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MINNEAPOLIS, MN - August 17, 2004 - The Minnesota Chapter American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) has selected Central Community Housing Trust's St. Barnabas Apartments as its 2004 Community Service Project.

The project is a redevelopment of the St. Barnabas Hospital building in downtown Minneapolis. It will create 39 efficiency apartments for homeless or at-risk youth, ages 16 to 20, and 13 efficiencies for low-income working adults.

According to ASID Community Service Committee Co-Chair LuAnne Silvia, the future residents of St. Barnabas Apartments were the inspiration behind ASID's decision. "These youth are coming to St. Barnabas at a transition point in their lives. It is especially important for them to have a place to call home and a place they can thrive in. We are very excited to be part of this project where we can make such a significant impact on peoples lives."

The five designers that comprise the committee will focus on the building's first floor, which includes a community room, reception area, kitchen, and offices for youth support staff. With durability and a young clientele in mind, they'll select the finishes, paint colors, carpeting, and lighting for the space. They'll also choose carpet and paint colors for the  upper floors.

"We'll look at not only how the space will look, but also how it will function," Silvia says. "We've been asked by CCHT to create an inviting, nurturing environment that really feels like a home. We want to create a place residents can relate to and feel comfortable in."

Silvia says they'll use space planning to encourage social gatherings and provide areas for projects that will promote self-confidence. "We'll also try to help establish a sense of pride and responsibilty in ownership for youth who have not experienced that kind of environment so far in their lives," she says.

Silvia says the group will work within the budget set by CCHT for each element of the design, but will also seek donations and cost-savings from vendors. "As designers, we bring a lot of sources. We can stretch budgets and creative problem-solve."

CCHT Project Manager Gina Ciganik says ASID's involvement will add warmth and vitality to the space. "The donation of time, energy, and creative vision by ASID designers will make St. Barnabas Apartments a special place," says Ciganik. "Many of the youth who will live here have had no stable experience of home in their lives. They need a place that's safe and nurturing so they can focus on work, education, and developing the skills they need to live independently."

Slated to be completed in spring 2005, St. Barnabas Apartments is CCHT's second property serving homeless youth. The Archdale opened in 1996, becoming one of the first apartment buildings for homeless youth in the nation. Both projects are collaborations with YouthLink, a social service provider for homeless youth.

ASID's previous community service projects include a boys' home (2003) and a residence for mothers with mental illness and their children (2002).

Central Community Housing Trust (CCHT) is an award-winning nonprofit developer of quality housing for the Twin Cities Metro Area, providing homes for more than 2,000 people annually. Since 1986, CCHT has built and renovated 23 properties, totaling 1,200 units of housing. Its mission is to create and sustain quality affordable housing that strengthens lives and communities.

The American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) is the leading professional organization for interior designers with the largest residential and commercial membership. With more than 34,500 members, ASID establishes a common identity for professionals and businesses in the field of interior design. The Minnesota chapter represents approximately 600 interior designers and industry members from Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Western Wisconsin. 

Minnesota Chapter ASID Community Service Committee members:

Co-Chairs:

LuAnne Silvia, Pisa Design

Holly Seel, Hauthaus, Inc.

Members:

Mary Dworsky, Mary Dworsky Interior Design

Gigi Olive, Gigi Olive Interiors

Margaret Thompson, Designmark

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