Firm: Site Workshop
Project: Africatown Plaza
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Africatown Plaza is an iconic affordable housing development project in the Central District neighborhood. The design team worked closely with their client Africatown Community Land Trust (ACLT). ACLT is a non-profit organization that is working for community ownership of land in the Central District to support the cultural and economic thriving of people who are part of the African diaspora in the Greater Seattle region. Strong partnerships between client, community, and design team resulted in successful public outreach efforts and input collection which led to a robust design process for Africatown Plaza.
A series of design workshops, stakeholder, and community meetings with current and former residents of the Central District community were facilitated. Feedback was gathered and integrated into the development of initial concepts resulting in a community-centric ground floor with strategically placed programmatic elements that reinforce the space’s ability to support resident and community programs. Additionally, outdoor spaces were designed to facilitate meaningful interaction among people of all backgrounds. This project will serve as a catalyst for future improvements in the neighborhood. Strong community support and investment achieved a development that families and future generations can gather, grow, and stay within the Central District.
OIF 2023 – Africatown Plaza PDF Board
A series of design workshops, stakeholder, and community meetings with current and former residents of the Central District community were facilitated. Feedback was gathered and integrated into the development of initial concepts resulting in a community-centric ground floor with strategically placed programmatic elements that reinforce the space’s ability to support resident and community programs. Additionally, outdoor spaces were designed to facilitate meaningful interaction among people of all backgrounds. This project will serve as a catalyst for future improvements in the neighborhood. Strong community support and investment achieved a development that families and future generations can gather, grow, and stay within the Central District.
OIF 2023 – Africatown Plaza PDF Board
Firm: Hewitt
Project: Ballard Food Bank
Project: Beacon Food Forest
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The Beacon Food Forest is a community-driven project in Seattle, WA that began in 2009 and first broke ground in 2012. It is a seven-acre plot of land that was once a grassy hillside but has been transformed into a thriving urban farm and forest ecosystem.
The primary goal of the Beacon Food Forest is to create a sustainable food system that provides fresh, healthy, and accessible produce to the community while promoting environmental education and community building. Justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion are central to this project and a core part of the organizational mission.
To address these issues, the Beacon Food Forest was designed as a public space that is open to all, regardless of income or background. The project was designed with input from the community, ensuring that the needs and desires of the local residents were incorporated into the layout, elements, and management of the site. One of the primary objectives of the project is to promote food justice and address food insecurity in the community. The Food Forest provides free, healthy food to those in need, as well as educational opportunities on topics such as sustainable agriculture and food preservation.
In addition to addressing food insecurity, the Beacon Food Forest also prioritizes equity and diversity in its approach to community engagement. The project aims to create a space that is welcoming and accessible to people from all backgrounds, and encourages community members to get involved in the management and maintenance of the site. All of the visioning, designing, planning, building, and maintenance is done by volunteers and committees that follow non-violent communication methods and the Sociocracy governance model, which is meant to ensure that everyone has a voice and meaningful influence on the process and end product.
In recent years, the Beacon Food Forest has innovated new ways of providing social and racial equity, and fostering greater engagement from the diverse communities of Beacon Hill. Staff and volunteers established a dedicated BIPOC community garden, a food bank plot that serves local food banks, and multiple land shares that are reserved for exclusive use by BIPOC organizations including the Seattle Indian Health Board and Percussion Farms. In 2021 the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods awarded the project the competitive Food Equity Fund grant, which provides salaries for two staff and funding for the expansion of BIPOC community garden space.
Overall, the Beacon Food Forest is an inspiring example of how community-led initiatives can promote justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in tandem with regenerative and resilient models for earth stewardship.
Out in Front – Beacon Food Forest PDF Board
The primary goal of the Beacon Food Forest is to create a sustainable food system that provides fresh, healthy, and accessible produce to the community while promoting environmental education and community building. Justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion are central to this project and a core part of the organizational mission.
