Boschma Farms
Project
Year
2019
Location
Ridgefield, Washington
Client
The Clark College Foundation
The Challenge
A Center for Innovation & Community
Designing the Boschma Farms site presented the challenge of harmonizing diverse stakeholder goals into a cohesive and dynamic campus. Will Grimm and James Brackenhoff, while at Ankrom Moisan Architects and before forming First Forty Feet, led the effort to envision the Workforce Innovation Training Center as the cornerstone of the Boschma Innovation Cluster, surrounded by retail, industrial, academic, and cultural spaces to create a multifaceted destination for Ridgefield, Washington. The site’s strategic location along Interstate-5 within a technological and manufacturing corridor required a design that positioned the Innovation Center as a flagship for Clark College while integrating community amenities such as a brewery, public plazas, and greenspaces. The design was focused on avoiding a fragmented design approach by proposing a centralized campus that reflected the collaboration of stakeholders like the Port of Ridgefield, Clark College, and private partners. The design blended applied learning, technological development, and regional identity while addressing future adaptability, ecological considerations, and economic vibrancy, establishing Boschma Farms as a catalyst for local innovation and engagement.
The team explored three different options at the beginning.
The innovation hub became the driver of design around which all other community supporting uses would revolve.
The plan focused on creating walkable, mixed-use blocks which integrated existing natural landscape features to form the new community.
The Impact
Transforming Clark County into a Hub of Innovation and Growth
The Boschma Farms project is set to become a transformative hub for Ridgefield and Clark County, driving economic growth, workforce development, and community engagement. Anchored by the Workforce Innovation Training Center and complemented by retail, industrial, and cultural spaces, it will serve as a flagship for Clark College and a regional destination. By integrating community amenities like public plazas, greenspaces, and a brewery, the site will foster innovation, attract industry partners, and enhance local opportunities, solidifying its role as a leader in workforce education and collaboration for years to come.
Design completed while at Ankrom Moisan. Copyright images - Ankrom Moisan
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CERTIFICATIONS
Emerging Small Business (ESB)
Certification No.: 13469