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12 40 18 C ON T EN T S MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT 6 BE THE SUSTAINABILITY EXPERT YOU ALREADY ARE Empowering Small Firms in Idaho By Lindsey Love, President, AIA Idaho EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE 10 GROWING TOGETHER Celebrating Five Years of Idaho Architecture By Anna Foster, Executive Director, AIA Idaho 11 CONGRATULATIONS TO JIM MCLAUGHLIN, AIA, 2024 AIA IDAHO GOLD MEDAL AWARD RECIPIENT! 12 A PRACTICE IN SUSTAINABILITY Hummel Architects 16 OUR FUTURE IS BRIGHT AND ENERGY EFFICIENT WITH THE NEW DALLAS HARRIS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL! By Idaho Power 18 DESIGNING THE SCHOOLS OF TOMORROW LKV Architects 22 THE REALITY OF ART IN ARCHITECTURE Susan Desko, AIA Cover Photo Credit Photography: Architect Susan Desko, AIA Project Name: Lake Creek Canyon Residence Location: Blaine County, Idaho 4 IDAHO ARCHITECTURE | 2025 | aiaidaho.com
©2025 The Idaho Chapter of the American Institute of the American Institute of Architects (AIA ID) | The newsLINK Group LLC. All rights reserved. Idaho Architecture is published once per year by The newsLINK Group LLC for AIA ID and is the official publication for this association. The information contained in this publication is intended to provide general information for review, consideration and education. The contents do not constitute legal advice and should not be relied on as such. If you need legal advice or assistance, it is strongly recommended that you contact an attorney as to your circumstances. The statements and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the views of AIA ID, its board of directors or the publisher. Likewise, the appearance of advertisements within this publication does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation of any product or service advertised. Idaho Architecture is a collective work, and as such, some articles are submitted by authors who are independent of AIA ID. While a first-print policy is encouraged, in cases where this is not possible, every effort has been made to comply with any known reprint guidelines or restrictions. Content may not be reproduced or reprinted without prior written permission. For further information, please contact the publisher at (855) 747-4003. AIA IDAHO 2025 BOARD AIA Idaho State Board President Lindsey Love, AIA President Elect Jared Schmidt, AIA Treasurer Jennifer Mohr, AIA Secretary Drew Davis, Assoc. AIA Past President Andy Erstad, AIA AIA Central Idaho Section President Ian Hoffman, AIA President Elect Laura Davidson, AIA Secretary Caitlin Kessler, AIA Treasurer Rebecca Behrens, AIA Associate Director Sasha Rubinshteyn, Assoc. AIA AIA Idaho Mountain Section Chair Kristin Anderson, AIA Vice Chair Casey Burke, AIA AIA Idaho Eastern Section Chair Matt Frankel, AIA Vice Chair Isaiah Womack, AIA Treasurer Latecia Herzog, AIA AIA Idaho Northern Section Chair Reid Weber, AIA Vice Chair Rod Rada, AIA AIA National Strategic Council Representative Leah McMillan, AIA Small Firm Exchange (SFX) Representative Teran Mitchell, AIA National Associate Council (NAC) Representative Katherine Leija, Assoc. AIA Young Architect’s Forum (YAF) Representative Katie Darter Bennett, AIA State Licensing Advisor Greg Ugrin, AIA Advocacy Committee Chair Andy Erstad, AIA Fellows & Honors Committee Chair Glen Berry, FAIA Design Awards Committee Co-Chair Jeff Williams, AIA Design Awards Committee Co-Chair Scott Yribar, AIA Public Outreach Committee Chair Dave Davies, AIA 28 CONGRATULATIONS TO JACK SMITH, FAIA, 2024 AIA COLLEGE OF FELLOWS WESTERN MOUNTAIN REGION SILVER MEDAL AWARD RECIPIENT! 30 BUILD A BETTER IDAHO 32 MICRON EARLY LEARNING CENTER Build a Better Idaho Case Study 34 REDUCING EMBODIED CARBON Insights from a Structural Sustainability Specialist By Jessica Martinez, DCI Engineers 36 THE BASICS OF CONCRETE AND CARBON Reducing Carbon Emissions for Precast and Ready-Mix Concrete 38 HEMPITECTURE Sustainable Materials for People and the Planet By Hempitecture 40 ACE MENTOR PROGRAM OF IDAHO Building the Future of Architecture, Construction and Engineering By Jeff Slinger, Andersen Construction, and Ken Gallegos, AIA, NCARB, LEED BD+C, Lombard Conrad Architects 44 COORDINATED DRAWINGS The Cure to Construction Headaches By Drew Morgan, SE (ID), Principal, BHB Structural 46 AIA IDAHO MEMBER DIRECTORY 54 AIA IDAHO ALLIED MEMBER DIRECTORY 5
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT Be the Sustainability Expert You Already Are Empowering Small Firms in Idaho LINDSEY LOVE, PRESIDENT, AIA IDAHO While good design is the foundation of sustainability, market demands, cultural inertia and population growth require more proactive measures. In our rural Idaho market, we face similar challenges to implement sustainable practices, but there are some tried-and-true strategies that are actually doable and will transform your practice. The top three challenges we all face are: 1. Finding the time to implement things we know how and want to do (or learning more about them). 2. Specifying certain sustainability measures in our designs only to have them VEed out or changed in the field by the contractor. 3. Convincing clients that new or innovative strategies are worth the effort and financial investment. In reality, these challenges can be overcome with a shift in mindset and language. It requires a shift in thinking and speaking, but once this is shifted, the rest will flow. I found this to be the case while running Love | Schack Architecture — a small, regional-based firm in the Yellowstone Region. Now, as the owner of Regenerative Building Solutions, I guide architects, owners and sometimes contractors to implement sustainable strategies that feel elusive. The first strategy is to embrace a non‑political form of sustainability. We all want and deserve a safe, clean and comfortable environment (both indoors and outdoors). All types of Idahoans are here for this very reason — we are one of the last “refuges” offering a rural lifestyle — either mountainous or ag/ranch-based. We can talk about these things together, but using politicized buzzwords like “sustainability” might kill your opportunity to implement best practices as you know them. Words like “comfortable,” “healthy,” “efficient” and “performance” go much further with clients and contractors. The second strategy is to take back your power as an expert to lead the entire team. There is a great discrepancy between contractors’ and clients’ backgrounds and yours as an architect. In our state, anyone can become a contractor if they pay a fee. Calling this out is not to degrade their expertise. Your experience as an expert in architecture can never replace what is learned from years in the field, and because our industry is set up to be separate (for better or worse), collaboration and integrated design with a contractor’s input is often the only strategy for efficiency — both time and financial — in the long-run. However, as the architect, you have the ability to differentiate between mediocrity and greatness in a contractor, and your clients deserve your input and guidance. To let a client select their contractor without your review is actually doing them a disservice. Contractors with the client’s best interest in mind understand the language discussed in the previous paragraph and will appreciate and support your expertise. They will be eager to learn from you, and you will appreciate learning from 6 IDAHO ARCHITECTURE | 2025 | aiaidaho.com
