Power to Be is the purpose-built home for a non-profit organization that helps individuals of all ages and abilities access nature-based experiences. Designed by Christine Lintott Architects, the project transforms a former golf course site into a vibrant basecamp for inclusive outdoor programming, grounded in deep community listening and environmental stewardship.

With no precedent program to follow, CLA led an extended collaborative visioning process with Power to Be’s leadership, volunteers, and program participants—many of whom live with disabilities. Over a year, the design team worked to co-develop a space that supports adaptive adventure, gear storage, staff and volunteer coordination, and safe, inclusive gathering. The design intentionally avoids institutional cues, creating instead a dignified, welcoming environment that prioritizes universal accessibility across all experiences.

The project embodies an integrated approach to design and delivery. CLA worked closely with the client, consultants, and construction team from early concept to completion. Program development, site exploration across seasons, and mapping of ecological and microclimatic systems informed every design decision. The result is a network of low, timber-framed buildings that gently frame a ceremonial arrival space and lead visitors into the restored natural landscape beyond. Large overhead doors and exterior thresholds blur the line between indoor and outdoor use.

Power to Be is designed to meet multiple petals of the Living Building Challenge. While pandemic-era supply chain challenges prevented full certification, the building still reflects ambitious environmental goals. It is fully electric, includes a high-performance envelope, and is heated and cooled via geoexchange. A photovoltaic array was sized to exceed annual energy needs, and 100% of the water used on site is sourced from its own wells. Rain gardens and native vegetation further restore ecological function to the site.

This project reflects CLA’s ongoing commitment to designing inclusive, deeply rooted, low-carbon spaces—led by community, responsive to ecology, and grounded in the belief that architecture can serve as a quiet but powerful support to life-changing work.