Revisiting our values.
Lakeview Park
As we move further into the new year, February offers a moment to pause, reflect, and look ahead. We’ve taken time to evaluate how our values have evolved and how they continue to guide our work in landscape architecture across Michigan.
For more than 60 years, OCBA has approached every project with a commitment to stewardship, collaboration, and thoughtful design while maintaining a balance with green infrastructure, climate resiliency and place making. As our practice grows, so does our understanding that the most successful landscapes are built not only through technical expertise, but through strong relationships and meaningful connections.
Our values have been refined to reflect how we work today: listening closely, collaborating intentionally, and designing spaces that connect people to place. Whether working with municipalities, institutions, or private clients, we believe landscape architecture plays a vital role in shaping environments that support community, ecology, and long-term use.
At the center of this evolution is our purpose: growing and building connections through design. This purpose informs how we approach every project—from public parks and campuses to infrastructure and community spaces—ensuring each landscape reflects local character while serving future generations.
Strong landscape design balances function, beauty, and resilience. By aligning our values with our purpose, we’re able to deliver site planning and landscape architecture solutions that adapt over time, strengthen communities, and protect Michigan’s natural systems.
These values guide our internal culture and partnerships while establishing a foundation for creating places that matter—places where people gather, connect, and belong.
As part of this realignment, we’ve updated our website to better reflect who we are and how we work. The refreshed site highlights our values, showcases our projects in a detailed portfolio, shares a more detailed understanding of our services, and gives clients the opportunity to connect with us as they go after new projects.
As we move forward, we’re excited about the connections ahead—new collaborations, continued partnerships, and the shared work of shaping meaningful landscapes throughout Michigan.