VIRTUAL London.
Abstract
With changes in business industry trends and online shopping, vacant big box stores are growing urban and economic concerns in the Washington, District of Columbia metropolitan area due to the need for follow-on development planning and investments. The District of Columbia and surrounding areas have approximately six vacant big box stores comprising over one million square feet of space. Without backfill plans, urban fabric and a community’s economic viability deteriorate. This is especially problematic in DC’s underserved and lower-income communities. One idea for the specialized use of vacant big box stores is to establish a Build and Ship vocational program, where students learn skilled trades and create and then sell kits of parts for residential or commercial buildings. This type of program offers education and builds skills in various construction trade areas, as according to the Associated Builders and Contractors, the construction industry predicted an estimated 2023 labor shortage of 546,000 skilled construction workers. Vocational programs attract local residents, especially in under-served and lower-income communities, and high school graduates who may not plan to attend college. Trades are crucial for maintaining infrastructure, constructing buildings, and providing services. As an educational and business platform, a Build and Ship vocational program can promote economic development and build capacity within communities. This qualitative research will use surveys to investigate if community and construction industry partnerships may consider funding development for such a program based on the return, which builds local capacity and fills skilled labor shortages. Based on these findings, a prototypical design for the adaptive reuse of a big box store in the DC metropolitan area guided by Value-Inclusive Design’s social, environmental, and economic constructs is planned as a means of promoting social equity, urban sustainability, and community resilience
My name is Cindy Umanzor. I reside in the state of Maryland. I am a graduate student at the University of the District of Columbia with a vision of becoming an architect. I want to take my profession to help others in my community and to design my ideas.