In 2000, Community Design Solutions, SARUP's outreach arm, was founded by UW-Milwaukee as a provider of preliminary design and planning services to underserved Wisconsin communities, and as a promoter of research and instruction concerning public interest planning and architecture.

With the guidance of Director Carolyn Esswein, student teams collaborate and work in communities who have challenges in improving the quality of their urban environment.

This past year, CDS' implemented project, Home Gr/Own’s new Ezekiel Gillespie Park was inaugurated in September, with Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, Alderman, Russell Stamper,  and members of the community joined together for the grand opening. The project  has been nominated for the  Milwaukee Awards for Neighborhood Development Innovation.

CDS further assisted the City of Port Washington with a re-visioning effort for their historic downtown. The City encouraged development along the edge of Lake Michigan, but needed assistance in developing a vision for balancing development, public spaces, and parking. CDS met with multiple Port Washington stakeholders and held a community input session to gauge the interest and market viability for a variety of proposals that include a restaurant, community center, banquet hall, and housing.

Working with CDS provides students with invaluable experiences of presenting and listening to communities, incorporating a variety of ideas into their designs, and most importantly, gives back to the community that they reside in. Community Design Solutions provides an additional component to the education they receive at SARUP, that will serve them well in their professional lives.