OCBA’s 2025 Year in Review
As the year winds down, we’re taking a moment to reflect on what an incredible journey 2025 has been for our team at OCBA. From professional milestones to new additions (and a few friendly competitions along the way), it’s been a year filled with gratitude, growth, and a renewed sense of purpose.
The headline of our year: OCBA was honored as the 2025 Outstanding Firm of the Year by the American Society of Landscape Architects, Michigan Chapter (MiASLA)!
This marks our second time receiving the award, with the first recognition dating back to its inaugural year in 2006. Being celebrated once again by our peers for design excellence and contributions to the profession is truly humbling and reminds us of why we love what we do.
A GROWING TEAM
Our newest team member is little Taylor Fee V, or Five as he’s been nicknamed, born on June 22nd to proud parents Samantha and Taylor Fee IV. Five spent time with us when we were in Petoskey for our retreat and was incredibly cute and surprisingly quiet for a four month old. Congratulations Sam and welcome Five!
FUN AND GAMES
Each year, we like to celebrate the holidays a little differently. In 2024, Katie hosted a cozy, craft-filled afternoon of charcuterie and creativity at her Grand Rapids home — and it was such a hit that 2025 is already booked for Tammy’s house in Plainwell, where we plan to pair our celebration with making blankets for those in need around our community. Stay tuned for more on that one, as it has always been a goal of ours to support our communities’ needs.
Several members of the OCBA staff participated in the 2025 Oddlympics, a wacky and wonderful fundraiser supporting Kalamazoo Friends of Recreation put on by the Rotary Club of Kalamazoo and Kalamazoo Parks Department. While the trophy slipped through our fingers this time, we’re more determined than ever to reclaim it next year!
The MiASLA Annual Conference was held in Grand Rapids this year and OCBA was well-represented at the awards ceremony, tours, and conference sessions. The landscape architecture community has always been a source of inspiration, connection, and meaningful conversation for us. It keeps us grounded in what’s happening in our profession and focused on what matters most in our work. These relationships are invaluable—and we’re grateful to be part of such a supportive and forward-thinking network. It was a pleasure celebrating award-winning projects, sharing insights, and so fun to reconnect with all of the other LAs from around the state.
We also held a company retreat to refine our goals and direction over two days at Camp Daggett on Walloon Lake. The camp was an inspirational setting for meetings punctuated by archery, yoga, and a campfire. Be on the lookout as we redefine our voice through website and social media in 2026.
LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIPS
OCBA has always seen the value of establishing and maintaining long term relationships with our clients and communities – it’s at the heart of everything we do. With that in mind, it has been incredibly rewarding to see that play out in 2025 with the involvement of Bob O’Boyle, OCBA’s founder, in two different projects that date back to the beginning of the firm in 1964. We are collaborating on the next chapter of the Five Senses Garden which he first worked on in the late 1960’s. Simultaneously, we are working with Bob on updating the patio and outdoor area at the Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy’s office, the former home of Landscape Forms founder John Chipman and his family. Bob and John were great friends over their careers and it has been fun to have him involved along with the Landscape Forms team to re-envision that historic space.
As we close out another meaningful year, we want to say a heartfelt thank you; to our clients, partners, and friends who have been part of our story. Your trust, collaboration, and support make our work possible and our journey worthwhile. From all of us at OCBA, we wish you a joyful holiday season and a bright, beautiful start to 2026.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
— The OCBA Team