Sparkflight Studios

Image Credit: NASA. Taken from Emergence Magazine : Ten Love Letters to the Earth by Thich Nhất Hanh. In honor of Earth Day this week, we would like to share with you our passion for creating healthy, equitable, and community-centered design. In our practice areas (Multifamily, Commercial, Interiors, and Public Art) we approach every project with this care and sensitivity. This stems from one of our core beliefs that a healthy, sustainable world is possible. As design professionals, it is our job to ensure that the spaces we live, work, and play support our health. Organizations like the  Healthy Building Network  are raising their voice and partnering with communities to advocate for a built environment in which all people are free of chemicals that harm us. To make spaces where we breathe easy, think clearly, and feel more creative requires research and community buy-in. According to the HBN, of roughly 85,000 chemicals available in the market, few are adequately tested fo...

Tonight is Family Promise of Las Vegas' "Share the Promise" Facebook Live event! Come learn more about the mission of Family Promise of Las Vegas from 4 - 6 PM; at showtime, follow the link here . Family Promise of Las Vegas has been empowering homeless families to achieve sustainable independence for over 30 years. They do this through support, education, and providing a safe place to land while a family re-stabilizes.  Their families experience a 70%+ success rate with establishing a permanent residence.  As more families are on the brink of homelessness following layoffs and shut-downs from the pandemic, Family Promise’s successful model is especially relevant—and needed. We’ve been fortunate to partner with them for about 3 years while developing a new 12,300 square feet Family Navigation Center where families receive residential and support services all in one site.  Family Promise has received a significant grant from the County and gifted land.  And now, they...

A country’s overshoot day is the date on which Earth Overshoot Day would fall if all of humanity consumed like the people in this country.  Humans use as much ecological resources as if we lived on 1.6 Earths. The Ecological Footprint is the only metric that compares the resource demand of individuals, governments, and businesses against Earth's capacity for biological regeneration. Earth Overshoot Day marks the date when humanity’s demand for ecological resources and services in a given year exceeds what Earth can regenerate in that year. In 2020, Earth Overshoot Day lands on August 22. We maintain this deficit by liquidating stocks of ecological resources and accumulating waste, primarily carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Earth Overshoot Day is hosted and calculated by Global Footprint Network, an international research organization that provides decision-makers with a menu of tools to help the human economy operate within Earth’s ecological limits. More information may be found...

Viewing south at our Wardelle Street Townhouses project as buildings near completion. Affordable housing is needed now more than ever due to the impact of COVID-19. Our Wardelle Street Townhouses project for the Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority provides 57 affordable units to a market in need. Access to stable, decent, affordable, and accessible housing is essential for one's wellbeing. Late afternoon light illuminates the west facade of Building 1. Landscaping is in place along parts of Wardelle Street.

430 Pico Affordable Housing, Brooks + Scarpa The impact of COVID-19 has been especially severe on low-income and those of modest economic means, and the lack of affordable housing places additional pressure on house prices and rent rates, further eroding affordability. Attaining a vibrant housing market depends heavily on whether the market can provide a broader and more affordable range of housing options for tomorrow’s households. As reported on Habitat for Humanity’s website , based on a 2019 report: “The latest data shows that nearly 38 million households nationwide — 31.5% of all households — are paying more than 30% of their incomes on housing. That’s 20.5 million renters and 17.3 million homeowners. This is just a slight half-percentage point drop from the previous year. Homeowners saw nearly all of the modest improvement, while a near-record share of renters — 47.4% — still face unaffordable rents. In the nation’s hottest housing market areas, those struggling with unaffordabil...

Buildings are taking shape as framing nears completion at Wardelle Street Townhouses. Strategies for sun-shading and defensible space have become visible. Progress in construction is underway on a bright cloudless morning at our Wardelle Street Townhouses project. The construction site is electric with sounds of nail guns, bulldozers, and dirt payloads. Sparkflight Studios is excited to report that major infrastructure is in place, and buildings have taken shape. Wardelle Street Townhouses, located caddy-corner from the new East Las Vegas Library, consists of 12 buildings and 57 affordable apartment units for the Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority.  As building progresses, we regularly conduct field investigations and consult with the Contractor to ensure design intent is met. More construction updates to come as site improvements continue and building skin is applied! At Building 1 (image side left), exposed exterior framing receives insulation before sheathin...

The Parks at Walter Reed Our mission at Sparkflight Studios is to "design for humans," to create spaces for our neighbors that produce positive social impact. To that end, we are actively pursuing and passionate about mixed-use, multi-family affordable housing projects. These types of projects encompass what it means to truly design for the betterment of our communities. By developing an area that is a self-sustaining business and residential destination not totally reliant on cars/parking for its clientele, we are providing much-needed affordable housing while supporting economic development by bringing businesses a built-in customer base. These projects are starting to be built across the country, with promising results. According to the Multi-Housing News website : "Developers from market-rate to affordable housing are identifying ways to create mixed-income and mixed-use developments that promote diversity, equity and integration." One such project is th...

