Outdoor Training & Education Center

The primary challenge was creating a program that balanced the unique needs of each member unit. With significant multi-agency involvement — from law enforcement, to gear and equipment managers, to educators and volunteers — our strategy centered around helping a variety of stakeholders flesh out the details of their programming needs. In the high-stress, high-risk endeavors of these volunteer groups, trust is imperative to success. Our collaborative process prioritized giving a home to all member groups and, above all, supporting individual members, all of whom are volunteers from the community. Through this work, one central goal rose to the surface: creating a social hub where the many arms of the agency could build trust and community.

The current master plan leaves the site purposefully ambiguous, as a property has not yet been determined. The organization wanted their headquarters to support their mission of building community among their volunteers and member units while also addressing their desire for updated facilities with training areas that accommodate their different modalities.

The result is a densely-programmed center, providing a home for the organization’s many needs, including specialized training areas that cater to different volunteer duties and central, communal areas where individuals from different member units can join together for rest, camaraderie, and support.

The master plan also takes an equitable approach to land management, and prioritizes a light touch on the land, engaging with the natural forms of the site, and minimizing overall impact. With a new headquarters built with connection, fellowship, and trust in mind, the organization can continue to thrive within and support the greater Pacific Northwest community.