Architectural Nexus Principal, Patty Karapinar, has recently become the company’s first WELL Accredited Professional. The WELL Building Standard combines best practices in design and construction with evidence-based medical and scientific research – harnessing the built environment as a vehicle to support human health and well-being. WELL is grounded in a body of medical research that explores the connection between the buildings where we spend more than 90 percent of our time, and the health and wellness impacts on us as occupants. It is the culmination of seven years of research, in partnership with leading scientists, doctors, architects and wellness thought leaders.

Regarding WELL, Karapinar says: Reviewing our SAC office for possible WELL certification, our project team has been happy to see how most of the WELL features are already incorporated into it, and we’ve been experiencing the benefits of those features, along with supporting company-wide employee policies and operations, from a purely occupant perspective. I see many of the same positive features in our SLC office. When I visit other office environments, it really highlights how important those health and wellness features are for a comfortable, healthy and uplifting working environment. We have the opportunity in our practice, both in new construction and renovation projects, to make a big qualitative difference in the environment where most people spend the bulk of their day. According to the WELL Building Standard, we can even have a positive effect on life expectancy by incorporating health and wellness features into our designs and encouraging owners to do the same with their operations. That’s really exciting.

Today, the Associated General Contractors of Utah named Architectural Nexus the 2018 Outstanding Architect of the Year. Additionally, the Primary Children’s & Families Research Center at the Huntsman Cancer Institute, designed by Arch Nexus, was awarded Project of the Year.

Kenner Kingston accepted the awards on behalf of the firm and said that he felt “very excited and full of gratitude for all those who contribute to doing great things and thinking about architecture and construction as an outcome of bigger thinking, such as changing the world by curing cancer.”

Jeff Gardner, Arch Nexus Principal Architect and Project Manager for the latest phase of the Huntsman Cancer says, “It’s an honor to be a part of this team that has accomplished something so outstanding, not just the building itself, but the vision of Jon Huntsman Sr. and the his foundation’s mission of eradicating cancer. Part of being a great architectural firm includes working with great owners, contractors and donors. We are grateful to the Huntsman Cancer Institute for allowing us to work towards this vision and Jacobsen Construction for nominating us for this award.”

This past holiday season, volunteers from the Arch|Nexus Sac office participated in a worthwhile project at the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Sacramento. Each year the Club holds the event We Care, serving some of the most underprivileged children in the area. Architect Debbi Stevens has volunteered with the program for eight years. This year, Stevens and others from Nexus, coordinated a table in which 100 children were able to craft a beautiful holiday creation that they could gift to a loved one. The Club serves over 4,000 youth each year and because of support from volunteers like Debbi, every child at the club received a special gift for Christmas in 2017.

Three employees of Arch Nexus are being recognized for their artistic talents. Robb Harrop, Charles Bagley and Keyan Hansen all received awards from the American Society of Architectural Illustrators for their illustrative works. Their art will be featured in an annual book of the best architectural illustrations of 2017 and will be included in a touring exhibit for the next year. Pre-orders for the books are available now at the ASAI website.

Facility Manager Magazine’s latest issue highlights sustainable design in the arts. Written by Arch Nexus Principal, Jeff Davis; Breathe Life into Sustainable Design, takes readers on a journey of understanding what the Living Building Challenge is, how it works, and it’s relation to venues of the performing arts.

From the article: You may feel like something as ambitious as a regenerative building that creates its own ecosystem is just beyond your reach… you can start today through existing building energy assessments and occupant engagement, or through choosing to take part in a petal certification such as Net Zero Energy. These are feasible goals and will save dollars from your operating budgets.

Along the east bench of Salt Lake City, stands a world class research and treatment center; The Huntsman Cancer Institute. All four phases of the nearly 900,000 square foot campus were designed by Architectural Nexus. A recent article in Utah Construction and Design Magazine provides a fascinating history and details of the expansive project.

In 1993 Jon Huntsman Sr. and his wife visited major cancer centers across the world with the intent of adopting the best qualities of each. Designers worked in step with research scientists to ensure open and flexible laboratory spaces that are able to quickly adapt to future research initiatives. “If you look at this new phase, it’s all about open space that brings researchers together, it gives them a place to collaborate” said  Brad Busath, a Principal at Arch Nexus who specializes in laboratory design. “It’s an architectural masterpiece that really speaks to our values” said Mary Beckerle, CEO of HCI since 2006.

Huntsman offered high praise for the design and construction teams he’s worked with on each of the four phases, and said the local talent in Utah’s A/E/C industry is second to none. “Utah is a very unusual state… We have some of the finest architects, builders and contractors of anywhere in the world. It’s been a great blessing and a privilege for our family to have these associations.”

Prominent Utah leaders from business, government, higher education, faith communities and civic organizations, united on November 14^th, 2017 to sign a declaration acknowledging shared responsibility for protecting Utah’s economy, air quality and environment, and safeguarding against the risks of climate change. The gathering kicked off Path to Positive Utah, a collaborative initiative sponsored by Utah Clean Energy and ecoAmerica, that represents a diverse group of leaders seeking to understand, prepare for and raise awareness about climate change risks and solutions.

Local notables who signed the declaration include Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski, Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams and Episcopal Diocese of Utah Bishop Scott Hayashi. Forty leaders have already signed the declaration, including Architectural Nexus President, Kenner Kingston. The declaration is open to all Utah leaders interested in harnessing their leadership to advance conversations about and solutions to climate change. Path to Positive Utah will empower leaders through educational materials, trainings and seminars, and will help share participating organizations’ successes.  For more information visit www.pathtopositiveutah.org.

This evening, AIA Utah members will gather at Publik Coffee in Downtown Salt Lake City, to celebrate Utah Architects and their best work. Arch|Nexus Director of Design, Robb Harrop, will be presented with the Honor Award, for the design of the Arch|Nexus Sac office. “It’s really about the team… to accomplish something like this, it’s all about the team.” Harrop also expresses his gratitude to the awards committee “for recognizing that highly sustainable projects are good design.”

Salt Lake County is currently hosting its tenth annual Watershed Symposium. The two day conference engages the public and stakeholders in issues related to watershed health. Architectural Nexus President, Kenner Kingston, presented at this year’s event: Using Living Buildings to Achieve a Sustainable Water Future. Kingston, along with Nick Schou, of the Utah Rivers Council and Kevin Emerson, of Utah Clean Energy, made a compelling case for the value of Living Buildings in Utah.

Arch|Nexus SAC made it on the map of Sacramento Area Sustainable Business by winning a BERC Award. The Business Environmental Resource Center recognized Arch|Nexus SAC with the Green Building Award of 2017. The BERC program helps businesses to develop a positive relationship with its staff, who provide regulatory, pollution prevention and resource conservation expertise. The Business Environmental Resource Center also encourages the public to choose Certified Sustainable businesses. Learn more about the program here.