Catalyst Program Concludes With Student Research

This spring, Cuningham introduced Design Catalyst, a pilot leadership development program created to invest in employees who had shown exceptional leadership and dedication to our core values and purpose. A diverse cohort of eight individuals was invited by senior leaders to participate. These leaders leveraged their varied skills, backgrounds, and perspectives to address housing insecurity for college students — a persistent and devastating issue for communities across the country. They developed strategies, contributed research, and formed teams to generate potential solutions with a focus on the student housing landscape in Los Angeles.

Catalyst Leadership Program Immersion — The *Catalyst* cohort joins Studio-MLA to discuss regenerative site design

Mid-Rise Modular during Catalyst immersion — Mid-Rise Modular shares their work scaling affordable housing

Organized in two phases, Catalyst began with workshops led by industry experts in ecological justice, community organizing, design research, and digital transformation. Later that month, the Catalyst team also spent a week in Los Angeles conducting site visits, meeting with nonprofit leaders, and examining the housing ecosystem. In Catalyst’s second phase, the cohort was joined by students selected by the Catalyst team for a seven-week internship, which also included another immersion. Together, they built relationships and sought insights they could use to help pave the way for innovative housing models that shape sustainable and inclusive futures.

Catalyst students group picture — Catalyst students from left: Delaney Ryan – University of Southern California; Yesha Malaviya – University of Michigan; Kristin Garner – University of Southern California; Alyssa Ha – University of Southern California; Benedicta Gokah – Illinois Institute of Design

“I haven't heard about a lot of firms doing research and design with students, and I feel like it's a great opportunity because students have an open mind to do that research and development, and then the firm has all the resources for them to do that research.”

Alyssa Ha

Catalyst Student Cohort Member

Redefining the American Dream

At the conclusion of the seven weeks, the students synthesized their research and insights, envisioning a connected community network benefiting both community college students and the larger communities they belong to. Recognizing that building alone won’t solve the issue, they used insights from immersions and guidance from Cuningham leaders to create innovative, actionable solutions for a just and regenerative future, which they shared with the firm through their presentation: “Redefining the American Dream.”

Leading catalyst listening during immersion

Catalyst students work on final presentation

Catalyst cohort listens during immersion

With an understanding that housing insecurity among community college students is the result of a complex interplay of factors, including mental health, rising housing costs, lack of student housing options, and limited financial aid, the solutions proposed by the group was organized into three main categories:

Social actions: Solutions to collectively address mental models while providing basic needs services in support of student well-being
Network of connections: Means of leveraging community and sustainability to build the right infrastructure in support of a housing paradigm that centers the student experience
Increasing inventory: Methods to identify opportunities to increase student housing inventory in support of student well-being

Several of the main strategies considered in this network of solutions include a PR campaign to educate around stigmas, a one-stop-shop service nook that provides basic needs for students, connections to nature, Metabolist architecture, and prefabrication/modular building solutions. (Slides from the presentation pictured below).

Slide from Catalyst Student final presentation

“Architects, a lot of times, think that we are the end-all, be-all solution. But this project helped me recognize that we are one piece in the puzzle and it's really about all of these different people coming together to solve these complex issues.”

Kristin Garner

Catalyst Student Cohort Member

Cuningham leaders helping student cohort — Students were mentored by Cuningham’s Catalyst leaders throughout the summer

The Catalyst students present their insights to the firm following their seven-week program

LA CAN Executive Director Pete White discusses community empowerment

Thank you to our partners

Thank you to the numerous partner organizations who help craft, lead, and participate in Cuningham’s Catalyst program, especially including Murmur Ring, who organized and facilitated the immersion program. Organizations whose contributions were critical to the Catalyst cohort’s research, insights, and success:

•    IA Collaborative
•    LA CAN (Pictured left: Executive Director Pete White)
•    Inclusive Action for the City
•    Mid-Rise Modular
•    NAC Architecture
•    Larry Keeley
•    No Us Without You
•    Seed House Project
•    Dr. Rueben Smith
•    Spherical Design
•    Studio MLA
•    Trojan Shelter
•    West Los Angeles College
•    Daylight Community Development
•    Hilda L. Solis Care First Village