In January 2007, CDRC-Boston started a partnership with interior design students at the Boston Architectural College and the Room to Dream Foundation, which creates healing environments for chronically ill children in Greater Boston. With the approval of the BAC Interior Design School, the instructor was able to integrate two Room to Dream projects into the ID Residential Design Studio: a redesigned and expanded bedroom for Molly, a 16-year-old girl with leukemia in Medway; and an apartment makeover for the family of Ethan, a 9-year-old boy with severe cerebral palsy in Jamaica Plain.

Throughout the semester, students worked in teams to meet with the children and their families, gather information about the clients’ medical and social needs, determine opportunities for design improvements in each home, and develop a design and implementation plan for the home improvements. Students were required to not only make material and furniture selections, but also to work with Room to Dream coordinators to purchase the items and install the design at the end of the semester. The teams responded enthusiastically to the opportunity, and what began as an extra credit assignment eventually became a primary focus of the studio. 

In May, the student teams presented their final designs for the two projects to CDRC-Boston and BAC staff, along with Room to Dream board members. Students commented that the projects were among the most enjoyable of their academic career; in particular, they mentioned an appreciation for the feedback and constraints of dealing with a real client, site and budget. The Jamaica Plan project also had its weekend build-out in May, concluding with an emotional welcome home for Ethan and his family. The Medway project build-out is scheduled for June.

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