Beckett & Raeder, Inc.

10/22/2026

The City of Escanaba has approved its 2026 Master Plan, establishing a vision for the community’s future growth and development.

Beckett & Raeder, Inc., in collaboration with the City’s Planning Commission, helped prepare the plan, which focuses on housing diversity, neighborhood enhancement, economic development, and strengthening commercial districts. It also emphasizes walkable neighborhoods, downtown revitalization, and opportunities to build on Escanaba’s unique waterfront and economic assets.

We’re excited to see this plan move forward and help guide a vibrant and connected future for Escanaba!

ESCANABA — The Escanaba City Council adopted the 2026 City of Escanaba Master Plan, a planning document that outlines guiding principles intended to help city officials make decisions that align with the community’s goals and values. The plan was adopted by the Escanaba Planning Commission on Ju...

10/14/2026

October is National Community Planning Month!

Great communities don’t just happen. Thoughtful planning helps shape the places we live, work, and play while creating opportunities for a stronger, more connected future.

At Beckett & Raeder, Inc., our planning team works alongside communities across Michigan to turn their visions into actionable plans. Our services include community master plans, recreation and park planning, zoning ordinances, downtown development, community engagement, land use planning, GIS services, and more.

A few of our recent planning projects include Plan Dearborn, helping guide the City’s future land use and development; the City of Rochester Hills Parks & Recreation Plan, elevating and protecting the City’s natural features; the City of Marquette Community Master Plan, preserving the City’s historical heritage; and the Traverse City Master Plan, encouraging development and vibrancy in the City’s commercial districts.

This month, we’re celebrating the planners who help communities navigate change, plan for the future, and create places where people can thrive.

10/08/2026

The new Southeast Michigan Psychiatric Hospital in Northville Township is officially complete!

The 264-bed, 400,000+ square-foot facility will provide modern inpatient behavioral health care for both adults and youth, with thoughtfully designed treatment spaces, secure outdoor courtyards, sensory and art spaces, and a healing environment inspired by Michigan’s natural landscape.

The facility also incorporates 352 geothermal wells, supporting a more energy-efficient and sustainable approach to building operations.

Yesterday, BRI Partners Christy Summers and Christopher DeGood, along with Senior Landscape Architect Lauren De Silva, attended the ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of this important project.

We’re proud to have contributed our landscape architecture and civil engineering services to a project that will make a meaningful difference for individuals and families across Michigan.

To read more about the new Southeast Michigan Psychiatric Hospital click here: https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/inside-mdhhs/newsroom/2026/10/07/semph?fbclid=IwY2xjawU0ZIZleHRuA2FlbQIxMABwZG9mAWJyaWQRMUVjQlF0OW96aVk3bjJiM3VzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeAZd24CoM1-Z7ry_k9jZUtbR1D8r2gDGzYAAMKy6dGUZ_ET2oo2t5uBC79HE_aem_AFEYBOELYR0P2A-ec-UP8Q

10/01/2026

We’re excited to be at the Michigan Association of Planning's Annual Conference in Kalamazoo this week! 🎉

If you’re attending, be sure to stop by our booth and say hello. We’d love to connect, catch up with familiar faces, and meet new people working to shape stronger communities across Michigan.

Come chat with our team, learn more about what Beckett & Raeder, Inc. does, and let’s talk about how we can support your planning and design goals!

08/19/2026

The U-M Kahn Health Care Pavilion recently achieved LEED v4 Platinum certification, making it the largest healthcare facility in the world to be designated as such. As it is the highest level of certification granted by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), this honor confirms the facility’s strong commitment to sustainable design. Beckett & Raeder is proud to have provided U-M with landscape architectural and sustainable design services for this project.

Michigan Medicine’s Kahn Health Care Pavilion in Ann Arbor is now the largest healthcare facility in the world to earn LEED Platinum certification. WEMU’s Kevin Meerschaert reports.

08/13/2026

We are excited for the City of Lake City and this new addition to the downtown lakeshore! With the assistance of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), this project repurposes an underutilized but historic lakefront property as a central gathering space. We're honored to be partners with the City of Lake City and the MEDC in the creation of this placemaking enhancement!

Visit the link below to learn more.

The new park will feature a bandshell, a children’s play area and a community fireplace. Funding was made possible in part by a $935,000 Revitalization and Placemaking grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, an initiative designed to rehabilitate public spaces and support communi...

08/11/2026

Beckett & Raeder, Inc. invites you to celebrate our 60th anniversary!

08/07/2026

We are pleased to see that Michigan State University has received additional funding from the State of Michigan to develop the Leinweber Center for Engineering and Digital Innovation. Beckett & Raeder, Inc. provided civil engineering and landscape architecture services to MSU for this project.

We are looking forward to the Leinweber Center’s next phase of development! Upon completion, the facility will offer MSU students and faculty a range of new academic and research spaces.

Michigan State University celebrates an additional $30M from the State of Michigan for the 265,000 sq. ft. Leinweber Center for Engineering and Digital Innovation.

08/05/2026

Congratulations to the Village of Ellsworth on their notable achievement! We are proud to have assisted Ellsworth through this process, including by helping to update their Master Plan and Zoning Ordinance.

An RRC® “Essentials” designation by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation indicates that a community has proactively taken steps to embrace redevelopment and create a community-oriented vision for the future. We are excited to see where the Village of Ellsworth will go with this designation and the support of the MEDC.

Designation signals Ellsworth has identified redevelopment goals and created a community-supported vision for the future

07/24/2026

Beckett & Raeder, Inc. is honored to assist the University of Michigan Library in preserving its internationally recognized collection for future generations. Congratulations to the UM Library community on this significant step forward!

The facility will protect the collection while ensuring ready access for the campus community.