Environmental Works

PROVIDE SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE, LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE & PLANNING SERVICES TO LOW-INCOME UNDER-SERVED COMMUNITIES.

COMMUNITY EDUCATION: EW COLLABORATES WITH COMMUNITIES TO PLAN AND DESIGN SPACES IN A WAY THAT RESPONDS TO THEIR MOST PRESSING NEEDS. BY SHARING WHAT WE LEARN, WE MOBILIZE A VAST NETWORK OF LEADERS AND ORGANIZATIONS WHO CAN TAP INTO THESE POWERFUL COMMUNITIES TO CO-CREATE HEALTHY, EQUITABLE FUTURES. IN 2021, HERE ARE SOME OF THE EDUCATIONAL EFFORTS THAT EW WAS A PART OF: 1) THE EARLY LEARNING SYMPOSIUM: A CONFERENCE THAT STRENGTHENED CONNECTIONS BETWEEN DESIGNERS AND PRACTITIONERS. FOLLOWING THE CONFERENCE, EW ALSO PROVIDED TECHNICAL DESIGN ASSISTANCE TO CHILDCARE PROVIDERS THROUGH THE NETWORK. (CONTINUED IN SCHEDULE O)2) PATHWAYS TO EQUITY: A NATIONAL LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT COHORT TO HELP DESIGNERS LEARN BEST PRACTICES FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND EQUITABLE DESIGN.3) THE LEGACY CITIES COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE IS A PROGRAM THAT BRINGS TOGETHER INTERDISCIPLINARY TEAMS OLDER INDUSTRIAL CITIES TO FOCUS ON LAND-USE ISSUES LIKE HOUSING, TRANSPORTATION CONNECTIONS, OR PLACEMAKING AND IMPLEMENT SOLUTIONS THROUGH PLACE-BASED PROJECTS IN DISINVESTED NEIGHBORHOODS.

PRO BONO DESIGN SERVICES: THIS YEAR, EW CONTRIBUTED DESIGN WORK TO SERVE SEVERAL WASHINGTON-BASED NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. SOME EXAMPLES OF PROJECTS WE PROVIDED DESIGNS FOR IN 2021:1) THE WILLIAM GROSE CENTER FOR CULTURAL INNOVATION, AN ECONOMIC INCUBATOR THAT SUPPORTS ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. THE CENTER IS OPERATED BY AFRICATOWN COMMUNITY LAND TRUST IN SEATTLE'S CENTRAL DISTRICT. 2) SEVERAL TINY HOUSE VILLAGES OPERATED BY THE LOW INCOME HOUSING INSTITUTE. THESE TINY HOUSE VILLAGES ALLOW RESIDENTS TO RECLAIM THEIR DIGNITY AND GET ON A PATH TO PERMANENT HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT AND CONNECTION TO SUPPORTIVE SERVICES. (CONTINUED IN SCHEDULE O)3) MOUNTAINVIEW FAMILY HOUSING, A PROJECT THAT PROVIDES AFFORDABLE FARMWORKER AND FAMILY HOUSING THAT TURNS A BROWNFIELD SITE INTO A COMMUNITY ASSET IN ENTIAT, WASHINGTON.

EW GIVES: OUR ACTIVE TEAM OF DESIGNERS ALSO SERVE AS COMMUNITY AMBASSADORS, SINCE THEY ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE CONCERNS AND NEEDS OF OUR NONPROFIT PARTNERS AROUND THE STATE. IN 2021, SOME OF THE SIGNIFICANT FUNDS THAT WE RAISED SUPPORTED OTHER NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS LIKE VOICES OF TOMORROW CHILD CARE CENTER, A SOMALI-ENGLISH DUAL-LANGUAGE, CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE EARLY LEARNING PROGRAM SERVING EAST AFRICAN AND OTHER SOUTH END FAMILIES, THAT EW SUPPORTED THROUGH A GRANT AND VOLUNTEER LABOR TO TRANSFORM AN ASPHALT LOT AT THE CENTER INTO AN ENRICHING AND FUN NATURAL PLAY AREA.

WE PLAN, DESIGN, AND ADVOCATE FOR COMMUNITY-CENTERED ENVIRONMENTS. SOME HIGHLIGHTS OF DESIGN PROJECTS THAT WE COMPLETED IN 2021 ARE: 1) RENOVATIONS OF 234 UNITS OF PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR PEOPLE TRANSITIONING OUT OF HOMELESSNESS IN THE HISTORIC FRYE BUILDING OF SEATTLE. 2) THE EDMONDS WATERFRONT REDEVELOPMENT CREATED ACCESSIBLE, SUSTAINABLE, WELCOMING ACCESS TO A RESTORED BEACHFRONT WHILE ADDING 280 FEET TO THE CITY'S BELOVED MILE-LONG PUBLIC MARINE WALKWAY. IT REMOVED A CREOSOTE-SOAKED BULKHEAD AND FILL; AND ADDED SAND, GRAVEL, NATIVE PLANTS, AND LOGS TO RESTORE THE SHORELINE TO NATURAL CONDITIONS. 3) ANDY'S PLACE, WHICH INCLUDES 82 NEW UNITS OF HOUSING, COUPLED WITH FACILITIES FOR INTEGRATED TREATMENT AND SUPPORT SERVICES FOR PEOPLE WITH CHRONIC BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CHALLENGES.