
Community Design and Planning Centre (CDPC)
Mission
The CDPC collaborates with community partners and professionals from diverse disciplines to create well-designed climate-responsive environments, enhance quality of life in underserved communities, and make meaningful social impact through planning and design innovation and leadership.
Vision
The CDPC addresses essential social needs by co-creating healthy, socially just, and thoughtfully designed and planned environments that benefit all citizens of Manitoba and beyond.
Our projects
Work with us
Our strength lies in our ability to engage deeply with those we serve, fostering partnerships that empower communities to shape their own environments. We are driven by a commitment to innovation, sustainability, and cultural sensitivity, ensuring that each project centers the diverse voices, gifts, and needs of the people involved.
If you would like to start a conversation or are interested in working with us on a project please email cdpc@umanitoba.ca
Our team
The Community Design and Planning Centre (CDPC) is a collaborative group of students, staff, faculty, and dedicated volunteers from the University of Manitoba. With a passion for creating inclusive, equitable, and forward-thinking design and planning solutions, we bring together a wide range of expertise and perspectives to address the unique challenges faced by communities.
Leadership Team
- Mira (Mimi) Locher (Dean, Faculty of Architecture)
- Alixa Lacerna (CDPC Coordinator)
- Elder Valdie Seymour (in memoriam)
Faculty Affiliates
- Shawn Bailey, Professor, Department of Architecture
- Sarah Cooper, Professor, Department of City Planning
- Richard Milgrom, Head, Department of City Planning
Professional Affiliates
- Alex Ross, M.L.Arch., B.A. (Geography)
Student Research Assistants
- Hanan Alahmad (Undergraduate Research Award Student - Summer 2025)
- Sophia Sacco (Work-Study Student - Summer 2025)
- Jory Thomas (Indigenous Summer Student Internship Program 2025)
Past Research Assistants
- Howl Phan (Undergraduate Research Award Student - Summer 2024)
- Athena Santiago (Work-Study Student Fall 2024 - Winter 2025
Volunteers
- Brend Abarquez
- Maryam Amini
- Saba Ammari
- Vandana Arya
- Lila Asher
- Jade Butterfield
- Lealyn Carlos
- Suiden Duplassie
- Eva Hagel-MacPherson
- Annika Hofstede
- John Manahan
- Angelica Mandapat
- Miku Morioka
- Doménica Naranjo
- Grace Olokun-Jaiyesimi
- Howl Phan
- Taza Pratt
- Juan Ramos
- Jae Rivera
- Athena Santiago
- Leslie Then
- Ethan Wong
Past Volunteers
- Eva Rodriguez
Contact us
Community Design and Planning Centre
245 Portage Ave
Winnipeg, MB
R3B 2A6