Fellow Profile
Michael Gatto
“Because I was able to enhance the quality of life for Austin’s low- and moderate-income communities, my experience at Foundation Communities as a Rose Fellow was incredibly rewarding. It was an invaluable learning experience. I now understand the interrelated roles of design and development in providing affordable housing and resident services.”
— Michael Gatto
Fellowship Host:
Foundation Communities
Austin, TX
Michael cites the Spring Terrace SRO conversion as his most significant project. Funded in part by an Enterprise Green Communities grant, Spring Terrace was the adaptive re-use of an extended stay hotel into efficiency apartments for single adults. Also at the top of his list is the Vintage Creek Community Learning Center, a 5,000-square-foot facility that is now home to after-school and summer programs for resident children, as well as adult education classes.
However, he is proudest of the fact that his host has adopted green building practices and process. As a result the agency earned a two-star rating and a $4,000 sustainability bonus for the Vintage Creek Learning Center from the City of Austin’s Green Building Program.
Post fellowship, Michael was the project manager and the sustainable design consultant for Skyline Terrace Apartments, the adaptive re-use of a hotel into 100 units of SRO housing. Michael is currently executive director and co-founder of the new nonprofit Austin Community Design and Development Center, whose mission is to improve the quality of life for all by providing sustainable design, planning and development services to low and moderate income individuals, families and neighborhoods. Michael was inspired to start the center the connections he made and the conferences he attended as a Rose Fellow.
Gallery
(hover over image to zoom)
Michael Gatto
Peters Colony Learning Center Grand Opening.
Spring Terrace SRO Grand Opening (that’s me on the left and that’s our executive director, Walter Moreau, at the podium).
Vintage Creek Learning Center Design Team (that’s me, intern architect, on the left and Architect, John Rickard, in red).
Shadow Brook Youth Learning Center Grand Opening (that’s executive director, Walter Moreau, with the microphone).
Vintage Creek Learning Center Ground Breaking (I’m on the right).
Party to celebrate the ground breaking of the Vintage Creek Learning Center. This was also the last day to use the pool, which was then demolished.
Spring Terrace SRO Grand Opening (this is a photograph of me (in the blue shirt) with my wife, Michelle, on my right and the general contractor and project manager on my left).
Spring Terrace SRO Courtyard.
Vintage Creek Learning Center South Façade.