them. In order for architects to succeed, we must collaborate with those who are doing the constructing. At Love | Schack, for instance, we worked only with contractors who had taken a particular certification course indicating that they have the knowledge of financial, health and environmental benefits of building in a way that was different from Code Minimum, and with healthier materials. Once the entire team of experts speaks the same language, you can work together in your client’s best interest. Note: We actually made money as a firm by hosting the course instructor in our communities, and you could, too. The third strategy is to take a little risk and make a commitment. As a reassurance, your clients want sustainable design (remember that it is healthy, clean, comfortable and fiscally responsible), and if you speak about it as a leader in a way that supports their goals and desires, you will find it is a Photo Credits: Furman + Keil Architects 7
SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS Project Management Staff Education Marketing Community Advocacy and Engagement Immediate (6 months) • Create sustainability checklist for all phases of design and include in Wrike. • Begin to develop sustainability guide to share with clients. • Create sustainability kick‑off guide for initiating discussion with clients. • Identify needed skills and knowledge and develop plan to support staff in attaining sustainability expertise. • Include sustainability commitment on website. • Commit to mentorship and education opportunities. • Continue to provide office opportunities for community engagement. • Continue to incentivize AIA involvement. Short Term (18 months) • Implement sustainability checklist at all phases of a project. • Evaluate and update SAP each year at end of year. • Finalize and improve sustainability guide to share with clients. • Develop means of supporting staff in pursuing green building credential(s). • Schedule office CEUs related to sustainability. • Apply to awards that recognize sustainability. • Work intentionally with consultants to pursue sustainability measures. Mid Term (3-5 years) • Continue to implement and evaluate project management and client education strategies to achieve sustainability targets. • Maintain and expand expertise through ongoing continuing education and innovative ideas. great marketing strategy for your firm. The commitment entails creating a little document called a Sustainability Action Plan, a firm‑specific outline of goals tailored to your firm, your available resources and time. There are many examples of other firms’ plans online. You can reference AIA National’s SAP (which will be updated specifically for small firms in 2025) by scanning the QR code. https://www.aia.org/sites/default/files/2023-11/Creating_a_Sustainability_Action_Plan.pdf THE BENEFITS OF A SUSTAINABILITY ACTION PLAN The following are five benefits of having a Sustainability Action Plan (SAP): 1. Streamlined Productivity: An SAP aligns your firm’s goals with actionable strategies, saving time and reducing inefficiencies. 2. Enhanced Marketability: Position your firm as a leader in sustainability. Clients increasingly value environmentally responsible practices. 3. Competitive Edge: Demonstrating expertise in sustainable design helps you stand out in a crowded market. 4. Elevated Design: Metrics and boundaries within a SAP inspire innovation and elevate design quality. 5. Resilience and Fortitude: Build a future-ready firm that thrives as sustainability and disaster‑survivability become the industry standard. How to Create a Sustainability Action Plan That Works Your SAP will reflect your firm’s unique culture, celebrate existing sustainable practices and align with the challenges of operating as a small firm. It will empower you to turn clients into sustainability advocates, enhancing your influence within your market. By setting realistic goals paced over one, three and five years, your SAP ensures progress without overwhelming, paving the way for impactful, long-lasting change. If you set your firm on this track, momentum will drive integration and make your sustainable practices sought after by clients and collaborators. You do not have to do it all! Consultants like Regenerative Building Solutions can perform (or recommend others) energy modeling, envelope design and detailing, spec-writing, sub-contractor and G.C. procurement, life-cycle analysis, and upload to the DDX in a way that can be incorporated into your existing process without significantly adding to your learning curve or project scope and fee. SAP Action Items Chart, Furman + Keil Architects 8 IDAHO ARCHITECTURE | 2025 | aiaidaho.com
SET GOALS FOR ONE YEAR, THREE YEARS AND FIVE YEARS One-Year Goals: Dip Your Toe In Champion what you are already doing, identify what fits within your culture and market, and start taking more authority with your clients. • Market Your Commitment: Dedicate five to 10 hours to incorporate these values into your branding. Highlight existing efforts like LEED AP credentials, energy modeling, and community-oriented or affordable housing projects. • Test Tools: Trial two software products for early-phase energy modeling and carbon accounting on one project (10-20 hours). Or hire a consultant to work with you on this. • Integrate Sustainability: Add basic, firm-appropriate sustainability language to contracts (one hour). • Report Progress: Join the AIA 2030 Commitment and/or Materials Pledge. Log your findings in the Design Data Exchange (DDX) (three hours) for one to three projects. Three-Year Goals: Build Momentum Start with early-phase comparison energy and embodied carbon modeling. This will drive macro design decisions that maximize your impact. • Implement early-phase energy modeling for every project, adhering to the latest energy codes. • Use three low-carbon materials on every project. • Educate clients on sustainability’s value, integrating practices into all project phases. • Strengthen branding with your own real-world examples and measurable data. • Report all projects in the DDX. • Take the lead in contractor selection to align with sustainability goals. Five-Year Goals: Lead the Industry By this time, you will have the process integrated and the data to ride the wave you created. You will be uniquely positioned to drive the market change you want to see. • Perform cradle-to-gate embodied carbon modeling on all projects. • Perform energy modeling throughout all phases of all projects. • Achieve 2030 Commitment benchmarks for most projects. • Leverage historical data to showcase achievements. • Evaluate and evolve your SAP. “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.” — Creighton Abrams 9
