Articles & Publications
The Legislative Voice of the AIACC
May 23rd, 2013
Lee Salin, AIA, managing principal of HMC’s San Jose studio, serves as the Vice President of Legislative Affairs for the AIA California Council—this is his second term in this role. Lee has participated in the advocacy efforts of the Council for the last eight years through the Advocacy Advisory Committee and other Council committees.
He recently published the article “The Legislative Voice of the AIACC” in the Council’s May newsletter. In the article he writes, “The legislative process is exceedingly complex. How can we as architects be informed about all of these potential benefits or risks to our profession, our businesses, our communities, and our environment?
We can’t, at least not individually. Collectively though, we can be informed – and not just to be aware – we can even have an influence in the outcomes of these bills. This is the role of the AIA California Council’s Legislative Affairs program, under the direction of Mark Christian, Hon AIACC.”
For more information, read Lee’s full article: “The Legislative Voice of the AIACC” >>
Posted in Articles & Publications,Beyond Architecture
23 Things You Need to Know About Charter Schools
April 15th, 2013
According to Building Design+Construction’s April cover story on charter schools, “charter schools have come a long way in just over two decades. Forty-one states and the District of Columbia have laws recognizing charters, and resistance to charters by public school administrators and teachers’ unions has diminished over the years … Despite this progress, getting schools built remains a daunting task for charter operators … Most charters can only afford to allocate about 14-15% of their budgets to facilities, compared to 22% or more for public schools. Typically, charters will start with one or two kindergartens in leased space and move up a few years later to a K-3 in a renovated space. The real test comes when the charter becomes successful enough to consider building its own facility.”
In the article “23 Things You Need to Know About Charter Schools,” editor Robert Cassidy interviewed HMC Architects’ Phil Nemeth and Steve Prince, along with several other architects, to provide insight into executing successful charter school projects and to provide guidance to charter schools that are looking to build new or expand their facilities.
El Sol Science and Arts Academy
Posted in Articles & Publications,Pre-K–12 Education
Interiors & Sources Features the L.A. Center for Women’s Health
March 14th, 2013
For its February issue, Interiors & Sources focused on what’s ahead for the healthcare industry and profiled the Los Angeles Center for Women’s Health. Editor Robert Nieminen wrote in his editorial that HMC’s design is “shattering age-old expectations of what a visit to the doctor’s office should be like. At first glance, the center appears to be a cross between a spa and a contemporary office space—which was intentional, of course.”
Pam Maynard, CID, principal and director of interior architecture at HMC, explains, “We spent a lot of time with potential clients from L.A. and asked them what types of environments they felt would be most comfortable in which to receive medical care. And the places that they asked for were places that seemed to be very peaceful. The environment itself participates in the healing process by offering a space that’s reminiscent of a calming spa where women go to relax and de-stress.”
Read the complete Interior & Sources’ feature of the L.A. Center for Women’s Health >>
Robert Nieminen’s editorial on the future of healthcare >>
HMC Architects creates a new model for healthcare with the L.A. Center for Women’s Health, a state-of-the-art medical facility that emulates a spa while catering to the needs of working women.
Posted in Articles & Publications,Healthcare,Interior Architecture
HMC/School Advisors Publishes School News
February 26th, 2013
HMC/School Advisors’ School News is out! Read about the latest trends in K–12 education.
Don’t Stop Planning: Position Your District for the Future
Options for Learning: Innovation in Education
10 Low-Cost Design Tips for Public Schools
Local GO Bond Campaigns Make the Difference
Public Consensus –> Winning Propositions
Posted in Articles & Publications,Pre-K–12 Education
Beverly Prior Makes Sense of Sustainable Design in Corrections
February 13th, 2013
Correctional News recently asked HMC Architects’ Beverly Prior a series of questions in order to understand how green design has been implemented in the correctional market and the overall benefits of sustainable design in the industry.
The first question Correctional News asked was: “how has she seen sustainability and energy-efficient design concepts grow in the correctional market?”
Beverly answered, “I’ve seen sustainability concepts grow from two perspectives — the political and the operations perspective. Politically, the funding agency, whether a state or county often have standards that projects must meet a LEED or other green standard. It also can help with achieving community buy in: “At least it’s green!” Achieving a LEED status is a source of pride and positive public relations: “We’re doing the right thing!” Operationally, the focus is minimizing the ongoing use of resources. Correctional facilities make large demands on water and power, so if those year after year costs can be reduced, then agencies have more options with where to put their resources. With the support of state grant programs, Alameda County’s Santa Rita Jail is now poised to save $100,000 per year with their new solar grid.”
Read Beverly Prior’s Full Interview
Alameda County's Juvenile Justice Center provides services for 360 youths and was the first juvenile justice facility in the nation to achieve LEED Gold certification.
