02 phi Innovation φ

phi Innovation φ operates as a specialized initiative under the umbrella of the Janice D. Steenblik Memorial Foundation (JDSMF), embodying Janice's values through the transformative power of thoughtful design and community engagement. As the design and built environment arm of JDSMF, we translate Janice's commitment to education, family connection, and appreciating the world's beauty into tangible spaces and places that enhance human experience.

Our Approach

At phi Innovation φ, we believe in the profound ability of design to create positive change in communities worldwide. Our work integrates three complementary focus areas:

Educational Infrastructure Development

We design and develop educational spaces that foster learning, growth, and community connection. Our flagship project, the Janice D. Steenblik Learning Centre in Uganda's Kibaale District, exemplifies this commitment—creating sustainable, culturally responsive educational infrastructure that serves as both functional learning space and community anchor. Working closely with local educational visionaries like Peter Isingoma, we ensure our designs address specific community needs while incorporating innovative approaches to sustainability and pedagogy.

Design Innovation Services

We harness the power of design as a tool for social impact, providing professional design services to charitable organizations that might otherwise lack access to such expertise. Our team collaborates with nonprofit partners to develop tailored design solutions that amplify their mission and enhance their effectiveness. From architectural interventions to environmental design, we believe thoughtfully crafted spaces can transform how communities function and thrive. Our particular interest in sculpture as a method for built environment innovation allows us to explore the intersection of art, architecture, and community engagement in novel ways.

Community Engagement Initiatives

We create hands-on opportunities for students and community members to participate in the design and development of their own environments. Through summer design/build workshops, collaborative planning processes, and educational programming, we empower communities to shape the spaces they inhabit. These initiatives not only produce tangible improvements to physical environments but also build capacity, transfer skills, and foster deeper community connections—translating academic concepts into real-world applications that make a meaningful difference.

Our Relationship to JDSMF

As an initiative of the Janice D. Steenblik Memorial Foundation, phi Innovation φ extends the foundation's mission into the realm of the built environment. While JDSMF supports educational advancement through fellowships and various programmatic initiatives, phi Innovation φ focuses specifically on how thoughtful design can advance educational opportunities, strengthen community bonds, and celebrate the beauty of our world—three values central to Janice's legacy.

Our work complements other JDSMF programs, creating a holistic approach to honoring Janice's memory through both individual support (fellowships) and community-focused design interventions. This integrated approach allows the foundation to address both immediate educational needs and the long-term infrastructure that sustains learning communities.

Through our specialized focus on the intersection of design, education, and community development, phi Innovation φ helps fulfill JDSMF's broader mission while bringing specialized expertise to projects that require design thinking and built environment solutions.

Much of the work takes place through phi architecture φ