Sparkflight Studios

New photovoltaic covered parking and vehicle charging stations at Clark County's downtown Government Center are now open to the public.  Our studio is proud to have contributed this design to help Clark County "Go Green!"  If you own an electric vehicle see how to use the free charging stations on ChargePoint's website . Explore animations about how solar photovoltaic systems work and see real-time data for Clark County's solar installations here...  Learn more about this project by clicking here and scrolling down... This project is part of Clark County Real Property Management's (RPM) Energy Management program and is primarily funded by grant funds targeted for Energy Efficiency and Conservation under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).  Cesar Ceballos is RPM's Design and Construction Administrator for the project.  Our design team includes Wright Engineers and KJE Consulting Engine...

A whimsical Thanksgiving treat from one of our favorite websites, Inhabitat..."Design will save the world." Explore the textured architecture of food with Matthew Carden's surprising and artistic photographs of enlarged food.  Link to story here... Happy Thanksgiving!

Eco Home Fair is at Element Hotel in Summerlin this Saturday. This free event is all about families having fun and learning green living strategies to live well, cut costs, and help the environment. You will be amazed by the easy, green ideas and choices for everyday living and delighted by the arts, entertainment and the activities for kids. Come out and meet undersea explorer, filmmaker, and eco champion Scott Cassell. He is on site to meet the public, talk about why he is committed to green living, and showcase his electric submarine. You’ve seen him on Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, and National Geographic. Additionally enjoy interactive demonstrations, local green merchant and professional vendor booths, and great green giveaways. Anne Johnson, AIA will be there to answer questions and provide brief consultations for greening your home and office with sustainable architectural strategies. We would love to visit with you at Eco Home Fair.

Anne Johnson, AIA challenged ourselves to green our office more in 2011.  We are using Harvard’s green office program to evaluate how we are doing in nine impact areas.  The process involves four leaves, or levels, of discovery and commitment to green office practices.  The following is our Leaf One: [1. Energy] We shut off computers and the lights when not in use, saving energy and cost. ( Tips & Tricks HQ ) [2. Recycling] Easy to access bins encourage staff to reduce, reuse, and recycle paper and plastic goods. We are creative with repurposing and reusing office furniture, including our shared office and conference space. [3. Waste Reduction] E-mails and phones are our primary contact tools.  To further reduce waste production, we limit the use of hard-copy files. We print or copy on both sides of a page whenever possible, and keep a pile of reusable scrap paper near our printer. [4. Publication] For marketing publications, we use an e-newsletter...

Monofacial photovoltaic (PV) panels cover this LED-lit structural steel shade structure over 20 visitor parking spaces.  This solar power array generates Renewable Energy Credits for Clark County and offsets their electric utility bill.  Electric vehicle charging stations are available to a majority of the parking spaces.   The project also includes an accessible, public, interactive kiosk at the main entrance to Government Center. This project is part of Clark County Real Property Management's (RPM) En ergy Management program and is primarily funded by grant funds targeted for Energy Efficiency and Conservation under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).   Cesar Ceballos is RPM's Design and Construction Administrator for the project.  Our design team includes Wright Engineers and KJE Consulting Engineers.  Contractor is Jetstream Construction . Read more about Clark County's newest photovoltaic projects by clicking here an...

Work is progressing steadily at the Clark County Government Center Photovoltaic project. Our design team includes Wright Engineers and KJE Consulting Engineers.  Contractor is Jetstream Construction . Read more about the project funding  here...  or see the finished result here... More photographs here...  structural steel frame shoring  aerial courtesy of Jetstream Construction completed structural frame x-brace detail at beams Read more about the project here...

Once regarded as reserved for residential outposts, straw bale construction is gaining attention in the public sector.  High energy efficiency, qualification for LEED points, and the ability to use community labor can tip the scales in favor of using this traditional building method.  For the following projects, all of the positive qualities of straw bale added up to a win-win for the owners and builders. Transit Facility The Santa Clarita Transit Maintenance Facility is a LEED Gold-certified building by HOK Architects.  The facility includes a 22,000 square-foot administration building, 25,000 square-foot maintenance building, bus wash facility, [compressed natural gas] CNG fueling island for city buses, and a publicly accessible CNG fueling station.  Completed in 2006, the project cost was $20 million. (Harnack, Leah. "Going Green in the Maintenance Department," Mass Transit Magazine , March 14, 2011.) Read more about it here . Photos by HOK . High School...

