BrandNu Design Studio is leading the architectural design of the Darbo Dream Center, a 21st-century community facility conceived to serve the Darbo-Worthington-Starkweather neighborhood in Madison, Wisconsin. This project, commissioned by Mentoring Positives, JustDane, and the African Center for Community Development, is rooted in equity-based design principles and informed by extensive stakeholder engagement.

Our approach applies a sense of psychological safety, spatial dignity, and inclusivity. Key strategies include daylight optimization, biophilic integration, and the use of non-institutional materials and textures to promote emotional wellness. The facility features programmatic zones to accommodate mentorship programs, workforce development, and restorative practices, allowing for adaptive reuse and future growth.

Sustainability is embedded through passive ventilation, envelope efficiency, and site-sensitive stormwater management. The building’s massing, fenestration, and circulation patterns are calibrated to enhance visibility, foster social interaction, and support community stewardship.

The Darbo Dream Center reflects BrandNu Design Studio’s commitment to designing for justice, resilience, and long-term community impact—where architecture serves not only as shelter but as infrastructure for healing and empowerment.