It's so exciting to know that this project is coming to the Las Vegas Community!  Our office has been thrilled to work with Family Promise to design their Family Navigation Center.  YOU can be a part of making Las Vegas even better by contributing to Family Promise's capital campaign. Today is the #NVBigGive .  What can you do to make a difference? The mission of Family Promise of Las Vegas is helping homeless families transition to permanent housing and independence. This 8,745 SF Family Navigation Center is an extension of these values by providing spaces of learning, healing, and comfort. Did you know that... According to the 2018 Southern Nevada Homeless Census and Survey Comprehensive Report*: Statewide in Nevada there are 7,281 individuals who are homeless on any given night. In 2018 in Southern Nevada 15,000 children experienced homelessness and unstable living conditions. Lack of affordable housing is one of the primary risk factors for homelessnes...

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...

Kudos to local architect Rick Van Diepen who is putting his passion for sustainability to work as the new Executive Director of Green Chips , a leading, Southern Nevada, nonprofit organization.   This regional, public-private catalyst and advocacy organization is dedicated to creating a more livable, equitable and sustainable environment for the residents, businesses, and visitors of Southern Nevada.   We are proud to be associated with Green Chips as a member .

We celebrate the Dance Studio opening at the Winchester Cultural Center and wish the local community many happy years of dance and recreation use! Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani joined community members, Friends of Winchester, Clark County staff and the Winchester Star Catchers for a dedication program on January 25, 2013. Read more about the Winchester project... Photos from that event and the project follow: Winchester Star Catchers Architectural photography by Henri Sagalow Photography Exteriors from Parking & Park Dance Studio Interiors Shelving & Display Detail Dance Studio Interiors Alcove Storage

As the year closes, here are some thoughts on living lightly from last year's Eco Home Fair... As always, Anne Johnson, AIA is here to answer questions and provide brief consultations for greening your home and office with sustainable architectural strategies. We would love to visit with you anytime!

This year, the third annual  Las Vegas PARK(ing) day is being coordinated by Green Jelly, COLABlv and the Nevada Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects ( NASLA ) and is held in the 18b Arts District on September 21, 2012 from 4:00PM to 10:00PM.  The nearest address is Artifice at 1025 S. First Street, by South Main and Charleston Boulevard. 18b is just south of downtown Las Vegas in an area bounded by Commerce Street, Hoover Avenue, Fourth Street and Las Vegas Boulevard (at Charleston) and Colorado Avenue. You can find out more about its restaurants, galleries and businesses on their website . The manifesto is "Reclaim your city" and the method is transforming one metered parking space into a park setting for a day. Check out the downtown 18b Arts District, enjoy a little public green space, and engage in the discussion about how urban space is allocated.  The Downtown Backyard Project ( DBP ) kick-off is tonight and will extend the dialogue b...

Next month, construction launches on an approximately 1,400 SF Dance Studio Room addition to the Winchester Cultural Center .  This center has cultivated the arts and beautiful desert gardens for decades.  It’s been an honor and pleasure to work with Patrick Gaffey, center director, and the talented instructors, in designing this great addition for the arts.  It’s our aspiration that this dance studio addition will inspire community members of all ages to continue to advance their talents. The inspiration for the dance studio was taking the outdoor atmosphere indoors.  Inside the dance studio, a decorative tree sculpture with shelving serves as a “pride wall” and welcomes students.  This tree motif, echoed on the natural linoleum entrance floor and walls, enlivens and energizes both place and participants.  Easily accessed cubbies provide quick transition from daily routine into the class setting.  Alcoves on the east and west walls serve multiple...

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...

The Las Vegas Ward 5 Chamber of Commerce & Green Talk Radio will be celebrating Women's History Month by acknowledging women who have made significant strides in the green economy. To check out these dynamic women see the upcoming "green" edition of the Las Vegas Uptown News. Honorees will be announced on March 18, 2010, 12:30 p.m. at La Scala's Restaurant during Green Talk Radio's "Lunch and Learn." UPDATE...the honorees are: Richann Bender - Exec Dir California-Nevada Super Speed Train Commission Anne M. Johnson - Architect Rosalind Brooks - Tonopah Community Garden Cindy Ortega - Sr VP MGM Mirage Energy and Environmental Services Division Emily Covelli - DECOLights Emily Huffman - Energy Educator for NV Energy Betty Wolfe - Wolfe Drop Box Services Su Phelps- Lakewood Recycling Julie Johnson - Employer Resource Specialist, Las Vegas Clark County Urban League

We enjoyed a very Green Christmas Eve by joining hosts Katie Duncan and Maurice Showers on Green Talk Radio 1230 KLAV. The free-flowing conversation covered topics including: Tips for greening your own home What's involved with a "green" design consultation Local green happenings Green community design projects including the Ward 5 "Model Green Demonstration Home" and Marble Manor Click here to play streaming audio (MP3 file) from the show...