)
- Metro Detroit Rides Bikes To Work includes tax-free stimulus idea
- Transit Info from Detroit Synergy
Security
Goal
Method
Deliverables
Logo (Done)
Goal
Select logo for GG
Method
Meet with Woody and Charles, give specifications, study work of students, have Charles design final logo, have approved by group.
Deliverable
Signage (DONE)
Goal
Determine uniform signing for GG: building sign, office signs, interior signage, garden signage.
Method
Get logo settled. (DONE) Develop lettering for building. (DONE) Design office signs following building lettering. Design garden signs and choose material for signs.
Charles Morceri developed a folder of ideas. (FILE NAME?)
Historic Connection (CONTINUING)
Goal
Approval by Historic commission
Method
- get signage work done - sketches done
- get window sketches done on all sides - done
- met with Susan McBride on April 16th asking for any other ideas before we meet with Historic Commission (see blog post)
- meeting coming in May - have to apply by April 27th
Resources
- Susan McBride is contact
- Go to Manning Bros in New Center area for historic photos
- Michigan Historic Preservation Network has materials catalog
Notes from meeting with Susan McBride
- historic tax credits
- idea of rent-a-desk and you get a free Ghetto Blaster
- Bob Davenport needs to come over about parking
- Bob, Tom, Susan and John Paul all need to meet together soon
- might want animal-friendly building
- community workshop on community garden at Inn on Ferry Street
- Susan wants to see our plan before it goes to the Historic Commission
- UCCA area guide
- see Leslie Horn about container housing project in Woodbridge
- call DDOT about a bus shelter on 2nd
end of notes
Green Wall
Goal
To develop a green wall on the annex's western wall.
Method
Learn about green walls, determine the purpose of this green wall, determine design, select plants.
On west wall, we're thinking about Riverbank Grape with clematis (sweet autumn or virgin's bower) around the door (on arbor)
On north wall, we're thinking about climbing hydrangea
Resources
A Living Greenwall in Vancouver
Riverbank Grape (Vitis riparia)
Garden Guides - Riverbank Grape
Fence - Gate
Goal
- To determine what type of fence and gate we want for the front of the building and find where to obtain it.
Method
- Determine area that will need to be fenced.
- Research local fence companies.
- Research used gating materials (no one has them, but San Marino uses all local resources and processes).
- Make appointment with gating company to finalize measurements and materials needed (San Marino).
- Received bid from San Marino on April 17- called for clarification
Resources
- Reclaimed Wrought Iron
- San Marino Iron New and used fence 313-526-9255 Matt
- Smith Ornamental Iron (Carl Smith) 13070 Houston Whittier St Detroit, MI (313) 521-8908 New
- American Fence Warren 248-545-7070 New
- American Fence and Supply Oak Park 313-835-9000 New
Questions to ask
- Do we have enough material to make a backyard fence?
