SAY IT LOUD — created by Beyond the Built Environment and curated by Pascale Sablan, FAIA, NOMA — is the activation of a national movement of sharing, protecting and celebrating the journey of the underrepresented to inspire the next generation. SAY IT LOUD: South Dakota has wrapped up its first exhibition in Sioux Falls at …
Our Buildings Are Boxes | Are Building Our Boxes?
Why box-style architecture is bad… For my final post this month, I’ll return to more traditional and much loved past-time of mine, that is, criticism of bad architecture. We’ve got a problem around here. Our buildings are boxes. Or so many an architect (including me) would say. And its not necessarily localized to “here” per …
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Thanksgiving, Blessings, and Success
One of the reasons I enjoy taking on hosting this blog for November is the opportunity to do something… different… particularly around the national holiday we just celebrated. It usually borders on whimsy or sentimentality, and this year we’re going with sentimentality. This month I celebrate my 10th year with TSP, and this year is …
South Dakota: The State Where Even Buildings Have Pioneer Spirit
So, here we are, folks. The place where the buffalo roam, the skies are big, and the buildings, well, they’ve got a story to tell. South Dakota, home to more cows than people (probably), is a state that packs a punch when it comes to architecture, and I’m not talking about prairies or presidents carved …
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Pride and Architecture
The gratefulness and thankfulness that is supposed to accompany this season is somewhat at odds with a culture that preaches one to be “proud” of one’s accomplishments or to take “pride” in their work. How often do we hear hear someone tell us to be “proud” of this or that, or even parents telling their …
An Engineer’s Poem
According to the current State Engineer, Stacy Watters, PE, each state engineer (all the way back to 1898) had to submit a report to legislation showcasing every project of theirs over the previous year. The following report book is from 1908 and the State Engineer at the time included this poem he found. It’s amazing …
Sioux Falls: Sustainability and Climate Action Plan
Last week, the city of Sioux Falls moved into the third and final community engagement phase of the new Sustainability and Climate Action Plan. Public comments are open from March 1- March 21. Community Engagement Phase 3Early 2022. Public comment period of the written Plan.Purpose: To obtain and incorporate as applicable final comment from the public on …
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Architects in Space – Part 2
Okay – one more Ha! You thought you were rid of me, but I’ve got one more post to get in just under the wire, thanks to something a co-worker shared from earlier this year. I’m a sucker for space architecture, and continuing some thematics from my hosting a couple years ago, I offer the …
Thankful for Tradition
Tis the Season! For many, this time of year is about honoring long-lived traditions. For me specifically, it’s about making pumpkin pie (this year I made the crust from scratch), putting up Christmas decorations, Donut Day at school for my kids, and, at some point in the near future, watching the classic Frank Capra film …
Industry Patronage
No, not the “wealthy” kind of patron… In my family, the month of November kicks off with the Solemnity of All Saints (for which most folks go out the evening before on All Hallows Eve – which you might know better as Halloween). It is a great lead-in to the end of the liturgical year, …