To address these issues, the Beacon Food Forest was designed as a public space that is open to all, regardless of income or background. The project was designed with input from the community, ensuring that the needs and desires of the local residents were incorporated into the layout, elements, and management of the site. One of the primary objectives of the project is to promote food justice and address food insecurity in the community. The Food Forest provides free, healthy food to those in need, as well as educational opportunities on topics such as sustainable agriculture and food preservation.
In addition to addressing food insecurity, the Beacon Food Forest also prioritizes equity and diversity in its approach to community engagement. The project aims to create a space that is welcoming and accessible to people from all backgrounds, and encourages community members to get involved in the management and maintenance of the site. All of the visioning, designing, planning, building, and maintenance is done by volunteers and committees that follow non-violent communication methods and the Sociocracy governance model, which is meant to ensure that everyone has a voice and meaningful influence on the process and end product.
In recent years, the Beacon Food Forest has innovated new ways of providing social and racial equity, and fostering greater engagement from the diverse communities of Beacon Hill. Staff and volunteers established a dedicated BIPOC community garden, a food bank plot that serves local food banks, and multiple land shares that are reserved for exclusive use by BIPOC organizations including the Seattle Indian Health Board and Percussion Farms. In 2021 the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods awarded the project the competitive Food Equity Fund grant, which provides salaries for two staff and funding for the expansion of BIPOC community garden space.
Overall, the Beacon Food Forest is an inspiring example of how community-led initiatives can promote justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in tandem with regenerative and resilient models for earth stewardship.
Out in Front – Beacon Food Forest PDF Board
Firm: Berger Partnership
Project: Capitol Hill Equitable Transit-Oriented Development
Firm: ABLE
Project: Chiloquin Green Schoolyard
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Since 2020, ABLE has been leading the design and engagement for the Oregon Rural Community Schoolyards program with the Trust for Public Land and Willamette Partnership. From what started as a single project in a town of 1,000 people in rural southern Oregon, has
expanded into three more schoolyard projects across the state. To select the Oregon Rural Community Schoolyard locations, researchers at the Trust for Public Land created a 16-point matrix that analyzed health, social equity, and climate resilience data to identify which rural Oregon communities could most benefit from a new community schoolyard. They then shared that list with trusted partners, funders, and leaders around the state to determine which communities seemed primed for partnership. Additionally, they spent time on the ground understanding the real world conditions that exemplified need. Community Schoolyards are multi-benefit spaces designed to bring as many benefits to the community as possible. Our approach includes:
1. Creating and activating natural spaces through planting trees and native plants. Increased green space near schools correlates with higher test scores, improved physical and mental health, and better emotional regulation in kids.
2. A participatory design process that brings communities together to co-create these spaces. Not only is the finished schoolyard a place for community to gather, the process itself builds social cohesion and tighter networks across our neighborhoods.
3. Intentional design to encourage physical activity and connection to nature. These are more than just playground updates or new equipment—they’re healing spaces that inspire joy and connection.
ABLE has led a robust engagement process with each school in the program, including time spent in the classroom working with kids to imagine their future schoolyards. With help from community coordinators, our team is able to reach out to a broad set of stakeholders, but even with team members embedded in the community, we still recognize the need to stay nimble throughout the process, understand how to adapt when turn-out can be low, and adjust our outreach and engagement methods throughout the process.
expanded into three more schoolyard projects across the state. To select the Oregon Rural Community Schoolyard locations, researchers at the Trust for Public Land created a 16-point matrix that analyzed health, social equity, and climate resilience data to identify which rural Oregon communities could most benefit from a new community schoolyard. They then shared that list with trusted partners, funders, and leaders around the state to determine which communities seemed primed for partnership. Additionally, they spent time on the ground understanding the real world conditions that exemplified need. Community Schoolyards are multi-benefit spaces designed to bring as many benefits to the community as possible. Our approach includes:
1. Creating and activating natural spaces through planting trees and native plants. Increased green space near schools correlates with higher test scores, improved physical and mental health, and better emotional regulation in kids.
