Great Spaces, Great Places
Diversity in South Dakota matters. Representation matters. Please consider submitting for the following exhibition! The non-profit group, Beyond the Built Environment is calling for architectural design submissions from diverse architectural designers for the SAY IT LOUD – NOW Virtual Exhibition! Submission: September 1, 2020 11:59pm EST 50.00 USD Announcement of the winners: Weekly SUBMISSION: One …
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Initially published on March 20, 2020 Republished with permissions from April Hughes, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP, Board President, AIA Chicago Board of Directors at AIA Chicago Cover image credit: HPZS Office Headquarters, Chicago, Illinois By: April Marie Hughes, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C Dear Architectural Firm Owners, Like many of you, I could never have …
Continue reading “How Architecture Firms can Apply for an SBA COVID-19 Disaster Relief Loan”
U.S. Census Bureau defines rural as any population, housing, or territory NOT in an urban area. So by its definition, rural is not a self-defined condition, but it is the absence of the urban. Then it goes forward to define urbanized areas as having a population of 50,000 or more. The green area on the map above (US Census) represents all the area in the US that falls under the classification of rural based on this definition.
It was 8:49 on Tuesday evening when an email notification came across my phone. I was watching a movie but decided I’d see what the email had to say. It was from a colleague regarding an article in the Architectural Record. The article by Cathleen McGuigan (editor-in-chief of Architectural Record) was about a preliminary draft of an executive order rewriting the Guiding Principles for Federal Architecture (a document written by the late Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan and issued in 1962 that mandates Federal architecture standards). According to Architectural Record, the new Guiding Principles will be rewritten and will be called “Making Federal Buildings Beautiful Again.”
The Architect’s Handbook of Professional Practice explicitly addresses the limited content of the architect’s drawings this way: “It is important that all parties understand that construction documents are not intended to be a complete set of instructions on how to construct a building. Construction means, methods, techniques, sequences, procedures, and site safety precautions are customarily assigned as responsibilities of the contractor to give the contractor full latitude in preparing bids and carry out the construction phase.”
Assuming you haven’t gotten to your Thanksgiving dessert yet, here is a bit of fluffy (but light) reading about the Architecture of the Thanksgiving Dinner. I got my start last night (see cover image), and think I fared well, towards the informal. But I wonder if we can apply the realm of design and planning …
My initial plan for today didn’t come together, so a quick, shareable, fluffy video post is on tap instead; One of my favorite designers, illustrates how, at the core, an architect’s skill set is valuable outside of the regular realm of professional practice – in this instance specifically, in regards to “systems” thinking at a …
When CNN (or any other mainstream news agency) shares something about architecture, I’m always interested. This was an nice “fluffy” find this weekend: https://www.cnn.com/style/article/lego-architecture-design/index.html I’m one of those architects who owe a debt to LEGO for sparking and fostering a curiosity about the built environment from an early age. This sentiment is fairly pervasive in …
Happy November! The cold temps are truly upon is as we’ve seen this past week, and for me that gets me inwardly focused on my house as I get it buttoned up and ready for winter. Fall is my favorite time to look through one of my favorite magazines – This Old House. Recently I …
Continue reading “When to hire an architect – This Old House”
A little over a year ago, a group of AIA South Dakota members banded together to create a virtual space for public outreach to “build strong South Dakota communities and to connect ideas and expertise to address challenges in our state.” As the AIA South Dakota Communications board liaison, I wanted to take a moment …
Continue reading “Great Spaces, Great Places: 1 Great Year, 100 Great Posts.”