Sparkflight Studios

For almost two years, with support from numerous organizations and individuals, the concept of a contemporary art museum in the downtown 18b District has been gaining momentum.  It's comprised of three primary components: Museum, Outdoor Park/Events Space and Education Center. Initially conceived by the great-grandaughter of Benny Binion, Katie O'Neill, the proposed 35,000 square feet museum is titled The Modern Contemporary Art Museum .  Three floors will include a gallery, gift shop, restaurant, event space and the The Center for Creativity.  Emerging artists and designers will be able to access laboratories, design tools, and workshops.  Visitors and locals will enjoy "Luminous Park," an outdoor sculpture garden. Fundraising is still in progress, and an office is now open at Art Square.  Interested parties are welcome to drop by for more information. Learn more at the website:  www.themodernlv.org

Rulon Earl - Community Center Lounge and Computer Bar Residents at Rulon Earl Manor will be treated to a Grand Opening event for the newly remodeled Rulon Earl Community Center this December. Rulon Earl - Entry View We're pleased to complete this 2,200 SF exterior and interior remodel for wheelchair and general accessibility requirements for a 1979-built community center and surrounding site.  Improvements include Audex systems for hearing impairment and braile and tactile signage, dumpster enclosure improvements for accessibility, and modification of concrete flatwork for sidewalks, curbing and ramps.  Landscaping was upgraded adjacent to new accessible route through Phase I community and 88,000 SF of interior streets were repaved. Rulon Earl - Community Center Floor Plan Materials were selected for ease of maintenance, longevity,  and a contemporary look.  Exterior and interior were finished with a bright yet sophisticated color palette to enliven ...

We celebrate the courageous men and women who have served to keep our country strong and free. Thank you to veterans and their families.

Caught sight of a Smart Car charging at the photovoltaic canopy after an appointment at Clark County Government Center today.  It's very satisfying to see our project in use! Learn more about this project in our previous posts. December 2011 - Opening September 2011 - Construction February 2011 - September 2011 - Construction Background Since construction completed nearly three years ago, there are many charging stations at hotels on the Strip, at downtown's Container Park and Zappos headquarters, and North Las Vegas' City Hall. See a map of other nearby charging stations here: Enter zip code 89155 This installation operates on the Chargepoint system, and you can learn more, download an app, or find other locations at their website .

As discovered on a recent visit to Phoenix’s Sky Harbor airport, bottle fillers are becoming a more commonplace way to hydrate.  According to the Pacific Institute , global sales of bottled water are growing faster than any other beverage.  If you must buy a bottle, refill it for seconds.  Better yet, get a reusable bottle in BPA-free plastic, steel, aluminum or even glass. Ready for a refill? Elkay EZH20 bottle filling station has a fill rate of 1.1 gallon-per minute (gpm) for a refrigerated unit, which is three times faster than a standard drinking fountain.     The unit is sensor-activated, so users don’t have to touch anything. The bottle can be held or placed on the designed platform to balance the bottle as it is being filled. The intuitive, touchless operation helps keep the station clean and germ free. What makes Elkay EZH20 bottle filling station appealing? It fills bottles with filtered water in seconds and providing sustainable benefits b...

From WPA to the U.S. Interstate Highway system, to ARRA and local bond initiatives, projects for public works and infrastructure keep cities and the economy humming along, but can they do even more.  Can economic, environmental and social synergies contribute even more to our communities?  The developers of Envision (TM) say "Yes!" Envision is a "green" sustainability rating system for infrastructure projects.  Introduced in 2012, it's the result of a joint collaboration between the Zofnass Program for Sustainable Infrastructure at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design and the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI). Public works and infrastructure projects can now receive the recognition for sustainable approaches that their architectural and development projects have received through LEED, Living Building Challenge, Green Globes and similar third-party rating systems. Similar to LEED, the system has 60 sustainability criteria, ...

Melina Soto is a versatile designer with strong graphic skills and interests that span from architectural design to fine arts.  Her experience includes various tenant improvement for large Property Managers in Clark County as well as large companies such as Republic Services. At Anne Johnson, AIA, clients’ projects benefit from Soto’s expertise in architectural design, great understanding of spatial qualities and a rich backgound in design-build process.  Melina has been with the firm since 2013. A graduate of University of Nevada Las Vegas, Soto went on to achieve a Master of Architecture degree at the University of Utah.   During this time, as a student with Studio 23, Soto completed a 1,000 square feet design-build residential project including construction with recycled and renewable materials and passive solar system to accommodate a   family on the Navajo Reservation.  Following graduation, she went on to be a project administrator ...

