Forty years of Cumulative Impact
Our Story
Boulder Associates is now BA.
From a single studio in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains to a robust national practice.
Our legacy isn't entwined with any one of us—it's cumulative, built through the decisions and actions of everyone who's carried the torch forward. That belief hasn't changed since we opened a single studio in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains over 40 years ago; that every project we complete should leave the world better than how we found it, and that the compounding effects of good work can reverberate through generations, far beyond the walls of any building.
Why We Do It
“The buildings we design hold some of the most important moments in people's lives — moments of diagnosis, moments of healing, moments that push the boundaries of what's possible. That's an extraordinary responsibility, and an extraordinary opportunity.”
Melissa Pesci, Chief Executive Officer
CULTURE & VALUES
Life is too short for lifeless work
We've built a culture where people can do the most meaningful work of their careers without sacrificing their sense of humor or their weekends.
That's not a slogan—it's a retention strategy. Our average tenure is 8.5 years, with many stretching two decades or more, and others who’ve boomeranged.
People
Design is a team sport
250+ architects, designers, researchers, and thinkers. Our best work happens when everyone is pushing each other toward the same goal. Our team spans six practice areas and 9 offices, but we operate as one integrated studio.
Sustainability + Resilience
An Integrated Practice
Today, sustainability is inseparable from the way we practice architecture. We design environments that elevate health and connection, reduce environmental impact and operating costs, and remain resilient in the face of a changing climate.
Our commitment began in 2000, when we helped develop the world's first LEED-certified healthcare project—challenging the belief that sustainable hospitals weren't achievable—and soon after certified the world's first safety-net hospital and our own headquarters as the first LEED for Commercial Interiors project. That same drive shapes our work today.
One of our missions at Boulder Associates is to promote environmental stewardship throughout the company. We describe environmental stewardship to include those ideas, strategies, tools, practices, and approaches that lead to environmental improvement in a manner that is sustainable over time, considers the long term effects as well as the shorter term, more immediate effects, and that which contributes positively to the health, social and economic condition of the firm, the community, and those whose lives we touch through our work. The following are some of the ways in which we carry out this initiative, and we expect that all employees will participate in our endeavor:
For those who look upstream, and downstream
If doing things precisely, thoughtfully, and purposefully is simply how you operate, you’ll fit right in. If asking “why” or “what would happen if…” comes naturally, we want to hear from you.