{"id":10611,"date":"2026-04-15T14:17:47","date_gmt":"2026-04-15T18:17:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dcp.ufl.edu\/fiber\/?p=10611"},"modified":"2026-04-29T20:52:02","modified_gmt":"2026-04-30T00:52:02","slug":"s3-initiative-fiber-impact-in-jacksonville","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dcp.ufl.edu\/fiber\/s3-initiative-fiber-impact-in-jacksonville\/","title":{"rendered":"S3 Initiative: FIBER Impact in Jacksonville"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Written by DeJaya Hardy<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

GAINESVILLE, Fla. \u2014 The team behind FIBER operates through research, networks and impact to better serve communities by strengthening resilient built environments. At its core, the organization is committed to ensuring that the spaces people live, work and gather in are not only structurally sound but supportive of long-term well-being. When working on projects, members approach their research with intentionality, placing significant care not only on their findings but also on the solutions they believe can create meaningful and sustainable change. FIBER faculty Dr. Lisa Sundahl-Platt and Milena Rodriguez Mendez are key collaborators on the Sustainable and Supportive Housing Design for Salutogenic Health (S\u00b3) initiative, a project focused on advancing high-quality housing through research-driven design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reflecting on the initiative\u2019s impact, Sundahl-Platt said, \u201c\u2026one of the most significant contributions of this research lies in advancing our understanding of how housing design influences the mental and physical health of community members.\u201d Her statement highlights the deeper purpose behind S\u00b3. The initiative moves beyond traditional conversations about housing affordability or structural durability and instead asks a broader question: How can design actively promote health? Research conducted through S\u00b3 emphasizes the importance of adopting a \u201cwhole-systems perspective\u201d when defining what it means to build for health resilience. This approach acknowledges the interdependence of energy efficiency, material resilience, interior environmental quality, accessibility and design responsiveness to contextual risks in shaping homeowner’s well-being. Rather than viewing these elements separately, S\u00b3 treats them as interconnected factors that collectively influence quality of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Although FIBER is based at the University of Florida in Gainesville, the S\u00b3 initiative itself extends beyond Alachua County. On Jan. 29, 2026, S\u00b3 hosted a Community Charrette in Jacksonville, Florida. The event took place at the Church of Oakland, creating a welcoming environment where participants could gather to envision supportive public and housing spaces for residents of Jacksonville\u2019s Historic Eastside. The audience consisted of neighborhood residents, community partners and University of Florida faculty and students, fostering a dynamic exchange of lived experience and academic expertise. The charrette marked the first step toward what organizers hope will become a long-term collaboration centered on shared goals and mutual investment in the community\u2019s future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the most impactful aspects of the charrette for Jacksonville residents was the series of resource demonstrations led by the UF College of Design, Construction and Planning. Afterwards, participants engaged in small-group brainstorming and large group communication that identified challenges and opportunities alike. Much of the conversation linked quality and amenities to environments that promote good health for both people and nature. Another strong impact of the charette was for all the DCP students in attendance who got to experience real-world problems outside of the Gainesville Gator community and provide their thoughts and service as contributors to mental clarity, physical health and environmental sustainability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ultimately, the charrette reflected a shared commitment to investing in the enhancement of Jacksonville\u2019s Eastside community. Sundahl-Platt and Rodriguez Mendez expressed gratitude to community partners, including The LS3P Foundation, JEAH, Historic Eastside CDC, UF Health Jacksonville, United Way of Northeast Florida, Local Initiatives Support Corporation Jacksonville, LIFT JAX and the Historic Eastside Resident Alliance, for supporting the promotion of salutogenic housing design within the urban neighborhood. Moving forward, the S\u00b3 team intends to continue centering community voices with future events, just as the charrette did, while using design research to improve health outcomes and overall quality of life in Eastside Jacksonville.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Written by DeJaya Hardy GAINESVILLE, Fla. \u2014 The team behind FIBER operates through research, networks and impact to better serve 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by DeJaya Hardy GAINESVILLE, Fla. \u2014 The team behind FIBER operates through research, networks and impact to better serve 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