Sparkflight Studios

Family Navigation Center Wins ULI Nevada Catalytic Place Award We’re proud to share that the Family Navigation Center has been honored with the 2025 ULI Nevada Placemaking Award for Excellence in the Catalytic Place category. This recognition celebrates projects that spark meaningful community transformation — and this center is doing exactly that. The award was accepted by Marisa Cervantes, Executive Director of Family Promise of Las Vegas, as she thanked everyone on the team for their dedication to this project.  As the first facility of its kind in Southern Nevada, the Family Navigation Center fills a critical gap for families experiencing homelessness. Designed with dignity, healing, and stability at the forefront, it brings together transitional housing, supportive services, job readiness resources, and community partnerships under one roof. From early concept through completion, this project was shaped by collaboration and trust. Sparkflight Studios stood alongside Family Pro...

An Afternoon of Inspiration... There’s something special about opening your doors and inviting people into the place where ideas take shape. Sparkflight Studios was pleased to welcome colleagues, clients, partners, and friends to our Open Studio on November 7 in Henderson. The event offered an opportunity to share our refreshed workspace, highlight ongoing creative initiatives, and connect with our community in a relaxed, engaging setting. Guests were invited to explore the studio, including our maker area where the team demonstrated our 3D printer and produced custom coasters as take-home pieces. Light bites and refreshments were available throughout the evening, providing a comfortable backdrop for conversation and networking. A favorite feature of the event was the glass whiteboard wall in the warehouse studio, where visitors added messages and observations about the space. These notes reflected the collaborative spirit we strive to cultivate as we design environments that support l...

Grand Opening: Family Navigation Center — A Place That Feels Like a Hug When Sparkflight Studios first broke ground on the  Family Navigation Center , we envisioned more than a building — we aspired to create a place that would  feel like a hug.  On September 30, that vision came to life as Family Promise of Las Vegas, local leaders, and community partners gathered to celebrate the grand opening of this transformative new resource for families seeking stability, safety, and hope. A Compassionate Collaboration The Family Navigation Center — made possible through the generosity of  Credit One Bank  and built in partnership with  Family Promise of Las Vegas  — is a one-stop campus offering emergency housing, counseling, employment, and transportation support under one roof. As Architect of Record, Sparkflight Studios worked hand in hand with  Grand Canyon Development Partners ,  Eagle One Construction , and  a team of dedicated consultants...

  Three Years of Growth: Gabi’s Sparkflight Story October 2025 When Gabrielle (“Gabi”) Fernandez first joined Sparkflight Studios three years ago, she brought an energy that was both inquisitive and grounded — a passion for people and the built environment that instantly clicked with our mission. Over these three years, Gabi’s journey has mirrored the very spirit of Sparkflight: learning by doing, collaborating with care, and designing with purpose. From her early work assisting with documentation and coordination to managing projects like  Women’s Crossroads , Gabi has continued to expand her technical expertise and her leadership in the field. Today, she’s not just part of the team — she helps shape how we work. Her talent for balancing detail with empathy shows up in everything she touches: whether it’s coordinating consultants, refining drawings, or ensuring that community voices are reflected in design decisions. Reflecting on the past three years, Gabi says: “I learn som...

Spotlight: An Alternate Path to Architecture Licensure   At Sparkflight Studios, we celebrate the unique journeys our team members take to grow as professionals. Today we’re proud to highlight one of our interns, Parker Sorensen, who is carving out his own pathway toward becoming a licensed architect.   Having spent a lot of time with family in Washington, he was inspired early on by his two grandfathers, both engineers, whose careers sparked his interest in design and problem-solving. That family influence planted the seed for his own path in architecture, and now, as he completes his bachelo r’s degree, he’s mapping out the next steps toward licensure.   Instead of pursuing a traditional master’s program, he has chosen the apprenticeship route through the Architectural Experience Program (AXP), formerly the Intern Development Program (IDP). This decision allows him to balance work and school while focusing his energy on what matters most to him: hands-on learning i...

Reimagining Community At Sparkflight Studios, we believe architecture is most powerful when it strengthens communities. Our rehabilitation of the Janice Brooks Bay Residences in Las Vegas reflects this mission: transforming an aging affordable housing development into a revitalized, sustainable neighborhood for families. Breathing New Life into a Legacy Property Originally built in 1972, the 9.56-acre Janice Brooks Bay complex includes 14 two-story buildings with 100 residential units. Over time, the property had grown tired and in need of significant updates. The Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority (SNRHA) tasked our team with leading the architectural design for a full rehabilitation. Our design approach carefully balanced respect for the community’s history with a forward-looking vision that prioritizes safety, accessibility, and modern comfort. Today, that vision is becoming reality — the project is now under construction. Creating Space Within Constraints One of the project...

  Reflection on 2024: Continuing Our 20th Year Together   As we step into another year of making a difference, we reflect on the incredible journey we’ve shared with our community in 2024. This year has been a testament to the power of collaboration, creativity, and care. Partnering with College of Southern Nevada (CSN) and Charter School Development Corporation (CSDC) on the Rooted Charter School, we’ve championed education as the cornerstone of opportunity . Through the Art Gallery Expo Center for the Rita Deanin Abbey Art Museum we celebrated the transformative power of art and culture . With the Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority (SNRHA) Janice Brooks Bay Residences 100-Unit Rehab Center and Family Promise of Las Vegas' Family Navigation Center, we’ve worked to create spaces that uplift lives and provide hope. In partnership with the City of North Las Vegas, we’ve supported the vibrant Dolores Huerta Community Center, fosteri...

Celebrating the Legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. - JANUARY 20, 2025 Every third Monday in January, the United States pauses to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a man whose vision, courage, and commitment to justice changed the course of history. MLK Day is not just a day off work or school—it's an opportunity to reflect on the values of equality, nonviolence, and service that Dr. King championed. Continuing the Dream Dr. King’s dream is not confined to history books—it is a living vision that calls each of us to contribute to a more just and equitable society. On this MLK Day, let’s honor his legacy by not only remembering his words but by embodying his principles in our daily lives. Whether through service, education, or advocacy, we all have a role to play in carrying his dream forward. As Dr. King once said,  "Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'"  Let this question guide us as we celebrate ...