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Crowdfunding connection Crowdfunding sites such as Kickstarter and Indiegogo have been used to launch entrepreneurial engineering products, including 3-D printers and drones. P R O F I L E By Liisa Andreassen Correspondent Y ou’ve likely heard the term “crowdfunding,” but how does it fit into the world of AEC? Over time, people have found different ways to fund the construction of a building ranging from deep-pocketed patrons to passionate philanthropists. However, as our world continues to get more connected with the aid of technology, funding projects is no longer limited to individuals – crowds are forming, too. ENTREPRENEURIAL ENGINEERS TAKE NOTE. Crowdfunding has altered the landscape for the entrepreneurial engineer. For example, a quick review of Kickstarter or Indiegogo reveals 3-D printers, drones, solar road panels, and thousands of other engineered and could-be engineered products that might be produced with enough solicited money. “Kickstarter has raised more than $1.5 billion for companies and projects,” says Jason Best, cofounder and principal of Crowdfund Capital Advisors and entrepreneur-in-residence at the University of California, Berkeley’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology. “There are close to 80,000 projects that have been funded on Kickstarter, and there are currently more than 8,000 live projects today.” The traditional path of raising money also still exists. In fact, crowdfunding sites make inventors more visible to distinctly non-crowd investors. “Venture capitalists spend a lot of time trolling through Kickstarter, Indiego- go, and the other reward-based sites, looking for that next cool thing,” Best says. “As much as the little guy seeks big money, big money seeks the inven- tive little guy before he gets too expensive.”

tive, drought-tolerant and climate-responsive plants; reducing the building’s energy demands with natural ventilation and insulation; im- proving air quality; and counteracting the heat island effect. Recycled water and recaptured rainwater will be used to irrigate the park. At street-level, the new mixed-use neigh- borhood will feature a walkable and bikeable downtown street-grid anchored by two town squares. Parking will be primarily tucked un- derground, and a transit center could be built at the shopping center. The 15-block street-grid will be filled with 625,000 square feet of retail space, 2 million square feet of office space, and 800 residential units. The residences include 680 market-rate apartments, 80 affordable apartments, and 40 apartments for seniors. The family-friendly development will include plenty of restaurant and entertainment op- tions, such as an AMC movie theater, ice rink, bowling alley, and fitness club. The town square might also be used to host farmers’ markets and outdoor movie nights. “For us, the challenge was how do we bring to the community the town center they’ve wanted for decades, revitalize retail at this location, but also meet their desire for a model for sustainable growth and a desire for open space.” Sand Hill plans to contribute $40 million worth of amenities and funding to local school dis- tricts, including: For K-8 students, a new 700-student elemen- tary school, replacing modular classrooms with permanent classrooms, expanding school recre- ation fields, and a $1 million endowment for the Eighth Grade Yosemite Science Program. For high school students, a new 10,000-square- foot Innovation Center within the Hills at Vallco. This flexible, mixed-use space will serve as an incubator space for students throughout the district and will spawn creative endeavors including student-led businesses and will serve as a hub for the district’s work-based learning initiatives. It will also be a place where students can build projects, display art, perform, and host robotics competitions.

See CROWDFUNDING, page 8

A NEW INDUSTRY CROWDFUNDING PLATFORM EMERGES. Make Architecture Happen is a crowdfunding platform designed for architects, designers, and industry affiliates who want to raise money to make their most ambitious projects a reality. Architects and designers can create fundraising projects that tell their story and pitch their project to a “crowd” of donors in exchange for a reward or product or to collect donations. Make Architecture Happen is also a place to discover new projects, learn about architectural design, and show your passion for architecture by getting involved. People contribute to projects for many reasons, but usually it’s because they want to be involved in what the project is doing or because they want the perks or rewards that are part of the project. Makearchitecturehappen.com is free to join and explore.

RY 11, 2016, ISSUE 1134

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