Description:

The Poarch Band of Creek Indians is a Native American tribe located in southern Alabama. The reservation is marked by a disjointed collection of buildings with a design that does not reflect their Tribal values, so they contracted with TSW to conduct a space study to determine existing and future needs.

The space study began with an in-depth series of online surveys and one-on-one interviews with the head of every administrative department to determine space needs. These needs, combined with standards developed by TSW, were used to develop a master plan and building programs to meet immediate needs, as well as serve as an ongoing guide for space and facility decisions made by the Tribe.

TSW also developed a master plan for the reservation that looks at administrative buildings, a youth center, police and fire station, parking facilities, and creative stormwater treatments. This plan carefully preserves the historic Tribal Council Chambers but envisions a series of façade improvements to upgrade existing buildings, as well as new buildings to create a stronger sense of place.

A detailed facilities analysis conducted by TSW also informed the recommendations of the plan. The resulting database now allows the Tribe to maintain an up-to-date record of the condition of every building and system and prioritize maintenance and renovation decisions.