Vol. 4 Presenter: Gayla Bechtol

Presenting

Community By Design

Gayla Bechtol is an architect and qualified NM Historic Architect practicing in Santa Fe. In 1995, she began the Regional/Urban Design Assistance Team process for what the local community now recognizes as the Santa Fe Railyard, home to the Santa Fe Farmer‘s Market, New Mexico School for the Arts and SITE Santa Fe. At the time she began this process, the area was seemingly a forgotten space within the City.

Her presentation will recount the historical context, process and vision driven by community leaders and local citizens in 'democratic design'. Encouraged by a sisterhood of citizens and using the design thinking skills she learned from her time at the Harvard Graduate School of Design and USC, she led the team and ultimately, over 6,000 people participated. In her own words, she says they “found their voice, and I found mine at the same time.”

Missed our live event? See Gayla’s presentation here.