Stephanie Jude, Clark Nexsen’s Marketing Manager for the Community and Culture and Education markets, has spent 26 years navigating the complexities of AEC marketing. Known for her strategic mindset, commitment to continuous learning, and dedication to mentoring the next generation…
Clark Nexsen was awarded three 2025 American Institute of Architects (AIA) North Carolina design awards for the Fort Fisher Visitor Center, the Madera Cyber Innovation Center at the United States Air Force Academy, and the Virginia Beach Sports Center. The…
Rob Harkey, AIA, and Dennis Stallings, FAIA, discuss the challenges presented by Fort Fisher’s location on Kure Beach, NC, and describe how its historical significance guided design. Could you describe how the visitor center’s design celebrates the rich history and…
Over the last few years, public libraries have transitioned from being buildings that only store and lend books to being fully featured community centers. While today’s public libraries are still committed to sharing knowledge and providing easy access to books…
As pools become more popular, it is important to understand the wide range of physical, mental, and recreational benefits that aquatic spaces offer. In the following, Clark Nexsen senior architects Jennifer Heintz and Dorothea Schulz discuss how pools can create…
Clark Nexsen’s Combustion Chamber serves as a vehicle to fuel experimentation and discovery within the professional realm of architectural design. The intent is to provide a place to exchange ideas that foster creativity and collaboration, propagating curiosity in the interest…
The business case for prioritizing occupant well-being in building design is compelling. The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) cites attracting top talent, increasing productivity, and improving environmental, social or governance (ESG) performance as key outcomes of leveraging tools like their…
For this installment of 5 Questions with an Expert, we caught up with Jennifer Heintz, a senior architect and principal with Clark Nexsen, to talk about the importance of community centers and how they are evolving: w 1. What are…
Every city has economic development goals, and a strategy behind them. And while each city is unique, those that thrive tend to share intentional connections between commerce, recreation, community, and culture. Attracting diverse but complementary industries is critical for local…
As humans, we need to connect with each other – and not merely on a screen. While remote work has offered a variety of benefits, we are seeing strong indicators that people want to get back to the office –…
Like the elusive perfect game, the successful design-build delivery of the new Virginia Beach Sports Center is something like a dream. With less than three years elapsing from concept to completion, the Sports Center is a physical representation of what…
Research environments on college campuses play a critical role in attracting top tier students and faculty and securing industry partnerships. With STEM career fields burgeoning, these facilities have become increasingly high profile, demanding design and technology that closely mirrors leading…
At its core, change management seeks to maximize the ROI of a physical space by addressing fundamental aspects of culture, structure, and language to develop a durable workplace strategy that transforms behaviors and delivers measurable results. w Achieving those results,…
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…
Academic environments in higher education are changing rapidly, reflecting the advent of new technology and shifting educational models that demand new space typologies. As both educators and designers, Chris Brasier, Dennis Stallings, Don Kranbuehl, and Paul Battaglia are immersed in…
In our changing world, how can buildings and infrastructure be designed to both protect the environment and withstand it? Don Kranbuehl helps lead Clark Nexsen’s sustainability initiatives including our commitment to the 2030 Challenge, and he focuses on implementing resilient design…