People of CN: Alisa Chirachaturaphak
“I try to live my life as intentionally as possible, aligning my actions to my values as much and as often as I can. I’ve always tried to be cognizant of where my money goes to, namely weaning off fast…
The Impact of S+T Facility Design on COVID-19 Research
The COVID-19 pandemic has emerged as one of the most pressing issues of our time. Accordingly, pharma and biotech companies have pivoted to researching cures, vaccines, and supportive medicine to address this global crisis. We already know that facility design…
How K-12 Schools Can Implement COVID-19 Guidelines Without Sacrificing the Learning Experience
It is undisputable that spaces for collaboration, hands-on projects, and social interaction are among the most important elements for successful learning. But COVID-19 has shifted the focus from how best to teach to feasibility and safety issues surrounding teachers and…
Combating Greenhouse Gas Emissions through Building Design
In 2018, and every year since then, University of Reading climate scientist Ed Hawkins has published graphics constituting a chronologically ordered series of colored vertical stripes from 1850 to today, that he called “warming stripes.” The urban built environment causes…
The Role of Higher Education Housing in Fighting COVID-19
Across the country, hospitals are facing either immediate or potential bed shortages as the COVID-19 pandemic grows. Efforts to expand healthcare capacity are coming from all corners: the USNS Comfort is docked in NY; the USNS Mercy is docked in…
People of CN: Gaby Orizondo
“Growing up in the Dominican Republic, I would always bake with my grandmother,” Gaby Orizondo recalls. “Back then, it was never anything too intense, just mostly brownies and cookies, but I’ve always really liked baking. In my country, there is…
People of CN: Angie Brose
“In Germany, students are required to spend at least three months in a building trade — I decided to do an apprenticeship as a cabinetmaker. Before I ever started studying architecture, I became a master cabinetmaker, so, it’s safe to…
Reimagining the Urban High School to Meet 21st Century Challenges
Why fit in when you can stand out? While it seems simple, this question challenges us to create new paradigms and transcend the mundane. Whatever the medium, innovation is key. At Clark Nexsen, our methods are constantly evolving through practice…
Defining A Design Process that Maximizes Sustainability and Building Performance
As extreme climatic events become more frequent around the world, designers of the built environment have a crucial role in mitigating climate change by working with nature to develop projects that are both resilient to these extremes and promote long-term…
A Look at Integrating Outdoor Environments in K-12 Education
The creation of spaces for outdoor learning and experiences is gaining traction in K-12 school design. Looking beyond play time, growing recognition of the significant benefits associated with time spent outdoors is driving the integration and use of outdoor classrooms,…
Design Thinking: How My Resiliency Fellowship Changed My Definition of a Resilient Future
When I began my one year resiliency fellowship, I expected to explore how innovative technologies could support a resilient future in coastal zones. Perhaps unavoidably, I approached my work initially with certain preconceived notions about how static structures, infrastructure, and…
Employee Well-Being and the Impact of Workplace Design
By making strategic design investments that focus on the health and welfare of their people, employers can expect a happier, higher performing workforce, and ultimately a more successful company culture. This marks a critical shift in the design paradigm. w…