Made in Opa-Locka, commissioned by the Opa-Locka Development Corporation, is an urban-scale network of architectural interventions in the Triangle, a neighborhood in Miami. A design partnership between Stayner Architects and Jennifer Bonner, we worked with Miami-Dade County, the Opa-Locka Development Corporation, and neighborhood residents, to conceive, design, and build a series of new structures, renovate existing buildings, and build out interiors for community programs and micro-enterprises.

In the crucial Pre-Design phase of the project, Stayner Architects and Jennifer Bonner worked with stakeholders to identify key areas in which architectural design could meaningfully contribute to the economic development and equity of the neighborhood. Over the course of a series of town-hall-style meetings and design charettes, we proposed and refined a strategic plan for the neighborhood, developing a timeline to allow for multiple phases and scales of design. 

We designed spaces for community programs, including facilities for existing arts organizations and neighborhood non-profits, while also developing designs for individual single- and multi-family home-owners to convert portions of their residential space for commercial uses. The community spaces include an auditorium, an artist-in-residence facility, classroom and lecture halls, media labs and production studios.