Non-Profits, Organizations, Institutions, Public Spaces
Community & Civic
Creating meaningful spaces that serve and support diverse communities.
Designing inclusive and engaging buildings, campuses, parks, and public spaces for community-oriented organizations, institutions, and civic municipalities.
Parks & Public Spaces
Supporting physical health, social connection, and mental engagement is at the core of our approach to park and public space design. We focus on creating sustainable neighborhood spaces that are both functional and beautiful, while enhancing and promoting the unique characteristics and needs of the communities they serve.
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Campuses & Organizations
Design for complex projects for institutions and organizations with multifaceted needs requires a nimble and experienced design team. Our multidisciplinary approach streamlines the process from the start. We consider projects as a whole and find a path balancing organizational needs with the community and mission served.
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Complex Programming for a New Campus
Matthias Academy’s complex programming needs include a campus that combines housing, education centers, employment opportunities, and more. Matthias Academy | Rendering by Board & Vellum.
Complex Programming for a New Campus
Matthias Academy’s complex programming needs include a campus that combines housing, education centers, employment opportunities, and more. Matthias Academy | Rendering by Board & Vellum.
Community-Building
A primary goal for the master plan is to provide relaxing and restful communal spaces where individuals from different member groups can gather for support and community. Outdoor Training & Education Center | Rendering by Board & Vellum.
Community-Building
A primary goal for the master plan is to provide relaxing and restful communal spaces where individuals from different member groups can gather for support and community. Outdoor Training & Education Center | Rendering by Board & Vellum.
Conceptual Design Option for a Neighborhood Park
One of three proposed schematic concepts, this option features a network of lush community gardens, dining tables, and shaded picnic areas. East Bakerview Neighborhood Park | Rendering by Board & Vellum.
Conceptual Design Option for a Neighborhood Park
One of three proposed schematic concepts, this option features a network of lush community gardens, dining tables, and shaded picnic areas. East Bakerview Neighborhood Park | Rendering by Board & Vellum.
New Daycare Facilities
The new facilities for Bright Star provide much-needed childcare services to Olde Town Issaquah. Bright Stars Daycare | Rendering by Board & Vellum.
New Daycare Facilities
The new facilities for Bright Star provide much-needed childcare services to Olde Town Issaquah. Bright Stars Daycare | Rendering by Board & Vellum.
Community-focused design benefits from a strategic, multidisciplinary approach.
We have the first-hand knowledge and experience to successfully lead your project.
From the craft of designing parklets to the strategy of mapping out comprehensive campus master plans, we create civic and community projects that are meaningful and impactful for the people they serve.
Our teams of architects, interior designers, and landscape architects have both the passion for complex public and community-based work and the experience to develop and manage projects from planning through construction.
We’re knowledgeable, creative, and adept at identifying and managing the complexities of layering technical requirements with functional and enjoyable spaces. We’re also skilled at working with regulatory agencies to meet local, state, and federal requirements. The results are final projects balancing community needs and desires with site realities, budget, and project parameters.
Master Planning
For large, master planning efforts, our multidisciplinary team brings a holistic approach, leveraging shared goals, aligning interests, and building consensus among stakeholders for a comprehensive strategic vision that can be built upon for future development.
Project Management
We’ve built our reputation through dedicated client and community focused service. Our process is transparent, well-managed, and founded on open communication.
Funding
We are familiar with the wide variety of funding options available for civic and community projects. Our team has experience both in writing grants and supporting grant funding requests. We’re also skilled at administering grant projects. Wherever you are in the funding process, we can help.
Permitting & Code
From accessibility to building code, to environmental resource requirements, our intimate knowledge of city, state, and federal permitting agencies enables us to advance project designs and fulfill future regulatory requirements.
Community Engagement
We build deep and trusting relationships with community members and other stakeholders through engagement plans that reduce barriers to the public process, incorporate community priorities, and utilize innovative approaches for idea generation.
Consultant Coordination
We frequently manage projects with diverse teams of consultants — from engineers to ecologists to archeologists. We are also more than happy to support our partners as a consultant when they need our services.
Collaborative Design
Your project benefits from the depth and breadth of our design team’s collective expertise. And, our trusted network of consultants ensures your project has the right team to suit your unique needs.
Specialized Solutions
We leverage our deep well of shared knowledge to navigate complex projects with ease. Creative design solutions, specialized technical expertise, complicated permitting issues, you name it — we’re ready for it.
Local Team with National Reach
Though Seattle is our home base, we take on projects hear and far. If you’re located somewhere else, don’t hesitate to ask: we have licenses and projects in a variety of states across the country.
Biophilic Play
A climbing play structure made of wood instead of plastic allows children the delight of connecting with nature while minimizing its carbon footprint. Westside Park Rejuvenation | Photo by Juliana Hom.
Biophilic Play
A climbing play structure made of wood instead of plastic allows children the delight of connecting with nature while minimizing its carbon footprint. Westside Park Rejuvenation | Photo by Juliana Hom.
Building community through design.
All communities deserve well-designed, supportive, beautiful spaces.
Creating community spaces that support the diverse and changing needs of our neighborhoods is at the core of Board & Vellum’s mission. As community members ourselves, we see every day the impact welcoming public and community spaces have on our own families, friends, and neighbors. We lead with the confidence our experience brings, but our egos always take a back seat to the needs and constraints of the project and our clients’ best interests, whether public or private.
Schematic Site Section at Morgan Junction Park
A site section examines spatial relationships between features and functions. Morgan Junction Park | Diagram by Board & Vellum.
Schematic Site Section at Morgan Junction Park
A site section examines spatial relationships between features and functions. Morgan Junction Park | Diagram by Board & Vellum.
When it comes to community-centric work, regardless of project size or scope, our goal is to create innovative solutions that reduce barriers to access, build community, and inspire connection. Our community-first approach is emblematic of the advocacy inherent in our process, where we prioritize creating more beautiful, livable, and inspiring neighborhoods and community spaces everyone can enjoy. This collaborative, integrated approach to the design process culminates in thoughtful, considerate projects that communities are delighted to call their own.
Highlights from our community and civic portfolio.
From public parks to buildings and campuses, our heart is in designing community-oriented spaces.
Community-Building
A primary goal for the master plan is to provide relaxing and restful communal spaces where individuals from different member groups can gather for support and community. Outdoor Training & Education Center | Rendering by Board & Vellum.
Master Planning for a Multi-Agency Campus
Outdoor Training & Education Center
An extensive master plan highlighting community-building and cross-organizational trust.
New Daycare Facilities
The new facilities for Bright Star provide much-needed childcare services to Olde Town Issaquah. Bright Stars Daycare | Rendering by Board & Vellum.
New Facilities for a Family-Owned Daycare
Bright Stars Daycare
A new child and daycare facility offering safe educational space with sustainability and healthy-living in mind.
Considering a project, or curious about something?
Say hello, and send us your questions via the form below. We’re always pleased to make new connections, and eager to get to know you, your project, and your goals.