A snail wearing a hard hat as a shell, signifying the slow but steady improvements in the construction industry per the Architectural Billings Index.

World News | December 07, 2020

October 2020 ABI Score

The October 2020 Architectural Billings Index holds good news about the recovery of the construction and architecture industries. However, the industry faces the dilemma of limited and/or higher priced construction materials.

Carolyn Feinstein

Carolyn Feinstein is a founding member of JCA Design Group. Her passion for architecture has led her to design some incredible structures, and though she tends to focus on modern styles these days, she specializes in historic restorations. Outside of the world of architecture, Carolyn is an accomplished artist (painter/sculptor), enjoys scary movies, and can often be found running with her dog Kuro.

GREEN BUILDING | November 13, 2020

Net Zero Energy Building

November 13, 2020

Explore Net Zero Energy Building (NZEB) practices to responsibly produce a building's energy needs through renewable sources while complimenting additional green building practices, like passive house design.

Billing and design contracts ABI scores comparing the months of August and September 2020, showing signs of industry rebound and future work.

WORLD NEWS | November 11, 2020

September 2020 ABI Score

November 11, 2020

The ABI broke out of its 3-month slump to 47.0 for September billings. Although conditions remain soft in certain specialized sectors, architecture firms are seeing signs of returning to pre-pandemic conditions.

Multiple construction cranes lit up at dusk, signifying the slowdown in commercial construction activities since the onset of the pandemic.

WORLD NEWS | September 30, 2020

August 2020 ABI Score

September 30, 2020

The AIA recently released the August ABI report, and the news could be better. Billings have stalled at 40.0 for the third consecutive month and design contracts have shown only a moderate increase in value.

Silhouette of two construction workers on scaffolding, signifying the current condition of the architectural and construction industries.

WORLD NEWS | August 26, 2020

July 2020 ABI Score

August 26, 2020

Amidst a soft market and the end of the PPP, the July ABI report reflects a slowly stabilizing decline in billings with a cautious, but hopeful, industry outlook.

Black and white image of construction of the foundation of a commercial building surrounded by scaffolding, signifying the slowly rising ABI scores.

WORLD NEWS | July 31, 2020

June 2020 ABI Score

July 31, 2020

The AIA released the June 2020 ABI Score, reflecting a leveling off of business conditions after the slowdown in the economy as a response to the pandemic.

Firefighter with fire hose spraying a burning pile of wood pallets, signifying their exposure to harmful chemicals during training exercises

CONSTRUCTION | July 24, 2020

The Dangers of OSB

July 24, 2020

Virginia firefighters will no longer be exposed to the harmful chemicals in OSB during training, yet these dangerous carcinogens remain in the walls of your house. Learn how to protect yourself and your family.

Render of the modern square pavilion installation from the Netherlands for the Expo 2020 Dubai with transparent front facade.

TECHNOLOGY | July 13, 2020

Dutch Pavilion - Solar Art

July 13, 2020

Marjan van Aubel's wants to change our relationship with solar energy. Her design for flexible, tinted solar panels for the Dutch Biotope Pavilion, have proven once again that innovation can be beautiful.

Two people sitting cross legged in gyan mudra position signifying the power of proper architectural design of a meditation room in your new home.

INTERIOR DESIGN | July 08, 2020

Designing a Yoga Room

July 08, 2020

Don't cheat yourself out of your personal oasis. Work with your architect to design your meditation and yoga room when you are laying out the floor plans so you can capture a calming environment and natural light.

Marty McFly running up the driveway of the 3-story arts and crafts style Gamble House, used as the set for the home of Doc Brown in Back to the Future

ARCHITECTURE | July 03, 2020

Back To The Future - A Tour

July 03, 2020

On the 35th anniversary of Back to the Future, we take a closer look at the architecture of the homes Marty McFly ran to and from in such a hurry while Huey Lewis blasted in the background.

Evening photo of The Broad, contemporary art museum in Los Angeles, with a sculpted glass fiber reinforced concrete exterior

CONSTRUCTION | July 03, 2020

Cement Just Got A Makeover

July 03, 2020

Cement is vital to our way of life, but producing it causes millions of tons of CO2 emissions every year. A new standard from the ASTM has clarified how we can reduce those emissions and make a stronger concrete.

A modern passive house with slatted sun shades, black solar roof tiles, wood siding, and a metal overhang to shade the sliding glass door.

