Articles
Design at Work
Keep your employees happy and healthy with a well-designed workspace
Looking to increase office productivity? A flexible, well-lit, and well-designed workplace will keep morale high, which means a happier and more efficient staff.
Design in Communities
Live-work spaces inspire creativity and urban revitalization
As demand for artist live-work projects increases, local governments and developers are hiring architects and using these affordable homes and studios to spark urban renewal.
Work with an Architect
How materials selection impacts your project and budget
Some of the most important decisions on a construction or renovation project involve what building materials to use. Several architects explain how to best consider budget and style when selecting materials.
Design at Home
Before adding a sunroom, consult an architect
A sunroom can provide four-season access to nature, but the aesthetics, integration with the rest of the house, and energy conservation issues are best handled by a knowledgeable architect.
Work with an Architect
How to be the best client for your architect
Open communication, meeting payment deadlines, and understanding the project schedule are just a few ways to ensure a successful collaboration between architect and client.
Design at Home
An architect can help your next kitchen and bath remodel be your last
When it comes to aging in place and adapting a home for the future, strategic design efforts can make a big difference.
Design at Home
What’s the best strategy for solar-hungry homeowners?
Integrating solar into a house calls for design knowledge, which means consulting with a residential architect will make your solar decisions that much easier.
Design at Home
Don't think twice about remodeling your basement
Find out how a residential architect can help turn your dingy, dark basement into a beautiful, well-lit living space that flows seamlessly with the other levels of your home.
Design at Work
The hidden ways architects make offices safer
No one wants to feel nervous or uncomfortable at work. Architects are trained to not only design for safety but to imperceptibly weave those elements into the background.
Design at Home
Want a better kitchen? Ask these three questions
When remodeling your kitchen, a residential architect can evaluate trends and provide you with options; you can help him or her by having answers for these three important questions.
Design at Home
Why historic home renovations need an architect’s insight
When renovating your historic home, consult with an architect to determine potential complications, study interior design trends, and preserve the features that matter.
Design in Communities
The art of upcycling: Old materials breathe new life into Omaha’s theater scene
This theatre in Omaha, Nebraska, hired an architecture firm that repurposed materials and relied on local resources; the result was a truly innovative space.
Design in Communities
How modern hospitals recognize the impact of design on health
Designing for health matters most in a hospital. Discover how architects are mastering well-lit, open, well-ventilated spaces that improve outcomes for both patients and doctors.
Design at Work
Attract more clients with a beautifully designed office space
A well-designed office will not only boost employee morale; it will show visiting clients that your business places a high value on efficiency and productivity.
Design in Communities
Five design strategies to improve your children's schools
Architects understand that, to better serve their students, educators and principals need engaging spaces designed with a specific purpose in mind.
Work with an Architect
Negotiating with your architect: Ask the right questions
Before entering into a contract with your architect, be sure to ask these questions and consider your project tasks, schedule requirements, and the approval process.
Design at Home
Every home needs an architect: Renovating the HGTV Urban Oasis 2017
When Open Door Architecture was hired to renovate a historic home for HGTV Urban Oasis 2017, they found a unique opportunity to amplify their mantra: "No house is too humble for an architect."
Work with an Architect
Selecting your architect: What to explain and expect
These answers to frequently asked questions on choosing an architect will help you narrow down your options and find the perfect architect for your project.
Work with an Architect
Compensating your architect: Understanding payment structures
When it comes to paying your architect, knowing the most commonly used payment methods, schedules, and expenses will help uncomplicate your transactions.
Design in Communities
This New Orleans VA hospital was rebuilt to withstand hurricanes
When the New Orleans VA hospital was destroyed during Hurricane Katrina, the architecture firm designing its replacement recognized the value in a resilient hospital that can survive disasters.
Design in Communities
A blueprint for better: Turning liquor stores into community health centers
Through adaptive reuse, architects can not only sustainably improve a community but reinforce the power of design by strategically reshaping a detrimental structure.
Design in Communities
Good design takes restaurant dining to another level
These days, restaurants are recognized for their look and feel almost as much as for their food. Anyone opening a restaurant in a unique location should consult with a design professional first.
Design at Work
Multipurpose spaces can strengthen seasonal businesses
Not every business or building sees year-round use, but with the right amount of creative planning an architect can design your space to be seasonally flexible.
Design in Communities
How colleges and universities are investing in energy efficiency
At the intersection of academia and innovation, colleges may be the perfect place to build sustainable ecosystems. But a college's energy-saving strategy is only as valuable as its most efficient building.
Design at Work
Transforming everyday structures into unique workspaces
Sometimes the best design strategy is to think unconventionally about reusing an existing structure. An architect can turn those dreams into reality.