Show-Stopping Performance Spaces: How Four School Districts Put Their Fine Arts Programs on Center-Stage

In the ever-evolving landscape of education, the importance of fostering creativity and artistic expression has never been more pronounced. As schools across the nation strive to provide immersive and dynamic environments for their students, four institutions stand out for the revitalization of their fine arts spaces.  From state-of-the-art auditoriums to versatile performance venues, let's take...

Back to Their Roots

How Okaw Valley Found Greatness in Agriculture Education by Going Back to the Basics Agriculture is a staple of the rural education curriculum, and while a majority of students are involved in those programs, there is often little funding and inadequate spaces to support them. The future farmers and agribusiness leaders are frequently taught in...

At the heART of what we do

At BLDD Architects, we live lives that are improved daily by the presence of art. From our own work designing spaces that inspire, to the art that we experience in the environments around us -- art is at the heart of what we do. And because of our appreciation for art and those who aspire...

Planning for the polls: insights for successfully navigating a bond referendum

Is your school district PLANNING FOR THE POLLS? School bond referendums provide the dollars that districts need for facilities that support their educational objectives. Passing a school bond referendum is challenging at any time. However, with potential budget deficits looming because of the Covid-19 pandemic, it could become much more difficult. Our recent cover story in American School and University Magazine gives insights for successfully navigating a bond referendum.

The Future is Physical!

For years, physical education (PE) has been an integral program standard at school districts across the country. Like all other educational programs, PE is evolving to meet the needs of a future-focused school curriculum. As a result, personal wellness, fitness technology and whole-student education are becoming prevalent focuses in today’s school gyms and fitness rooms....

How to reimagine your worn-out gym

In my 30 years of being in the profession, I have witnessed my fair share of school gymnasiums built in the 50s and 60s.  When a school district can finally afford to build a new competition gym, the old gym typically becomes underutilized and often times an eyesore.  But it doesn’t have to be that...

Greasy Drafting Fingers

A long time ago in a country far, far away (across the Atlantic), the poor of a small village along Belgium’s River Meuse mainly ate small fish from the river, fried in oil. During winter the river would freeze, but the villagers still enjoyed their usual fried feast --just substitute fish with potatoes. Years later...

I was lucky….

I was lucky. On my first day of work at BLDD, I could look around the studio and actually see my future business partners. Steve sat two desks over, Randy asked me to “tell everyone a little bit about myself” and Sam popped in from the construction trailer at Richland. Bruce and I had graduated...