This proposed design for the Together We Serve Mixed Use Development presented an opportunity to bring together community members of all ages and create a sense of place and belonging. We proposed spaces that facilitate different types of community interactions and engagement. The project is sited on a large natural lot within a residential neighborhood and offered the opportunity to open the campus to the community to enjoy the facility and its offerings.

The site itself is a nature preserve with Indian Run Creek running through the center. Our team sought to maximize the quality of green space and minimize the disruption to the natural landscape of the project site. Most of the site is located within a resource protection area, which would impact the project approach from day one. While applying principles of stewardship and care for the natural environment, we proposed a masterplan respectful of the site and the available natural resources, while showcasing what nature has to offer within the setting.

We aimed to plan and design with the topography in mind. Working with the nature, and not against it, our conceptual design harmoniously fits within the preserve, taking advantage of the connections between inside and outside and bringing nature to the interior of the campus structures.

Using specifically selected materials, natural light, and visual connections to the natural surroundings, we proposed spaces and structures that have a spiritual effect and are conducive to meditation, connection, and positive interactions for the community the campus serves. Through the implementation of biophilic concepts and elements of biophilic design, we suggested buildings that enhance a connection between the user and their natural surroundings through the emphasis of health and wellness features in design.