design & planning consulting

We work with clients, designers and communities to understand the specific user needs for a new or renovated space, to engage users in planning processes, and to provide a strong evidence-base to guide planning decisions.  

​Our services can include:

• participatory design and planning, including with children & youth, communities, special needs groups, Indigenous partners
• translation of research and community assessments into actionable design and built environment guidelines and recommendations
• space assessments / space needs analysis
• design, planning and policy guidance
• development of evidence-based design guidelines & frameworks
• specialized support for design proposals and RFPs

highlighted projects

Participatory Design & Installation of Natural Play & Learning Space
Blessed Sacrament Elementary School / London, Ontario

Child-led Design & Installation of Community Playspaces
Communities of Aviacion & Mocupe / Zana Valley, Peru

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research & evaluation

thrive design consulting bridges the gap between research and design, by synthesizing both academic research evidence and professional best practices to inform design decisions.  We also perform original research to understand users’ environmental behaviour and needs, or to assess the impacts and outcomes of new or renovated built environments.

Research-based services include:

• research summaries to support design programming or policy initiatives
• participatory and community-based research
• development and/or application of diverse research tools including surveys, focus groups, interviews, census data synthesis, GIS analysis, participatory photography, walkalong tours, and behaviour mapping
• environmental design needs assessments / community audits / play audits
• environment-behaviour analyses / behaviour pattern mapping
• pre- and post-occupancy evaluation / pre-post design analysis
• evaluation of programs, interventions or policy initiatives aiming to improve the built environment
• inclusive / universal design assessments
• functional analyses / programming & conceptual Design Support
• review of design reports and policy documents​

highlighted projects

Pre-Post Assessment of the Impacts of a Natural Playground Renovation
Public elementary schools / Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario

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community engagement & assessment

We have extensive experience working with communities and other stakeholders to effectively engage them in environmental assessment and planning processes.  We also facilitate community or environmental planning processes with special interest groups including children & youth, seniors, users with disabilities or challenges, Indigenous communities, and immigrant & multi-cultural communities.

Engagement & assessment services can include:

• community and public consultation and engagement
• community design and planning workshops, including design charrettes, design walks
• participatory community assessment & decision making processes
• community audits / asset and challenge mapping / SWOT and gap analyses

highlighted projects

Youth Engagement Workshops for Neighbourhood Planning
Rolston Neighbourhood Action Group / Hamilton, Ontario​

​Child-led Design & Installation of Community Playspaces
Communities of Aviacion & Mocupe / Zana Valley, Peru

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teaching & training

thrive's principal consultant, Dr. Janet Loebach, has extensive teaching experience at college, undergraduate and graduate levels, and has been invited to deliver lectures and presentations at institutions across Canada, the US and Europe.  She offers full and partial course modules in diverse fields including architecture & planning, interior design, landscape design, child & youth studies, child health and well-being, community development, sustainable environments & landscapes, engineering & building sciences.

Courses specialized teaching modules (1 to 4 weeks) currently offered include: 

• introduction to environment-behaviour studies / human factors
• research methods for designers & planners
• research-informed / evidence-based design
• inclusive & accessible design / inclusive community environments / design for special populations 
• child and youth friendly environments / age friendly environments
• participatory design and planning approaches

thrive design consulting also provides numerous professional development presentations, workshops and seminars which help to illuminate the relationship between human health and behaviour and our natural and built environments.  We can also develop customized training seminars or modules for design professionals, educators, municipalities, NGOs, and community groups.  

Seminars and presentations currently available include:

• designing child- and age-friendly communities 
• playful cities & streets
• supportive environments for outdoor and neighbourhood play
• creating vibrant natural playspaces 
• inclusive play and learning environments
• research and evaluation approaches for designers
• participatory planning with children and communities
• environmental design needs assessments & audits
• utilizing research to support evidence-based design

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program & curriculum development

thrive design consulting can help your group to develop effective programs, workshops, and curricula related to the design and development of healthy, supportive environments and vibrant communities.  
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We offer broad services in the areas of:

• curriculum development and review
• development of design programs & interventions
• development of community or policy initiatives
• workshop and conference development and management
• visioning exercises and documentation

highlighted projects

Design Curriculum Development & Review
St. Clair College / Windsor, Ontario

Development of the international Children's Health & the Environment Workshop
in collaboration with HEAL Lab, Western University / London, Ontario

Conference program development & management for IPA World 2017
International Play Association Triennial World Conference / Calgary, Alberta

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proposal & report development

we can also help you to develop research-based grant and project proposals in support of healthy environment initiatives and programs, and to create effective project reports and policy documents.  

our development & writing services also include:

• project, intervention or program evaluation reports
• development and strategic review of policy documents and design guidelines
• literature reviews and summaries
• writing and research support for RFPs, proposals and grants

highlighted projects

Pre-Post Assessment Report on the Impacts of a Natural Playground Renovation
Public elementary schools / Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario

we can customize our services to meet your needs,
big or small, short or long term


contact us today to discuss how we can help your project or community to thrive