Michael Hsu Office of Architecture: Foster Village

Michael Hsu Office of Architecture Names Foster Village as 2026 Design for All Partner

July 3, 2026

Location: Austin, TX, USA

Austin-based architecture firm selects nonprofit dedicated to children and families in foster care for its annual pro-bono design partnership.

AUSTIN, TEXAS — Michael Hsu Office of Architecture (MHOA) is pleased to announce Foster Village as its 2026 Design for All partner. Now in its fifth year, the Design for All program awards $20,000 in pro-bono architectural and interior design services to a nonprofit organization whose mission and vision align with MHOA’s commitment to community-centered design.

Abigail E. Keller Foundation building design by Michael Hsu Office of Architecture:

Foster Village is an Austin-based nonprofit founded in 2016 by Chrystal Smith, herself a foster parent and advocate, who saw firsthand the gaps in support available to children and families within the child welfare system. The organization operates resource centers in North Austin and Dripping Springs, serving Travis, Williamson, Hays, Caldwell and Bastrop counties. To date, Foster Village has served more than 14,700 children in the greater Austin area and provided over $9 million in direct support to children and families. They’ve equipped caregivers with essential items like clothing, car seats, beds and toiletries, as well as ongoing therapeutic support and community programming.

Central Texas Table of Grace by Michael Hsu Office of Architecture:

“Design for All reflects our belief that good design should not be a luxury,” said Michael Hsu, FAIA, Founder of Michael Hsu Office of Architecture. “It is a commitment to lending our skills — empathy, material curiosity, and a sense of place — to communities that need it most.

Selected from a highly competitive 2026 applicant pool following a rigorous review and interview process, Foster Village was chosen for the depth of its mission, the thoughtfulness of its project vision and the alignment of its values with those of the firm.

This project builds on MHOA’s growing investment in Central Texas’ foster care community. Following its Design for All partnership with Austin Angels in 2022, MHOA now has the opportunity to collaborate with Foster Village, whose trauma-informed resource centers have served children and families navigating the child welfare system since 2017, to create a new space focused on healing, creativity and connection in nature.

Austin Angels building design by Michael Hsu Office of Architecture:

Foster Village and Austin Angels have long worked alongside one another to strengthen support for children and families navigating foster care, each providing distinct but complementary services within Central Texas’ child welfare community.

“For children in the foster care system, the spaces they inhabit matter deeply,” said Chrystal Smith, CEO & Founder of Foster Village. “Partnering with Michael Hsu Office of Architecture gives us the opportunity to expand our nature and art therapy programs offering a healing haven for the kids who need it most.”

The design process begins in July and concludes with a final presentation in September 2026. MHOA’s rendering and floor plans will serve as the primary fundraising tools for Foster Village’s capital project, making design the critical first step in bringing the space to life.

The Design for All program was established to reflect the firm’s core belief that exceptional design is not a luxury — it is a tool for community impact. Previous partners have included American YouthWorks (2025), Central Texas Table of Grace (2024), The Women’s Home (2023) and Austin Angels (2022).
For more information about the Design for All program, visit hsuoffice.com/design-for-all or contact [email protected].

The Women’s Home building design by Michael Hsu Office of Architecture:

Michael Hsu Office of Architecture

Founded in Austin in 2005, Michael Hsu Office of Architecture is a nationally recognized architecture and interior design practice with more than 60 employees. The firm’s work spans hospitality, mixed-use development, adaptive reuse and civic projects, and is defined by the belief that design is for everyone.

Foster Village

Foster Village is a nonprofit organization bridging the gap between families navigating foster care and the community that wants to support them. Founded in Austin, Texas in 2016, Foster Village provides holistic support to children and families experiencing foster care through critical resources, meaningful connection and community advocacy. Today, Foster Village spans 13 affiliate locations nationwide, driven by the belief that every child deserves a village beyond the system. Learn more at fostervillageaustin.org.

Michael Hsu Office of Architecture Names Foster Village as 2026 Design for All Partner images / information received 010726

Location: Austin, TX, United States of America.