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE Growing Together Celebrating Five Years of Idaho Architecture ANNA FOSTER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, AIA IDAHO Welcome to the 2025 edition of Idaho Architecture! It’s hard to believe we’re celebrating the fifth anniversary of this publication! Starting something new, planting that first seed and watching it grow has been an exciting journey for me. A gardener myself, working on Idaho Architecture has been my own garden project — an opportunity to plant, nurture, grow and share our story. Our publication is our tool to build connections and learn from one another. Each year, when I start working on it, I remind myself that our goal is to unite our efforts across the state and share knowledge and problem-solving through design. Through our publication, we share stories of the individuals and firms driving our construction industry forward, determined to make a lasting impact despite many construction industry and regulation challenges. The true highlight of my work, though, is the knowledge that the architectural community is thinking beyond single projects. No matter the season or political climate, the architects’ collective focus remains unwavering — on fostering health, safety, resilience and the overall welfare of our communities. Through design work and professional expertise, our members are continuously raising the bar on performance and taking seriously the challenge to make all new buildings, developments and major renovations carbon-neutral. Idaho’s rapid growth demands thoughtful and sustainable design solutions that can meet the demands of an expanding population without compromising the health of our state. We need better schools, more resilient housing, healthier materials that stand the test of time and energy solutions that preserve our resources for future generations. While our members are hard at work building a better Idaho, our board is deeply committed to advocating for critical updates to Idaho’s building and energy codes — ensuring that our communities remain safe, both now and in the years to come. Through my work, I have the privilege of getting to know our board members, committee members and leaders from each of AIA Idaho’s sections. The passion and expertise they bring to their work — and their commitment to volunteering for this organization and many other organizations in their hometowns — give me confidence that Idaho’s future is in the hands of truly skilled and dedicated professionals. This issue would not be possible without the support of our partners, contributors and sponsors. Their ongoing commitment is vital to our shared success. A special thank you to our Allied Members and to the sponsor organizations that help us in our mission: Interior Technology Inc., Idaho Power, BHB Structural Engineers and Intermountain Gas Company. Big thanks to Heather Wolsey and The newsLINK Group for their outstanding work in publishing this issue. I hope you enjoy this edition of Idaho Architecture and are inspired by reading about the incredible work being done by our members and partners. With warmest regards, Anna Foster Executive Director, AIA Idaho 10 IDAHO ARCHITECTURE | 2025 | aiaidaho.com
Congratulations to Jim McLaughlin, AIA, 2024 AIA Idaho Gold Medal Award Recipient! Jim McLaughlin’s incredible 50-year career has left a lasting impact on architecture, not just in Idaho, but across the globe. From the stunning Our Lady of Snows Catholic Church in Sun Valley, Idaho, to projects in New Zealand and Hawaii, his work showcases the beauty of sustainable materials and thoughtful design. Jim’s guiding principle is to design timeless architecture that not only stands on its own but also enhances the property and surrounding area. Early in his career, Jim decided to get his pilot’s license to help him travel to wherever the client or project was located. That decision helped to expand his business to locations around the world. The holistic design approach he takes with clients — through a highly collaborative process of design, review, revision and re-design — creates architecture that is not only sensitive to the functional and emotional needs of the users but also to the surrounding environment. The Gold Medal is AIA’s highest annual honor, recognizing individuals whose work has had a lasting influence on the theory and practice of architecture. Congratulations, Jim, on this amazing award of recognition! You embody what it means to be an Idaho architect. 11
A Practice in Sustainability Hummel Architects Hummel Architects was founded in Boise in 1896 as Tourtellotte and Hummel. As a multi-discipline firm, their focus has always been on public projects. They have been serving the Treasure Valley community and the state of Idaho for 129 years designing city, county and state buildings and schools from K-12 to higher education. Sustainability is at the core of every project they design, with a focus on the future, creating functional, technologically advanced and environmentally conscientious buildings. We recently had the opportunity to talk with Scott Straubhar, AIA, NCARB; Mandy Boam, NCIDQ, AIA, IIDA; and Rob Beusan, AIA, NCARB of Hummel Architects and learned more about the firm and its vision for the future of Idaho. How has Hummel Architects’ vision evolved over the years, and what are the firm’s primary goals for 2025 and beyond? Our vision has stayed steadfast over the years and will continue to in the years ahead. We strive to be client-focused while providing long-term value through the creation of functional and meaningful architecture. This mindset has allowed us to stay in business since 1896 and permits us to continually work with quality owners in both the public and private market sectors. We leverage our vision, history and corresponding expertise to secure work, which in turn allows us to hire, train