Sparkflight Studios

Wishes to all our clients and colleagues for a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.  Gratitude for all that you are and do. And for the day after Thanksgiving... Kudos to REI for their #OptOutside campaign for Black Friday. "Outdoor experiences build better people who are healthier, who make better decisions, and who can take other people, other creatures, and other perspectives into account. Spending time outside is pretty much the opposite of standing in line at a store to get a discount on something you probably don’t really need. That’s why I’m such a fan of taking Black Friday, or any day really, as a chance to step away from our materialistic urges and connect with the outdoors and the people and places we care about. Thank you, REI, for giving us a gentle push in that direction." - excerpt from "The Solace of Vertical Places" by Brady Robinson (read more here... ) Enjoy another take on Thanksgiving with the architecture of food i...

Have you found a commercial space or home that you like, but want to convert it into a space that you love?   Whether a property is already purchased or being considered, we can assist you in your planning.   Invest two to three hours with a professional architect and let us show you the design possibilities so it can become the home or office space of your dreams. We are available to work with realtors, property owners, and potential property owners to prepare feasibility consultations.  For commercial properties, accessibility evaluations are also performed by our office together with appropriate consulting professionals. We spend up to two hours at the property*, prepare a brief report back at our office, and are available for an additional phone meeting to discuss the presented design options.   Options may include renovations, additions or energy usage improvements.   During our visit at your property, we will do a brief walk-through, ask key ...

Over a year and a half of efforts by our design team are coming to fruition with over 9,000 square feet of installed graphic murals! Red Rock Mural © 2015 Anne Johnson AIA Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada ( RTC ) is currently expanding their Sunset Maintenance Facility, including a 14,700 square foot Mobility Training Center designed by Gensler Nevada and constructed by Sletten Construction of Nevada .  The new training center will teach RTC's paratransit clients to move more independently throughout the city.  The Center is designed to simulate a person's interaction with the outside environment.  Obstacles and views that a person navigating the city will frequently encounter are included such as bus stops, ramps, commercial buildings, residential complexes, and the beautiful surrounding mountain ranges. Our studio designed 25-feet high interior murals to create a city street effect and also simulate the views a transit rider would see acro...

We're looking forward to the transformation of this multifamily project at Vera Johnson Manor A!  Over 71,700 square feet will be overhauled with a fresh, sophisticated palette for interiors.  The exteriors will be refreshed with a three-part color scheme for variety; and the addition of new patio enclosures, durable paint coatings, and replacement roofing. Front Perspective at Patios Interior Materials & Color Palette Exterior Materials & Color Palette

Las Vegas Strip - "Welcome to Vegas" Collage Mural © 2015 Anne Johnson AIA This spring and summer have been busy in the studio!  After months of preparation, the murals at RTC's Mobility Training Center are going up.  These 25-feet high interior murals are original illustrations from our studio, and are being used to orient the RTC's paratransit clients to the cardinal directions of the valley: north, east and west.  Each landmark was simplified and crafted to be easily recognizable from a distance.  For example, the east-facing mural contains a rendering of Frenchman Mountain and south Strip high-profile properties.  We will post construction progress photos as available.  The printing and installation is being completed beautifully by Pictographics . At the same time, we've been making headway with a 76-unit multifamily housing renovation.  We're very excited to help transform these 30-year-old apartments into attractive, contemporary dwellin...

Take a tour around the world to see how other global citizens are celebrating Earth Day 2015, then consider how you can--or comment here to share. Many are getting outside, and away from our desks, to reconnect with mother earth.  International experiences include hiking the Great Wall in China and picking up trash, bicycling in Peru, and planting trees, protecting the Asian elephant in India , or contributing to green-focused campaigns.  Read more here . Here in the states, you may know a child who's participating in Climate Education Week , with K-12 learning activities meeting Common Core standards.  For all ages, the "A Billion Acts of Green Campaign" is still going strong...approaching 2 Billion, and you can find inspiration on their website . In our own backyard, Project GREEN is hosting a clean up in the Pittman Wash at 9:00AM Saturday, April 25.  It promises to be a beautiful morning.  If you're lucky, you'll get to spot a roadrunner or cottontai...

Anne was featured as the member spotlight in the April 2015 issue of AIA Las Vegas' Forum newsletter. Check out the full issue on the AIA Las Vegas website , or read a bit here: I AM A MEMBER OF AIA BECAUSE ….I am a member because it is crucial to be part of an organization that binds together our design community and informs the public about what design professionals do. The AIA’s programs, educational opportunities, and exposure to other professionals in the field have been a benefit. I see AIA Las Vegas as valuable to both developing and established design professionals. Biography: I am an architect, graphic artist, wife, and mother. The process of juggling these roles contributes to who I am and how our firm approaches architecture. We listen to our clients to learn what is important to them, and strive to balance sustainability, beauty, and function. In-house, mentoring and growing talent is a privilege. On a weekly basis, our office takes time to seek design inspira...

We have a unique mix of projects on the boards this month.  Two photovoltaic projects have moved into the construction phase, and include an education component with interactive touchscreen and engaging animated characters developed by AEI .  In addition, these projects include a partnership with the non-profit DRI to bring free green box science kits to Clark County School District classrooms. Other work includes a 76-unit multifamily modernization project, a private residence loft remodel with elevator, and graphic murals for the RTC Mobility Training Center. Private Residence