What’s in a Name?

There is one change, however, that can’t go unnoticed. It is the smallest change with the largest meaning. The shift is subtle; the result is reverberating.

BVH Architects is now BVH Architecture.

The architecture industry is changing. Rarely are architecture firms comprised solely of architects. Rarely today are design teams formed with the traditional design alliances of architects, engineers and contractors. We may align ourselves with interior designers, exhibit designers, material scientists or anthropologists. To ensure projects transcend the ordinary and expected, we may need to hire landscape architects, educational specifiers, capital campaign managers or ecologists. The bottom line is that BVH is no longer just about architects. Today, we are a diverse collective of people with a multiplicity of specialties with a singular focus to practice architecture.

We believe this speaks volumes about our workplace, too. If you’re a talented individual impassioned by design, we want you to work with us. We don’t care what your formal training entails, just be part of the team. In addition to architects on staff we employ interior designers, a planner, construction specialists, a communication strategist, and a graphic designer.

Likewise, the shift to “Architecture” removes the concentration from us to the end result—a building or place—that impacts people or communities. We love what we do and we love to celebrate our work. But we also desire to make a profound impact in our communities through what we leave behind: Architecture. Architecture is the built environment shaping our cities, our neighborhoods and our experiences. We are not designing the buildings for ourselves, but for the people who engage with them and who live in the communities they occupy.

So while it may seem like only a few letters, to us, it’s an important transition that defines who we are as a firm, what we do and who we serve.

A Sense of Wonder

In an effort to meet our most basic primary needs, we began creating structures for shelter. Motivated by Safety, we designed those structures to be secure. When we began to create those safe environments for ourselves and our families to call home, to pray, to gather, and break bread, this fulfilled our need for Love and Belonging. As we designed bigger and more ornate built environments, polished edifices with stylistic details located in prime areas, architecture began to reflect and meet our need for Esteem and value among others.

Too often, that’s where a building’s design intent stops. It never reaches a level of actualization or transcendence. We believe design can do more.

Our third core belief — a Sense of Wonder — means that we believe design can achieve this top level and become transcendental by converging the tenets of function, economy, performance, and beauty. As architects and designers, this is what allows us to inspire and be inspired. It means the potential for excellence in design is omnipresent, and we look for it everywhere. A Sense of Wonder means we are exceptionally curious while acknowledging and embracing the transformative power of design.

Students at the St. John Paul II Newman Center desired a place to which they could retreat for prayer and meditation. Dedicated prayer rooms at the end of shared corridors provide unexpected spiritual enclaves. Perforated white oak panels set the space apart to provide warmth and a textural contrast to its surroundings, dramatically filtering the natural light while giving the intimate space a sense of mystery. It is a physical echo of how the Spirit moves in the individual’s life.

The prayer room is an excellent example of how design can reach beyond mere functionality toward a higher purpose while becoming a transformative vehicle for those who encounter it.

The last several posts focused on our foundation, beliefs, and what will guide us as we move forward. We invite you to explore with us in upcoming posts as we continue to share how these elements are shaping our day-to-day practice and the people in our firm.

*Source: “Rediscovering the Later Version of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs: Self-Transcendence and Opportunities for Theory, Research and Unification”

The Pursuit of Knowledge

They’re the type who aren’t satisfied with the status quo, who never settle for the ordinary and will continue to push boundaries to develop new and innovative best practices. They are our firm’s thought leaders, and their diverse areas of focus include technology, sustainable design, 21^st century learning environments and other critical issues impacting the practice of architecture today. The development and support we show our thought leaders stem directly from our second core belief, the Pursuit of Knowledge.

One of the many exciting developments that has risen from our Sustainability Group is the use of Sefaira, a Design Performance Modeling software that allows us to compute real-time data including daylighting, passive solar and overall building efficiency. The information we gather allows our designers to find the best and optimized sustainable design solutions for maximizing the efficiency of buildings.

While our belief in the pursuit of knowledge informs everything we do as designers and architects, it’s important for us as thought leaders to not just keep this to ourselves. An important way we’ve found to demonstrate our love of learning is through our involvement with UNL’s College of Architecture. Four of BVH’s architects teach during the spring and fall semesters, and many more have been guest lecturers, student design competition judges, and guest critics. Architects Mark Bacon and Michael Harpster are dedicated to influencing the next generation of architects and designers, while staying current on the latest teaching methodologies.

As a team of creatives, we also have a strong conviction to engage our clients and the broader community, and to become a resource for the knowledge we gain through exploration and research. When designing the Nebraska Center for Advanced Professional Studies at Sandy Creek Public School, we dove into the relationship between core classroom subjects and the idea of career pathways our client was eager to explore. What we found was a critical intersection between the student, the path of study and the pedagogy that directly influences the architecture. As a result, we’re able to continually help the client connect the dots to provide a more enriching educational environment for their students and teachers.

Not only does our belief in the Pursuit of Knowledge push us to develop better ideas, processes, and tools that will benefit our clients and profession, it informs the type of architecture we create. Immersive research and exploration into the context of time, place, and material translates into a vernacular approach to contextual architecture. We go beyond stylistic architecture to create buildings authentically representative of their time.

A Commitment to People

Let’s take the concept of optimism – as we’ve discussed previously – and imagine it as a lens. It’s a worldview, a filter through which every experience passes. It’s how we see ourselves and our communities, and how we approach architecture. Through it, our beliefs form a compass to guide us.

