When Austin ISD’s Menchaca Elementary School received the news in 2015, its original building, constructed in 1973, received a failing score on the district’s facility assessment.

Located in Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Foundry Ridge Meadows is a social service and integrated health facility that helps young people and their families find the care, connection, and support they need.

Campus Dental near the University of British Columbia campus focuses on providing general and specialized dentistry to the University of British Columbia students, residents, employees, and faculty.

A first-of-its-kind women’s urgent care and med spa, Femme is intentionally designed to support wellness, provide accurate diagnoses, and meet the needs of women and their families. 

Resplendence MedSpa in Los Angeles, California, takes beauty beyond skin deep.  

Saint Luke's Rehabilitation Center in Overland Park, Kansas, was built so that patients and family members would not have to travel hours away for specialized treatment.

Setting the Mood with Nature-Inspired Design

Over 45 years ago, a young couple bought a small subway car diner that grew into a very successful family business. 

A Fresh Take on Sunday School Design at Granger Community Church

Pastor Tim Stevens has no qualms about leaving some church traditions behind. “For decades the prevailing philosophy was to paint Sunday schools in plain colors, creating a subdued environment that wouldn’t get the kids too excited, so they would sit still and listen to the stories. We weren’t interested in that. We wanted an environment where the kids would be dragging parents back to church, rather than screaming when they got dropped off.”

Designed for Quality Care

Healthcare design requires a special blend of aesthetics, performance and empathy. The architects and designers at IKM Incorporated located in Pittsburgh, PA use these concepts to develop customized healthcare spaces, which make up 85 percent of their work. “As architects we feel we have the ability to improve healing and affect the quality of treatment,” says Matt Hansen, Architect and Project Manager for IKM. “We believe that if given the opportunity we can be an asset to nurses and physicians and help them to do their job in a more efficient way.” IKM bleds traditional, transitional and contemporary materials and colors to create specialized spaces.

A Soft Landing for Traumatized Kids

Designing a space that engages kids is one thing. Making it kid-proof is even tougher. Bring­ing these two elements together in a building that serves as a first stop for kids just extracted from dangerous and abusive situations is a feat of imagination, engineering and passion.

After a long day of meetings and hauling luggage in uncomfortable shoes, the weary traveler wants comfortable accommodations, not surprises. Branded hotel properties offer guests the expected, a consistent level of quality, service and amenities that help to make travel of any sort more pleasant. Maintaining a high standard involves significant planning and maintenance for the hotels, because as welcome as travelers are, they tend to have big expectations and little regard for how they treat the space. “Guests are not the most careful,” says Brett Rossell, Director of Purchasing for Theraldson Hospitality, a Fargo, ND- based developer, builder and manager of hotels, with over 200 business-oriented properties. “They will do some serious damage.” Rossell says this matter of factly, and it doesn’t seem to bother him. Rossell’s business is keeping properties nice, and he has a lot of experience and resources to help him do that. “We franchise with all of the major brands,” says Rossell, “Courtyard Inn, Residence Inn, Hilton Garden Inn, Staybridge Suites and more.”