Great Ideas to Make Housing a Home

College students studying design are exposed to great ideas and design principles, but it can remain abstract. Four teams of students got the opportunity to put their ideas to the test in the real world as part of the HUD Innovation in Affordable Housing Student Design and Planning Competition.

Students from University of Minnesota, UCLA, University of Kansas and NYU converged on Houma, Louisiana to gather ideas from the residents of a high-rise for the elderly.  Their ideas for redevelopment are unique but share some important principles, including opportunities for intergenerational activities and design that promotes successful aging in place.  As HUD Secretary Castro noted, these young students are helping us as a nation to “find new ways to tackle old challenges and open more doors to opportunity for years to come.”