Cooperative Housing

Washington University in St. Louis

The Washington University Housing Cooperative was founded as a center for student-centered co-design education. Previously there was no housing option that was offered by the school which encouraged students to collaboratively cook, clean and garden. And these life-skills weren’t taught through academic means either. Daniel Koff and Chloe Byruck realized that in order to engage in this kind of learning they needed to create the environment by simultaneously designing a physical space and a social structure.

OUTCOMES

• Managed 20 person construction crew and budget of $25,000
• Converted apartment unit into common space using salvaged and recycled materials
• Wrote charter for cooperative
• Wash. U. Co-op has been in continuous operation over 10 years