SUMMER DESIGN + BUILD PROJECTMobile Design Box Retrofit Project is a pop-up gallery that adapts Milwaukee’s existing empty storefronts to engage with the community and encourage innovative, social, economic, and cultural uses for otherwise vacant spaces.
Every week, the current Ignite Grant Research team will generate a new iteration of mobile, modular, versatile furniture as they press towards the project’s mission of serving the community on and around Historic Mitchell Street. Pictured are the many designs of the Mobile Design Box Retrofit Project’s intensive 10-week design + build project. |
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MITCHELL STREET COMMUNITY |
WHO WE AREThe Mobile Design Box Retrofit Project is part of the SARUP Mobile Design Box which is a pop-up gallery that adapts Milwaukee’s existing empty storefronts in order to encourage innovative social, economic and cultural uses for these otherwise vacant spaces.
Our current project is about finding ways to retrofit and activate the vacant storefront at 615 W Historic Mitchell Street. For the past 3 years we have been working in the Near West Side Neighborhood in collaboration with the NWSP, Quorum Architects, Marquette University and other local community groups. We hope to work with local residents, businesses, cultural organizations, and institutions to address community needs. |
Our team is guided by the Department Chair of Architecture at UWM, Mo Zell, and two SARUP faculty Arijit Sen, and Alex Timmer. Working alongside, are three SARUP student research scholars.
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In addition to collaborating with Executive Director of BID #4 Nancy Bush, Storyteller Adam Carr, and Mitchell Street Librarian Tony Frausto on the project, the Mobile Design Box Research Team has already interviewed Lopez Bakery, Alberto's Dulceria, and community artist Celeste Contreras. |
We want to hear community voices by conducting oral histories to get to know the community and hear feedback. Within the next few months, we will distribute surveys, collect oral histories, and hold events to engage multiple stakeholders.
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