Community Design Solutions (CDS) is a design center housed in the School of Architecture & Urban Planning at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. We connect students, faculty and staff with neighborhoods, nonprofits and public agencies across Wisconsin to support design projects that foster equity, sustainability and meaningful community impact.
We specialize in providing early-stage design and planning services to underserved communities—helping transform ideas into actionable visions. Our goal is to create positive change in Wisconsin’s communities by improving the built environment and supporting thoughtful decision-making processes that shape it. Where students learn by doing—and communities grow by design.
What We Do
We collaborate with community partners to:
- Inform Practice: Inspire better planning and design across sectors
- Catalyze Change: Support revitalization and development in areas with limited access to design services
- Build Partnerships: Strengthen relationships between the university and local communities
- Spark Action: Help communities attract funding and move toward construction
Services We Offer
Through faculty and student-led teams, CDS provides:
- Conceptual design and visioning
- Community planning and engagement strategies
- Site analysis and development options
- Training workshops and presentations
Note: While we provide high-quality conceptual work, CDS does not produce final stamped plans or oversee construction.
Funding & Eligibility
CDS projects are supported by a mix of university funding and client service fees. Priority is given to nonprofit organizations in the greater Milwaukee area based on community need, project scope and alignment with CDS capacity.
Recent Projects
Holton & Concordia
Partner: Riverworks Development Corporation
This project is a concept for taking a current city-owned, mixed-use property and reimagine it as renovated apartments and a cooperative neighborhood bakery, tentatively called “Baked On Holton.”
Milwaukee Public Library Central Branch
Client: Milwaukee Public Library and Foundation
Collaboration with the Milwaukee Public Library and Library Foundation to reimagine an interior courtyard space for events. CDS held a design workshop with SARUP faculty to generate ideas.
Beerline Plaza Phase 2
Client: Riverworks Development Corporation
A continuation of a previous CDS project, we were asked to recommend enhancements to the Beerline Plaza and specifically determine a reuse for an abandoned shipping container on site. The client also wanted a space for kids to play during Music on the Beerline events. The container and signage were fabricated by House of RAD. “Active furniture” elements were designed and built by teens from Milwaukee Public Schools as part of the UWM Design + Build Camp. The project was awarded a 2025 Mayor’s Design Award for Places & Spaces.
Milwaukee Chess Park
Client: MKE City Parks
CDS was approached by a group of civic leaders to design an intergenerational space for playing chess within Kilbourn Reservoir Park. CDS worked with the client to create a website for the project, collect information from chess players and outreach to the chess community, research of precedents from other cities and hosting pop-up chess events. Teens from Milwaukee Public Schools will built out tables and benches and create the final site plan.
TRUE Skool
Client: TRUE Skool
TRUE Skool, a creative arts and entrepreneurship not-for-profit serving teens, engaged CDS to help articulate a vision for a new downtown facility. In line with their mission, they wanted the vision to be youth-led and offer career introductions to their students. Over the course of a spring semester, CDS worked with TRUE Skool teens to introduce them to basic architectural skills while employing those skills to envision a new space for the organization.
Riverworks Market
Client: Riverworks Development Corporation
SARUP faculty and graduate students participated in a workshop to imagine an indoor/outdoor market on the site of unused industrial structures and an adjacent vacant lot on the corner of Keefe and Richards. A unique community and vendor engagement tool was created to facilitate the conversation and three concept possibilities. Riverworks Development Corporation will utilize the concepts to do additional community outreach.
2nd & Keefe
Client: ACRE graduate
A graduate of the ACRE program engaged CDS to envision the possibilities for renovating a long vacant, city-owned property. The developer intended to use it as his own home and lease out the commercial space. CDS interns measured the full building, conducted code research and created three concepts for the building.