2. A participatory design process that brings communities together to co-create these spaces. Not only is the finished schoolyard a place for community to gather, the process itself builds social cohesion and tighter networks across our neighborhoods.
3. Intentional design to encourage physical activity and connection to nature. These are more than just playground updates or new equipment—they’re healing spaces that inspire joy and connection.
ABLE has led a robust engagement process with each school in the program, including time spent in the classroom working with kids to imagine their future schoolyards. With help from community coordinators, our team is able to reach out to a broad set of stakeholders, but even with team members embedded in the community, we still recognize the need to stay nimble throughout the process, understand how to adapt when turn-out can be low, and adjust our outreach and engagement methods throughout the process.
Firm: MIG
Project: Finding Oro
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Inclusive community spaces come from inclusive design processes. Our board highlights the process of designing 53rd Avenue Park West in Hillsboro, Oregon, and the steps we took to produce an accessible park and play area that is responsive to the local ecological context and community. The final design expands beyond the ADA to prioritize both built and programmatic features that serve children and adults (and all ages in between) with varying needs and abilities.
The right side of the board highlights a range of other MIG projects that involve robust engagement with community members, especially those who have been historically underserved by the design community.
The right side of the board highlights a range of other MIG projects that involve robust engagement with community members, especially those who have been historically underserved by the design community.
Firm: GGLO
Project: Jackson Park Village
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The design team is inspired to respond to the large family-focused program by emphasizing and encouraging growth opportunities. SHA’s mission is to support residents so they can move on to independent housing. Jackson Park Village’s new design seeks ways for residents to learn new skills, continue their education, improve their health and mental well-being through biophilia and physical activity, and feel pride in their homes and immediate community.
A safe and supportive home is a human right. The current reality of the existing community can at times be dangerous. Design interventions like defensible space, passive surveillance, and environmental cues were employed to make the development as safe as possible while still being welcoming. Design for Equity— and spaces for all are prioritized.
The work of engaging with project stakeholders is only beginning. Community meetings, interviews, surveys, and other outreach methods must still be undertaken to capture the values, needs, and hopes of those who live and will live at Jackson Park Village. A greater variety of methods work best to engage with a wide spectrum of stakeholders.
Out-In-Front_Jackson-Park-Village PDF Board
A safe and supportive home is a human right. The current reality of the existing community can at times be dangerous. Design interventions like defensible space, passive surveillance, and environmental cues were employed to make the development as safe as possible while still being welcoming. Design for Equity— and spaces for all are prioritized.
The work of engaging with project stakeholders is only beginning. Community meetings, interviews, surveys, and other outreach methods must still be undertaken to capture the values, needs, and hopes of those who live and will live at Jackson Park Village. A greater variety of methods work best to engage with a wide spectrum of stakeholders.
Out-In-Front_Jackson-Park-Village PDF Board
Firm: MAKERS
Project: McKinley Hill Neighborhood Plan
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The McKinley Hill Neighborhood Plan is a guiding document outlining community-identified projects, ideas, and actions to enhance and strengthen the neighborhood. The City of Tacoma Neighborhood Planning Program, McKinley neighborhood, businesses, and local organizations worked together to create the Plan. The Plan was developed through a process of co-creation with neighbors throughout 2022 and is informed by responses from surveys, community groups, and public meetings and events. After more than a year of community engagement, the Plan was fully adopted on March 21st, 2023. Implementation of the recommended goals and actions will continue to move forward through 2023 and beyond.
The McKinley Hill Neighborhood Plan is the first neighborhood plan through the City’s Neighborhood Planning Program (NPP), launched in January 2022 as a pilot and is now a permanent program for the City of Tacoma. NPP was developed as a response to a more equitable delivery of services and to provide a grassroots response to neighborhood concerns. MAKERS provided planning and development support to NPP goal in helping communities create strong, vibrant, and diverse neighborhoods. NPP’s approach is to improve communities by building community capacity and co-creation opportunities for residents to shape their own neighborhoods. Proctor is the next neighborhood plan target, which is underway with initial community outreach.
