RPM at Urban Land Institute’s Homelessness Summit
At our core, RPM Team values a solutions-based approach that positively contributes to society. To maintain high standards in the field, we seek to strengthen team members through education and community involvement; on June 9, RPM Team participated in The Urban Land Institute’s Homelessness Summit. By combining the core of its work with ULI’s mission, we aided in reinforcing our skill set while addressing the homeless crisis through effective housing options.
A People-First Approach
Since 1936, The Urban Land Institute has been researching, educating, and organizing its mission: to shape the future of the built environment for transformative impact in communities worldwide. To combat the crisis in Southern California, ULI’s Los Angeles branch hosted its annual Homelessness Summit, with a 2022 theme of Housing Now!
RPM Team had the privilege of participating in interactive workshops, collaborating with cross-sector professionals, and discussing solutions for the homeless population in the region. With topics ranging from city priorities, design infrastructure, and site assembly, attendees were emboldened to carry out actionable solutions to the homelessness crisis across Southern California.
Proudly Partnering
The morning began with an interactive panel introducing attendees to the weekend's Housing Now! theme. Panelists, including RPM President David Renard and Consultant Cruz Avila, discussed various topics in the field, including how prefabricated structures offer rapid solutions at a lower cost.
David spoke on RPM's expertise in developing comprehensive navigation centers, showcasing the efficiency of Sprung Structures' column-free design that creates dignified spaces for residents. He highlighted our ability to develop entire models by analyzing the homeless demographic, studying the available budget, estimating costs, and acting as the owner's representative to ensure the project runs smoothly from site selection to ribbon cutting.
Additionally, David outlined our work for Stockton's Shelter for the Homeless, the largest men's homeless shelter in Northern California. "With the added complexity of being on Caltrans state land, the only buildable land sat between two overpasses— this proved to be a challenge for accommodating 180 additional beds," explained David. "We created a footprint within the drip zone of the overpass— a 20-foot setback required for Caltrans to accommodate maintenance on the overpass. Since the site only allowed for 3,867 square feet, we created a vertical build design that utilizes prefabricated shipping containers. This not only accommodated all service areas but also resulted in a structure that can be easily relocated."
Organizational Integrity
California’s homelessness crisis continues to ebb and flow, and our team is dedicated to providing strong solutions that offer dignifying spaces for its users. With strategic operational systems in place, RPM is equipped to cover the entire project scope or manage individual areas including structural engineering, estimation, or design. Collaborating with organizations like The Urban Land Institute, RPM remains a top choice for consulting and providing turnkey design-build services. Serving society shouldn’t be out of reach.