AARP ADU Awards Challenge Winners Celebrated at Open House

3 Finalists Each Awarded $3,000 and Overall Winner Receives Trophy

Jacob Bielanski, of Van Cleave Architecture + Design, receives the ADU Design Challenge trophy as the overall winner. The award is presented by Lewis Kuhlman, from the City of La Crosse

The City of La Crosse, AARP Wisconsin, and AIA Wisconsin held an open house on November 21 for the public to see the 3 winning designs from the recently held Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Design Challenge. The finalists each received a $3,000 award and gave presentations at the event to compete for the overall winner trophy. The design led by Jacob Bielanski of Milwaukee’s Van Cleave Architecture + Design won the trophy as the design that best met the goals of the Challenge.

The ADU Design Competition held an open call, inviting architects, designers, and innovators to submit their best ADU design and compete for one of three $3,000 prizes. The submissions were expected to meet technical requirements while highlighting sustainability, affordability, and accessibility — key values that will help shape the future of housing in La Crosse.

The 3 finalists who gave presentations at the event were Bielanski, Matt Bryan of La Crosse’s River Architects, and Lucas Reed, a student at Western Technical College.

After the presentations, a panel of five evaluators with expertise in architecture and homebuilding deliberated about the designs and determined Bielanski’s submission best met the various requirements.  

An online library of all the submitted designs will be posted soon on the La Crosse Climate Action Plan website. 

Youth Climate Action Fund Forum 6/25/24

Are you interested in applying for a micro-grant from the City of La Crosse?

This is an opportunity to receive funding to support support youth-led climate initiatives! La Crosse organizations that serve youth ages 15-24 can apply for up to $5,000 for a youth-led project to help facilitate climate action within the City of La Crosse.

Join us at the YCAF Forum!

Get inspired. Explore resources. Collaborate!

Join other interested youth at the La Crosse YCAF Forum Tuesday, June 25 from 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm. If you are thinking of applying for a YCAF grant or just want to learn more, this in-person event is for you! Come and join other interested youth and community partners. Learn about the City’s Climate Action Plan, brainstorm project ideas, collaborate with others interested in climate action, and get inspired to submit your grant proposal. Pizza will be served! 
Together, we can make a difference for La Crosse! 

When: Tuesday, June 25 from 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Where: Myrick Park’s The Nature Place, 789 Myrick Park Dr., La Crosse, WI 54601

Just add your name to the list to let us know you are coming. (RSVP preferred but not required)

Youth Climate Action Fund Grant Writing Webinar 7/11/24

Never written a grant before? Find out what you need to know at our free grant writing webinar.

Need support in applying for a micro-grant from the City of La Crosse?

Never written a grant before? Need more information on what is required in the submission? Find out what you need to know at our free grant writing webinar. We’ll walk through the application, hear suggestions and tips about writing grants from a professional grant writer, and answer questions you may have about the YCAF grant submission.

Join us at the YCAF Grant Writing Webinar!

When: Thursday, July 11 from 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Where: Online Webinar - sign up below:

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