Vessel Architecture

07/15/2026

It's National Hot Dog Day—and around here, that's basically a company holiday.

We take our hot dogs seriously at Vessel. Seriously enough that we have our own Hot Diggety Dogger (yes, Vessel-branded)!

Today we're toasting buns, loading up the toppings, and celebrating one of the great uniters of the office kitchen.

Because whether it's a building or a lunch spread, our philosophy is the same: create places (and cookouts) where people flourish.

The real debate: ketchup or mustard? Settle it in the comments. 🌭

07/10/2026

Good design is in the details ✏️📐

Great architecture isn’t just about the finished building—it’s about the thoughtful decisions that happen at every scale.

From first ideas and material selections to final detailing, every choice contributes to spaces that are functional, enduring, and beautifully crafted.

07/04/2026

Celebrating the freedom to design, the drive to innovate, and the opportunity to build a better future together.

Wishing you and your family a safe, joyful, and memorable Fourth of July.

06/30/2026

A great workplace has something in common with great care environments: it supports people’s daily rhythms.

At Greater Goods, the interior was reimagined to support modern workflows and wellness-focused amenities, including a thoughtfully designed kitchen/break space that becomes a daily anchor point.

This is a small glimpse, but it’s a meaningful one: spaces that support health aren’t always “clinical”—often they’re the everyday moments that reduce stress and build culture.

06/11/2026

One of our favorite “medical-adjacent” moves in senior living? Pairing an indoor pool directly with the gym or physical therapy space.

That adjacency supports rehab, strength, and mobility in a way that feels approachable and lifestyle-driven—more like wellness care than “treatment.” It’s a great example of how care-supportive spaces can be integrated without feeling clinical.

06/04/2026

Communities that thrive over decades are often the ones designed with flexibility built into the foundation—allowing spaces to adapt as care models, technology, and resident expectations evolve.

Our newest article explores how thoughtful planning today can create more resilient communities tomorrow.

Read the full article below.

The senior living market is changing. Occupancy is rising. Resident acuity is increasing. Expectations around aging in place continue to evolve. At the same time, development costs remain under pressure, forcing owners and operators to make careful decisions about where dollars are spent. In that e

05/29/2026

What if senior living and hospitality are solving the same design problem?

Today's most successful environments are focused on experience, wellness, comfort, flexibility, and creating meaningful connections between people and place.

The amenities people expect, the way spaces support social interaction, the emphasis on wellness, and even the design of individual units are increasingly influenced by the same trends.

In our latest article, we explore how the lines between hospitality and senior living are beginning to blur—and why the future of both industries may be defined less by building type and more by human experience.

Read the full article below and let us know: What design trends do you see influencing multiple sectors of the built environment?

For years, hospitality and senior living were viewed as entirely separate design markets. One focused on guests. The other focused on residents. One prioritized experience. The other prioritized care. But that distinction has started to fade. Today, both industries are moving toward the same goal:

05/25/2026

Today, we honor the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Their courage, service, and dedication will never be forgotten.

This Memorial Day, we pause to remember those who gave everything in defense of our freedom and reflect on the lasting impact of their sacrifice.

Thank you to all who have served and to the families who continue to carry their legacy forward.

05/19/2026

One thing we continue to see in senior living design:

The spaces residents use most often usually aren’t the biggest ones.

At Mother of Perpetual Help, the smaller lounge spaces throughout the community create places for quiet conversation, morning coffee, and comfortable connection.

In senior living, bigger isn’t always better.

Smaller, more intimate spaces often create a stronger sense of comfort, dignity, and home.

04/24/2026

The origins of the name Vessel Architecture:

“Hmmm, ‘Vessel’– do you design boats?”

Well, maybe- do you need a boat? And can you pay your bills?

The name of our firm has several roots of origin, ironically having little or nothing to do with seafaring construction.

“Vessel” is a container, or space that contains. Architecture is the creation of space. The word captures both the functional aspect of space and the sculptural aspect of form that we associate with a beautiful piece of pottery.

“Vessel” is an acronym, sort of, from the founding partners' names: Van Winkle and Schwartz. Can you imagine asking some poor receptionist to answer the phone and spit out those names 50 times daily? “Vessel” saves time!

“Vessel” is mentioned in the Bible. We believe that God has sculpted each of our lives in unique ways. Often those of us with the most holes are the most fulfilled. And we do well to remember that none of us succeeds alone.

“Vessel” is a boat. While we prefer to avoid nautical puns, we also understand that one of our most vital jobs is that of helping our clients navigate through the waters of the building process. For many of our clients it is the first time they have been “in this boat”, and we take seriously our responsibility to navigate a safe passage.