Allison Dvorak, AIA, CPHC, is a member of the AIA South Dakota Board of Directors, liaison to the Emerging Professionals and Communication committees, and an architect in Sioux Falls. She received her M.Arch from North Dakota State University and continues to develop her Master's thesis of researching and implementing design theories focused on human centered design through speaking engagements, design practice, and one-on-one client education. Allison lives in Sioux Falls with her husband, son and daughter.
(Sponsored content by Pigott, provided by Gail Caldwell + Herman Miller) “You can teach caregivers mindfulness and mediation techniques, but if you throw them back into the war zone, it’s not going to work.” – Dr. Mark Greenawald, Carilion Clinic Vice Chair, Academic Affairs, Virginia Tech School of Medicine The onset of COVID-19 created insurmountable…
South Dakota lost an architectural giant last week with the passing of Ward Whitwam. As a transplant to South Dakota, I had always heard his name said in reverent tones, a leader in design for the state for as long as many could remember. In honor of his passing and a celebration of his life…
Last week, Amanda Gorman was one of many who made history. As the first national Youth Poet Laureate, Gorman, 22, was also the youngest poet to deliver the presidential inaugural poem, which she finished after the Capitol riot weeks before. See link for video and full text: Amanda Gorman, The Hill We Climb: Kottke.org I…
Shortly after President Biden’s inauguration last week, one of his first acts was to sign an executive order to rejoin the Paris Agreement. Former President Donald Trump had withdrawn the United States from the treaty in 2017, making the U.S. the first to formally leave the treaty in 2020 despite being the second leading country…
South Dakota’s 2021 Legislative Session began last week on Tuesday, January 12th with the State of the State Address address by Governor Kristi Noem. See below for the state address in its entirety as Governor Noem reports on the current condition of the state and outlines her priorities for this upcoming year. As the 2021…
Republishing of Joint Statement from Peter Exley, FAIA, American Institute of Architects (AIA) 2021 President & Robert Ivy, FAIA, AIA Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer. First published January 13th, 2021 Destruction is not an acceptable form of expression. Violence is not a viable policy position. Neither has a place in civil society.…
January 6th, 2021 will forever be remembered as a dark day in our American history. I stood, paced, and cried in horror as I watched the events of this day unfold on the screen in front of me. As the AIA South Dakota Advocacy committee chair, and a member of the Daughters of the American…
Here we are. Who would have thought, bright-eyed and hopeful, at this time last year that things would turn out like they have? 2020, the year that will live in infamy, is over and we can move forward. Most are hoping for their lives to go back to normal, but I challenge us all this…
Hello there. How are you? How are you really? How are you doing this year? This month? Today? It’s ok to not be ok. It’s only been 11 months, but somedays it feels like a lifetime since my post in January stating the US Presidential Candidates on AIA issues. We started this year hopeful and…
(Sponsored content by Pigott) The following article is reposted from Mien Company, a partner of Pigott, by author Dr. Christina Counts. We are now in the midst of a new school year and American students, teachers, and staff are working through a new normal in classrooms to keep COVID-19 from a resurgence this fall. Many districts…