and retain exceptional team members who enjoy the collaborative making of substantive buildings. Can you share any new initiatives or design philosophies the firm has adopted recently? We embrace technology and eagerly seek new ways to convey research, processes and design intent. All our software is subscription-based, so we always have the most current tech. We employ a full-time IT director to troubleshoot issues, which allows us to stay productive and consistent. If AI is the next wave in architecture, we will run headlong into the trend. As a profession and a company, we need to evolve. To not evolve is to be left behind. Hummel Architects wholeheartedly embraces diversity and equality. An inclusive mindset where everyone feels valued, essential and safe is the only way we will run our business. The diverse makeup of our team fosters ideas, varied opinions and experiences, which enhances the workplace and the architecture we collectively create. How does the firm incorporate sustainability and energy efficiency into its projects, particularly in the context of Idaho’s environmental landscape? Considering the context and environment throughout the design process is essential. We recognize the value of preserving Idaho’s landscape and aim to integrate our buildings into the surroundings, rather than disrupt them. The secret is out, Idaho is a great place to live, with incredible access to nature. Our buildings prioritize access to natural light, open views and biophilic design to create environments that promote well-being for the people who occupy them. We have multiple projects in design that will achieve LEED or Boise Green Building Code benchmarks, but for us, it is more than meeting certification standards. We work to create high-quality environments that foster more comfortable, more productive and healthier people while using less energy and resources. Our goal is to design buildings that not only operate efficiently today but also stand the test of time, maintaining their beauty and functionality for years to come. Ultimately, we strive to create buildings that leave a positive, lasting impact on the communities they serve. What are some recent projects that highlight Hummel Architects’ unique approach to architecture in Idaho? Each site has its own constraints and opportunities that are derived by evaluating the site and overlaying the characteristics of each project. Hummel Architects’ approach to architecture is grounded in creating designs that respond meaningfully to their context by Scott Straubhar, AIA, NCARB Mandy Boam, NCIDQ, AIA, IIDA Rob Beusan, AIA, NCARB 12 IDAHO ARCHITECTURE | 2025 | aiaidaho.com
studio apartments, offering additional housing in one of the state’s most sought-after neighborhoods. The building design drew inspiration from nearby Hyde Park and other historic commercial projects within the district, respecting the architectural character of the area while introducing modern elements. The massing builds up towards the park to the north and steps down to match the residential scale to the south. At St. Luke’s Center for Orthopedic and Sports Medicine, we saw an opportunity to show off the “bones” of the building and act as a catalyst for redevelopment on the periphery of downtown. The 230,000-square-foot building consolidates multiple orthopedic specialties including exam rooms, operating rooms, rehab spaces and pharmacy to create a more streamlined process for patients. The building design draws from the St. Luke’s aesthetic while responding to the unique nature of the project and program. We decided to express the structure with exposed lateral bracing supporting the feature stairs, highlighted in the lobby and shown throughout the building. A break in the center of the building massing, that stretches from Fairview Ave. on the north, to the parking garage on the south, defines the lobby and vertical circulation core, allowing for clear wayfinding. The interior design reflects a clean modern aesthetic with ample light, natural materials and other biophilic design elements to promote recovery. integrating functionality, aesthetics and local character. One example can be seen at Desert Sage Health Center in Mountain Home where we created a one-stop for the rural community’s healthcare needs. The 30,000-square-foot comprehensive facility houses a pharmacy, medical clinics, behavioral health resources, dentistry services and Idaho’s first permanent drive-through clinic. The single-story massing is broken by a high-volume lobby that defines the entry, assisting in wayfinding. Familiar materials — such as masonry, metal paneling and warm wood accents, in tones derived from the surrounding landscape — add a touch of comfort and familiarity for patients. The natural tones continue to the interior of the building, lit by large exterior windows and a series of rooftop monitors that allow light into internalized clinics. All this led to an approachable structure that feels like part of the Mountain Home community. Another example is the 13th Street Mixed‑Use project in Boise’s Historic North End. This infill project, located across from Camels Back Park provides walkable neighborhood scale amenities on the first floor in the form of a café and retail space. The second floor has four 13
How does Hummel Architects contribute to the local community and are there any community-driven projects you’d like to highlight? We are active members of the Boise Chamber of Commerce, Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce, Boise Valley Economic Development Organization, Regional Economic Development for Eastern Idaho and Meridian Chamber of Commerce. We also have leadership sitting on boards for nonprofit organizations. We recognize the importance of integrating into the community to understand their needs. Hummel Architects is dedicated to contributing to communities where we have strong client relationships. Some recent examples include: • Partnering with the City of Twin Falls and St. Luke’s to plan, design and oversee the construction of a shade shelter at Sunway Soccer Park, contributing our services pro bono. • Providing design and construction document services for Habitat for Humanity. • Supporting our major clients, such as St. Luke’s, K-12 schools and higher education by donating to their foundations and volunteering in classrooms. • Volunteering annually for United Way Holiday Helper, Pantry Drives for Twin Falls School District’s Educational Foundation, and Rake up Boise for NeighborWorks. • Most recently, we are very proud to have donated professional services to Camp Rainbow Gold’s Hidden Paradise Camp to design a single-story medical center at their camp in Fairfield. This building is designed to be functional, safe and welcoming for guest groups that serve children or adults that have medical needs. How do you balance modern architectural design with Idaho’s traditional landscape and cultural heritage? As I mentioned, Hummel Architects’ buildings are integral to Idaho’s cultural heritage. From the State Capitol and Egyptian Theater to small churches and 14 IDAHO ARCHITECTURE | 2025 | aiaidaho.com
