Atlanta Pop-Up Studio Brings Urban Designers into the Community

Adina Solomon reports on the work of the Atlanta City Studio, a pop-up storefront staffed by urban designers:

City staff are there to answer questions and give the public a way to get their ideas for improving their neighborhoods in front of the right people. Oh, and if you have a question about a broken water meter or a pothole, the studio can help you with that, too.

The studio started in 2016 at the Ponce City Market building, and the next year moved to Cascade Heights, a black neighborhood near downtown Atlanta. The urban designers have worked with residents, business owners, and the community development corporation on street, storefront, and transit stop projects.

"In addition to speaking with the public about design projects, the studio has recurring events every month to engage people: a book club, a lunchtime forum and a morning discussion over doughnuts. People and groups can also use the studio space for meetings," writes Solomon.

The Atlanta City Studio is moving this summer to south downtown, which includes a new mixed-use development called Centennial Yards. The studio’s designers hope that again they will be able to serve as an accessible community resource and help shape the future of the area.