rStore provides preliminary design services to nonprofit organizations revitalizing Philadelphia’s commercial corridors. rStore design consultations help store owners plan storefront façade improvements and apply for grants. Six businesses on the North Fifth Street Commercial Corridor received recommendations and sketches on repainting, preserving historical features, and replacing signage, lighting, windows, and doors.
"I feel that I have grown so much professionally by participating in the Collaborative over the years. My experiences have shaped how I design for the better."
“Adding new materials can be done with sensitivity. Sometimes, you have to step outside your comfort zone and understand what materials will keep the historic feel.”
Robin Kohles is Program Manager with the Community Design Collaborative. She is a registered architect with more than 20 years of experience in design and project management. Since 2010, she has managed Collaborative design services and educational programs to support neighborhood economic development and commercial corridor revitalization in Philadelphia. Previously, Robin was owner’s representative for Independence Charter School’s building relocation project and an architect with Bohlin Cywinski Jackson. She is an active volunteer with the SOSNA Grays Ferry Triangles Committee and teaches an elective class on design at the Julia R. Masterman Laboratory and Demonstration School. A founder of the Collaborative, she received a Bachelor’s of Architecture from Carnegie Mellon University.