Bill Lennertz, AIA
Executive Director
The National Charrette Institute (NCI)

When was the The National Charrette Institute (NCI) founded, and what was the impetus?

NCI was founded in 2001 to help people work together to harness the talents and energies of all interested parties to create and support a feasible plan that represents healthy transformative community change.

At a minimum, how many organizers (moderators, artists, etc.) does it take to hold a successful charrette?

It is completely dependent on the project. Most charrette teams have 6 to 12 professionals most commonly including land planners, architects, environmental experts, transport planners, economists.

Many people believe in the phenomenon of collective intelligence or a "cooperation quotient," where a group produces ideas that are ultimately wiser than concepts of a few individuals. Do you feel charrettes are evidence of this?

Absolutely. Another way of saying this is that the charrette takes a team of specialists and creates a generalist or holistic planning approach. This approach is essential to sustainable solutions.

Do you believe that charrettes are good examples of democracy at work?

Yes. Charrettes can rekindle people's trust in public process. The short feedback loops that occur during the charrette show people that their input can have an impact.

Can you give a prime example of how a charrette actually "saved" an awful development project?

It is common for a developer or city to conduct a charrette after conducting a failed process, such as the Pleasant Hill BART project described in the case study section of our book, The Charrette Handbook.

What was the most surprising suggestion or neighborhood amenity you've heard voiced at a charrette?

One time a father and his two young boys came in with a plan that they made out of construction paper. It was so touching. The plan showed a central green next to a train station at Pleasant Hill BART. The idea was not as surprising as the delivery.

Was it included in the final draft?

Yes.

How much advance notification to the community do you recommend for a charrette?

Usually six weeks minimum. Again, it depends on the local. Rural towns may need less time.

Do you believe that the quality of building materials can enhance or diminish a project?

Absolutely.

Do James Hardie fiber cement products ever get mentioned at the charrette level?

Yes, especially when writing Form Based Codes.

The NCI offers educational courses around the country, and in-house training for large organizations. What was the largest class size the NCI has ever taught?

The courses are capped at 32 to assure a quality experience for the student.

Who is an ideal candidate for your certification course?

We have had everyone from students to veteran professionals take the course. Usually it is a mid-career public or private planner, designer, or developer. We also get a fair share of community activists.

Aside from your seminars, you also offer books and other resources for sale such as kits that offer guidance right down to the physical layout of the charrette location. You also offer free downloads of select forms and articles. What is the most popular item requested?

Our free charrette Request for Proposals (RFP) template is very popular now as well as The Charrette Handbook.

I was surprised that some of your best customers are federal agencies. Do you feel the public underestimates the desire of government to create beautiful places —even on the most functional projects?

The staff at some federal agencies, the people at the EPA Smart Growth group for example, are very committed to making a difference.

What else contributes to a successful charrette?

A good representation of the diverse community interests. The only time charrettes don't work is when people don't show up.

For more information on The National Charrette Institute, go to: http://www.charretteinstitute.org

Streetscapes Online, Volume 21 <