Usually, solar panels are visualized on the roofs of buildings, or scattered somewhere in the desert.  However, thanks to thin film photovoltaic and other new technologies, we will start seeing more building integrated solar production, known as BIPV . One new solution for a solar-powered building surface is the HeliOptix solar façade.  Syracuse University’s Center for Excellence in Environmental and Energy Systems is the first place this new and innovative solar façade is being tested. HeliOptix has designed an integrated, tracking solution that uses the concentrating power of Fresnel lenses.  These windows generate energy by using an array of tiny generators that “follow the sun like a field of transparent flowers.  Each lens-and-solar-cell molecule collects light onto a photovoltaic cell while heating up a trickle of water.  (Ferris, David. “ Innovate: Windows That Generate Energy”   Sierra Magazine , March/April 2011: Page 22). Click here to view ...

It's a pleasure to intersect with the arts for a Dance Classroom addition to Winchester Cultural Center.  Anne Johnson, AIA will provide full architectural and interior design services.  In keeping with their tradition, space will be provided for future public art.  This project is funded by HUD's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program.

M ake a positive impact with Earth Day Network's A Billion Acts of Green campaign, by committing to action lasting well beyond Earth Day. Our pledge? To cost-effectively integrate green into our work for you, and review sustainable practices in our own office. At the same time attention is focused globally, take a look at our own amazing back yard...enjoy a hike in the Valley of Fire, check out a local CSA like Meadow Valley , or simply enjoy the weather at an Earth Day Festival. Local Events: GreenFest Mixer (Apr 14) & Festival (Apr 16) LV Green Chamber of Commerce (April 21) Project Green - Pittman Wash Trail Building (April 23) International A Billion Acts of Green: Share your green action.

Accessibility covers a broad range of needs, including the elderly, persons in wheelchairs, the blind, and persons with other disabilities. Unfortunately, non-accessible properties can expose property owners and managers to litgation.  Have you ever heard of someone falling because of a lack of railings on a property or broken concrete sidewalks?       Property owners and managers often find themselves in need of cost-effective non-accessibility mitigation to address these hazardous and illegal situations. Together with civil engineer Ken Erlanger of KJE Consulting Engineers, we are using our expertise to provide solutions.   Homeowner's Associations (HOA), Residential Property Management groups, and Commercial Property Development groups, among others, can all benefit from a consultation.  Call us for assistance with your or your clients' needs. Anne Johnson, AIA design services include ADA, building code and feasib...

Over the remainder of 2011, we're reviewing sustainable practices in our office.  Although accustomed to many "green" habits, we've never evaluated our office's process and progress.    Many of you have also adopted some of these first steps of greening:  turning off equipment and lights not in use, recycling, printing on both sides of paper, and using teleconferencing whenever possible.  What are areas for improvement? Using Harvard’s green office program as a basis, we’re using checklists in nine impact categories to discover how we can grow greener.   You’re invited to join us in this year of discovery.   Please post and share your experience too!

We’ve been busy in the office with a few government projects, as well as some additional design opportunities.  Two of our projects are focused on energy production in the form of photovoltaic covered parking.  B oth are funded through the Department of Energy, as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).   We're optimistic that President Obama's new Better Buildings Initiative for energy efficiency will bring new opportunities in the commercial sector.  Energy efficiency combined with energy production is an ideal mix for retrofits.   Clark County Development Services' Russell Road Campus is home to a newly constructed steel parking canopy made up of photovoltaic panels covering 17 employee parking spaces.  An interactive, public kiosk is provided in the main lobby to demonstrate the renewable energy production process.    Starting construction this spring, Clark County Gover...

Green Drinks Las Vegas is hosting a viewing party for TEDxManhattan's “Changing the Way We Eat” on Saturday, February 12. Sustainable agriculture goes hand in hand with sustainable design as it also embraces the triad concepts of environmental, social and economic viability.  Just like design requires careful choices, understanding where our food comes from, and the impact of its production, allows us to make food choices that support the health of the planet and its inhabitants.  Supermarkets and farmer's markets aren't our only options in the Las Vegas valley.  Perhaps you'll be inspired to give urban farming a try in your own backyard. From the Green Drinks website: This is a one-day event in NYC highlighting the sustainable food movement and the work being done to shift our food system from industrially-based agriculture to one in which healthy, nutritious food is accessible to all. Attendees are invited to bring healthy recipes and local produce to sh...