The Plan has also been selected for the 2023 APA/PAW Excellence in Planning Award. The City of Tacoma has won in the category of Implementation for the McKinley Hill Neighborhood Plan. MAKERSBoard_MHNP_UWOutinFront2023 PDF Board
The McKinley Hill Neighborhood Plan is the first neighborhood plan through the City’s Neighborhood Planning Program (NPP), launched in January 2022 as a pilot and is now a permanent program for the City of Tacoma. NPP was developed as a response to a more equitable delivery of services and to provide a grassroots response to neighborhood concerns. MAKERS provided planning and development support to NPP goal in helping communities create strong, vibrant, and diverse neighborhoods. NPP’s approach is to improve communities by building community capacity and co-creation opportunities for residents to shape their own neighborhoods. Proctor is the next neighborhood plan target, which is underway with initial community outreach.
The Plan has also been selected for the 2023 APA/PAW Excellence in Planning Award. The City of Tacoma has won in the category of Implementation for the McKinley Hill Neighborhood Plan. MAKERSBoard_MHNP_UWOutinFront2023 PDF Board
Firm: HBB
Project: Mulkiteo Multimodal Ferry Terminal
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The Mukilteo Multimodal Ferry Terminal project relocates an existing terminal on the City of Mukilteo’s waterfront, providing a central gathering point for transportation, recreation, and cultural expression. The history of the site is significant in many ways. In 1855 local tribes signed the Point Elliott Treaty on the Mukilteo waterfront. 82 chiefs signed this treaty, which resulted in giving up large areas of land from Canada to the Cascade Mountains, and throughout the Puget Sound including many islands. In return, the tribes were given four small areas of land. The treaty did grant fishing rights to the tribes and their descendants. The land the ferry terminal resides on is believed to have been part of a year-round village for the Snohomish people, one of the Coast Salish tribes, where people gathered to fish and trade with 30 other tribes and bands. The site design was inspired by the powerful testimony from the local Coast Salish tribes that “we have been here, we are here, and we will always be here.” As we listened, it became clear that the history of this site, and for the tribes in this region, required a response that honored their cultural heritage, and incorporated their current and future presence into the design. The design was coordinated with 11 Coast Salish tribes including the Lummi Nation, Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, Nooksack Indian Tribe, Samish Tribe, Sauk-Suiattle Tribe, Snoqualmie Tribe, Stillaguamish Tribe, Suquamish Tribe, Swinomish Tribe, Tulalip Tribes, and Upper Skagit Tribe. Several Coast Salish artists contributed public art throughout the project. Coordinating with the tribes, the project builds up the site six feet within the holding lanes to avoid disturbing a significant shell midden and tribal artifacts below. Additional excavation requirements were analyzed to ensure that no cultural artifacts were disturbed. This informed the entire layout of the terminal, grading, and site design.
The planting design was inspired by the multimodal functions of the project for current and historical methods of transportation by land and sea. Plant identification signs are located throughout the project site, adjacent to native plants that have significant ethnobotanic uses. The tribes were consulted to review the content of each sign and provide translation services. The content prioritizes the Lushootseed language of the local Coast Salish tribes with phonetic pronunciation and with its historic and current ethnobotanic uses. Common and botanical names are also provided with a graphic silhouette of each plant. The public promenade provides unique spaces for both visitors to the waterfront for passive recreation, and as a part of the multimodal transportation network. Interpretive signs provide information on the history of the site and the Coast Salish people. Custom Western Red Cedar log benches are incorporated into the two viewing areas. These rustic benches use this cedar species as a significant wood species to the Coast Salish tribes. The entire promenade includes undulating waves of exposed aggregate in several depths to reflect the shoreline environment.
The project weaves many narratives together, to form a site design of connected networks of transportation and cultures. The design strives to provide an equitable, diverse, and inclusive site that recognizes the past, and honors the present and continued legacy of the Coast Salish Tribes in Puget Sound. We acknowledge that justice may never be
complete.
