Insights
At SNHA we harness our strength in diversity of projects, collective intelligence, and genuine curiosity to bring architectural solutions to life. We provide impactful design solutions that architecturally express the individual goals, values, and needs of our clients, creating a deep connection between people, information, ideas and resources and the built environment.
Our commercial, civic, institutional, and mission-critical designs embody performance driven, poetically crafted architecture.
The Architect & Sustainability: The Ever-Expanding Scope
By Jenna Staff, AIA, LEED AP BD+C and Denis Blanc, AIA, LEED AP BD+C By now, we’re all familiar with the significant impact that architecture and the construction industry have on the environment: of total annual global CO2 emissions, building operation, materials, and construction activities together account for 47%. That adds up to a lot […]
Collective Mentorship with Architect Dominick Gallegos
Architecture is an act of collective intelligence. We stand on the shoulders of architects who came before us. We honor the skills and contributions of peers, clients and builders. We mentor as opposed to compete. We share success. Mentorship has evolved into a two-way street, mutual mentorship, a recognition that we all have the capacity to […]
Acts of Optimism
When in school, Stanley Tigerman explained to us that the practice of architecture is an act of optimism because it is about building things as opposed to destroying them. I remember hearing this from him more than once, as if it were an important life theme in counterpoint to the threat of nuclear annihilation that […]
Innovation is Evolutionary Part 2 with Principal Timothy Connor
A couple of weeks ago, we spoke with architect Lauren Bucher about her experience as a designer on some of SNHA’s most complex data center projects. This week, principal Timothy Connor reacts to Lauren’s thoughts, urging design curiosity and the value that innovation provides for SNHA’s robust hyperscale data center programs. What do you tell young architects and designers to pay […]
Innovation is Evolutionary Part 1 with Architect Lauren Bucher
Innovation sets us apart. Incremental improvements can have an effect out of all proportion to their size. Innovation is evolutionary as opposed to revolutionary, the result of genuine and enduring curiosity. Our clients expect it. It is our competitive advantage. The data center typology has, in many ways, flipped the script on architectural standards. Designing with […]
Designing Wellness, Renewal and Refuge in Teen Spaces
The teen years are a unique stage in life — and in spite of what parents of teens might see around the house, it’s not all funny TikTok dances and texting with friends. The transition from adolescence into adulthood can be riddled with anxiety, confusion, and distress; and while these issues were always present and […]
SNHA takes on the 2030 Commitment
In 2019, SNHA became signatories of the 2030 Commitment, formalizing our support of the 2030 Challenge and its goal of carbon neutrality for all new buildings and major renovations by 2030. As a first step, we put together a core AIA 2030 Commitment team, the members of which have been the primary leaders in pulling […]
Exploring a Silver Lining: The Challenge to Design Next-Gen Outdoor Spaces
As we all look for silver linings in our shared experiences over the past year, one exciting opportunity is our rediscovery of outdoor space. At home, people have invested in outdoor seating, built patios and moved indoor living outside. At school, our kids are having classes, eating lunch and socializing outside. Within our communities, restaurants […]
5 Things Architecture School Didn’t Teach You About Sustainability
On-the-job experience is still key to understanding sustainable practices — but a few well-placed hints can point the way to the knowledge you need We have a tremendous amount of hope for the future at SNHA: we are committed to behavioral changes to help alleviate pressure on the environment, and many of our clients are building […]
The Big Move: How Data Centers Can Translate U.S. Design and Construction Practices into a Blueprint for European Success
By Mandi Miller, Associate, Sheehan Nagle Hartray Associates London and Jorge Torres Maestro, Associate – Program Manager, Sheehan Nagle Hartray Architects Chicago We’re all familiar with 2020’s global travel shutdown, and the resulting longing to pick up stakes and explore new destinations. But what if your business travel plans include not just a trip, but […]