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’s goal is to spark conversation around the topic, inspiring a more equitable future for all.

Here’s your first look at the film.

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’s project will culminate with an interactive art exhibition, incorporating material and fiber art studies alongside real-world spatial applications informed by her research. Visit the exhibit October 4th and 5th, 2024 at 1319 S. MLK Blvd. in Portland, Oregon.

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. “This 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,” says Piatczyc.

The Personal Development Grant program was created to support the firm’s entrepreneurial spirit at the individual level, opening doors of exploration, creativity, innovation and invention. Past winners have included Associate and Designer Abri Aiken’s app to preserve Queer Harlem, Senior Associate and Pursuit Manager Edwin Roa’s Border Awareness documentary, and Senior Associate and Architect Kelli Stewart’s children’s book. The firm’s intelligent air quality analytics app, sonrai, 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 DLR Group.