schools that dot Idaho’s landscape, we have always been at the heart of communities. This legacy gives us a strong knowledge of Idaho’s culture, people and traditions. The legacy also reminds us that these buildings become part of Idaho’s built environment and need to be built to last. We are so proud of our history but also recognize the importance of progressive thinking and keeping up with constant change. Hummel’s team is very talented and culturally diverse, with a wide range of experiences. Our strength comes from our ability to listen to their voices and ideas while also providing the bedrock of a longstanding history in Idaho. What challenges and opportunities do you foresee for architects working in Idaho in the coming years? With Idaho’s population surpassing two million people and growing, and with over 40% living in the greater Boise metro area, the challenges and opportunities are intertwined. Growth means work, but it also means increased competition from startups, satellite offices and firms from other states. To stay relative and in business, we believe you need to match, if not exceed, what other firms offer. We do believe growth fosters better design as sophisticated clients seek quality architecture to enable their missions, strategies and programs. We see opportunity and fun in meeting those needs. How do you think Idaho’s architectural landscape will evolve, and what role do you see Hummel Architects playing in that transformation? It is going to be interesting. As everyone can see, Idaho is trending conservative with no change in sight that it might move more centric. Decision makers will continue to be fiscally conservative translating to potentially less work and certainly tighter project budgets. As a profession, we will need to transform to maintain our niches by being nimble, intuitive and efficient. Additionally, year after year, Idaho is getting warmer. Supporting science research is real and indisputable. We see sustainability as being ever more necessary along with fire-wise architecture and construction systems. How our work evolves to meet the current and coming environmental circumstances remains to be seen, but we will embrace the challenges and opportunities inherent in the transformation. 15
Our Future is Bright and Energy Efficient with the New Dallas Harris Elementary School! BY IDAHO POWER Since 1916, Idaho Power has been a trusted partner for business and residential customers, including local school districts and the buildings they manage. We take pride in powering our communities responsibly and affordably. We offer low prices, energy efficiency incentives and personal service. Dallas Harris Elementary School opened in fall 2023 to provide a high-quality, student-centered learning facility to the growing southeast area of Boise. The Boise School District (BSD) benefits from Idaho Power’s business customer prices, which are nearly 30% less than the national average. They also qualify for many energy efficiency programs Idaho Power offers, including new construction, major renovations, additions and expansions. The projects pay for themselves over time, while the incentives reduce upfront costs and shorten payback periods for customers. The BSD designs all their new schools with energy efficiency at the forefront, and this elementary school is no exception. CSHQA Inc., architects and engineers of record for Dallas Harris Elementary, teamed with DLR Group, who assisted in programming and schematic design. CSHQA Inc. also worked with Musgrove Engineering P.A. for mechanical design. CSHQA Inc. selected interior and exterior low-wattage LED lighting and high-efficiency mechanical systems, among other energy-saving systems, to optimize the comfort of the students and staff while saving money. Idaho Power’s New Construction and Major Renovations program worked with the BSD and CSHQA Inc. in this endeavor. The program provides cash incentives to businesses that design and build energy-saving features that exceed code in their new construction or major renovation project. Idaho Power provided incentives to Dallas Harris Elementary for interior and exterior light load reduction; high‑efficiency exit signs; high-efficiency heat pumps; high-volume, low-speed fans; reflective roof treatment; and HVAC energy-management controls. These energy efficiency measures have created valuable savings for the BSD. These energy efficiency measures will save BSD 149,707 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per year, enough to power more than 13 average homes in Idaho Power’s service area. The efforts also earned BSD over $42,000 in incentives. Those benefits go beyond the new school. CSHQA Inc. earned a professional assistance incentive for their design and helping the school district with the technical aspects and required supporting documentation to complete the incentive process. CSHQA Inc. was eligible for an incentive equal to 20% of the participant’s total incentive, up to a maximum of $5,000, to help offset the additional necessary work. Idaho Power’s strong connection to the communities where our employees live and work spans more than 100 years. Our local roots run deep, and we’re proud to contribute time, talent and financial support to enrich the lives of our neighbors. Keeping our customers and communities safe is an important part of our mission. Whether you are a small startup, a large company or somewhere in between, we want to help you grow your business by saving energy and money. Find out how your business can save at www.idahopower.com/business. 16 IDAHO ARCHITECTURE | 2025 | aiaidaho.com
See how easily you can save: idahopower.com/business Participate in Idaho Power’s energy efficiency and demand response programs to earn incentives for your business; and energy-saving upgrades today can save you even more in the future. Installing efficient equipment or reducing load through the Flex Peak Program is good for your customers, employees, and your bottom line! Incentives are available for: • New construction and major renovations • Retrofits • Custom projects • Energy management and facility tune-ups • Flex Peak demand response program We also offer incentives for efficiently rewinding motors, energy assessments, training opportunities, and more.
