By now, we’re all familiar with the significant impact that architecture and the construction industry have on the environment: of total annual global CO2 emissions, building operation, materials, and construction activities together account for 47%. That adds up to a lot of responsibility — and a lot of opportunity — for finding ways to reduce […]
Architecture is an act of collective intelligence. We stand on the shoulders of architects who came before us. We honor the skills and contributions of peers, clients and builders. We mentor as opposed to compete. We share success. Mentorship has evolved into a two-way street, mutual mentorship, a recognition that we all have the capacity to […]
When in school, Stanley Tigerman explained to us that the practice of architecture is an act of optimism because it is about building things as opposed to destroying them. I remember hearing this from him more than once, as if it were an important life theme in counterpoint to the threat of nuclear annihilation that […]
A couple of weeks ago, we spoke with architect Lauren Bucher about her experience as a designer on some of SNHA’s most complex data center projects. This week, principal Timothy Connor reacts to Lauren’s thoughts, urging design curiosity and the value that innovation provides for SNHA’s robust hyperscale data center programs. What do you tell young architects and designers to pay […]
Innovation sets us apart. Incremental improvements can have an effect out of all proportion to their size. Innovation is evolutionary as opposed to revolutionary, the result of genuine and enduring curiosity. Our clients expect it. It is our competitive advantage. The data center typology has, in many ways, flipped the script on architectural standards. Designing with […]
In 2019, SNHA became signatories of the 2030 Commitment, formalizing our support of the 2030 Challenge and its goal of carbon neutrality for all new buildings and major renovations by 2030. As a first step, we put together a core AIA 2030 Commitment team, the members of which have been the primary leaders in pulling […]
On-the-job experience is still key to understanding sustainable practices — but a few well-placed hints can point the way to the knowledge you need. We have a tremendous amount of hope for the future at SNHA: we are committed to behavioral changes to help alleviate pressure on the environment, and many of our clients are building […]
We’re all familiar with 2020’s global travel shutdown, and the resulting longing to pick up stakes and explore new destinations. But what if your business travel plans include not just a trip, but an expansion into new territory; namely, building a European facility to stretch your global footprint and serve new markets or solidify existing […]
Wanting to spend some time looking to the future, we recently asked staff two questions: In 2021, what are you looking forward to professionally and what are you hopeful for personally? What started as a simple exercise meant to break up the work day quickly evolved into a larger conversation and positive-thinking. We’re glad to […]
The attack on the Capitol building renewed appeals to “the better angels of our nature.” It is a popular appeal when we behave unheroically, destructively and know that we are capable of better. Appeals to our better angels are not about divine intervention, but about bearing witness as a necessary step towards something nobler. In […]
Over the past nine months, our daily realities have shifted dramatically. Commutes to busy office buildings and schools have been replaced with work, school and personal lives centered around home — and an almost constant reliance on connectivity and content that allows us to attend meetings, stay in touch with family, get an education, entertain […]
Architects and designers have the unique role of shaping the built environment – the buildings, spaces, and landscapes we interact with on a daily basis are quite literally in our hands. As another year ended, we reflect on hardships and successes, and look ahead. And while the future is unknown, the future of design is […]
While this year has been anything from predictable, one thing remains unchanged: we love that moment of adding a new name to our staff list. Since March alone, we’ve had the pleasure of bringing on 15 new team members, giving us enough practice to adjust to our new approach to onboarding. But with staff working […]
With the pandemic casting a veil of uncertainty on the path to career advancement, we know you’re wondering how to navigate this unprecedented time in education and career strategy as you look to gain a foothold in the industry. As a firm of recent graduates and industry veterans alike, we want to first say this: welcome. […]
The off-shoring trend in US manufacturing has been the topic of news reports, international politics and heated debate for decades. But as the world reenters the new normal business climate post-COVID crisis, societal shifts and the rise of advanced manufacturing are poised to bring about the end of off-shoring. As developing nations have grown in […]
We’ve laughed at “I was on mute” jokes and streamed Netflix’s entire catalog, but when we asked SNHA staff to share their creative approaches to sheltering-in-place, we heard about projects old and new, fundraising to support local businesses and front-line workers, and some pretty superlative baking and home-schooling initiatives — highlighting the wide-ranging interests and hidden […]
For a lot of our staff, the SNHA office feels like a second home—a space we rely on to exchange ideas, draw inspiration, and find support in our coworkers. So as we’ve begun settling into our new norm of working from home and practicing social distancing, we asked our staff, “What do you miss about the office?” and received some great responses—and reminders of all the little […]
With the sweeping move across the U.S. to work from home, we asked a couple of our WFH veterans, Hannah Prevedel-Cannon, LEED AP and John Gleichman, AIA, to share their personal experiences and best advice for those adjusting to their new in-home office. What are your top tips for working from home efficiently? Hannah: Take advantage of the difference in situation. I love being able […]
As we are community-minded in our work, our passion for supporting people is evident in how we spend our free time as well. We asked some of our team members about how they champion the charities, foundations and organizations dear to them.
8 Reasons the Makerspace Movement is Here to Stay
In an age when smartphones are designed to dominate our attention, we risk depriving young minds of practical problem-solving opportunities. Future employment opportunities will require the application of STEM/STEAM principles to roles that have yet to be created. A culture shift focused less on camping in line for the latest technology, towards a self-empowered “I could do that” attitude is revolutionizing learning across the country.