Welcoming a new year.

Lakeview Park - All photos courtesy of John Hart, City of Portage

There is always a hopeful feeling at the beginning of a new year, and this year seems especially so. Time spent working on company goals in 2025 led our team to zero in on what has made OCBA successful for more than 60 years and it’s exciting to feel the enthusiasm around our shared vision moving forward. We are looking forward to integrating a renewed purpose into all aspects of our practice in 2026.

Over the course of OCBA’s history we have excelled in numerous project segments, including residential and prisons in the 60’s, downtowns and riverfronts in the 70’s and 80’s, playgrounds and parks through the 90’s, campuses and YMCA camps up through the 20’s, and our current expertise in nature play, among others. We have completed many notable and award-winning projects representing each segment, with interests and expertise shifting as staffing has changed. But the one thing that has remained constant at OCBA over the years has been the cultivation of long-term relationships with our clients and their communities, the consultants we partner with, the contractors that implement our vision, and the many talented landscape architects we have employed .

WMU Pedestrian Greenspace - Images courtesy of WMU

Developing and maintaining relationships has been a primary driver of new and ongoing work at OCBA. Valued staff members provide thoughtful, thorough service resulting in clients bringing repeat work and referrals; consultants we bring work to include us on their projects; and contractors more clearly understand design intent, resulting in better built works to show in our portfolio. We are proud of the fact that more than 70% of our work is with repeat clients or referrals, and many of the relationships date back decades. The other 30% allows us to grow new relationships and explore different project types.

Because every firm out there says they provide great service, here is what high quality service means at OCBA:

· Doing what we say we will do within the cost and timeline that we agreed to is the baseline – no missed deadlines and no extra fees without prior agreement.

· Hearing, understanding, and advocating for our client’s needs – our purpose is to exceed our client’s expectations from design through implementation.

· Building trust through transparency and honest communication – we communicate openly and consistently with clients, consultants, and contractors to achieve positive project results.

So, as we move into 2026 with optimism and excitement about honing expertise and pursuing new target markets, we will focus on cultivating connection through design by continuing our legacy of exceptional service.