$15,000 Grant Awarded to Support Employee Passion Projects
$15,000 Grant Awarded to Support Employee Passion Projects
(SEATTLE, August 23, 2024) 鈥撀燗ccessibility, inclusivity, and an identity within a global community: three passion projects are given life through 海角社区鈥檚 Personal Development Grants, commonly referred to as PDG鈥檚. Now in its 11th year, the program has invested over $300,000 to support employee-owners鈥� interests across the firm. PDG recipients are selected through a blind juried application, receiving the time and financial support needed to actualize their proposals.
Senior Associate and Senior Project Manager Mike Anderson, AIA
Navigating the Built Environment
Senior Associate and Senior Project Manager Mike Anderson, AIA, will use his grant to lend a fresh perspective on inclusive design and accessibility. Through an immersive documentary film, Anderson will give viewers a firsthand look at the challenges individuals with mobility issues face in everyday spaces. Anderson鈥檚 goal is to spark conversation around the topic, inspiring a more equitable future for all.
Interior Designer Sammy Rupp, IIDA
TACTILE: Sensory Spaces for the Neuro-Diverse
As design thinking evolves to consider the diverse needs of its users, accessible design takes on many forms. Interior Designer Sammy Rupp, IIDA, will conduct in-depth spatial and material research to forward these efforts. Her project will explore the effect of interior materials on individuals with autism and ADHD, and how designers can foster positive sensory stimulation. Rupp鈥檚 project will culminate with an interactive art exhibition, incorporating material and fiber art studies alongside real-world spatial applications informed by her research.聽Visit the exhibit October 4th and 5th, 2024 at 1319 S. MLK Blvd. in Portland, Oregon.
Senior Associate and Electrical Designer Sophia Piatcyzc
Adoption & Reunification
Following a visit to the Vietnam village in which she was born, Senior Associate and Electrical Designer Sophia Piatczyc will write a memoir delving into the ways her unique experiences have shaped her cultural, professional, and personal identity. 鈥淭his PDG will allow me to share my story of international adoption and reunification with my biological family, and how identifying with both Asian and American cultures have shaped who I am today,鈥� says Piatczyc.
The Personal Development Grant program was created to support the firm鈥檚 entrepreneurial spirit at the individual level, opening doors of exploration, creativity, innovation and invention. Past winners have included Associate and Designer Abri Aiken鈥檚 app to preserve Queer Harlem, Senior Associate and Pursuit Manager Edwin Roa鈥檚 Border Awareness documentary, and Senior Associate and Architect Kelli Stewart鈥檚 children鈥檚 book. The firm鈥檚 intelligent air quality analytics app, , also traces its roots to a 2015 PDG project, which now actively monitors over twelve million SF of real estate.
Explore the unique benefits of employee ownership at 海角社区.
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