The charrette course takes CUDC students and staff out of the studio for a weekend for an intensive design exercise in a community that has invited Kent State to brainstorm about its future. Often a charrette will focus on a particular design strategy or challenge, giving both students and staff the opportunity to investigate new ideas in an environment that encourages quick thinking and creativity. Outside professionals are invited for most of the charrettes to diversify the mix of ideas. For some charrettes, Kent State teams up with another architecture school to exchange ideas and technical expertise.

Bellefontaine Charrette (Bellefontaine)
Strategies for revitalizing an agricultural town northwest of Columbus

Canal Winchester Charrette - Ohio Design Assistance Team (Canal Winchester)
A collaboration with the Design Centers at University of Cincinnati and Ohio State University -- looking at strategies to defend a Southwest Ohio town against sprawl

Lincoln Highway Charrette (Perry Township) - coming soon
Thematic, landscape and urban design improvements for a stretch of historic roadside environment

North Royalton Central Area Charrette (North Royalton)
Green connections and new development to create a pedestrian friendly town center in a fast growing suburb of Cleveland

South Lorain Community Design Charrette (Lorain)
Consensus-building charrette to establish a design framework and development priorities for an urban area in economic transition

Springboro Charrette - Ohio Design Assistance Team (Springboro)
A collaboration with the Design Centers at University of Cincinnati and Ohio State University -- looking at strategies to defend a Southwest Ohio town against spraw

Walk Westgate Charrette (Toledo)
Study of design alternatives for a neighborhood around a suburban shopping center in Toledo, undertaken in collaboration with Kent State graduate students and students and faculty of the Taubmann School of Architecture at the University of Michigan

Warren Downtown Charrette (Warren) - coming soon
Revitalization concepts for open spaces and new housing in a historic downtown