Buildings play a key part in the health and wellness of their inhabitants. Alongside that, trauma impacts a majority of Americans and influences how they experience other people and the environment around them. With an emerging understanding of the acute and generational trauma experienced by many low income communities and especially majority black, indigenous and person of color communities, which are disproportionately represented in affordable housing, this topic takes on increased salience as we work to heal racism’s deep impacts.

Join Enterprise and the cross-disciplinary team of experts responsible for developing the ground-breaking Arroyo Village in Denver, Colorado, a project fueled by leading-edge research in trauma informed design and biophilia. Arroyo Village, opened in March of 2019, encompasses a homeless shelter, supportive housing, and workforce housing. Since opening, the residents speak of the joy and dignity they experience in this space due to the design decisions made in the process.

Participants will learn about:
-How trauma impacts the human brain.
-How the built environment can help individuals experience resiliency and move towards healing.
-Leading research in biophilia and how it can be adapted for housing design.
-The findings of “Designing for Healing Dignity and Joy,” the team’s research study

Please join us for 60 minutes of presentations and an (optional) engaging discussion immediately following for 30 minutes to help further refine the ideas shared in this presentation.

Panelists:
- Jennifer Wilson, Center for Housing and Homelessness Research at the University of Denver
- Rachelle Macur, Group14 Engineering
- Laura Rossbert, Shopworks Architecture
- Chad Holtzinger, Shopworks Architecture