At Placework, volunteering reflects our core values of community, collaboration, and stewardship. Our team actively contributes time and expertise to both professional networks and the communities in which we live and work. Placework provides three paid days of volunteer time annually, encouraging team members to commit to organizations that are meaningful to them as individuals. This engagement is an essential aspect of our practice, enriching our understanding of place, strengthening relationships, and reinforcing our commitment to creating resilient environments that support communities.

Professionally, Placework employees are deeply engaged in advancing architecture and sustainable design.

Principal Alyssa Murphy has served on the AIA New Hampshire Board and the national AIA Strategic Council, and she currently serves on the AIA Committee on the Environment (COTE) leadership group, helping to guide national initiatives on sustainability and design excellence.

As the founding editor of Forum, AIANH’s quarterly magazine, Alyssa has also played a pivotal role in elevating regional architectural discourse. Her leadership exemplifies Placework’s belief in the importance of professional advocacy and knowledge-sharing to benefit both the profession and the broader community.

Placework team members also contribute to civic and community organizations that make a tangible difference in local life. Associate Liz Nguyen plays an active role in Somersworth, where she serves on the Somersworth Festival Board, contributes her professional perspective as a member of the Historic District Commission, and helps guide equitable development as part of the Somersworth Mayor’s Housing Task Force. Her volunteerism bridges cultural celebration, preservation, and housing—each an essential element of a thriving community.

Ken Ferrer likewise brings his energy and expertise to a breadth of organizations that support community life. He is a board member of Cultivate, a non-profit that addresses food security and organizes the annual New England BIPOC Festival, and Seacoast Area Bike Riders (SABR), as well as the Somersworth Mayor’s Housing Task Force, where he collaborates with Liz and others to address housing needs and support inclusive growth.

The breadth of organizations with whom the team engages reflect our shared interest in the arts, education, responsible land use and community development. Brian mentors potential architecture students of all ages and serves on the board of the Surfpoint Foundation, Kim volunteers monthly with the Kittery Land Trust, Josh has participated in a PlanNH charette, and Sara is gearing up for work with the NHSPCA.

Through these collective efforts, Placework’s team members extend the values of design beyond project work. Volunteering allows us to contribute our skills—facilitation, visualization, and systems thinking—to strengthen community initiatives and help shape more sustainable futures.

It also connects us with the people and places our work impacts every day.

At its heart, this culture of engagement reflects our shared belief that architects and designers are civic participants first—dedicated to making meaningful, enduring contributions through design and service.