GREEN BUILDING | July 01, 2020

Passive House Design

July 01, 2020

Unlike other green building approaches, passive houses aim to reduce environmental impact using energy conservation. So forget that giant furnace and talk to your architect about a passive design.

Architect in a gray shirt hand drawing building plans for a railing and staircase on a roll of paper with a ruler

WORLD NEWS | June 24, 2020

ABI May 2020

June 24, 2020

The AIA has released the May 2020 ABI Score showing poor performance for the 3rd consecutive month. Though the unemployment rate fell overall, the architectural sector suffered more job losses.

An array of solar panels at a Lincoln Electric facility in Lincoln, Nebraska under a blue sky with wispy white clouds

GREEN BUILDING | June 17, 2020

Indiana's Mega Solar Park

June 17, 2020

Solar energy production is being embraced on a large scale by developers in Indiana, with their largest solar farm set to be operational in 2022

Rectangular pool with tile pool deck and moveable tile floor that serves as a pool cover when closed with green pasture hills in the background

POOL DESIGN | June 16, 2020

Pool Cover Art

June 16, 2020

Safety pool covers evolved from the mesh and vinyl tarps anchored to the pool deck, to elegant hidden pools with moveable floors and custom finishes for any pool shape.

Stone house in Denver surrounded by native trees, large boulders, and xeriscape with a gray gravel pathway

LANDSCAPING | June 12, 2020

Low Maintenance Xeriscape

June 12, 2020

Xeriscapes are low, not no, maintenance landscapes. Proper maintenance of your xeriscaped yard is simple, but will get even easier over time.

Dollhouse figurines of small girl kneeling in front of a dog and a man on a bench reading a newspaper in an outdoor courtyard

LANDSCAPING | June 11, 2020

Xeriscaping - Turf War

June 11, 2020

Of the over 9,000 species of turfgrass in the world, few are suited for a drought-tolerant xeriscape. Explore the different options to determine which one is appropriate for your landscape.

Xeriscaped sloping pathway of crushed gravel between bark and rock mulched xeric beds

LANDSCAPING | June 10, 2020

Xeriscaping - Mulch

June 10, 2020

There are a wide variety of organic and inorganic mulches available to finish off your xeriscape that function as protection, evaporation barriers, and focal points.

Crushed granite pathway through lush xeriscape with colorful blooming wildflowers and a stone well in the center

LANDSCAPING | June 09, 2020

Xeriscaping - Plant Zones

June 09, 2020

Determining plant zones, depending on the sunlight, irrigation, and wind requirements for each type of plant, will help you design your optimal xeriscape and conserve natural resources

Drip irrigation system hose close up wetting the soil next to small green seedlings

LANDSCAPING | June 08, 2020

Irrigating Your Xeriscape

June 08, 2020

The right irrigation system for your xeriscape will help conserve water, minimize maintenance, and provide just the right amount of water to your plants.

Cupped hands holding a mound of soil, signifying the importance of healthy soil for xeriscaping

LANDSCAPING | June 08, 2020

The Dirt On Xeriscaping

June 08, 2020

Plant-specific soil is vital to the health of the plants that adorn your xeriscaping. Assessment, amendment, and plant selection are vital to success.

Winding stone path surrounded by colorful native xeriscape plants and pale wood mulch

LANDSCAPING | June 05, 2020

Planning Your Xeriscaped Dream

June 05, 2020

Don't just landscape - xeriscape. We take a close look at the first principle of xeriscape - planning and design, to give you the tools to layout your perfect yard, save water, and get rid of your lawnmower.

WORLD NEWS | May 29, 2020

Griffith Park Buys The Batcave

May 29, 2020

Thanks to the Friends of Griffith Park, Los Angeles' largest municipal park, home to the famed Hollywood sign, has now expanded to over 4,300 acres to include Bronson Caves, better known as Batman's lair.

A 2-story wood frame house under construction halted by the COVID-19 global pandemic

WORLD NEWS | May 28, 2020

ABI Hits Record Low In April

May 28, 2020

The AIA has released the April 2020 ABI score and it has reached another record low. The COVID-19 pandemic has hit the industry hard, with furloughs and staffing decreases in the near term.