Our first core belief is our Commitment to People and their communities, and while the applications of this belief are manifold, we’ll focus on two: clients and our own internal people. Moving forward, this belief will continuously be reflected in our design process, as we authentically engage in a dialogue with those most impacted by the project. The crucial interaction and infusion of ideas resulting from this commitment will allow us to design spaces of maximum benefit and influence.

A local church recently came to us with a challenge: their current building and space weren’t representative of them. Inclusivity, transparency, and dynamism were all part of their identity, but their space communicated disconnection, separateness, and stagnation. Through a continuous dialogue with the church leaders, staff, and community members, we absorbed as much information as possible. Because before we could begin to think about a solution, and even as we moved through the process of testing possible solutions, we needed to understand how the space impacted the different types of people who experienced it.

This core belief also means BVH is committed to the people who work in our studios.

This is manifested in several ways. Setting aside funds specifically earmarked for employees’ continuing education and professional development is one way. Empowering staff to take time to invest in themselves is another. But the result is the same: cultivating a studio culture that values and encourages service, community engagement, and professional development.

Recently, Bryan Solko, AIA, completed Leadership Lincoln’s Fellows program and Project Coordinator Ryan Hier will be joining the organization this fall. Caroline Hinrichs, who leads our Client & Community Engagement initiatives, was recently accepted into Leadership Omaha’s training program. The firm also volunteers for the Special Olympics and participates in other group volunteer work. This belief benefits clients, too, as projects are staffed with skilled people who are bettering themselves while positively impacting the world around them.

Next week, we’ll examine another one of our core beliefs and how it impacts who we are as a firm.

Moving Forward: Our Position

The vitality of our communities is dependent upon a single unifying characteristic — one that injects meaning into the environments and spaces surrounding us. One that transforms a group of humans inhabiting a specific area on the map into citizens, stewards, and neighbors. It builds and solidifies the physical and emotional connections we have with one another and gives context to the world around us.

It’s optimism.

If you were expecting to hear ‘design’ or ‘new urbanism’ or some other fancy design-related term, you would be wrong. At least for now.

But don’t revel for too long because design does play a critical role in the quality of our places – but no more than the city administrator or the school teacher or the farmer or the pastor. We all contribute to the vitality of our communities through the way we give meaning to places, define spaces that support the intersection of our lives, and serve those around us. Inevitably, our communities demand designed solutions that emulate what we believe and support our expected quality of living. Museums, libraries, parks, and restaurants are just a few designed solutions that contribute to a community’s culture.

Without optimism problems are insurmountable, purpose is questionable, and opportunities are squandered. Without optimism inspiration dies. Without optimism we settle for ‘good enough.’ Without optimism we lose our way, we are no longer unified. Who wants that?

We want to remind ourselves this is our own limitation. We recognize that, as a design firm, we are uniquely positioned to lead to ensure our communities thrive. We choose to leave our pessimism behind and bring people along with us to be part of the solution. Because ultimately, we want the same experience as the school teacher and farmer.

Therefore, it is imperative we craft a position statement as a point of reference for why we do what we do. It is the springboard for our core beliefs and it is foundational to who we are:

We act on our belief that architecture is rich with optimism and it is with this prevailing attitude we approach projects. The foundation of our optimism lies in the fact we inspire people and make places that contribute to the vitality of communities—this is what we have to offer and it is our mark on this world.

This is who we are and this is what we believe. And this is what will carry BVH forward.

Going “Green”

In his Encyclical Letter Laudato si’ (LS), Pope Francis echoes both St. John Paul II and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI in their call for an ecological culture to care for God’s creation and to build up and protect our “common home” (LS 1).

In keeping with Catholic teaching, the St. John Paul II Newman Center has been designed with a core principle of being a good steward of God’s resources and gifts. The design strives to respect and conserve our environment, through good fundamentals of design and construction.

These fundamentals include:

Conservation of energy through extra insulation and technology
Proper use of recycled and renewable materials
Low-maintenance, long-lasting structure, materials, equipment

Some details include:

A majority of the lighting is LED, reducing energy consumption and maintenance costs.
Dimming is provided in the resident suites for enhanced occupant comfort and energy savings.
Aluminum is used for large conductors, which is significantly lighter than copper, decreasing transportation fuel consumption to the job site.
Occupancy sensors are used to foster energy savings when rooms are unoccupied.
Many lights contain recycled metals and materials.
Fluorescent lamps are specified with low-mercury contents, minimizing toxic materials introduced to the building.
Energy efficient water source heat pump system.
Low-flow plumbing fixtures to reduce water consumption.
Building management control system which can help reduce energy use.
Demand-controlled ventilation– meaning the building is only bringing in and conditioning the required amount of outdoor air.
Siphonic roof drain system allowing smaller stormwater piping in portions of the material – utilizing fewer materials.
Close access to and promotion of public transportation, as well as walking/bicycle trails.

We at BVH Architecture are proud to be a part of the team to create the JPII Newman Center. May our efforts at conserving natural resources and being stewards of God’s creation be an additional witness to the Person of Christ, who invites us to live in the fullness of life, both now and in eternity. As Pope Francis reminds us: “At the end, we will find ourselves face to face with the infinite beauty of God (cf. 1 Cor 13:12), and be able to read with admiration and happiness the mystery of the universe, which with us will share in unending plenitude. Even now we are journeying towards the Sabbath of eternity, the new Jerusalem, towards our common home in heaven. Jesus says: ‘I make all things new’ (Rev 21:5)” (LS 243).

This article was originally written for and published on jpiiomaha.org.