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.
Fall Reflections: Part 3
One of the more fulfilling aspects of being an architect is, at least sometimes, talking about being an architect. Some of this admittedly stems from a sense of pride in my projects, but at least a small portion of it comes from an intuitive, deeply-human acknowledgement of the good that can come from sharing about …
Fall Reflections: Part 2
A client recently asked “why are your fees higher than last time?” A bit of context… the question was in regard to Phase 2 of a larger renovation. The entire project was originally designed, comprehensively, under a separate fee. To accommodate budgets and schedules, it was split into two different, equal sized phases, for construction. …
Fall Reflections: Part 1
It was a misty morning late in October. Autumn weather (or what passes for autumn weather in South Dakota – cold winds, usually some bit of snow, most leaves off the trees, and winter-like apparel required at least in the mornings) had held off for the most part, and this was the first time it …
Register today for the AIA SD 2024 Annual Convention
Early-bird pricing ends Wednesday, Sept. 4 Registration is open for the AIA South Dakota Annual Convention, scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 12 and Friday, Sept. 13 at the Sioux Falls Convention Center. Read more about the speaker lineup and see the full schedule on AIA South Dakota’s website. Get your tickets now to lock in the …
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Tricks of the Trade: How to Effectively Evaluate Ideas
Evaluating ideas is a crucial step in the creative process to determine which concepts are worth pursuing further. Step 1: Clearly Define the Problem or Goal the Idea Aims to Address Ensure the idea aligns with the objectives you want to achieve. In order to do this, one must define the objectives first. Consider factors …
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A Day in the Life of an Architect
Have you ever wondered what a typical day looks like for an architect? Well, you’re in luck because in today’s post I break down what my day commonly looks like. Keep in mind that one of my favorite things about this industry is that no two days are exactly the same and that the experience …
6 Tips for Thinking Creatively
Thinking creatively involves exploring new ideas, making connections between seemingly unrelated concepts, and generating unique solutions to problems. Read some tips to foster creative thinking!
Join us for Design in the Hills 2024
Design in the Hills is unique in the design world; although there are sponsors and continuing education credits, very little of it is provided in a traditional classroom setting. The conference is interactive and mobile. Design in the Hills is a unique gathering of architects, landscape architects, interior designers, engineers and artists from across the …
South Dakota Architect named one of National Young Architect Award Recipients 2024
AIA National has announced this year’s 2024 award for the Young Architect Award. These early career architects have been recognized with the Young Architects Award for their exceptional leadership and significant contributions to the architecture profession, including environmental advocacy, increasing access to great design, and mentoring future architects. Of this year’s recipients, one South Dakota architect was …
AIA SD leaders visit with all 3 members of SD’s delegation
Cover image: AIA SD President Jeff Nelson, AIA, and AIA SD President-elect Justin Oleson, AIA, meet with U.S. Sen. John Thune to discuss federal issues that impact our state and country. They are by Lakisha Ann Woods, CAE, EVP and CEO of AIA, AIA President-elect Evelyn Lee, FAIA, NOMA, and AIA President Kimberly Dowdell, AIA, …
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