Designing the Schools of Tomorrow LKV Architects Designing schools today is a complex process for a number of reasons. First and foremost, schools should be a place of curiosity, wonder and joy for children. A place to nurture, educate and inspire the new generation while respecting the past. Behind that, there are many factors to take into consideration, such as safety, functionality and future population growth. Twenty-first-century learning and the advances of technology have changed the way educators deliver education. As a result of our rapidly evolving technology, architects and engineers must also evolve their thinking regarding educational facility design. Architects must embrace the design of future classrooms to be more than just a space to deliver instruction. They must also create environments that are multi-use, adaptable and flexible, as well as include exciting collaborative work areas with cutting-edge technology. To satisfy all these needs, thoughtful and smart planning and design are needed. For 50 years, the team at LKV Architects has been doing just that — designing schools that allow students to flourish. INNOVATIVE DESIGN Idaho schools are increasingly adopting modern architectural strategies to enhance the quality of student education and have evolved to accommodate alternative pathways to career success. As a result, over the last few years, the importance of Career Technical Education (CTE) programs in our schools has been on the rise. These programs target the growing number of children who don’t see themselves in a traditional four- to five-year college setting, and instead, they’re learning skills in multiple sectors such as hospitality, manufacturing and construction. LKV Architects has been fortunate over the past few years to design CTE programs for school districts across the state of Idaho. It’s becoming a big design component of many high schools and even some middle schools. Students are embracing these classes and finding a lot of success. It’s important that these specialized classroom spaces are integrated into traditional school environments, adding another level of technology and equipment that is designed for. Deciding which programs are included in these career centers starts with the school district, its plans for the space and its capacity for the number of students. For CTE programs, figuring out what equipment is needed to teach the class is the next step. There is often a collaboration with local business partners, many of which are happy to help by donating equipment in the classrooms. Then the classroom is designed around that curriculum and equipment. This is a win-win for both schools and businesses. The schools have what they need to teach trades to the employees of tomorrow, and the companies can hire the much-needed skilled workers right out of high school. Amber Van Ocker, Partner Brook Thornton, Partner Ronald Polintan, Partner Toby Norskog, Partner 18 IDAHO ARCHITECTURE | 2025 | aiaidaho.com
SWAN FALLS CAREER TECHNICAL SCHOOL — Kuna School District Specialized lab and classroom spaces designed for four career technical programs: Health Occupations, Electronics, Construction, and Heavy Diesel/Automotive Technology. Each of the programs are designed with an associated classroom for instructional space, which can also serve as a general high school classroom when not in use. The 72,000-square-foot construction of Swan Falls is the first phase of a full high school planned on the 60-acre site. DESIGNING FOR MENTAL HEALTH Schools can play a vital role in supporting students’ mental health and wellbeing. The use of thoughtful design — like natural lighting and flexible spaces — provides a supportive environment for our students to thrive in. Creating comfortable spaces starts with the basics: giving children both adequate and safe space to learn. LKV Architects believes there are several factors in design that contribute to successful learning environments. Natural light is a huge part of the equation. Studies have shown a correlation between exposure to natural light and higher test scores. How you enter a school environment and whether you feel comfortable, warm and included in that space matters. A thoughtful color design in schools can positively impact students, influencing focus, mood and the overall learning environment. There is also a great need for sensory learning. Sensory spaces allow children of all abilities to experience different types of learning. These spaces can be accomplished with playgrounds that include traditional equipment, breakout spaces and areas where children can sit and observe. They are flexible learning environments with multiple options and different ways for students to have protected space as well as areas to collaborate with others. On the flip side, the teacher’s mental health is important. Creating nice places for teachers and faculty to go and get some space and time of their own helps avoid burnout. 19
LEWISTON HIGH SCHOOL — Lewiston School District The commons and cafeteria provide connections to an outdoor student space. The large windows in the cafeteria offer spectacular views of Lewiston Valley. Natural daylighting is available throughout in combinations of transparent glazing and opaque translucent wall panels. SAFETY AND SECURITY Another aspect of mental health is school safety. School safety isn’t just about preventing violence. It’s about creating spaces for teachers and students to connect with each other and their peers. Safety components and security are associated with all of LKV’s designs. Being able to monitor who is stepping foot on the campus and how to keep everybody safe inside the school has become a vital part of 21st-century educational design. Over the years, LKV Architect’s design solutions have evolved to incorporate safety and security features in a layered approach. Starting from the outer perimeter of a school site and working towards the inner classrooms, this includes a combination of secured card access door systems, bullet-resistant glazing, improved site lines for increasing visibility and security cameras. These design measures all work together to increase the level of security for the students and faculty and allow education and learning to occur in a safe environment. RENOVATING AND PRESERVING HISTORICAL SCHOOLS