Planning Services

Trunk Branch Twig Bud is a strategic space and operational solutions consulting firm. We offer unique, completely customized strategic solutions grounded in 25+ years of real-world experience with clients a lot like you. space needs assessment and master planning services with specialty services in analysis and planning for criminal justice facilities (courts, secure housing, and related agencies). Because not every problem has a built solution, our solutions embrace staffing, infrastructure, operational practices, and policies. We offer freestanding specialty services such as staffing analyses, cost-benefit analyses, operational assessments, and other similar services on a case-by-case basis.

Services include:

• Needs Assessments - This service produces problem-definition consulting for agencies and groups with space issues who may not be ready for an architectural (built) solution.

• Master Plans - These broad, deep, and long-term space plans typically involve large, multi-building complexes, single buildings with extensive needs, or complex integrated considerations (transportation, social equity, customer service, land use, sustainability, cost, phased implementation, and others). Solutions will include a long-term vision and an implementation plan to get there. 

• Existing Space Inventory- This basic service is often included in large projects as an essential first step, but for many agencies, having an inventory can enable them to resolve their own space challenges. For court, secure housing, general government, and law enforcement clients, this service calibrates existing space against local, national, and best practice standards.

• Future Space Needs - Shaping future space needs involves data collection and analysis, staffing analysis, and operational program development as well as a great deal of imagination. This process typically involves significant client interaction, which may include interviews, workshops, and public meetings. Deliverables include a consensus future vision and a program of space needs. 

• Space Shortfall Analyses - This special type of gap analysis may include parking, major maintenance, and operational needs (based on status quo or changing practices.), because shortfalls relate to the suitability of space, as well as the amount of space.

• Architectural Space Programming - An architectural space program is a written format used by non-architects to communicate about space with architects. A solid space program will include every space that is required and utilizes an organizational approach to convey groupings and adjacencies. A program document may also include operational descriptions to clarify how the space is intended to work. An architectural space program can be created for new or existing facilities.

• Blocking and Stacking, Massing, or Occupancy Estimates - these simple 2D illustrations are typically used to test the fit in lease space, in an existing building, or on a prospective site. They are usually internal but can be done on a site-wide scale to determine fit (or not). 

• Long-term strategic scenarios for space and resource utilization.

• Workshop and Meeting Facilitation - Almost all services require client stakeholder interaction, which is governed by Dialogue TM. Meeting facilitation can also be purchased for other purposes, either one or multiple sessions, to bring one or more Dialogue trained facilitators to work with your group, using a proven framework designed for collaborative discussion and consensus-building.