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News: Utah Construction & Design: Sprague Library

Utah Construction and Design Magazine takes a deep dive into the history and architecture of the Sprague Library, located in the heart of Salt Lake City’s Sugar House neighborhood. After a devastating flood in 2017, the library underwent a renovation designed by Architectural Nexus. Interestingly, the construction for this renovation was performed by Paulsen Construction, the same company that built the original library in 1928!

The two level 34,00 SF library was updated while maintaining the beautiful, high-gabled, English Tudor-style exterior. Named the “Most Beautiful Library in America” in 1935, the stakes were high for designers to preserve and improve the iconic structure.

It was about being able to have the connection to the culture, the history, the people who designed and constructed that building, and [those] who used it for almost 100 years, said Mihnea Dobre, Project Architect for Salt Lake-based Arch Nexus. At the same time, [we wanted]to make it a modern, useable space that people can be inspired by and create memories. It was very inspiring and rewarding to preserve that history and make it something of today that is productive in bringing the community together.

I’m very proud of the projects we do as a company, in taking something old and giving it new life and new meaning, or at least a renewed appreciation within its place within its localized culture,” said Brian Cassil, Director of Communications at Arch Nexus. People, generally, really love history […] and buildings that are emblematic of history that can be expressed through architecture. Sprague Library is an excellent example of that.

In terms of design, the way colors and shape move throughout the building is truly innovative, continuing to tie it to other historical Sugar House buildings and businesses such as the Granite Furniture Sputnik, Snelgrove Ice Cream, and Nu Crisp Popcorn, maintaining the classic sugar beet iconography.

It’s a careful balancing act, said Cassil of designing functional, aesthetically pleasing, modern spaces into a historic building. There is this modern approach to space planning, with careful attention to helping everyone feel welcome. […] It’s a very modern library in terms of amenities and space planning, but done in a way that the design pays homage to the Art Deco era—visual elements that pay tribute to the original design of the building.

Click here for more images and the full story from UC&D, page 22.

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Publicity: Interior Design of Architectural Nexus SLC wins IIDA Intermountain Award

Commercial Interior Design Association, IIDA Intermountain, recently selected Architectural Nexus Salt Lake City, as the Merit Award winner for best work over 15,000 square feet. The SLC Regenerative Office is a project aiming to become the first Living Building along the Wasatch Front. The Living Building Challenge re-imagines what is possible in sustainability. The project includes innovations in resilient design, healthy materials, energy, water, and waste reduction, and will serve as an example of how a building can regenerate the environment and the community.

From IIDA Intermountain: These awards celebrate those interior design projects that go beyond the pretty picture and truly encompass great design. We also recognize that successful interior design requires a collaboration of many disciplines such as, consultant teams, project managers, vendors, contractors, etc. This awards show is a celebration of that collaboration, and of great design in the Intermountain region. Take a peek at these images of the Interior at Arch Nexus SLC and the IIDA awards event.

 

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Thought Leadership: Vulnerability: What it is and why architects should care

Specialized architects are advocating for urgent attention to the topic of vulnerability, as it relates to climate change and building design. Architectural Nexus Regenerative Design Specialist, Megan Recher, is a contributor for the recent AIA article, Vulnerability: What it is and why architects should care.

As climate change increases the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, the assessment of vulnerability is as critical to building design as knowing the heating, cooling, or plumbing needs of a building.

Architects are facing a new reality, as seen in 2021; with Chicago roofs collapsing under record snowfall and the tragic winter power outages in Texas – to deadly heat in the Pacific Northwest and flooding in New York City. Rethinking methodology and understanding social factors are important next steps Architects must take, as outlined in the highly informative article.

“It can be hard or even overwhelming for our clients to know all the vulnerabilities in their project regions because they’re running businesses – which are often not related to climate science. It is our job to help educate our clients on best practices for an ever changing future. What we’ve found is that if we take this knowledge to our clients in a way that is relevant to their practice, whatever it is, they are eager to design the best places they can.” – Megan Recher, AIA

 Click here to read the full AIA article, including informative links for information about hazards, vulnerability, and risk and how to conduct a vulnerability assessment for new or existing buildings.

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Publicity: Artists of Utah – Bus Stop of Dreams

Artists of Utah – Utah’s Art Magazine, shines a spotlight on a unique feature of the new Architectural Nexus headquarters in Salt Lake City. Columnist Michael Redd shares an overview of the functionality of the Designated Living Building and concludes a written tour of Arch Nexus SLC at a bus stop at the front of the site, near Parleys Way. Nexus designers Megan Repka and Miguel Cortes developed their design according to LBC criteria:

The bus stop/shelter is not only a bus stop and a shelter but a trellis to support plantings that will add green space and oxygen to the site. As well, it is made from reclaimed and recycled materials including lumber from old railroad trestles, repurposed steel support columns and beams and steel connection plates and stamped architectural steel from other construction projects.

But, perhaps most symbolic is that the stop/shelter has been designed and built before the bus even stops at this location.  As Ray Kinsella (Kevin Costner) in Field of Dreams heard in his head: “If you build it, they will come.” In order to inspire mass transit to this section of the city, promoting social justice and equity, Arch Nexus designed and built the bus stop/shelter before any buses are scheduled to stop here.

Click here to read the full article from Artists of Utah and here for more information on the Equity Petal and social justice aspect of Living Building Certification.