Many of Idaho’s original schools are aging. It is important to protect these historical buildings and preserve the architectural fabric of the city they are located within. These buildings are still worth fighting for. Much of the original architectural elements are no longer able to be replicated in today’s construction either due to loss of craftsmanship or expense. There is also a responsibility for the sustainability of the earth’s resources, the reuse of existing buildings is a wonderful way to limit some of the profession’s carbon footprint. LKV Architects has worked with multiple school districts across the state on historical buildings. One such district is the Boise School District, which is one of the largest and oldest school districts in our state. They were hired to design two elementary schools as part of renovation and addition projects for historical structures over 100 years old. One of the most challenging things to do as an architect is to bring a historical school up to date with a 21st-century educational design while not destroying a historical structure that is beloved by the community. The renovations and additions are challenging because of the need to upgrade the existing building. Whether it’s a structural upgrade or an ADA upgrade, there are multiple problems that must be solved in the portion of the building that is being kept. The new additions present their own challenges, like connecting two different construction types into one single building while improving the entrances, infrastructure, HVAC and fire protection, all while making sure that the site circulation works. 20 IDAHO ARCHITECTURE | 2025 | aiaidaho.com
COLLISTER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND ADDITION (ORIGINAL 1912) — Boise School District LKV Architects was honored to be part of the team in charge of the preservation, renovation and addition of these important buildings. These renovations started with a complete infrastructure update. All HVAC, lighting and code issues. Full window replacement, interior improvements, and a large addition that was sensitive to the original structure were all part of the project. Every opportunity to preserve history while making the building safe and functional was considered and implemented in the design process. Today these buildings are wonderful examples of preserving the past while bringing educational learning into the 21st century and providing the district with a space that will serve them for the next 100 years. Designing schools that inspire, motivate and help students flourish is not just a job, it’s a passion for the partners at LKV Architects. LONGFELLOW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND ADDITION (ORIGINAL 1906) — Boise School District 21
The Reality of Art in Architecture SUSAN DESKO, AIA 22 IDAHO ARCHITECTURE | 2025 | aiaidaho.com
Susan has dedicated her life to the profession. Her passion and pursuit of excellence have set a high bar for generations to come. With projects that span the globe, Susan’s holistic approach to design, combined with her love of learning, has resulted in buildings and spaces that are uniquely fused to cultures and communities. Susan’s path to becoming an architect was clearly paved from a very young age. It’s almost as if the Universe whispered, “This is your destiny.” We recently had a chance to talk with Susan about her life, her body of work and her hopes for the future of the profession. The following are excerpts from our conversation. Please tell us about your experience with design legends. Prior to relocating my design practice to Ketchum in 2000, I had the opportunity to collaborate with architects Mack Scogin, AIA; Merrill Elam, AIA; Frank Gehry, FAIA; Jon Jerde, FAIA; as well as teach alongside MacArthur Genius Samuel Mockbee, FAIA, at Auburn’s Rural Studio. I studied under esteemed professors and mentors Anthony Ames, FAIA; Rafael Moneo, FAIA; William J. Mitchell, Wilfried Wang and John Hejduk, FAIA, just to name a few. What types of projects have you worked on during the course of your career? While at former offices and on my own, the most noteworthy large-scale projects would include the Corporate Headquarters for Coca Cola in Atlanta, mixed-use complexes in Shanghai, Osaka and Cape Town, six city blocks at Rockefeller Center, plus a Trident Submarine Base for the U.S. Navy. Medium-size projects would include the first 24-hour CNN Broadcasting Studio, the School of Theology at Emory University, the Law Library at Arizona State University, the JUMP building in Boise and the Chobani Yogurt Facility in Twin Falls. Smaller projects but no less significant would include the Buckhead Branch Library in Atlanta, two junior gallery installations at the High Museum of Art, the Sun Valley Visitors Center and Starbucks next to Ketchum’s Town Project Name: Goose Island Location: Ketchum Idaho Architect: Susan Desko, AIA Project Scope: Architecture, Interior Design, Landscape Design, Boulder Installation and Lighting, Art Installation Photo Credit: Susan Desko 23
Photo Credit: Susan Desko Square as well as residential work located coast to coast. That sounds like you’ve designed an entire city! Actually, a recent visitor to my studio commented, “You could fill a city with all of your models.” It had never occurred to me to do so, but their comment inspired me to test their theory. As it turns out, the site plans of all of my commercial experience would fill, in its entirety, the downtown core of Ketchum spanning both lengths of Main street from the Limelight Hotel to Hotel Ketchum and similarly Sun Valley Road from Ketchum’s City Hall to the Red Barn. All of my residential work (single and multi-family) would fill the entire Light Industrial District. What projects are people most familiar with? Locally, it would be the Sun Valley Visitor Center and Starbucks Coffee Shop located next to Ketchum’s Town Square. It has been recognized as one of the “Top 10 Coolest” Starbucks in the World by a dozen plus magazines, including Architectural Digest. There are currently 34,000+ stores worldwide. For anybody flying in and out of the Sun Valley Airport, it would be a house located in the Bellevue Triangle nick-named “The Starship,” you can’t miss it while flying overhead, it’s the only home “off the grid.” Which of your projects have advanced the field of architecture? The un-built Lewis Residence located in Cleveland, Ohio, and the Buckhead Branch Library in Atlanta, Georgia. 24 IDAHO ARCHITECTURE | 2025 | aiaidaho.com
