Inspiring Community

Reaching Out To and Inspiring Community—A Unique Process

With every project, there is an element of community partnership, not only between BLRB and the school district, but among the school and its own constituents. To us, a school’s community extends beyond students and teachers to maintenance and operations personnel, parents, neighbors, business leaders, and other groups who have shown an interest in and concern for their school.

The Planning Process—Defining the Vision

During the initial phase of a project, we work closely with school officials and other key stakeholders, such as parents, students, community members and business leaders, to define success, discuss project parameters and lead discussions about how facility design can enhance learning and support their educational philosophy and program. Meaningful involvement and feedback is essential and is built into the planning process to ensure that all parties’ viewpoints are being heard and considered.

Through this interactive process, an educational specification document is developed that defines the school both educationally and physically. This written document becomes the “blueprint” for design.

The Collaborative Design Process—Creating the Vision

Key to the success of all BLRB school projects is our collaborative approach to design. To that end, we have developed specific design tools to ensure meaningful involvement by all project stakeholders.

The Design “Charette”

One of the unique aspects of working with BLRB is the firm’s innovative use of a design “charette.”  The charette is an intensive half to full-day workshop during which all stakeholders have the opportunity to participate in a hands-on school design exploration.

This highly interactive, effective and collaborative process yields a school design that ultimately has the support, buy-in and ownership of all participants. 

Designing at Your School

Furthering the firm’s commitment to an open design process and to truly understanding the communities in which we work, BLRB Architects relocates our design team for a period of one to two weeks to our client’s school and community. 

This unparalleled commitment to our clients and to becoming part of their communities enables BLRB to create school designs that not only support and enhance education but also reflect the community’s unique character, values and spirit.