Sparkflight Studios

Sparkflight Studios is hiring! If you are an emerging design professional interested in public art, constructability, and sustainable design, click 'Join Now' to apply. Join Now - ZipRecruiter Join Now - indeed  

Despite the Emancipation Proclamation being declared January 1, 1863, it wasn't until June 19, 1865 that it was enforced in all territories and states.  This is the story of Juneteenth.  Today we're mindful of how far we've come, and the journey that remains. Happy Juneteenth Freedom Day! Follow this link for a list of celebrations in the Las Vegas valley,  here .

  As architects, we love to discuss our favorite buildings and how they've influenced us. Perhaps our favorite even says something of our personalities? Feel free to leave us a comment with your favorite building and why!

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...

Battle Born Academy. Image by Sparkflight Studios © All Rights Reserved. Here at Sparkflight, we design spaces of learning and play for children and families in need as part of our commitment to the community. Our joy is collaborating with educators to discover how the built environment can support their educational mission. We partner with developers who serve students that qualify for the  National School Lunch Program  and Title 1. Our services range from entitlements and pre-design to permitting and construction administration. We are available to advise charter founders and boards as they embark on the development process. Battle Born Academy Our most recent project is with Battle Born Academy, a school focused on project-based learning. Its founders strongly believe that all children can and will love school when strong academic supports are combined with student-led inquiry, a focus on social-emotional learning, and strong values that create a community of learners and ...

(Left to Right) quantum (Sugar Land, TX), Through Her Eyes (Henderson, NV), "Typographical" Map (Henderson, NV). Imagery © Sparkflight Studios. Here at Sparkflight, one of our passions is public art. We believe in its power to delight, invite reflection, speak of cultural truths, and spark curiosity. Here are a few of our past proposals that we are excited to share with you. Though never constructed, they are a part of our never-ending investigations into creating compelling works of art that inspire. Imagery © Sparkflight Studios. quantum (2019) The City of Sugar Land, Texas requested proposals for an atrium public art piece that will be suspended in City Hall's atrium to commemorate the City's 60th Anniversary. Our proposal, called quantum , is inspired by the historical richness of Sugar Land and seeks to understand its history through the lens of memory, collective hope, and heritage. Every angle presents to the viewer a new dynamic between the elements, mirroring...

Farmhouse in Warwickshire, UK (2017). Photo ©  Architecture 00 . According to the United Nations Secretary General, António Guterres, carbon neutrality by 2050 is the world’s most urgent mission . Buildings generate nearly 40% of annual global CO2 emissions. In response, WikiHouse has developed a mission to “put the knowledge & tools to build beautiful, zero-carbon buildings into the hands of every citizen, community and business.” How it Works Designer Alastair Parvin presents a simple but provocative idea: what if, instead of architects creating buildings for those who can afford to commission them, regular citizens could design and build their own houses? The concept is at the heart of WikiHouse, an open source construction kit that means just about anyone can build a house, anywhere. Watch Alastair Parvin’s TED Talk, here . The big idea behind WikiHouse is the power of 'many small'. WikiHouse isn't made by just one company in one large, centralized factory, but b...