The 2003 winners present new and innovative ways of thinking about intervening in troubled communities and new models for their stabilization and revitalization.

Creative Community Building: the 2003 Rudy Bruner Award for Urban Excellence includes detailed case studies and lessons learned about the winning projects including:

  • Camino Nuevo Charter Academy in Los Angles, California
    A charter school offering a new model for community-based learning
  • Bridgemarket in New York, New York
    Conversion of a historic bridge arcade into a commercial marketplace
  • Colorado Court in Santa Monica, California
    A socially and environmentally responsible single-room occupancy housing complex
  • Providence River Relocation in Providence, Rhode Island
    A large-scale urban infrastructure project that reshaped downtown and the river
  • Red Hook Community Justice Center in Brooklyn, New York
    A community court offering a proactive alternative to the judicial system

Lessons Learned themes include:

  • New Models for Urban Intervention and Improvement
  • Leadership versus Participation
  • The Importance of Good Design
  • Art in the Urban Setting
  • Historic Preservation
  • Transformation
  • Replicable, Adaptable Models