mentioned he had signed Zaha’s petition, which tipped the scales for me in hiring him! He is currently a partner at Williams Partners Architects. Thank you, Zaha! What experiences can you share that are unique to being an architect practicing in Idaho? Aside from being dug out of an avalanche by strangers, being stuck in 9 a.m. sheep traffic, or getting my second design commission from the neighbor’s dog wandering into my first locally designed residence, it’s the caliber of clients and their connection to the landscape. All of them are trailblazers in their own fields of expertise, and by association encourage me to raise the bar while creating an authentic connection to local history using locally sourced and native materials. What brought you to Ketchum? I moved to Idaho with the intent of taking a break with our then-two-year-old daughter. I didn’t know a single person here. I wasn’t actively looking for work, and instead, wanted to support and meet the local art community. I purchased a Pat Steir lithograph from a local gallery, which led to my first design commission. Pat Steir has been my lucky charm ever since. Tell me about your first project in Idaho? It is commonly referred to as “The Steel House,” located in Sun Valley near the world’s first chairlift. At the initial meeting, my clients stated, “We hate river rock, we hate log cabins, and we hate pitched roofs … we want everything to be low maintenance.” The exterior steel panels require no painting, the flat roof requires no gutters nor overhangs to clean, and the interior floors are concrete with radiant heating. To expedite construction, minimize costs, and to create a direct connection to the panoramic mountain views, the house is based on a 3’-6” module repeating 111 identical steel framed glass door panels that are 13’ tall. Approximately one third of the frames are operable with exposed industrial barn door hardware, and the other two thirds are fixed. The frames were installed in just two and a half days. Both my clients and I have received numerous phone calls from both local and out-of-town architects asking us to share the details to the custom designed doors at the insistence of their own clients. In 2004, the design received an AIA Idaho Honor Award: “Bold and elegant, the simple volumes of this home are artfully arranged on the small but heavily wooded site, becoming both a neutral backdrop for the landscape, and viewing portal from the interior. The use of straightforward materials — raw steel plate cladding, steel windows, river pebbles and cordwood ‘fences’ — in unusual ways complements the strong forms. Warm, daylight two-story spaces, tone-on-tone finishes, and inventive, deceptively simple detailing create a house both raw and sophisticated, exuberant and restrained.” — AIA Awards Jury Comments. Tell us about your experience mentoring others. Recently, AIA members were invited to mentor “Far & Wise” students from the third-grade class at Bellevue Elementary School. They were seeking insights from “a real architect” regarding their 3D projects inspired by their reading of the Hansel and Gretel fairy tale. The recurring question from all the students was, “Why did you decide to become an architect?” Expecting this question, I brought a book I had found by coincidence in a creek 54 years ago and passed it around the room for each of them to flip through the pages. I also brought a second book and explained that 25 years later after finding “How to Plan a House,” my design contributions were featured on the cover. I asked each student to pass the book around the room, so that they could see that the same materials used to build the model on the book cover was the same cardboard glued together with the same glue guns that they used to make their own 3D Hansel and Gretel inspired models. I was 10 years old when I found a book “by chance” that would inspire my path to become an architect — the exact same age of the Far & Wise students. Inspiring the next generation of architects comes In the early 1990s I received a call out of the blue from Frank Gehry, FAIA. He asked if I would help him “uncork” the design of a house located in Cleveland for Peter Lewis, CEO of Progressive Insurance. Other collaborators on the project included Philip Johnson, FAIA, Richard Serra, Claes Oldenberg, Larry Bell and Maggie Keswick Jencks. Each design team member’s contributions and Gehry’s iterative design process are featured in the 2004 award winning documentary film by Telos Productions “A Constructive Madness: Wherein Frank Gehry and Peter Lewis Spend a Fortune and a Decade, End Up with Nothing and Change the World.” The film is narrated by Jeremy Irons and written by Jeffrey Kipnis. Paul Goldberger, Architecture Critic at The New Yorker, says in the film “I know of nothing else in architectural history quite like it, where there’s a single project that serves as a laboratory paralleling other built works along the way.” To watch the documentary, scan the QR code. https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=OMrptF9HoAk The Buckhead Branch Library designed by Scogin Elam and Bray Architects Inc., completed in 1989, was under threat to be demolished by a neighboring developer in 2008. Zaha Hadid, FAIA, penned an open letter to the Fulton County Commissioners signed by five other Pritzker Prize winning Architects and subsequently an international petition circulated the globe. Signatures of practicing architects as well as architecture students tipped the scales in saving the building from landfill. Awards for the design include a 1993 National AIA Honor Award of Excellence, a 1992 National AIA/American Library Association Award of Excellence, a 1990 Georgia AIA Award of Excellence, and a 1990 Urban Design Commission Award of Excellence. In 2014, it received the 25 year “Test of Time” award from AIA Georgia. Around the same time the library also received a historic marker from the Colonial Dames XVII Century. Meanwhile, Caleb Spangenberger, AIA, contacted me to relocate from Atlanta to Ketchum. During his interview, he casually 25
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