Who we are
Our Philosophy
Gail Y. B. Lash, Ph.D.
Nevin Lash, ASLA
 

What we do
Concept Planning
Master Planning
Zoological Design
Visitor Services 
Ecotourism Planning
Community Development
 

Selected Projects
Master Planning
Zoological Exhibits
Ecotourism Planning
Community Development

Selected Publications
 

Concept Planning starts with the institution - you, the client.  While knoledgeable, the director and staff have the training and experience to generate ideas, insight and in-depth understanding for the questions facing the institution, a facilitator is generally needed to bring the group to consensus and to document the product.  Our workshop process has proven to be successful, in multiple institutions, and in several countries around the world, at doing just that.   We can help you answer the question - What's Next?. 

We act as your ìin-houseî planning office: to work with your staff, to coordinate and facilitate  information gathering group workshops, and to document the ideas and criteria for possible further development.  We will work to gather ideas and feedback from a wide range of staff, with special meetings for special groups. 

Once we have completed generating ideas, we facilitate consensus-building activities where the staff works together to agree on their ...next great thing!.  Using a variety of group activities that are designed to allow the Institution to acquire ownership of it's ideas, and see them illustrated on their site.
 

CONCEPT PLANNING WORKSHOPS
Workshop based Design Process with Client Team

Using a series of intensive on-site Workshops, from Blue Sky Visioning, Deep Water Analysis, Pre-Programming and Concept Design  Phases, Ursa and the client team move quickly but comprehensively through the initial design process of a project.

Each of these workshops are summarized by a Workshop Manual, that reviews the entire session's progress and points to the goals and objectives of the next workshop.  During the period between workshops, Ursa refines the planning documents and accurately depicts the design intent and concept.  Ursa works with you to determine how many workshops are needed for your project's goals to be met.  At the end of these workshops, we pull together a final report that can be used for a variety of promotional uses.  Depending on the project, renderings or models can be assembled to visually represent the ideas to a wider audience. 

While the Concept Plan is complete, the project needs further design and development to get it built (see Master Planning and Zoological Design pages).  It will, however, answer the question - What's Next? an dhelp you get the financial support you need to assemble a full design team to take it through construction.