Welcome to the refreshed Utile website.

Same mission. Clearer stories. A more thoughtful way to explore our work.

At Utile, the blimp represents the intersection of imagination and utility, a marvel of design that once redefined what was possible. Like the great leaps of imagination that inspired it, from early airships to the radical optimism of Archigram, our work hovers at the edge of invention and pragmatism.

The blimp, timeless and buoyant, symbolizes our commitment to elevating ideas that are both visionary and useful – carried by curiosity, built for good.

The designers and planners at Utile are curious, attentive, tenacious, and pragmatic. Our shared mission is to enrich community life at all scales through a practice of care, craft and commitment to context.

How We Work

Don’t tackle each project the same way.

We ask smart questions and dig deep, while being alert to new possibilities. Our curiosity reframes problems in productive ways and drives compelling outcomes.

Design with the eye of a detective.

Both compelling concepts and flawless execution require a high level of intentionality at every step of the process and an attentiveness to new ideas and perspectives that emerge along the way.

The best outcomes are the result of an iterative process.

Initial design scenarios, while imperfect, clarify the functional and architectural problems to be solved. It is only by tenaciously drawing through the project multiple times that a conceptually clear, functionally resolved, and visually compelling solution can be found.

Pragmatism can lead to the unexpected.

In order to meaningfully innovate, we assess the issues to tackle with fresh eyes and an unwavering focus on the problems to tackle. Satisfying spatial solutions in one targeted area will result in the discovery of productive ways to understand and tackle other aspects of the unfolding design.

    Planning and Urban Design

    Utile’s urban planning and design practice spans the gamut from data-driven spatial analysis to architecturally specific urban design proposals that leverage the firm’s deep knowledge of street design standards and market-driven building types. This range is possible because of the disciplinary expertise of our team, which includes land use coders, GIS experts, transportation planners, and architecture-trained urban designers. These experts bring their full creative powers to every project we take on.

    Architecture

    Utile is known for its expertise in housing, community libraries and recreational facilities, and contextually-sensitive buildings for educational institutions. Beyond these types, the firm seeks out mixed-use and hybrid-program projects on sites with a rich stew of physical, social, and environmental issues. These kinds of commissions provide the best circumstances for Utile to flex its multi-disciplinary muscles.

    Interiors

    Utile’s approach to design of the interiors of buildings combines an architect’s focus on spatial manipulation and definition with an interior designer’s sense of texture, color, and scale. As a result, our award winning work has both visual punch and level sophistication that is missing when the building design and interior finishes and furniture are conceived in separate silos.

    Graphic Design

    At Utile, graphic design is embedded across our work, from shaping citywide identities to enhancing user experience through environmental graphics. We prioritize clarity and impact at every scale – supporting public engagement, interior environments, and everything in between. Developed in close collaboration with our architects, planners, and urban designers, our graphic work strengthens identity, guides experience, and makes information accessible across physical and digital contexts.

Our Team

Utile is a multidisciplinary firm supported by a wide range of technical expertise in energy modeling, sustainability, GIS, land-use regulation, transportation, and graphic design. Our strength lies in how these disciplines collaborate – working in concert to bring clarity, rigor, and integration to every stage of the design and planning process.

Meet Our Team