The Pod Challenge was presented as a design charrette. A process for professionals, politicians, citizens and stakeholders to explore possibilities and to collectively change the rules of the game. As defined by Patrick M. Condon, a design charrette is a time-limited, multiparty design event organized to generate a collaboratively produced plan for sustainable community.

The Pod Challenge took place September 27/28th, 2011 as a challenge to the city of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, to reimagine itself as a model of sustainable urbanism for northern climates.

In preparation for the charrette, Pod Generating recruited a core group of local stakeholders to identify and define a vision for this new Soo. This vision was then evaluated and adopted by the group and served as the basis for the 2 day workshop. 

Vision

Sault Ste. Marie will be a vibrant, diverse, interconnected, affordable and highly liveable downtown that provides for the social and economic needs of our community within a carbon neutral environment by the year 2030.

Goal

The Pod Challenge design charrette is an effort to reimagine the Sault Ste. Marie downtown corridor (as defined per Official Plan Amendment 121) as a model of a vibrant, mixed-use community framed by the following principles: access to linked public places, parks and natural areas; green, durable, timeless infrastructure; climate change mitigation and adaptation; mixed-use corridors accessible to all; sustainable urban agricultural practices, five minute walking distance; appropriate housing for all; and, good and plentiful jobs close to home.