The Santa Barbara Chapter of the American Institute of Architects is conducting a 2020 Design Charrette to Reinvigorate, Reinvent, Reimagine, and Repurpose our Downtown with housing, energy and life.

The charrette will consist of design teams of volunteer architects, landscape architects, planners, engineers and other experts who will apply their talent and expertise to envision a future downtown Santa Barbara.

“This charrette could be a vision to inform the community for the next 100 years,” said architect Detlev Peikert, AIA.

Comments and suggestions from the public are deemed essential and the broader community is invited to participate. To complete an online survey and share thoughts on the current downtown experience, visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Q2HTPJ9.

The ideas submitted will help inform the designers as they work to solve problems and illustrate new ideas and visions for Santa Barbara now and into the future.

The design teams will focus on ideas for housing via adaptive reuse of existing buildings, new structures for opportunity sites, and development of public open spaces. A few teams will review the entire State Street promenade area in terms of flow, entry points, and supporting local businesses.

Surveys should be returned by Aug. 2. The survey and more information on the design charrette also are available at AIAsb.com.

Founded in 1857, the American Institute of Architects works to create more valuable, healthy, secure, and sustainable buildings, neighborhoods, and communities. For more information, visit www.aia.org.