AIA New York’s annual Day of Service is an opportunity for architects to bring ideas to life for nonprofit organizations around the city, including much-needed upgrades to their facilities or assistance with their mission. For the second year in a row, Dattner Architects has partnered with Services for the Underserved (S:US) to transform one of their urban garden spaces. A leading NYC nonprofit, S:US provides support for populations in need through both housing and counseling services.
This year, the Dattner team was tasked with creating a sensory garden for the residents of S:US’ E34th Street property. Volunteers were able to turn the previously unprogrammed space into a colorful oasis that provides a vast array of new amenities including: a vibrant mural to add interest during all seasons, a yard game area, new fencing that offers increased privacy and shade in the sunny backyard, plant beds and a raised planter that host a variety of edible plants and fragrant flowers, and a much-needed regrading of the yard so residents with limited mobility are able to enjoy their new space safely.
Many thanks to our generous sponsors for making this project possible: Skyline Engineering, Mountco Construction & Development Corp., Andron Construction, Tukuru Technologies, Maloney & Company LLC, and ARC Document Solutions. We are grateful that we were able to make such positive impacts for the E34th Street residents and staff who depend on this space, and we hope it brings them joy for years to come.
“Dattner’s AIANY Day of Service project was a great success this year thanks to a tremendous group effort by the Dattner/S:US team. We created a sensory garden featuring new planters and garden beds, improved grading, a colorful mural, yard games, and updated fencing that provides both shade and visual interest. We’re grateful that we were able to make such positive impacts for the residents at E34th Street who depend on this space!” — Emily Trulson, Designer & Day of Service Leader, Dattner Architects
“S:US has been working in partnership with Dattner Architects since 2020. We thought that our first project with Dattner would have to be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However as soon as it was safe, Dattner Architects re-scheduled their volunteer build day from spring to late summer 2020.
Recently, Dattner Architects’ volunteers once again helped to transform the backyard of one of our residences into a colorful oasis. They redesigned a plain rectangle backyard and then put their backs into building the elements, some of which included leveling the soil/ground for the people we serve with stability issues to more safely enjoy the space; adding fencing to brighten and gain more privacy; designing a mural for pops of color; and creating areas for playing games and growing vegetables, herbs, and fruit. The residents and staff are excited to enjoy their ‘new’ space.” — Minjung Park, Volunteer & Community Relations Manager, S:US
