Ayers Saint Gross

Whispers of texture and nature pull visitors through the Missouri Botanical Garden’s new visitor center and into the landscape beyond. Completed in 2023 and designed by?Ayers Saint Gross(ASG), the center uses a minimalist material and chromatic palette: white, gray, beige, wood, brass, and limestone, with generous deployments of glass to see into the gardens beyond. A few natural textures and patterns inspired by the garden’s collection give visitors hints of what they’ll see there. “The building, in a lot of ways, is a quiet background to the new gardens,” says Glenn Neighbors, ASG principal. https://lnkd.in/gaFpeY3B

Joel Fidler, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, has been named the next president of interdisciplinary design firm Ayers Saint Gross. Having served as a principal and vice president, and with more than 25 years of experience leading architectural projects, Joel will continue the firm’s long tradition of design excellence for mission-driven clients around the world. ? “I am so proud of the work that Ayers Saint Gross does, and I am honored to be leading such a talented group of individuals," Joel said. "Our firm is a collection of creative thought leaders with a passion for tackling complex problems. I'm excited to find new and innovative ways to leverage our entrepreneurial mindset and deep expertise to serve our clients and communities in even more impactful ways.”? Learn more about Joel's appointment: https://lnkd.in/dCW9YX-M.

From The American Institute of Architects (AIA): "Climate change is everyone’s crisis, and architects are uniquely positioned to help solve it." I am proud to work at Ayers Saint Gross, where our teams are committed to design excellence in tandem with environmental sustainability. I'd like to share two recent wins for our architecture, interior, and landscape teams: 1. The Catholic University of America Conway School of Nursing was awarded LEED Gold. The building is 102,500 GSF and includes modern, immersive learning spaces, simulation labs, science labs, virtual reality, student spaces, and public and office space. 2. Our 2-floor, laboratory fit-out at Vanderbilt University's Engineering and Science Building (my first project at Ayers Saint Gross!) earned LEED ID+C certification. Congrats to both teams! Thank you to Allison Wilson, AIA, LEED AP, WELL AP, our sustainability director, for leading the certification effort on both projects.

How is campus housing evolving? Ayers Saint Gross principals Dennis Lynch and Cooper Melton, AIA and Sustainability Director Allison Wilson, AIA, LEED AP, WELL AP were all recently featured in a special report from The Chronicle of Higher Education titled, “Campus Housing for Tomorrow: How to Plan for Student and Institutional Success.” This in-depth report looks at recent shifts in the student housing landscape, including inflation and high building costs, enrollment changes, evolving student needs and demands, and more. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eEgFqimU

Our Security Square Vision Plan was named a winner of APA Maryland's Sustainability and Transformation Award! Ayers Saint Gross collaborated with Baltimore County, JMT Architecture Landwise Advisors, Morgan State University students, and hundreds of community stakeholders to develop this forward-looking vision for Security Square, a struggling shopping mall. The comprehensive plan aims to revitalize the site, transforming it into an amenity-rich, mixed-use hub that will strengthen the surrounding communities. Learn more about this transformational project: https://lnkd.in/epHsn5BG. #UrbanRevitalization #AyersSaintGross #BaltimoreCounty

Last week, I had the opportunity to represent Ayers Saint Gross's Graphic Design studio at the ACUHO-I/APPA Housing Facilities tours on the UMD campus. Such a great experience to facilitate tours alongside our clients at the University of Maryland to share the design work we've done at the Yahentamitsi Dining Hall. Collaborating with the Piscataway-Conoy tribe to tell their story in their own words as they reclaim their presence and voices was a humbling experience. Thank you Sabrina Young for attending the tour and for your kind words!

Don't miss our work on the Jack C. Taylor Visitor Center in Metropolis! This new visitor center serves as the front door for the Missouri Botanical Garden welcoming visitors into the Garden and encouraging them to explore the landscape beyond. This project was a collaboration with Michael Vergason Landscape Architects, LTD and TAO + LEE Associates. Photos by Wesley Law and Casey Dunn. Read the complete article: https://lnkd.in/gaFpeY3B. #MissouriBotanicalGarden #JackCTaylorCenter #Metropolis #SustainableDesign

Yesterday marked the groundbreaking for the new UConn School of Nursing. This new facility will feature high-fidelity simulation and clinical learning labs, human behavioral research labs, and wet labs to serve the school's research-intensive mission. Flexible classrooms, student collaboration areas, and a makerspace for nurses will anchor the building's ground floor. This project is a collaboration with Amenta Emma Architects. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eh__xRhu. #UConnNursing #NursingEducation #SimulationLabs #HealthcareInnovation

If you are attending the 2024 Housing Facilities Conference next week, co-hosted by the Association of College & University Housing Officers - International and APPA - Leadership in Educational Facilities, Cynthia Bubb and I would love to have you join us on Wednesday morning, 10/30, at 11am for "Belonging Reimagined: A Playbook and Proof-of-Concept for Student Housing." In this talk, Cindy and I will share details of a yearlong research project on #diversityequityandinclusion and assessment tools and applications to help foster #belonging and #community within your residential #campus spaces.

Join Shannon Dowling and Cynthia Bubb this week at the Association of College & University Housing Officers - International/APPA - Leadership in Educational Facilities Housing Facilities Conference in Bethesda, Md., where they will be presenting on "Belonging Reimagined: A Playbook and Proof-of-Concept for Student Housing." This session will explore the relationship between physical space and belonging and how we can use research to improve the residential life experience. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gTtTtpnA. #ACUHOI #StudentHousing #HigherEd #ResidentialLife