Nindo House - Finland Micro-housing can be defined by size at under 1,000 square feet of living space.   A very talented and resourceful couple in Iowa have managed to build a 572 square foot home, which they put on wheels in case they want to move.   While its small size certainly qualifies for micro, other attributes add to the livability of the design. What makes micro-housing attractive?   Compact and efficient space management immediately come to mind along with the inherent need for a clutter-free, minimalist built environment.   Portability can also be a useful feature for rural settings.   While this home features an eclectic bohemian aesthetic, it’s easy to see how the space-saving attributes could translate into a modern style.   Special features that charm in Tim and Deb’s “Movable House” are the pushed out dining area, which can be detached and loaded inside for transport and the creative catwalk running across the ceiling.   On the ...

It's Earth Day today!  There were many local events to enjoy over the weekend.  Take a moment to catch up on global events at the Earth Day Network website .  Add your own " Act of Green ," or take local action by supporting Green Chips , or cleaning up your own neighborhood.  Project Green is one hands-on local organization that welcomes volunteers to improve our green and waterways.  Green Chips helms a broader effort to "build community through collaborative partnerships for a more sustainable future." See some more Earth Day inspirations from past years here... Celebrate the day!

The Green California 2014 conference is just wrapping up today.  It was exciting to learn of the latest developments in California Green action and legislation.   Sessions included innovation, electric vehicles and EV infrastructure, government best practices, green schools, energy and buildings, funding strategies, water, farm to fork to fuel and an Expo with exciting new products. Energy policy updates are of special interest since CALGreen and the updated 2013 California Energy Code are barometers for code updates coming regionally and nationally.   Other sessions explained current developments in renewable energy production--including renewable natural gas created from organic waste.  What an incredible way to divert from the landfill!  Learn more at the CleanWorld website.  Related to the CALGreen policies, were updates on water policy related to the current drought and graywater usage. Our April post focused on the use of graywater in fi...

Being a native of the Southwest, and living in Las Vegas for a decade, I've eagerly awaited building codes that support graywater use in our region.  Our water is a precious resource, right?  Recently, our residential clients are beginning to inquire about graywater use as well. What is Graywater? According to the California Graywater Code, "Graywater" means untreated wastewater that has not been contaminated by any toilet discharge...and does not present a threat from contamination by unhealthful...wastes.  "Graywater" includes but is not limited to wastewater from bathtubs, showers, bathroom washbasins, clothes washing machines, and laundry tubs, but does not include wastewater from kitchen sinks or dishwashers. How is Graywater used?  Graywater is acceptable for use in landscape irrigation, however the landscape system must be designed to prevent ponding or spray of graywater.  If spray irrigation is part of the landscape design, for example at a tur...

Hosted by Green Chips , the Green by Southwest Conference is a 3-day event held this week starting Thursday, April 3 and running through Saturday, April 5.  Events include: leadership conferences breakout sessions professional education expo and mixer bicycling and walking tours It's an opportunity to re-connect, learn and be inspired.  Hope to see you there! Learn more at the Green Chips website and register at the USGBC NV website .

image by Desert Sol team The 2nd Place Global winner from the 2013 Solar Decathlon, Desert Sol, is now at its permanent home at the Springs Preserve in Las Vegas.  Admission to DesertSol is free for members or with paid general admission. Built by teams of UNLV students, the 754-square-foot sustainable solar-powered home took over two years to conceptualize, design and build.  Per the Springs Preserve website, its features include: Solar panels Low-flow fixtures and a multipurpose water system that combines plumbing and fire sprinklers Remote access to temperature controls Strategic window placement to promote cross-ventilation A custom screen along the outdoor deck that filters sun in the summer and retracts to allow warmth from the sun in winter  Intended primarily as a vacation home The bullet points don't begin to describe the beauty and function of this home.  See it in person to experience the textured and weathered materials, contemporary int...

“Life's most persistent and urgent question is,  'What are you doing for others?"  - Martin Luther King, Jr.  A quote we're keeping in mind this week in memory of Dr. King and his stand for social justice.  In life, do our daily interactions treat others with kindness and dignity? In our work of architecture and design, are we creating functional and beautiful spaces for our clients?  What are we doing to enhance the lives of people in our community and world? More inspiration can be found at The Kindness Wall .