Civic Thought Leadership
DMVs
For many, the DMV is like the dentist—when it’s time to go, they get anxious. Designed to alleviate stress, our facilities subvert the stereotype. With optimized programming, pleasing acoustical performance, and strategic use of daylighting, they streamline workflow while cultivating a calming sensory experience. Whether we’re embedding air ducts beneath the standing desks where customers fill out forms, designing service drive-thrus, or providing windows that let the outside world gauge how busy the facility is, we continuously find ways to transform the DMV into a place where you enjoy spending time.
Fire Stations
Fire stations are more than operational centers for emergency response—they act as community symbols of safety, resilience, and civic pride. When embarking on each project, we strive to understand the client’s background, station life, and emergency response flow. Whether in urban, suburban, or rural contexts, the resulting facilities reflect the style and culture of their communities, as well as the needs of the firefighters who call them home-away-from-home. Seamlessly integrating NFPA standards, preventing carcinogen exposure, and providing space for socialization and deep restful sleep at all hours, our designs cultivate healthy, dynamic work environments at all scales.
Judicial Buildings
TSK’s experience spans a range of judicial facilities, from complex litigation and regional justice centers to law libraries and city, county, federal bankruptcy, juvenile, and family courts. Across project types and scales, we foster fairness, equality, and a sense of solemnity and respect for the judicial process—in part by ensuring our designs capture the needs and desires of both community members and judicial staff. Our exemplary work across all levels of federal, state, and municipal governments has resulted in long-standing partnerships with justice clients.
Charter Schools
At TSK, we believe all students have the ability to learn, and all spaces have the ability to teach. We understand the challenges in funding and space that charter schools face, and we’re passionate about driving positive change within the K-12 education market by providing comprehensive solutions that enhance teaching and learning. Committed to supporting educators and empowering students to reach their full potential, we have the expertise and resources to design effective, engaging spaces that support a variety of models for teaching and learning.
Higher Education
Our higher education environments balance the needs of many different stakeholders, from students who feel more fulfilled when campus is inviting and supportive, and faculty who are under pressure to publish and achieve, to public-facing administration who must set agendas and raise funds. Fluent in the language of both higher education institutions and design teams, our experts are adept at translating across the aisle. The result is tailored, functional design. Some of our most innovative work has been with student unions, where we establish campus identity while providing students with a place to relax, study, work in groups, enjoy a meal, or simply spend time between classes.
Civic Office Buildings
Often unsung and unseen, civic office buildings house the civil servants and services that maintain vital community infrastructure. These projects give back to every community member by improving services, fiscal management, and public health—or simply providing space for relaxation and enjoyment. Through a process of discovery, we immerse ourselves in the communities we work with, getting to know the places and cultural touchstones that make each one great. It’s one of the many extra steps we take to understand the spirit of each community and create lasting, meaningful relationships.
Community Facilities
Libraries. Museums. Community, senior, aquatic, and performing arts centers. These are just a few examples of spaces we design to provide enjoyment—but also so much more. In these places, people of all ages and backgrounds take classes, do research, celebrate niche interests, and access technology and books they don’t own. Families who can’t afford daycare find child support. Opportunities to connect, rest, play, read, and create are abundant. Understanding the indispensable work these resources do in helping people feel part of something larger than themselves, we at TSK are dedicated to reaching out to community members and uplifting their voices through design.
Excited to learn more?
Learn more about our civic expertise in project visualization, construction documentation, and quality control, we review every detail with rigor and care.
