Building Community with Intention

At 7GAE, we are working to refine our definition of community and support the intentional building of communities across the country. Whether our projects physically bring people together (as with the renovation of One Well Brewery), or we connect with clients whose vision and values align with our own, we often find incredible opportunities to work together in the space where our missions overlap. So how can a design firm support community building?

Take, as one example, our relationship with Twala Lockett-Jones and her husband, Kenneth. The pair have big dreams for the Northside of Kalamazoo, including creating a community gathering space complete with tearoom, retail space, the headquarters for a community outreach program, and affordable housing. Her vision and excitement are contagious, and we were eager to support the Jabez Project.

Last month, our team met with Chris Imler, MSU Extension’s Horticulture Educator and Veterans Liaison, who is working hard to complete the first stage of a Veterans Therapy Garden at Markin Glen County Park. After reading about this inspiring project, we reached out to find out how we could be involved with this important work that would directly support veterans in our community.?

Steve VandenBussche, 7GAE Vice President of Practice, recently contributed a conceptual design for the Children’s Nature Playscape to serve youth in downtown Kalamazoo. Jody Brylinsky, Board Chair of the Children’s Nature Playscape on Bronson Park, says that the final product will be a space for children to “interact freely and creatively with the natural world.” This addition to the urban fabric of Kalamazoo is another intentional contribution to our community.

Community, of course, is not defined by geography. Our work with the Bay Mills Indian Community is a perfect example. Along with our sister company, The Steelhead Engineering Company, we designed a pocket neighborhood specifically for Tribal elders. By balancing sustainability, affordability, and biophilic design and incorporating cultural elements at every step along the way, we were able to support stakeholders who wanted more than four walls and a roof for their valued elders – they wanted a community.

Our local healthcare design work is focused on community health and wellness. 7GAE is working with Grace Health, a Federally Qualified Health Center located in Battle Creek, Michigan. We are also supporting a regional health system to establish genuine community connections by engaging with patients and local organizations. These projects are outside the borders of Kalamazoo, but they undeniably fit into our idea of community.

Community building doesn’t always refer to physical space – but it can. As an AE firm, one of the most significant ways we can contribute to our local and chosen communities is by designing spaces that foster relationships and sustain culture.

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