I’ve known since I was 12 years old that I would use my design talents to impact underrepresented communities, and I never expected that journey would bring me to Pittsburgh. In 2011, I was invited to Pittsburgh from Florida by the UDREAM Program at Carnegie Mellon University. UDREAM, the Urban Design Regional Employment…
What is an “emerging professional?” As architects, we use the term to describe any professional with 10 years of experience or less. At IKM Architecture, our “emerging professionals” represent the largest and most influential group at the firm. In many ways, their diverse backgrounds, skill sets, and technical acumen make them our go-to resource for…
“A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.” – Marcus Garvey Throughout its rich history and metamorphosis as a firm, IKM has remained at the forefront of creating significant, meaningful architecture in Pittsburgh and the surrounding region. Now in its 11th decade, several of these…
The Phipps Conservatory Center for Sustainable Landscapes [above] is the first institution to receive WELL Platinum Certification – the highest awarded rating. Photo credit: Denmarsh Photography via Phipps Conservatory website. After nearly 20 years in the architecture industry, it’s safe to say that the LEED Rating System is part of the zeitgeist. Most of…
“Every great design begins with an even better story.”—Lorinda Mamo The Chartiers Valley Middle school and High School have been under construction for almost a year now, and the opening of the Middle School this Fall is just around the corner. In that year, the hilltop site along I-79 has transformed in an effort to design…
“The Earth laughs in flowers.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson In the United States, an estimated 95% of food waste that could be composted ends up in landfills and incinerators, according to the EPA. As IKM looks to change our office habits to make a difference in our community and in our world, we are changing…
“Buildings are not commodities that can be replaced with the next hot product. They house the people that are most precious to us and the activities that are most critical to education, production, community, and health outcomes. Design for the highest performance over the long term.” – Vivian Loftness, Elsevier Interview Last week,…
“Light is the first element of design; without it there is no color, form, or texture.” – Thomas E. Farin It’s no secret that well-executed lighting design is essential to creating more productive workplaces, fostering employee well being, and lifting the spirits of visitors when they walk through the doors. Gone are the days of…
“This is a very complicated world, it’s a very noisy world & we are not going to get a chance to get people to remember much about us…so we have to be really clear on what we want them to know about us.” -Steve Jobs, 1997…
The Engineering and Science (E&S) Building at the University of Pittsburgh Johnstown campus is getting a major renovation that is driven in large part by concern for sustainability. The project, designed by IKM Incorporated, Pittsburgh architects, and currently under construction, is seeking LEED certification. The envelope of the Engineering and Science Building will remain mostly…