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It would be overly dramatic to say that art and design are under attack within the realm of public architecture, but it is certainly the case that we are routinely confronted with very tight budgets, very long wish lists and very restrictive criteria by which our projects are evaluated. Compounding the challenge, the pressures on […]

2 + 2 = 4 and 2 + 1 = 4 What do you see in the formula above? Possibly you see numbers? An equation? An answer? Maybe you saw a right answer and a wrong answer. Most second grade students are able to express one line as right, and one as wrong. Once expressed, […]

SHP President Lauren Della Bella and Vice President of Architecture Dick Thomas today released the co-authored book, 9 Billion Schools: Why the World Needs Personalized, Lifelong Learning for All. The book presents a roadmap for redefining learning as a “must-have” global priority. It’s the first of many initiatives undertaken by the 9 Billion Schools Institute, […]

Imagine a complex network of future workers who were past gamers, motivated in self-forming teams, free of management, intent to solve complex problems both critically and creatively. Imagine their economic model as an exchange of avatar-based rewards that are given aside the baseline credit of money we were all taught to seek. Imagine 1000 startup […]

“We need volunteers to work the voter registration table from Noon – 6 p.m. on Saturday at our community event. Please RSVP if you can help!” We’ve all seen this email, right? You might have even been the sender a time or two and you could hardly be blamed. Until recently, school campaigns have existed […]

SHP Leading Design dedicates significant effort and resources to understanding our clients and the end users for each project. When it comes to community buildings, reaching beyond our clients to understand the needs and desires of community members is especially important. Since area residents are the end users for projects like libraries, parks and community […]

Embarking on a new building project is exciting, but large projects can be overwhelming as well. Detailed plans and finances need to be secured followed by an architect, site and builder. Bringing an architect onto the project early in the planning stage offers many benefits, including helping vet and select a location and construction partner. […]

Landscape design comprises much more than just grass and trees, shrubbery and flower beds. In fact, landscape design offers the opportunity to reduce costs, allow for a better environment and contribute to the educational mission of the district. In March, I was lucky enough to present at a webinar hosted by the Ohio Facilities Construction […]

What does your playground look like? Think about that question for a moment. How would you describe your playground? Is it dirty? Organized? Is it paved edge-to-edge, from building to fence? Is there a fence at all? Is it visually appealing, or are there things you would change? Seeing stands alone. As humans, we rely […]

The United States has a massive skilled labor shortage. This shortage is often referred to as the skills gap, referencing the difference between the number of people in the workforce with a specific skill set and the number of workers needed. It’s most severe in trade sectors like construction and manufacturing. As a result, we […]