Oliver Kuehne, Senior Town Planner
HDR Town Planning

1. Create a supply checklist. Specify what you need, and how many of each; take inventory a few days prior to leaving for the charrette as some items may need to be ordered.
2. Put one person in charge of inventory and packing. If everybody throws stuff in a suitcase you will likely forget something critical.
3. Charrette suitcase. Instead of trying to fit everything in one large suitcase, use multiple smaller ones and balance the weight, especially when traveling by plane. Use small containers or pouches to pack pens, markers, and other supplies, and keep everything consolidated and neatly separated.
4. Pack valuable items, such as digital cameras, in your carry-on bag (once it has passed security, checked luggage is no longer secure).
5. Label your supplies. Art and drafting supplies are expensive and tend to get mixed with other firms’ supplies.
6. Pens and markers. In advance of the charrette, establish a set of preferred line weights and marker colors for drawings and renderings; about three different line weights and 20 marker colors should do. Bring a set of pens for each team member, and pack at least two sets of markers, so more than one person can color at a time. Make sure to test all pens and markers before you pack them, so you don’t end up with dried out ones.
7. Unpacking. Put someone in charge of unpacking the charrette suitcase(s). There’s a tendency to just throw everything in a corner when you get back from a charrette, but taking the time to check everything and restock your supply is time well spent as it saves trouble when preparing for the next charrette.