Fall 2025 Design+Build

The Community Design Lab Design+Build is a hands-on program where high-school students, neighbors, and artists come together to reimagine public spaces. 

At BlackRock, you will spend five half-day sessions learning design skills, working with mentors, and creating a new landscape that manages stormwater, supports pollinators, and makes BlackRock more welcoming to the community.

Parking lots are everywhere, but they do not have to be lifeless.

With your help, the BlackRock parking lot will become a greener, healthier, and more beautiful space.

Conservation landscapes filter stormwater, reduce flooding, and support wildlife

while showing how young people can lead visible change in their neighborhood.

Learn how art and design can solve real environmental problems.

Explore the BlackRock site and develop ideas for a new conservation landscape.

Work with professional designers, artists, and environmental mentors.

Use digital tools and hands-on model building to shape your ideas.

Help bring the design to life by planting and caring for the new landscape.

Creative problem-solving, Environmental Design Skills, Teamwork and collaboration, Understanding of conservation, stormwater, and nature-based design

These skills stay with you after the Lab. You can bring them into school projects, volunteer opportunities, and even join us in future community design-build projects with your friends.