Since our founding in 2009, more than 2200 young designers have celebrated the unveiling of more than 80 youth-designed, youth-built public projects in the city of Providence over the past decade. 

At the Peace and Plenty Oasis ribbon cutting, our young designer Nicholas gazed in awe at the rainwater collection and shade structure his team had created for a community garden.  “We built this!” Nick exclaimed. “There was nothing here before, just dirt and rocks. There was nothing. We made this from nothing!”

Most DownCity Design program participants have grown up in poverty, with 83% of DCD participants reporting a household income of $24,000 or less. Our city’s harsh inequality even extends to the school buildings, parks, playgrounds and public streets in the neighborhoods DownCity Design serves. 

DownCity Design provides a space for Providence community members to imagine, design and build their own better public places and amenities.

From our very first day, we’ve seen that design challenges awaken a power in students that’s asleep all day in school: the power to create change. Taking a project from design to creation develops a whole range of hands-on skills. But the most important lessons are habits of mind and work – skills our alumni can apply anywhere, and for the rest of their lives.

With more than 450 youth and adult participants each year and growing numbers of staff and educators, we’ve outgrown our rental space on West Fountain Street. In September 2019, we purchased a property at 370 Cranston Street in the West End of Providence and in the heart of the community we serve.

Our new location will be accessible to all: right on key pedestrian and bus routes between the three major high schools downtown and the vibrant residential neighborhoods of the West End.

We’re starting with a shell – just the walls and a new roof – and now we’re ready to realize our vision:

• A visible storefront presence on Cranston Street.

• A flexible open courtyard for work, socializing and celebration.

• A spacious shop space with room for classes and a wider range of fabrication tools.

• A tech lounge for computer-based design, self-study and small design business support

• An office and meeting space without sawdust!

Designing For Community, With Community

From the start, DownCity Re|Design has been a community project – designed, built and driven by community volunteers.

More than 40 design and construction professionals, youth, community members and DownCity Design Board members and staff have now joined our Re|Design Teams to help develop the detailed design of the Community Design Center and oversee the construction of each major element of the project. 

We know we’ll need our entire community pulling together to support this effort, and we’re inviting you to help us explore, imagine and design our path to fundraising success. Please support our Campaign.