Posted in Articles & Publications,Civic,Justice
Trends Report: New facilities enhance the quality of campus life
February 13th, 2013
Building Design+Construction published a trends report in its January issue on “New facilities enhance the quality of campus life.” HMC’s Kate Diamond is one of the experts quoted in the report, which focuses on how colleges and universities are building state-of-the-art student unions, dining halls, and other non-academic buildings to enrich the campus experience, boost enrollment, and stay competitive.
Kate spoke to the publication about the widening gap between the haves and the have-nots in the world of higher education. “The public institutions, particularly in California, are having a really hard time and nobody is talking luxury, though quality-of-life projects are continuing to be developed,” says Diamond. “The question is how do we do more with less and continue to deliver real value?”
HMC Architects is trying to balance the more-with-less equation with a health counseling and wellness center for the University of California–Riverside. “The student fees need to go as far as they can, and we want as cost-effective a solution as possible,” says Diamond. “On the other hand, we’re building a 50-year building and want it to be a really attractive place where students will feel they’re getting top-grade professional service, as if they were out in the private sector.”
Read BD+C’s full Trends Report
Posted in Articles & Publications,Higher Education
“Battling the Dark Side” McAfee’s Executive Briefing Center
February 12th, 2013
Integration of brand, technology, and innovation at McAfee’s Executive Briefing Center (EBC) landed the project on the cover of the February issue of Interiors & Sources! The article, “Battling the Dark Side,” describes how HMC’s Interiors team captured the essence of McAfee’s battle against malicious viruses that threaten the networks of unsuspecting corporations and how the company’s forces of good are working around the clock to prevent attacks from the dark side.
Posted in Articles & Publications,Interior Architecture
ENR Names Justin Mikecz as a Top 20 Under 40
January 14th, 2013
ENR California has selected Justin Mikecz as one of its “20 Under 40” competition winners, which celebrates the excellence of young design and construction professionals around the state. He and the other winners will be published in ENR California’s February 13 issue.
Justin is dedicated to advancing the industry’s technical capacity to foster sustainability. He continually initiates dialogue during the design process that questions standard protocol and raises the collective definition of what it means for a project to be sustainable. Justin has over nine years of professional experience and joined Beverly Prior Architects (BPA) in 2007 as an Intermediate Designer. While at BPA he led the firm’s pursuit for sustainable material and systems research. In 2011, HMC Architects and BPA merged and Justin was promoted to a Project Leader. He continues to pursue learning about new innovations that can be integrated into the firm’s work. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture from Washington University in St. Louis, MO and a Master of Architecture from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. While in grad school, Justin was among the top three honored in his class for his thesis project the Bronzeville Neighborhood Center.
In 2010, Justin received First Prize in the Northern California Region of 2010 USGBC Emerging Professional’s Natural Talent Design Competition. The competition, in partnership with Salvation Army’s EnviRenew Initiative, focused on the rebuilding effort in New Orleans. Competitors were tasked to design a LEED for Homes Platinum project that is priced affordably and is functional for elderly occupants. Justin’s winning design both honored the historical context of New Orleans and symbolizes the re-emergence of the city like a phoenix rising from the ashes. The house fits in with its Broadmoor neighbors while paying homage to the architectural history and the inherently sustainable nature of shotgun houses in New Orleans.
Justin’s dedication to his community goes beyond just his project work – he is an active participant in community service organizations and has led several initiatives. He currently serves on the Pamakid Runners Charity Committee, which raises money through events like the Kaiser Permanente Half Marathon every year in San Francisco. With funds raised from events like the marathon, Pamakid Runners makes regular donations to local non-profit community organizations that match the club’s mission to “promote a healthy lifestyle.” Justin, a former college athlete and cross-country team leader, is a passionate member of the Pamakid Runners Club race team and focuses his efforts on volunteer outreach with the organizations that receive donations from Pamakid Runners.
Posted in Articles & Publications,Awards
SFSU J Paul Leonard Library Featured in Cal State Library Foundation Bulletin
January 5th, 2013
San Francisco State University’s J Paul Leonard and Sutro Library was featured in and snagged the cover of the California State Library Foundation Bulletin. The article provides an interesting historical perspective on the Sutro Library and its new location. Read the full article, “The Sutro Library Now Open in a Sparkling New Location” by Gary F. Kurutz >>
Posted in Articles & Publications,Higher Education
Los Angeles Business Journal Ranks HMC #11
January 4th, 2013
The Los Angeles Business Journal published their list of the 25 largest architectural firms ranked by 2012 L.A. County billings—and HMC ranked #11! Read the entire list >>
Posted in Articles & Publications
