After the tragic fire at Notre Dame a couple weeks ago, attention quickly shifted to reconstruction- but the tricky question of the best way to rebuild may take a great while longer to reconcile. Straightforward preservation calls for reconstruction with matching materials when adequate documentation is available and sources for those materials still exist (both…
A few weeks ago, fellow emerging professional and architect Sienna Wegehaupt and I were invited to SDPB to discuss Blueprint South Dakota with host of “In the Moment,” Lori Walsh. We were so excited to be able to share our thoughts for how this blog can become a space to advocate for design in our…
Thursday of National Architecture Week focuses on the importance of Civic Engagement. The following AIA articles highlight the power that architects and design professionals can have when combining forces with civic leaders and invested community members. The first article explains how working design sessions helped three communities who were rebounding from natural disasters or economic…
From AIA National: The 2019 COTE® Top Ten program highlights projects that meet the AIA Committee on the Environment’s rigorous criteria for social, economic, and ecological value. The COTE® Top Ten Plus designation denotes projects with exemplary performance data and post occupancy lessons https://www.aia.org/resources/6126355-2019-cote-top-ten-awards/?utm_source=real-magnet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=hna19-3-cote-top-ten
Although architects are most commonly known for designing buildings, the realm of architectural design often expands into graphic design, typography, furniture design, fashion, landscapes, lighting, acoustics, and urban planning. These various but related fields often merge when considering the design of a new structure. It is impossible to successfully design a new building if you…
By: Sandra Callies, AIA Sandra Callies, AIA, NCARB is a licensed architect working in the State of Washington at Ron Wright & Associates/Architects. She is originally from Sioux Falls and has also lived in Spearfish. She is passionate about South Dakota’s incredible geological landscapes. Sandra enjoys being outdoors and running half marathon races. She received her…
Architects are all too familiar with the threat of fire. The threat is not a new one; fire is one of the biggest risks to the built environment – as well as natural resources and life. Modern codes dictate construction types, structure height, building area, and egress distance in order to protect occupants from fire.…
As the first office featured in this series, I thought a good first impression was important. Following are the photos taken shortly after a renovation project a couple years back. I hope the images convey the goals of openness, natural light, collaborative space and a light touch on the historic structure that we aimed for.…
Founded in 2017, the Sioux Falls Skatepark Association was created with the goal to bring a new skatepark facility to the Sioux Falls area. Within the past few years, this group has held various fundraising events, participated in community events, and developed their non-profit status to benefit those in the area who find an outlet…
Each mid-July since 2011, designers from across South Dakota come together to celebrate and elevate the design work happening in the Black Hills. The Call for Presentations for 2019 is now open.