Topics
Civic & Community
We love engaging in projects that enliven communities. Beautiful, well-designed spaces for community organizations or civic entities can build better neighborhoods, support diverse communities, and protect the environment.
Our civic & community services.
Public Spaces & Community Engagement
Civic
For our team of talented designers, civic work is about more than physical structures and spaces, it’s about finding innovative solutions to increase access and inspire connections between people. We prioritize building community through beautiful, engaging, and accessible civic design everyone can enjoy.
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Neighborhood Spaces, Parks, Parklets, Playgrounds
Parks & Public Spaces
Supporting physical health, social connection, and mental engagement is at the core of our approach to park and public space design. We focus on creating sustainable neighborhood spaces that are both functional and beautiful, while enhancing and promoting the unique characteristics and needs of the communities they serve.
Learn more.Our civic & community studios.
Custom Residential, Multifamily, Commercial, Civic & Community
Architecture
Much of our lives are influenced by the built environment, so its design should be thoughtful, functional, beautiful, and enduring. Whether designing a home, building, commercial or community space, we approach it conscientiously. We are committed to great design, sustainable practices, and creating healthy buildings composed of spaces that are a joy to experience.
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Custom Residential, Multifamily, Commercial, Civic & Community
Interior Design
Interior spaces are often the ones we get physically closest to, interacting with the layout of a space, actually touching the materials. Great interior design makes the places we live, work, and play not only functional, but delightful. We are a passionate team of designers, eager to collaborate with you to create beautiful, meaningful, finished spaces for your home, business, or multifamily project.
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Custom Residential, Multifamily, Commercial, Civic & Community
Landscape Architecture
Beautiful outdoor rooms expand our experience and build community. Spending time outside is essential to our health and happiness. From our own backyards to everyone’s public parks, we love designing verdant, sustainable spaces people simply love to be. Knowledgeable and passionate, our landscape team has experience on projects public and private, large and small, commercial, residential, and civic.
Learn more.Our civic & community posts.
Civic & Community, Landscape Architecture, Sustainable Practice
Sustainability in Park Design
In the Pacific Northwest, the heat is literally on. Last summer, we experienced record-breaking heat in Seattle and, in Washington State, we recently adopted the Climate Commitment Act that requires a drastic reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and carbon pollution to net zero by 2050. Can investing in sustainable park infrastructure help us meet those goals?
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Civic & Community
Public Life Study: Professional People-Watching!
Join us! With the Capitol Hill EcoDistrict and the Seattle Department of Transportation, B&V is collaborating on “Public Life Counts!” — a public life study of how our community uses public spaces. Data collected will inform an equitable and holistic planning process to shape active, safe, and well-connected public spaces on Capitol Hill.
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Civic & Community
DIY Urbanism
Every year, communities come together to take back parking-spot-sized parcels of the street, transforming them into pedestrian-centric installations. Though PARK(ing) Day lasts mere hours, other forms of tactical urbanism exist globally in various degrees of permanence, engaging and influencing the evolution of communities, public space, and informing the relationship between an urban environment its inhabitants.
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Ask a Designer, Civic & Community, Commercial, Custom Residential, Multifamily Residential
Hourly vs. Fixed-Fee Billing: What is the Difference?
How do you decide between hourly vs. fixed-fee billing? People really don’t like to talk about money, but you need to talk about it enough to make the right choice about how you would like your project billed. Here is how these two billing methods work, and why you might prefer one over the other.
Read more.Our civic & community recognition stories.
Best Architectural Firms in Seattle
Board & Vellum is honored to be named as one of Home Builder Digest’s Best Architectural Firms in Seattle, Washington.
Fixr’s Top 100 Architects Influencing the Industry 2023
Jeff has been selected as one of Fixr’s Top 100 Architects Influencing the Industry, among other professionals seeking innovative solutions with an eye toward future needs.
WASLA Award of Merit 2023
Board & Vellum is honored to be presented with a 2023 Award of Merit from the Washington State chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects.
Best Architects in Seattle: Expertise’s 2020 List
Expertise examined 138 architecture firms in the Seattle area and selected only 19 to make their list of Best Architects in Seattle, including Board & Vellum.
Our civic & community team team members.
Jeff Pelletier, AIA, CPHC®
Managing Principal, Founder
In 2011, Jeff founded Board & Vellum in his attic and has forged ahead with excitement ever since. Architecture aside, he is a huge advocate for traveling, and takes LEGO really seriously.
Zack Thomas, PLA
Director, Landscape & Site Design
Zack co-launched B&V’s ”Site Design Studio,” and is excited to take on landscape projects of all shapes, sizes, and scales. He loves to get out of the city on weekends and makes a point of traveling to another country each year.
Yi-Chun Lin, NCARB, NOMA
Director, Architecture, Landscape & Site Design
Yi-Chun’s diverse experience across typologies and sectors enables her to guide collaborative project teams on commercial, multifamily, and single-family projects, connecting culture, environment and the human experience through design.
Christopher Palms, AIA, LEED AP
Senior Associate, Architecture
Christopher is an experienced architect with lifelong interests in photography and music that have led him across the globe exploring how culture, buildings, language, and art unite us all.
Would you like to learn more?
We’re thrilled that you’re interested!
Our Story
Board & Vellum is vibrant design firm built on the idea that an informed and engaged team leads to better design and happy clients. We wouldn’t be where we are today without passion and hard work, and those same two things keep us going strong today.
Our Process
Bringing your project from “idea” to fruition is a little different at Board & Vellum. We give personal care to each of our projects, and you’ll be in the loop every step the way. The bonus: we are an integrated firm, so each project has access to plenty of great knowledge — and that leads to better design.
Considering a project, or curious about something?
Say hello, and send us your questions via the form below. We’re always pleased to make new connections, and eager to get to know you, your project, and your goals.