Architecture

  • LEVY DYKEMA Announces Merger with COTERA+REED ARCHITECTS

    LEVY DYKEMA, with offices in Austin and Corpus Christi, expands value and benefits to their clients through the addition of Cotera+Reed’s experience in civic, municipal, institutional, lower education, and higher education projects.

  • San Antonio Joins U.S. Cities in Transforming Construction Waste Management

    For years, the construction industry has followed a linear process: extract raw materials, build structures, demolish them, and dispose of waste in landfills. This method has harmful environmental and social impacts and is unsustainable. Rethinking traditional approaches requires collaboration from all stakeholders and urgency from authorities. In the U.S., cities are enacting new policies to…

  • Can Buildings Revolutionize Energy Storage?

    The imperative for new energy sources amid environmental degradation prompts a reevaluation of energy storage methods. Lithium-ion technology, once dominant, faces criticism, leading the construction industry to propose innovative alternatives. Bricks, cement, and minerals integral to construction emerge as components of Thermal Energy Storage (TES) systems, turning buildings into thermal batteries. High-rise buildings offer potential…

  • Austin City Council Gives Green Light to Zilker Metropolitan Park Plan

    The Zilker Metropolitan Park vision plan in Texas is in the clear after the Austin Parks and Recreation Board voted in its favour. According to the board, the plan would serve as a guide for the coming decades of maintenance, environmental restoration, and development. However, this comprehensive plan for the 351-acre downtown park is still…

  • Architects Advocate for Design Freedom and Resilient Communities

    The American Institute of Architects (AIA) and more than 400 of its architect members attended meetings recently with their Members of Congress. As professionals and constituents, AIA members are advocating for two bipartisan pieces of legislation that benefit communities and their inhabitants. Architects met with legislators to discuss the Democracy In Design Act (S.366), to…

  • Women in Architecture: Dr. Sharon Egretta Sutton, FAIA: 2023 AIA/ACSA Topaz Medallion for Architectural EducationWomen in Architecture: Dr. Sharon Egretta Sutton, FAIA:

    An educator, author, and citizen architect with worldwide reach, Dr. Sharon Egretta Sutton, FAIA, has shifted the profession of architecture toward a more equitable, diverse, and inclusive future. Fueled by a passion for representing the unrepresented, she has shaped a career informed by the obstacles constructed by the country’s political landscape. Throughout, she has developed…

  • Looking at Industry Challenges, Forecasts & the Future

    For solid and consistent business success in a competitive construction market, it’s vital that you remain aware of statistics and data.  These recent findings highlight the state of construction around Texas and our nation, which will prove valuable in your decision-making when it comes to partnerships, certifications, and expansion efforts.  Whether you are a general…

  • Design Trends Point to Smaller Scale Development, Yet Underscore the Need for Affordable Housing and Resilient Communities

    Results from The American Institute of Architects (AIA) fourth quarter Home Design Trends Survey revealed a slump in new affordable housing construction and multi-generational housing popularity. Other trends suggest consumers’ interest in communities designed sustainably is growing.   The latest survey results—focusing on neighborhood design—found that popularity for higher-density development and mixed-use facilities continued to flourish…

  • Architects Applaud Federal Building Performance Standard to Further Reduce Building Emissions

    The American Institute of Architects (AIA) commends the Biden Administration for developing the first-ever Federal Building Performance Standard, setting an ambitious goal to cut energy use and electrify equipment and appliances in 30 percent of the building space owned by the Federal government by 2030. “The AIA supports the Council on Environmental Quality’s (CEQ) Federal…

  • Future Architect Fund Launches as Bridge between Architecture Education and Building Industry 

    Future Architect Fund, a nonprofit organization that helps young people pursue careers in architecture, recently announced its public-facing launch and introduced its first holiday giving campaign. The organization, founded in 2020 by architects and construction industry insiders, is focused on providing support to individuals who may not have the financial means to complete all the…

  • Women Recognized in Architecture, Engineering, and Construction: RHCA Announces Luna Awards Winners in San Antonio, Austin, and for the First Time El Paso!

    Recently, the Regional Hispanic Contractors Association (RHCA) announced San Antonio winners: Elaiza Alvarez, with Lockwood, Andrews, and Newnam, awarded Woman of the Year A/E/C, and Sherrika Arch with Straight Line Management A/E/C Firm of the Year.  The Award ceremony was held at the Marriot Riverwalk Hotel with remarks by RHCA President and CEO John Martinez,…

  • Architecture Industry News

    The American Institute of Architects (AIA) By the Numbers report for 2021 showcases the annual performance of the architecture and engineering firm signatories of the 2030 Commitment. The By the Numbers report can be explored on AIA’s website at AIA.org.   With buildings contributing almost 40 percent of U.S. carbon dioxide emissions, architecture and design firms…

  • Demand for Design Services Accelerates

    Demand for design services from U.S. architecture firms grew at an accelerated pace in August, according to a new report from The American Institute of Architects (AIA). AIA’s Architecture Billings Index (ABI) score for August rose to 53.3 compared to 51.0 in July (any score above 50 indicates an increase in billings). During August, the…

  • Architecture Firm Billings Grow at a Slower Pace

    While architecture firm billings grew for the 18th consecutive month in July, the pace of growth continued to slow. The Architecture Billings Index (ABI) score of 51.0 for the month is the lowest since January and marks the fourth straight month with a lower score than the previous month. With a variety of economic storm…

  • Program Helps Progress 2030 Diversity Challenge 

    The National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) completed its fourth class of 20 architecture students as the 2022 summer cohort of the NOMA Foundation Fellowship (NFF). The NFF is a two-month summer fellowship hosted at leading architecture firms across the country where fellows engage in design research and benefit from firm mentorship. NFF provides professional…

  • Architecture Jobs Outlook: Here’s What To Expect In Coming Years

    What is the job outlook for an architect? Through the year 2029, the architecture jobs’ outlook and that of related fields is mixed. Some jobs are expected to grow, while others will likely contract. The improvement of technology for specific tasks has reduced the number of employees required for those aspects of the design and…