Design for Impact

Our approach centers on reducing demand and accelerating the transition to carbon-free energy sources. From day one, we track every project’s predicted energy use intensity to drive smarter choices and better outcomes. 

At Fuse at Mason Square, strategically placed photovoltaic panels maximize solar exposure while preserving daylight and views. An all-electric HVAC system and future solar arrays on the adjacent parking structure will work together to achieve net-zero energy.

We leverage a systems mindset—one that recognizes the interconnected relationship between water flows across the site, irrigation, process water, and drinkable water needs—to optimize performance and extend the useful lifecycle of water within the built environment. Guided by this mindset, our green building certification projects have rigorous water use reduction goals. These benchmarks drive both immediate operational savings and long-term environmental value.

Seattle University's Jim and Janet Sinegal Center for Science and Innovation exemplifies place-based resilience. Given Seattle’s high rainfall and combined sewer-stormwater infrastructure, the building faced elevated risks of flooding and sewage backup. In response, the design team integrated a network of bioretention planters that collect surface runoff and roof drainage, channeling it into a large underground tank. There, water is slowly released into the municipal system, reducing strain and minimizing risk. Inside, low-flow plumbing and water-smart fixtures help reduce water use intensity by 32% below baseline.

At Page, our work is rooted in continuous, regenerative loops that support both ecological vitality and human well-being. From treating water as a living system and restoring native plant ecologies in dense urban settings to selecting materials that enhance biodiversity, sequester carbon, and improve human health, we maximize potential and resilience. By intentionally shaping built environments to align with and amplify natural flows, we can transform design into a renewing force.

The UMLAUF’s landscape restoration plan brings this philosophy to life. Invasive species will be carefully removed, historic trees protected, and native shrubs and forbs thoughtfully introduced. Each plant is selected not only for its beauty but for its ecological function: fixing nitrogen, repelling pests, supporting pollinators, and offering medicinal value. Tree and plant roots will help filter stormwater runoff and prevent erosion, quietly sustaining the land and enriching the visitor experience.

Page plans for the future by identifying risks and designing solutions that span economic, environmental, and health spectrums. We research, plan, design, and advocate with intention, equipping our clients to navigate complexity with confidence. And resilience doesn’t stop at the building scale. It uplifts entire communities, offering the backbone for adaptability, the fuel for innovation, and the glue that binds us together.

The Alief Neighborhood Center embodies resilience at every scale. Elevated above the 500-year floodplain and powered by an on-site generator, it remains operational during extreme weather, offering shelter, cooling, and critical services to the community. Its surrounding landscape manages stormwater through bioswales and native plantings, while hundreds of preserved trees buffer wind, reduce heat, and support biodiversity. 

Through thoughtful design, sourcing, and adaptive reuse strategies, Page reduces these day-one impacts and extends a building’s life. Material choices affect not just environmental outcomes but also human health and dignity. That’s why we prioritize verified health and environmental declarations and work to eliminate prison and forced labor through transparent, ethical procurement practices.

At the Creative Design Office, a refined mix of terrazzo, Greenguard-certified leather, felt, and exposed concrete brings style with substance. We minimized new materials by using concrete structures as finished surfaces, choosing carpet with recycled content and carbon-negative backing, and sourcing reused furniture for more than a third of the project budget. 

We define practical, actionable solutions tailored to each client’s culture, business, and long-term goals, creating regenerative, restorative environments that actively support human potential. Whether addressing mobility, cognitive needs, or cultural context, we leverage an ultra-inclusive approach to create spaces that are not only functional, but also equitable, welcoming, and deeply human.

At the Rosedale School, home to 100 learners with diverse and significant special needs, every detail reflects the seven Principles of Universal Design. The environment is crafted to support a full spectrum of cognitive, sensory, and mobility needs. Smooth spatial transitions, multisensory wayfinding, and enhanced acoustics create a neuroinclusive setting that empowers every student to engage, connect, and thrive.

Because we believe better buildings can build better communities, we embed human-centered principles at every stage. Through inclusive engagement and data-informed strategies, we draw on a deep understanding of place, context, and culture to transform space into a catalyst for connection and collective progress.

Page partnered with Kieran Timberlake to design the John A. Paulson Center, a multi-use campus hub brings together performance venues, classrooms, residences, and athletic facilities, each organized into its own “neighborhood” to maintain a distinct identity. These neighborhoods are united by a light-filled common area designed to foster connection, collaboration, and cross-disciplinary exchange.

Every project generates a wealth of insight: strategies for overcoming persistent obstacles, tools for sensitively challenging assumptions, methods for building stronger teams, and approaches for improving user experiences. But without a way to share those lessons, that knowledge stays siloed within project teams. Through effective storytelling and continuous learning, we turn individual breakthroughs into collective progress.

At Texas Children’s Hospital North Austin, where the pandemic struck just three weeks into the project, Page put Lean project delivery to the test. Strong team dynamics became a lifeline, enabling the team to complete a four-building master plan, design, permitting, and construction in under four years. On time. Under budget. During COVID. Amid supply chain breakdowns and soaring inflation.