SFS Takes Top Honor at AIA KC Design Awards

At Friday evening's ceremony for Kansas City AIA's Design Excellance Awards, SFS was awarded the top honor, the Honor Award, for the Osage Prairie YMCA Natatorium Addition. The project, an addition to an existing metal building with an extremely limited budget, demanded economy in the building shell so funds could be directed towards maximizing the swimming pool. The design solution, concrete precast panels with perforations, provides a durable building shell while allowing in natural light to animate the interior during the day. The glow from light reflecting off the water through the perforations also animates the exterior of the building at night.

SFS & MGC Awarded New Chanute Aquatic Center

The Design-Build team of SFS Architecture and McCownGordon Construction were selected for the new Chanute, KS Family Aquatic Center. The project is currently in design, will start construction in September and will be complete for a Memorial Day opening in May 2010. This is the third aquatic center that will be designed and built by the SFS-McCownGordon team.

SFS Team "Awaken KC" Wins Greatest Impact Award for Project Change

Starting with seven companies, the Awaken KC Team grew to 40 supporting companies and organizations over the four month challenge. At the awards ceremony on June 10th the team was awarded the "Greatest Impact" Award and received a $1,000 check for partner charity Community Linc.

Over the 4 months of the Challenge the team completed projects for Community Linc such as an extreme makeover of a previously unusable basement into a teen center; a community garden for residents; giant grocery bags stuffed with pasta, recipes and ingredients for families; and a sustainble solution to existing drainage problems by installing a french drain and rain gardens.

In addition, the team held a fundraiser for autism that benefitted the MU Thompson Center and the Kansas Center for Autism Research and Training (K-Cart). The event, held at Boulevard Brewing Company raised awareness and $10,000 for the two organizations. Tapping into the rivalry that exists between MU and KU the event was attended by 25o supporters and alumni.

More info on our team's projects and team members can be found on our team blog that tracked our progress... http://projectchangekc-awakenkc.blogspot.com

Reynolds Journalism Institute Wins MADA Award

The IIDA Mid America Design Awards were announced in St. Louis on Friday evening and the Reynolds Journalism Institute (RJI) at MU won Gold in the Education & Research category.

The interior design of the Institute provides an environment that supports learning, as well as, the extensive research and development that takes place at the Institute. These varied needs required the specification of materials and finishes durable enough for college students, yet aesthetically appropriate for visiting international researchers and guests.

Finishes for the facility met stringent maintenance and durability requirements set by the University, while celebrating the energetic and innovative nature the Institute and its users. The simple yet elegant use of glass, concrete, wood and gloss-white terrazzo floors serve as a backdrop to balance the overall energy of the space.

The sensitive space planning and interior design by the SFS design team allowed the Journalism School to transform underutilized buildings into a premiere educational facility and allowed the Journalism School to keep all journalism school facilities in close proximity to each other on campus. "This is the best space the journalism program has ever had," Dr. Brian Brooks, Associate Dean of the School of Journalism said. "It gives (us) facilities that are worthy of the world's first school of journalism.

Belton Fire Station Wins Business Journal Capstone Award

Belton Fire Station No. 2 and Department Headquarters was selected as an Architectural Design winner for the KC Business Journal's annual Capstone Awards which honor the area's crowning achievements in real estate.

The new 23,500 s.f. Fire Station & Department Headquarters for the provides the City with much needed facilities to serve the local community, handle all administrative functions of the department and provide classroom and physical training for staff. The station serves as a home for the firefighters, as well as, a facility that serves their functional needs and promotes pride in their Department. The facility features three apparatus bays, an EOC bay, administrative headquarters, and a training tower. Living quarters include individual bunks, dayroom, kitchen, and an exercise area.

SFS Architecture sponsors team for Project Change

SFS Architecture is leading a team of over 15 companies in the first annual Project Change community service challenge.

Project Change (www.projectchange-kc.org) is a multi-challenge competition created to bring together the Kansas City community for the greater good. In an effort to raise awareness, the goal is to connect people, share knowledge, use talents to fuel passions and simplify the act of giving. There are15 teams, each lead by an architecture/design firm, competing in 4 challenges. The competition kicked off in January and our team is currently in the midst of Challenge 3: Save the Planet.

Our team's progress on all four Challenges is updated regularly on our blog at
http://projectchangekc-awakenkc.blogspot.com

SFS Designs Sustainable Headquarters for MO Dept of Conservation

SFS is working with the Missouri Department of Conservation to design a new regional headquarters that embodies the Department’s core ideals of wildlife resource protection and management, participatory connection with nature and environmental stewardship.

The one-story, 10,000 s.f. office building integrates a high level of sustainable design features such as geothermal HVAC, passive solar, photovoltaic solar power, daylighting, connection with the exterior, local and recycled materials, and an efficient building envelope system utilizing high-performance glazing and structural insulated panels.

Site design will incorporate prairie restoration, native landscaping, pervious pavement and sedimentation control, stormwater control, minimal site disturbance and other low-impact development concepts.

SFS Announces 3 New Associates

SFS announced the promotion of Doug Barraza, Kwame Smith and Kelly Edinger Stindt to Associate. Doug, Kwame and Kelly are all project managers with the firm that have demonstrated exceptional leadership. Each of the new associates brings diverse experience, a unique perspective and the ability to develop strong positive relationships with clients.