Welcome to Blueprint South Dakota, a blog created by architects in South Dakota to provide a forum for public conversations with citizens, city planners, developers, property owners, designers, public office holders and others. Through these conversations, we want to participate with the public and community leaders in the creation of vibrant, prosperous, beautiful and effective places to live, work and play in South Dakota. Please join us in conversing about design and planning issues in our state.

EVENTS: SAY IT LOUD SD Public Keynote
Nationally recognized architect to speak at Augustana UniversityTuesday, September 26th 6:30pm Nationally recognized architect Pascale Sablan, FAIA, NOMA, will speak at Augustana University on Tuesday, Sept. 26 as part of SAY IT LOUD South Dakota, an exhibition spotlighting the contributions of women and diverse designers to South Dakota’s built environment. Sablan’s lecture, which begins at …

EVENTS: SAY IT LOUD South Dakota
NAWIC chapter hosting SAY IT LOUD South Dakota event for kids Sunday, September 24th, 2-4pm at the Washington Pavilion Visual Arts Center The Greater Sioux Falls chapter of the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC), in partnership with the upcoming SAY IT Loud South Dakota exhibit, is hosting a special STEM/STEAM outreach event for …

AIA South Dakota convention 2023: Now and Next
In two weeks, on MONDAY, September 25th and TUESDAY, September 26th, the architects and design professionals of South Dakota will be gathering for the AIA South Dakota annual convention to network, learn, collaborate, celebrate exceptional design and individuals within the industry in our state, commemorate the history of our design community as well as elevate …
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Design in the Hills Recap – Part II
Written by Jenn Johnson, AIA, and Cassie Pospishil, Assoc. AIA Here it is, the long-awaited part II recap of Design in the Hills 2023! We’ve been a bit busy (I’m sure ALL of you can relate) but made some time this morning to reminisce on the events from last month. This is the second part …

Design in the Hills Recap – Part I
Written by Mitchell Woldt, AIA, AIASD Emerging Professionals Committee Member Design in the Hills has always been a great event organized by AIA South Dakota, and this year was no exception. The morning began at Rapid City High School, where we checked in and had a brief opportunity to socialize before boarding either the bus …

SAY IT LOUD: Kristine Day
Growing up, my dad was a residential general contractor. I started working with him at a young age, just as a gopher fetching tools he needed. As I got older, I was able to do more and more to the point where I was one of his hired hands (and the only female I might …
Addressing Behavioral Health Crises Through Architectural Solutions
As an experienced Senior Architect, I’ve been privileged to contribute to projects that have had significant societal impacts. One such pivotal project was the Sanford Bemidji Health Care Crisis Center in Minnesota. This project was more than just an exercise in architectural design. It was a mission to create a transformative environment for a community …
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Designing for Safety: The Transformative Impact of CPTED in K-12 Education
As a certified safety expert, I am committed to making K-12 educational facilities safe havens for learning. In our ever-evolving world, we need to build environments that nurture growth, inspire creativity, and shield our students and staff from harm. It was this pursuit of safety that motivated me to embrace an innovative design strategy called …
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A Comprehensive Analysis of Designing for Resiliency
In an ever-evolving world, each decision we make carries an extensive ripple effect, influencing not only our immediate surroundings but also shaping the wider world. Our collective awareness has grown over the years to recognize that our resources are not limitless, and that it is our shared responsibility to safeguard our planet. The next phase …
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Revitalizing South Dakota State University’s First Bank & Trust Arena
There’s a certain magic in witnessing the evolution of a beloved structure, especially one as iconic as the former Jack Frost Arena, which has served as a beacon of community and athleticism at South Dakota State University since its birth in 1973. As an architect for EAPC Architects Engineers (EAPC), I had the opportunity to …
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