AFFORDABLE HOUSING | A cyclic conversation without resolution  

  With rapid population growth developers, designers, contractors, and finance are at work to provide adequate housing supply. Housing is required to facilitate the recruitment and retention of the influx of the workforce. Yes, housing is in high demand. Yes, we need to accommodate the influx. But – are we planning for the long-term impact…

Sioux Falls Homeless Study | A Naïve Perspective

In reality, we are paying a price for homelessness and the cost saving alone should influence decisions for those who are unable to recognize the complexities of the different factors that can shape a human life.  Reflecting on six years of academia at SDSU brings back many memories of spending long hours on campus, only…

Blueprint for Better: Mayoral Panel at AIASD ’20

Back by popular demand, the second annual mayoral panel at this year’s AIA South Dakota Convention included four leaders representing communities across the state. While their cities vary greatly in geography, economy, diversity and population, the mayors found common ground in the challenges they are all facing in planning for a better future. Moderated by…

Why did a gerontologist attend Design in the Hills?

Leacey Brown – SDSU Extension Gerontology Field Specialist Design in the Hills is an event that typically attracts architects, designers, engineers, and other professionals in the building industry so why would a gerontologist attend?  For the benefit of readers not familiar with gerontology, it is the study of aging. In contrast, geriatrics is a medical…

Series: Architectural Working Conditions

This month’s Architectural Working Conditions features Design in the Hills, held in Rapid City. With busy schedules and deadlines, it is a great occasion when architects from firms across the state are able to get together to think creatively about design issues that affect our communities. The video below shows a clip of the design…

Zoned Out

Last Sunday, the state of Oregon followed Minneapolis’ lead on zoning for single-family housing.  Sioux Falls, and much of South Dakota, is facing serious housing challenges.  This state-wide effort would allow duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, and attached townhomes in any Oregon community above 25,000 people that is currently zoned as single-family (and to a lesser degree…

ICYMI: Blueprint SD meets South Dakota Public Broadcasting

A few weeks ago, fellow emerging professional and architect Sienna Wegehaupt and I were invited to SDPB to discuss Blueprint South Dakota with host of “In the Moment,” Lori Walsh. We were so excited to be able to share our thoughts for how this blog can become a space to advocate for design in our…

Affordable Housing & Sustainability

South Dakota Housing Development Authority (SDHDA) was created by the South Dakota Legislature in 1973 with a stated mission to provide decent, safe, and affordable housing to low and moderate income South Dakotans. SDHDA is a self-supporting, non-profit entity. SDHDA utilizes housing bonds, tax credits, and other federal and state resources to fund housing programs which provide…