Q:
How does NCI define a charrette?
A: The
NCI charrette is a collaborative planning process that harnesses
the talents and energies of all interested parties to create
and support a buildable Smart Growth plan.
The term "charrette" is overused
and often misused. NCI has defined the following nine strategies,
which differentiate an authentic charrette from other planning
processes.
1. Work collaboratively
2. Design cross-functionally
3. Compress work sessions
4. Communicate in short feedback loops
5. Study the details and the whole
6. Confirm progress through measuring outcomes
7. Produce a feasible plan
8. Use design to achieve a shared vision and create holistic
solutions
9. Include a multi-day charrette
10. Hold the charrette on site
Q:
Why does a charrette have to last multiple days?
A: One
of the unique traits of the charrette is the series of feedback
loops. Three loops are the minimum required to facilitate
a change in participants’ perceptions and positions.
Within these three major feedback loops, designs are created
based upon a public vision, and presented within hours for
further review, critique, and refinement. Four consecutive
days are required to accommodate three feedback loops, scheduled
at least a day apart. These feedback cycles foster a holistic
understanding of complex problems by all participants and
form the basis of a plan that reflects all vital viewpoints.
It results in true buy-in by everyone involved, who are thereby
inspired to support the plan, allowing it to overcome the
inevitable challenges on its path to implementation
Q:
Are there affordable alternatives to the charrette process outlined
in your courses?
A: Charrette
costs are affected by the project’s level of complexity,
and the amount of research required to become "charrette
ready." Costs can be mitigated by the use of staff
and volunteers as charrette team members and by utilizing
available existing economic and transportation data. Projects
that have a high level of political and/or site complexity
usually require more paid professionals. Similarly, the
lack of fresh data can also require the commissioning of
costly studies. Some projects can save money by short-circuiting
the fat report route through tapping the wisdom of local
professionals during the charrette.
Q:
When is the right time to use a NCI charrette process?
A: Charrettes
are ideal for projects in which development is imminent, and/or
when there is a real developer to implement the results. charrettes
are especially useful for projects that have significant community
impact and contentious situations that require conflict resolution.
For a charrette to be successful, participants must be prepared
and informed about the process, and the information required
for a holistic approach must be present. This means ensuring
that key stakeholders have agreed to participate and have
a shared understanding of the project, the process, and their
roles in it. There must be agreement on the nature of the
problem and the need to act on it. The information must also
be comprehensive. This means all the information that is required
for participants to make informed decisions is available and
in a form that can be understood by all involved.
Q:
Does a charrette always require a third party facilitator?
A: The
third party facilitator is someone who is recognized by all
participants as someone who is genuinely committed to protecting
the people and the process in the charrette. The third party
role is invaluable for creating an atmosphere of trust for
all participants. At minimum, the charrette requires someone
who can play the third party role when necessary. In many
cases, local staff members have too much history to effectively
be a third party. Although it is a bit of a high-wire act,
it is possible for a conscientious charrette leader to assume
a third party role and provide content.
Q:
How much do charrettes cost?
A: The
charrette event cannot be separated from the preparation and
implementation phases. Therefore, it is not possible to budget
for a charrette in isolation. The cost is completely dependent
on project scale and complexity, how much preparation work
has to be done, available resources, data collection, studies
to be completed, and stakeholder outreach and engagement.
The price for charrette projects, including preparation and
implementation, ranges from $75,000 to $500,000, depending
on the geographic location. It is possible to reduce project
costs through the use of professional volunteers, local agencies
and university architecture and planning departments. The
National Charrette Institute and other organizations are working
to create more affordable charrette models and resources.
