HOUSING LABOR
with Gina Reichert

Public Design Corps
Arch 509
Spring 2025

Open to All Students

This session of Public Design Corps focuses on migrant housing throughout the state of Michigan. Working closely with inspectors from the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development (MDARD), we will visit migrant labor housing camps, meet with housing providers in the field, document existing structures, and understand the living conditions of this seasonal labor force. Students will spend time investigating material choices, air quality concerns, ventilation & building systems, and health & safety issues that impact workers and their families. The goals of this spring course are to compile data around the quality of life conditions these temporary communities live within, to model existing housing stock, create tools to inform and educate housing providers, most of whom have taken on this role out of necessity, and to update housing standards on behalf of the State’s Migrant Labor Housing Program.

Class will meet in person on Tuesdays & Thursdays, May 6 – June 26, from 10 AM – 1 PM

Travel will take place May 20-22, with a 2-night stay on the west side of the state.