Buildings, Bikes, and Gardens with DesignDC

I love 10 minute meetings. Especially ones that involve active transportation.

Thanks Andrea Swiatocha, AIA, LEED AP and Nancy Skinkle, AIA, LEED AP (Architect of the Capitol) for coordinating this one, as part of 2015 Design DC organized by the Washington Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (@WashingtonDCAIA).

AIA|DC Design + Wellbeing Committee and the Committee on the Environment (COTE) present a biking tour that showcases DC projects and infrastructure that support an active, healthy, and sustainable community. District Department of Transportation (DDOT) will help facilitate the bike tour through historic and picturesque areas of downtown DC and highlight revitalized neighborhood amenities and infrastructure the supports active transportation. The tour will begin at Union Station and conclude at the AIA|DC District Architecture Center. Along the way, see how buildings, infrastructure, and a community garden have helped develop sustainable communities that support healthy and active choices.

The Kaiser Permanente Center for Total Health (@KPTotalHealth) was on the tour (hooray!), where we spoke about the determinants of health visible in our immediate environment. The street we are on is a very visible example of this (see: Photo Friday: Healing H Street, NE with Complete Streets, Washington, DC USA).

In addition the part of Washington, DC we exist in is a study in contrasts about where healthy infrastructure exists where it comes from. Here’s a map that you can play with from the most useful Community Commons (@communitycommon) database that shows stark differences in the immediate area surrounding us:

This raises the important question: Does healthy design precede a healthy community or does it create it?

Regardless of the answer, the architects and designers of the world play a huge role in our health, which is why we’re glad they’re including the health system in their discovery of health and wellness. 10 minutes now translates into a lifetime later. Let’s collaborate!

More photos of our session below, and one from the close of the meeting – they left the same way they came. All meetings should be like this 🙂 .