Our Process

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We are innately curious; we co-create visions with our clients and communities; then, we deliver all you need to bring that vision to life.

You Dream It,
We Make It Happen

Architects FORA is a highly collaborative, interdisciplinary design firm specializing in contextually sensitive, story-rich, future-minded housing+. As a virtual practice, we’ve built a diversely experienced and talented team whose workflow is transparent, accessible, equitable, and sustainable. We strive to deliver the best services and most valuable designs to our clients through a process that is meaningful for all.

Our holistic service offerings extend beyond the traditional bounds of architectural practice. We have a broad spectrum of expertise in the housing sector ranging from community engagement for large multi-family projects to creating ADU’s in single-family neighborhoods. Consider us a one-stop shop; we offer the full spectrum of community engagement to post-occupancy building evaluation, as well as visual storytelling consulting for any type of architectural presentation you might need. Whatever it is, we’ve got you covered with our wide array of services and flexible agreements.

We’ve developed a dedicated branch for community engagent: Engage FORA.
Our community engagement approach brings diverse perspectives to the table through inclusive, engaging, meaningful (and fun!) processes. We strive to co-create visions of housing futures with all those involved.
See our Mitchell Park Place project for a detailed summary of one of our community engagement processes.

We are lifelong learners, just like you. We realize that there is so much to learn through the lifetime of a building - from occupant experience to general building operations - and this wisdom will only improve future designs. Therefore, we provide comprehensive building evaluations through methods such as experience mapping, facility manager interviews, and occupant surveys.

Rendering of vision for new camp gateway at camp via west for children in I/DD community

Have a vision but need the funds or other support to bring that vision to life? We’ve got you covered. Our team knows a picture can paint a thousand words, emote a sense of place, and inspire support. We can create the graphics and presentation materials to tell your story, no matter what stage of the process you’re in, to share with potential donors, community members stakeholders, and beyond.

WHY IT MATTERS

Whether you are a developer planning to build an innovative affordable housing project, or a homeowner interested in building (or adding to) your home, choosing an architect is a huge investment. Working with an architect can be a long and personal process.

You deserve a professional team whose values are aligned with yours, who are invested in your health and success, and who act as your advocates over the long-term.

What we bring to the drawing table, everyday:

We love what we do - and it shows. We show up every day for our clients and communities, ready to create, because we believe in the power of thoughtfud design to enrich communities, harmonize with nature, and create joy for residents.
As designers, we are keen and receptive listeners above all. When our mission and goals align with our clients and communities, we work better together and our designs achieve greater success. “We” is certainly better than “me.”
Design is an impactful process. We seek to create healing and empowering places through a genuine, restorative, and responsive process. We make sure all voices are heard and the best creative ideas, no matter the source, are embraced and carried forward.
We can do both - we are both knowledgeable and playful, bringing energy and expertise to all of our work. As a tech-first virtual firm, we’ve mastered transparent, equitable, and most importantly, fun, collaboration tools.
Each project team is selected based on their specialized expertise, ensuring we provide meaningful designs and maximum value. At our weekly design crits, we put all of our brains together to tackle design challenges specific to each project. We depend on and challenge our team members to bring their expertise to the table.
We have an innate drive to dig deep. We immerse ourselves in context, considering the social and environmental context as well as the past, present, and future contexts that influence design outcomes. We constantly zoom in and out to reexamine our designs across scales; think global, act local is our mantra.
Humility over pride. We are open communicators who deliver the right information, at the right time, in the right format. Our deliverables are always purpose-built and clear.