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Publicity: UC&D Announces Most Outstanding Projects 2021

Utah Construction and Design announced their selections for this year’s Most Outstanding Projects. The 2021 winners include three Architectural Nexus designs.

The category of Community Impact goes to Salt Lake County Kearns Library.

The Arch Nexus SLC office takes the Green/Sustainable category.

The Laboratory/Research most outstanding project is ARUP Phase 4, submitted by Okland Construction.

Stay tuned for more images and a recap of each of the award-winning projects in the December issue of UC&D.

Architectural Nexus would like to thank the organizations that provide the opportunity to work on these projects and more. Arch Nexus would also like to express gratitude to everyone who took part in bringing these projects to life.

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News: Architectural Nexus Award Winning Designs, ENR 2021

Arch Nexus is honored to be recognized as the Architectural Designer in several project awards from ENR Mountain States. The 2021 Best Projects competition encompasses a seven-state region with a panel of 10 judges from all areas of the industry.

Taking home the award for Best Small Project (Under $10M) is the Architectural Nexus Office Remodel in Salt Lake City, with General Contractor, Jacobsen Construction Co.

In the Health Care category, the Huntsman Cancer Institute Proton Therapy Center in Salt Lake City received the Merit Award also with Jacobsen Construction Co.

The winner of Renovation/Restoration award is United States Cold Storage Warehouse, in Syracuse, Utah with General Contractor Big-D Construction Corp.

When presented with the best small project award, Senior Principal Architect and Director of Design, Robb Harrop, stated “We set a high expectation for ourselves to do something better than ‘less bad’. We are thankful for the partners who helped us achieve that vision.”

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News: Hexcel Breaks Ground in West Valley City

Hexcel Corporation has broken ground on a new, 100,000-square-foot facility that will be home to a state-of-the-art laboratory in West Valley City, Utah. Once completed in late 2022, scientists and researchers will collaborate with customers on the latest composite technology developments for aerospace, space and defense, and industrial applications. It will be the company’s largest center for innovation and product development in North America.

The new site is also designed to serve as a customer care center, allowing groups to gather in the lobby and conferencing areas, then proceed along a looping path through the laboratories to tour the processes in development at the Research and Technology center.

At the groundbreaking ceremony, Hexcel Chairman, CEO and President Nick Stanage said when the Center opens, “you will be surrounded by everything it means to be a leader in advanced composites technology. You will see high-tech labs and cutting-edge research and testing equipment.”

Architectural Nexus is pleased to provide the architectural design for this exciting addition to Utah’s business landscape.

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News: Arch Nexus SLC Receives LBC Ready Designation

Arch Nexus SLC received LBC Ready designation today; a first under version 4.0 of the Living Building Challenge. This designation is achieved through successful completion of an initial audit, a step in the certification process for projects pursuing Living certification. It’s based on performance predictions – with ongoing water and energy monitoring over a 12 month period. This means that Arch Nexus SLC is now in the final stretch to become a Certified Living Building!

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Thought Leadership: Celebrating Sacramento’s Living Certified Projects: Now & In the Future

AIA Central Valley is hosting its 10th year of Experience Architecture. This annual public-outreach event is dedicated to facilitating greater transparency with the public in how architects create our built environment, how architecture impacts our daily lives and to highlight the region’s unique architectural identity.

This year, Arch Nexus and the City of Sacramento are collaborating for the Experience Architecture event: Celebrating Sacramento’s Living Certified Projects: Now & In the Future.

Did you know that Sacramento’s Arch Nexus office building is both the first Living Certified re-use project in the world, and the first Living Certified project in California? Attend this panel discussion to learn more about incredible groundbreaking projects in Sacramento and the aspirational Living Building Challenge, a program that sets bold, yet achievable, goals that provide impactful and much-needed outcomes for our environment and the climate.

Panelists from Arch Nexus include Patty Karapinar, AIA LEED-AP BD+C, WELL-AP and Brian Cassil LEED-AP BD+C. This free, virtual learning experience will be held October 7, from 12:00 to 1:30 PM Pacific time. Click here to register. To view all of the Experience Architecture events, visit www.aiacv.org/exparch.

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News: Kelly Holland Becomes Certified Passive House Consultant at Architectural Nexus

Architectural Nexus is proud to announce that Kelly Holland has become our first Certified Passive House Consultant (CPHC). The PHIUS+ certification process is a quantifiable building performance standard. It uses specific climate data to optimize energy efficiency within an explicit occupant comfort level. Every project striving for PHIUS+ certification is required to have a CPHC.

As part of the design team, the CPHC guides a project towards certification with an understand the major building science principles of low-energy buildings, including:

  • High levels of continuous insulation
  • An extremely airtight envelope
  • High-performance windows oriented and optimized for project-specific conditions
  • Balanced ventilation
  • Minimal space conditioning

According to PHIUS, “Passive building principals offer the best path to Net Zero and Net Positive buildings by minimizing the load that renewables are required to provide.” This connects to the Arch Nexus focus of Inspiration, Regeneration, and Stewardship, as passive buildings are incredibly resilient and require less operational costs than traditional, energy code minimum construction. The CPHC certification adds to the Architectural Science node as it is a critical piece of a low-energy net positive future.

Congratulations Kelly!

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