UWCBE-HBB Landscape Architecture_Mukilteo Ferry Terminal PDF Board
The planting design was inspired by the multimodal functions of the project for current and historical methods of transportation by land and sea. Plant identification signs are located throughout the project site, adjacent to native plants that have significant ethnobotanic uses. The tribes were consulted to review the content of each sign and provide translation services. The content prioritizes the Lushootseed language of the local Coast Salish tribes with phonetic pronunciation and with its historic and current ethnobotanic uses. Common and botanical names are also provided with a graphic silhouette of each plant. The public promenade provides unique spaces for both visitors to the waterfront for passive recreation, and as a part of the multimodal transportation network. Interpretive signs provide information on the history of the site and the Coast Salish people. Custom Western Red Cedar log benches are incorporated into the two viewing areas. These rustic benches use this cedar species as a significant wood species to the Coast Salish tribes. The entire promenade includes undulating waves of exposed aggregate in several depths to reflect the shoreline environment.
The project weaves many narratives together, to form a site design of connected networks of transportation and cultures. The design strives to provide an equitable, diverse, and inclusive site that recognizes the past, and honors the present and continued legacy of the Coast Salish Tribes in Puget Sound. We acknowledge that justice may never be
complete.
UWCBE-HBB Landscape Architecture_Mukilteo Ferry Terminal PDF Board
Firm: Muscogee (Creek) Nation Housing Department
Project: Oklahoma Elder Center
Firm: Walker Macy
Project: Mulkiteo Multimodal Ferry Terminal
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Saumya Kini, Project Manager. Campus Planner
Mike Zilis, Principal, Campus Planner
Ken Pirie, Principal, Campus Planner
Portland Community College’s first-ever comprehensive Facilities Plan guides the college’s ongoing development and its role in advancing racial equity and the success of the greater community. Encompassing four campuses and multiple centers, the Plan provides a district-wide vision that represents an institutional shift from independent campuses toward an integrated, one-college environment that supports equitable student success across its service area. The plan presents innovative strategies for the best use of the college’s land, space, and limited funding. It embodies PCC’s commitment to advancing racial equity by using critical race theory (CRT) to center equity in planning college environments. In 2020, PCC began a college-wide reorganization including six simultaneous physical and institutional processes. For the first time in 60 years, a comprehensive Facilities Plan was developed with leadership consensus across these multiple efforts. This plan shapes PCC’s physical environments to reflect institution-wide priorities for advancing racial equity and environmental justice, improving student success, and serving the larger community. Equity-focused student engagement included a participatory model of collaboration guided by tenets of a Critical Race Spatial Lens, developed by Amara H. Pérez, Ph.D., which holds that space is not neutral, and that racism is ingrained in everything, including campus space. Outreach included interactive mapping and open discussions with diverse students, employees, and community members, leading to priorities for navigable campuses that visually welcome and reflect community diversity. The collaborative and inclusive planning process translated into campus investments directly supporting historically under-represented students. Innovative strategies, like mobility hubs with high-quality study and gathering amenities, will support equitable student success and campus access within increasing hybrid and online modalities. The firm’s campus planning work will be implemented in numerous building and campus redevelopment projects through a capital improvements bond passed in November 2022; the intent is to integrate a Critical Race Spatial Lens in forthcoming development projects.
Firm: City of Renton
Project: Parks, Recreation and Natural Areas Plan
Firm: Osborn Consulting Incorporated
Project: Salish Coast Elementary School
Firm: Squalicum High School
Project: BioDesign
Firm: HBB
Project: Sunset Neighborhood Park
Firm: Trust For Public Land
Project: Tacoma Community Schoolyards
Firm: Berger Partnership
Project: Trees for Seattle Parks
Firm: Urban Commons Lab
Project: Hing Hay Park Expansion & Donnie Chin International Children’s Park
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Project: Youths in the Built Environment
Firm: Malka Hoffman and Kat Golladay (MLA ’24)
Project: Estalita’s Student Library
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Firm: Vireo Design
Project: Mulkiteo Multimodal Ferry Terminal
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