Our Best Bits of 2021
Thank you to our clients, colleagues, project partners, and most IMPORTANTLY, our communities, for making 2021 extremely memorable. here are some “BEST bits” we’re proud to look back on.
Design
We had the honor of working on some outstanding projects in 2021, with these being especially rewarding to our clients and design team members:
Washington, DC
A mixed-use development brings 325 apartments and new Safeway grocery store to Capitol Hill neighborhood.
Chicago, IL
An eight-story, 212-unit multifamily development bringing an urban rental model to the suburbs of Chicago.
Silver Spring, Maryland
An affordable mixed-use development and cultural hub where artists can rent studio space to practice their craft.
Detroit, MI
An eye-catching development that creates a custom retail, restaurant, and residential experience within a gateway urban corridor.
Richmond, VA
A 150-unit, modern-designed senior living community with the comforts and qualities of home tucked into every corner.
Minneapolis, MN
A mixed-use building operating under an “urban refined” concept has an impactful residential experience.
Kansas City, MO
An NAHB Green Building Certified project successfully transforms a 1915 hotel into a design and amenity-forward mixed-use community.
Mount Vernon, VA
A NAIOP award-winning project that replaced a smaller outdated station with a design that could implemented in phases with the existing facility remaining operational.
Falls Church, VA
A staple of the Falls Church community since 1957, Mary Riley reopened its doors this year following a nearly 18-month renovation and expansion designed by BKV Group.
Perspectives
BKV was able to purvey our work and ideas to new and expanded media outlets and audiences in 2021. Peruse these unique articles and thought leadership features released this year:
(Select a Sector)
Modera Katy Trail’s Light Gauge Steel Construction Saved Time and Costs
“…with the use of light gauge steel construction, we were able to save time and money while keeping the overall vision of the development intact…”
Multifamily Design+Construction Features CCA Minneapolis in “Lobbies That Wow.”
“…a more is more ethos is evident with the spirited lobby design draws upon visually rich layers of color, pattern, and texture…”
Chris Palkowitsch on Innovations in Parking Garages
“…some suburban markets accommodate increased car sizes, but officials now find the spaces may be too big, so they are scaling them back…”
Kelly Naylor and Megan Van Beck Discuss Student Wellness with Multi-Housing News
“…today’s student housing communities must be designed to promote wellness physically, socially, emotionally, spiritually, and environmentally…”
Jack Boarman Forecasts the Student Housing Market in UNITS Magazine
“…the student housing sector is adapting to pandemic-related challenges, and testing industrial modules that take less time and money to erect on a site…”
Jonathan Delcambre and Kelly Naylor Address “The New Normal” with Student Housing Business
“…BKV Group took a collective pause to assess what needed to change in student housing design – a sector whose model is based on bringing students together, not keeping them a safe distance apart…”
David Banta Speaks with Multifamily Executive About How to Catch the Boomer Wave
“…rehabilitated structures positioned for market-rate residences offer a good option as places to age gracefully within an urban context…”
Liza Kapisak Shares Senior Living Design Strategies with Seniors Housing Business
“…ensure wayfinding is clear to minimize reliance on signage, and residents and family can move easily around the building…”
Bringing Climate Resilience to the Forefront
At this year’s Environments for Aging Expo & Conference, David Banta presented on how to “Create a Resilient Community, Reduce Costs, and Be an Agent for Environmental Change.”
How Rehab Projects Preserve Affordability
“…there’s such a shortage of affordable housing that to be able to provide a place for individuals and families to call home and a place they can be proud of – that’s a big part of the purpose here…”
Artspace Silver Spring Featured in Affordable Housing Business
“…this project represents how how to convert aging buildings into affordable housing, and how it can be a big win for developers, economic development agencies and preservationists…”
Mike Krych Details How Multi-Family Design Can Be Applied to Affordable Living Projects
“…courtyard-style buildings and ‘economies of scale’ are ways to create affordable, aesthetically-pleasing, and durable buildings…”
Jack Boarman and Mike Krych Speak with BuildingGreen on Office-to-Housing Conversions
“…a catalyst to anchor and spur continued development, in addition to being especially attractive to prospective tenants…”
BKV Group Tackles Challenges to Transform Kansas City’s Midwest Hotel
“…we really relied on our knowledge of existing buildings and historic buildings, and we used that knowledge from buildings we have transformed in in the past…”
The Penfield Honored with Fitwel Best in Building Health Award
The Penfield is the very first market-rate residential property in the state to receive a Fitwel rating, a measure of how well a building meets the health and wellness needs of its occupants.
Healthy Buildings, Healthy People
“…focus on how important it is that buildings are healthy regarding physical, psychological, and social well-being…”
Rob Muller Featured in Forbes Piece Focusing on New Workplace Design
“…having easy access to those creature comforts of home while at the office — from virtual meeting environments or spaces to natural ventilation and high indoor air quality — is essential…”
Robert Ewert Discusses What the Future of Office Space Looks Like
“…The office has changed drastically over the last 50 years, often with the pendulum swinging all the way to one side, then swinging back the opposite direction several years later…”
Correctional News Showcases Dynamic New Justice Venue
“…the complex improves not only the aesthetic experience, but also the overall functionality and efficiency of the site…”
Firehouse Magazine Spotlights Woodlawn Fire Station
“…through careful planning, we were able to avoid temporary relocation costs, minimize service disruption, and attain the desired level of sustainability….”
Officer.com Honors Three BKV Projects in Annual Awards Program
The Law Enforcement Design Awards (LEDA) recognizes outstanding architecture and design from law enforcement and public safety facilities nationwide.
Celebrating the Expanded and Renovated Mary Riley Library
“…it is such a great place to go and to meet people, to make friendships, to learn, to gather information and knowledge…”
BKV Helps Create Inaugural Partnership Between AIA CAE and EdSpaces
The AIA Committee on Architecture for Education (CAE) partnered with the EDspaces Conference to design an experiential outdoor classroom with BKV Group helping author the design.
Susan Morgan Details How to Thoughtfully Renovate a Beloved Library
“…spend time understanding the issues and developing a framework for action that will define common values, and encourage your community to be as invested in change as you are…”
People
With our mission focused on enriching lives and strengthening communities, these initiatives and appointments made our year, and our firm, better.
Announcing “Our Purpose”
For us, passion is an output, and BKV’s culture and design initiatives are centered on supporting our communities through design which one of our newest webpages, “Our Purpose,” humbly captures.
Ellie Ziaie Is Next to Lead
An architect and co-founder of our pro-bono design committee, Ellie was 1 of 17 women selected to AIA’s Next to Lead program that supports diverse future female leaders in the architecture profession.
Women in Construction Week
As part of Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day, we honored and created awareness for #WomenInConstructionWeek with team members who are construction leaders at BKV.
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Happy Holidays!
