News

Walking the Walk: The AIA Leadership Institute for Emerging Professionals

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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…

Outpatient Center Seeks to Bring a Refreshing Change of Pace to North Hills Community

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 31-Exam Room Outpatient Center in Hampton Township Opens this Week PITTSBURGH, September 6th, 2017 – The newest UPMC Outpatient Center is fostering a revival of Hampton Township three years in the making. Set on a prominent corner of Mount Royal Boulevard and William Flynn Highway, the 3-story, 43,000 square foot ambulatory care facility is designed…

InternView: Expectations vs. Reality

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When our summers interns first walked through the doors of 2200 11 Stanwix this June, they had a few goals set out for themselves – and myths to bust – for their first real experiences at a growing firm. We reluctantly had to say goodbye last Friday, but not without one last homework assignment before…

In Retrospect: Five Landmark Projects

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“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…

Thinking Green: The How, What, and Why of WELL

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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…

InternView: Meet the 2017 IKM Summer Interns

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From moving to a newly designed office to a completing a full rebrand, IKM has experienced a period of great change and excitement in 2017. As one of the AIA PA Firms Fostering Emerging Professionals, IKM is continuing a landmark year by expanding our AXP Program with the IKM Summer Internship Program. This week, we welcomed Jamie Tyler, Shannon…

Connecting the Dots: Transformations at CVSD

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“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…

Thinking Green [Thumb]: The IKM Compost Garden

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“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…

3 Things We Learned from Vivian Loftness

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  “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,…

Thinking Green: “Light Surfaces, Not Spaces”

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“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…