Last week, BSB Design Leadership announced to its staff a new design challenge to begin immediately. This design challenge will not only encourage creativity, innovation and teamwork but also has the potential to completely change the solution to homelessness in America and across the globe.
In 2006, BSB Design initiated a non-profit organization, Abod Shelters, that is dedicated to providing affordable housing wherever it is needed. The homes can be shipped anywhere and take one day to build. We have traveled to Africa to help establish communities of Abods for those in need of housing. The Abod design has even been used to create birthing centers where pregnant women can have a safe and sanitary birth experience.
Over the years, we also have partnered with Joppa, a non-profit based in Des Moines, IA, that provides services to homeless residents. We were challenged to design a solution for temporary housing for the homeless to help them get back on their feet. This challenge evolved into a large, master-planned tiny-home village with communal restrooms and dining areas. This temporary housing would be a way for an individual or family to establish stability and work, then ideally move to permanent housing within six to 24 months.
“We believe that everyone is deserving of an affordable, quality home that lasts” – BSB Design’s Philanthropic Belief.
Our passion for philanthropy led to our latest internal design challenge. This design challenge is to create a home for a family of four for under $2,500 (not including shipping, restroom or electrical) with at least 150 sq. ft. of living space. The teams can include up to five employees and must specify building and shipping costs. Designs should allow for expansion or downsizing as needed per resident. The teams have about three months to complete this design and present a 3D rendering and other materials to the judges.
The winners will receive a cash prize of up to $5,000 and will have the opportunity to work directly with clients in the future to make these homes a reality.
Beth Miller, BSB Design’s Former Director of Innovation, says, “We want our design challenges to be impactful. Our goal is to break into teams to collectively engage the challenge and as a result produce a number of innovative solutions for attractive, low-cost housing options…all in just under three months! It’s great to work for a company that encourages us to spend a portion of our work time on solutions to problems outside our normal work parameters.”
At BSB Design, we make it a priority to challenge our employees to think outside the box, especially when trying to make the world a better place. At the end of the day, everyone is deserving of a place to call home.
