Community
Active Organizations
PRAXIS3 is active in a number of community efforts and organizations. We believe in our city, our neighborhoods and in the transformative power of the efforts of all of us to make a better world. PRAXIS3 principals, associates, and designers are active in the following community efforts and organizations:
Community Friendship Atlanta:
As a leading pioneer of psychiatric rehabilitative services, Community Friendship offers a comprehensive range of recovery-based programs. They provide support and training in self-sufficiency and independent living, career development, and full integration in the community. Located in Midtown Atlanta since 1970.
CFI’s historic facility has served them well for 50 years, but is in need of upgrades to be able to continue to provide the highest quality experience to their staff and client community. Praxis3 provided an existing conditions assessment, and a proposed plan for all 4 levels, including plan reconfigurations, finish notes, HVAC and electrical code analysis, and roofing and window recommendations. Through community partner Home Aid, a quote for the work was prepared by Juneau Construction, to allow CFI to plan a Capital Campaign.
City of Refuge:
PRAXIS3 is proud to announce that we have begun working pro bono with City of Refuge. We’re producing schematic designs for City of Refuge’s Eden Village, which offers housing, medical, vision, dental, and mental health care for women in crisis. We’re honored to be a part of such an awesome transformation for our local Atlanta community. We can’t wait to share more of what’s to come from this awesome partnership!
(re)fortify:
(re)fortify was founded by a team of local designers (which included our very own, Halle Hannaford) with three critical components:
1.) Working with kids:
To instill the idea that art + creativity form the foundation of viable careers in design
2.) Working with design professionals who haven’t forgotten how to be a kid:
To make them recall childhood memories where one’s imagination and available materials are the only design constraints
3.) Give something back to the local community:
Such as a truckload of blankets + clothes to aid a local homeless resource center
Canstruction:
Canstruction® is a unique charity which hosts competitions, exhibitions, and events showcasing colossal structures made entirely out of full cans of food. After the structures are built, the creations go on display to the public as a giant art exhibition. At the end of the event, all food is donated to local hunger relief organizations.
Recognized for our commitment to innovation, hunger relief, and collaboration, our work has helped raise over 25 million pounds of food since 1992. Canstruction® events are held annually in over 150 cities around the world including North America, Australia, South America, Europe, and Asia. The PRAXIS3 team is lead by Kristopher Goettig.
WeCare:
PRAXIS3 helps spread some holiday cheer by participating in the Herman Miller “WeCare” event at the local Boys & Girls Club annually. WeCare is an event that allows the children to create a variety of crafts at stations provided by local design firms. These crafts not only allow the children to embrace their creative side, but also gives them the opportunity to give gifts to their loved ones during the holiday season. PRAXIS3 prepares holiday cards for the children to decorate and write a personalized message to someone special.
Urban Land Institute (ULI):
ULI is the oldest and largest network of cross-disciplinary real estate and land use experts in the world. ULI is its members. Through our members’ dedication to the mission and their shared expertise, the Institute has been able to set standards of excellence in development practice. PRAXIS3 principal David Hamilton and Associate Sarah Butler are active in the Atlanta Chapter of the ULI. Sarah plays a key role in the Affordable Housing efforts of the Atlanta Chapter, one of the most active in the country. Sarah is the Co-Chair of the Atlanta TAPs Committee. She is also active in the Women’s Leadership Initiative.
International Interior Design Association (IIDA):
The International Interior Design Association (IIDA) works to enhance quality of life through excellence in interior design and to advance interior design through knowledge, value and community. IIDA is a professional networking and educational association of more than 13,000 Members in 10 design specialty Forums in 30 Chapters around the world. IIDA Georgia currently has 425 Members.
Committed to advancing the Interior Design profession, Caw Swope is currently serving on the IIDA Georgia Board of Directors and is most notable for leading the IIDA Dressed event and active committee membership
Architecture and Design Center (ADC):
Founded in 2012, the Architecture & Design Center is an independent, non-profit cultural organization dedicated to bringing together architecture and design professionals and aficionados to promote high quality design and urbanism and connect Atlanta’s design culture to the world.
PRAXIS3 principal David Hamilton has served on the organization’s board since 2016 and has been active in many of the organizations initiatives including the soon to premiere, On-line guide to Atlanta Architecture.
Freedom Park Conservancy (FPC):
The Freedom Park Conservancy is a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation, improvement, and development of Freedom Park in Atlanta. As Past President and long-time Board Member PRAXIS3 principal David Hamilton has recently led efforts to formulate a new Park Master Plan. Working closely with internationally renowned landscape architecture firm SWA and Master Plan Board Chair Stephanie Wolfgang, Mr. Hamilton has coordinated Master Planning efforts. He also coordinated the initial consultant section process.
Hillel International:
For nearly a century, Hillel’s network of dedicated student leaders, professionals and volunteers have encouraged generations of young adults to celebrate Jewish learning and living, pursue social justice and connect to their peers and the global Jewish people. Hillel engages with and inspires the leadership of more Jewish college students than all other endeavors combined. Their mission is to enrich the lives of Jewish students so that they may enrich the Jewish people and the world.
Central Atlanta Progress (CAP):
CAP works to build a 21st century Downtown as the heart of the Atlanta region, a vibrant community with strong leadership and sustainable infrastructure that is safe, livable, diverse, economically viable, accessible, clean, hospitable, and entertaining. CAP Membership includes corporations, small local businesses, civic organizations, regional leaders, and property owners whose support allows progress to continue.
CAP is a private, not-for-profit corporation created in 1941. CAP has a long and distinguished history of civic planning and development activities, characterized by public-private partnerships tackling difficult problems over the long term, with a very high rate of success.
PRAXIS3 is a corporate member of Central Atlanta Progress. Principal David Hamilton has been active in a key number of CAP initiatives including his service on the steering Committee for the Downtown Arts and Entertainment District. This cultural innovation effort blends new outdoor media, local art, accent lighting, and digital and static signage to activate buildings and blank walls and infuse the Downtown neighborhood with light, art, and cultural programming. By creating light, vitality, and activity, A&E Atlanta seeks to authentically reflect the vibrancy of Atlanta as a whole and define Atlanta’s culture and brand.
Atlanta Beltline Design Review Committee (DRC):
The Design Review Committee is an advisory group of subject-matter experts that provides design consultation, review, and recommendations for all Special Administrative Permits within a half-mile of the Atlanta Beltline corridor. The Committee is tasked to assist the City of Atlanta’s Office of Planning and Community Development in guiding development around the Atlanta Beltline in accordance with the Beltline sub-area masterplans.
PRAXIS3 principal David Hamilton is one of the original committee members serves on the DRC as a City of Atlanta resident architect member. His urban and architectural design experience have been key assets for the committee as they have reviewed hundreds of projects around the Beltline.
American Institute of Architects (AIA):
The AIA is the primary professional organization for architects in the United States. PRAXIS3 is active as a firm and its principals and associates are active in the AIA Georgia and AIA Atlanta Chapters. The primary functions of AIA Georgia are to increase the public’s general knowledge and awareness of architecture and the role architects play in the built and planned environment; and government affairs to monitor state legislative and regulatory activities to promote and enhance the profession of architecture, those who practice, and to ensure the health, safety and welfare of the public it serves.
AIA Programs that PRAXIS3 regularly participates in include Canstruction, the AIA Annual Design Awards, AIA sustainability programs, and various other AIA national and local initiatives. We believe that support of our profession is imperative to making a better and more professional practice of architecture.