Episode 3 of the Building Reuse is Climate Action, a Tangible Remnants limited series sponsored by Quinn Evans, is all about the LOVE Building in Detroit. From the owner's side Nakita is joined by Kwaku Osei - current Executive Director of the LOVE Building, and Jeannette Lee - Founder and former director of the LOVE Building. From the Quinn Evans design team Nakita is joined by Saundra Little, Principal and Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion who served as the lead architect of the project.
Through intentional design and community engagement, the LOVE Building has become a model for accessibility and collaboration. In this conversation, we explore the power of adaptive reuse, the importance of community benefits agreements, and the role of radical philanthropy in making transformative projects possible. If you've ever wondered how a building can become a beacon of inclusivity and empowerment, then this episode is for you.
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Bio: Saundra Little, FAIA, LEED AP
Saundra is an award-winning architect and advocate for the revitalization of the urban realm, particularly in the city of Detroit. Her acclaimed portfolio includes complex renovations and the adaptive use of aging properties; she is known for developing creative and transformative solutions that optimize the long-term economic value of properties while respecting the unique architectural heritage of local neighborhoods and for incorporating community feedback into her designs.
Kwaku Osei
Kwaku Osei is the Executive Director of The LOVE Building, a hub for social justice & creative community in Detroit. He was most recently the Co-Founder & CEO of Farmacy Food, a preventative healthcare startup focused on making health and wellness radically accessible and affordable. He is also the Chairman of Cooperative Capital, a community-based private equity fund that enables residents to pool their money together to make promising investments within their community. He was previously an Executive Associate at Rock Ventures where he worked on special projects with Dan Gilbert and served as CEO to Project X LLC (Now, Sift), a $1MM+ tech spinout of Rock Ventures. Prior to Rock Ventures he was at Deloitte Consulting in DC, where he focused on technology, business process reengineering, strategic change and communications for various clients.
Honing his entrepreneurial spirit, Kwaku has started 8 businesses since he was 14; he earned his Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Honor's College, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude with University Honors. He currently serves on the boards of: The Economic Development Corporation of the City of Detroit, Fair Food Network, The Detroit Community Wealth Fund, Detroit Afrikan Music Institute, and Bridging Communities, Inc. Kwaku's interests include economic mobility, board & card games, chess, reading (fiction & non-fiction), meditation, and novelty adventures outdoors.
Jeanette Lee
Jeanette has facilitated the growth and flourishing of community media, art, and technology for social justice over the past two decades. She was the executive director of Allied Media Projects in Detroit for 12 years. She led the development of the LOVE Building and served as it's founding director until 2024.
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