Neighbors gathering outside a BoKlok dark grey prefabricated apartment home with a view of the terraces and greenhouse

WORLD NEWS | May 27, 2020

BoKlok - Home In A Box

May 27, 2020

BoKlok, the joint venture of IKEA and Skanska, is expanding into the UK market with their prefab homes featuring open floor plans, built with a focus on quality, sustainability and affordability.

The redesigned zero carbon emission Fire Hall 17 in Vancouver with a four story concrete exterior tower, 4 engine bays, and white metal roof

GREEN BUILDING | May 26, 2020

Vancouver's Green Fire Hall

May 26, 2020

The new Fire Hall 17 is a testament to Vancouver's dedication to addressing climate change and environmentally conscious building practices. This firehouse is the first to meet Zero Carbon Building design standards.

Close up of an artificial grass lawn in the foreground of a modern home

LANDSCAPING | May 22, 2020

SYNLawn Artificial Grass

May 22, 2020

SYNLawn has developed an environmentally-friendly alternative to mowing and watering your grass with long lasting, natural looking synthetic grass that feels cool and natural between your toes.

A 354-foot replica of the Eiffel Tower standing in the background of Shanghai's attempt to replicate the city of Paris, France

WORLD NEWS | May 21, 2020

China Bans Copycat Buildings

May 21, 2020

China has decided they have had enough with copycat architecture. The Chinese government will no longer tolerate plagiarism, imitation, and copycatting in their public buildings.

The foyer of a rehabilitated firehouse features a modern and sleek Monorail Cirrus Float R1 Rectangular Suspension chandelier from PureEdge Lighting.

INTERIOR DESIGN | May 20, 2020

Beautiful Foyer Lighting

May 20, 2020

How to choose the right lighting scheme and fixtures for your foyer to greet your guests with beauty and style.

Coral Manta 3000 pool safety system with top mounted solar panels and underwater video camera to monitor motion in the pool.

POOL DESIGN | May 16, 2020

Pool Motion Detectors

May 16, 2020

Pools are a great way to punch up the yard, increase your property value, and entertain family and friends. The Coral Manta 3000 pool safety system keeps your loved ones safe with constant underwater monitoring.

Sunlight floods through an iron double door in Drake's foyer into the custom designed Nero Marquina and Escarpment White marble inlaid floor.

INTERIOR DESIGN | May 15, 2020

Stylish Foyer Flooring

May 15, 2020

Interior flooring options are boundless, but the flooring in your foyer should be focused equally on function and style. Learn why these are our favorite entryway floors.

Evening exterior of stucco Mediterranean mansion in Naples, Florida with circular paver driveway surrounding a large fountain.

LANDSCAPING | May 13, 2020

Lighting The Exterior

May 13, 2020

From path lighting to porch sconces, from solar powered to hardwired, you have an endless array of options to illuminate the exterior of your home. Explore the impact these options have on your front entrance.

Tiny houses set atop red toy blocks with the letters HOA

CONSTRUCTION | May 08, 2020

HOA - Friend Or Foe?

May 08, 2020

Homeowners associations have the important job of protecting property values, but there are occasions when their desire for conformity has the potential to impact the creativity of the architect.

3d render of a partially built two-story house set amid architectural floor plans and build plans

ARCHITECTURE | May 06, 2020

Changing Online Plans

May 06, 2020

Online house plans are growing in popularity as a cost effective alternative to hiring an architect, but beware of the pitfalls of prepackaged plans and the costs associated with modifying them.

Two gentlemen arm wrestling on a table covered with money, signifying that if you do things correctly in the first place, you won't need to struggle.

ARCHITECTURE | May 05, 2020

Austin Permit Office

May 05, 2020

There are plenty of stories of frustration and delays when it comes to trying to get a building permit from the City of Austin. You don't need to do a rain dance or bang your head against the wall. You need plan.

Tiny front door and picket fence on a fire hydrant. Having a front door that is outdated or need of repair can define your home.

INTERIOR DESIGN | May 02, 2020

The Lure Of A New Front Door

May 02, 2020

Your front door is the first and last part of your home that your guests will see. Here are some things to consider when choosing a front door and who to entrust to install it.

Aria OG floor register showing a seamless and modern way to integrate your floor air registers into your custom flooring finish

INTERIOR DESIGN | May 01, 2020

Sexy Air Vent Covers

May 01, 2020

I may be overly excited about this, but after staring at the bare interior of my air ducts for the past 7 years, I can't wait to get my hands on these innovative and stylish vent covers.