As architects in a relatively change-averse cityscape like that of Naples, it’s exciting when a project comes along that calls for a lot of expression of our design abilities and a unique architectural statement. One such design was the FGCU (Florida Gulf Coast University) Naples Center, a 250-seat chamber hall and adjoining educational facility located in the heart of Naples.

This 50,000 square foot performance and classroom center is planned to be located at the corner of Goodlette-Frank Road and US 41 East, across from Tin City and the Bayfront Inn. …

PK Studios is pleased to announce that our firm has been awarded a 2009 AIA Florida Design Award for Unbuilt Merit for the design of the Kayak Launch for Collier County. The Kayak Launch was also the recipient of a 2007 local design award from AIA Florida Southwest.

Recognition from our colleagues at the state level reaffirms the project’s unique design. We are pleased to be recognized in the company of such names as Oppenheim Architecture, Arquitectonica, and Zyscovich Architects.
 
We are also pleased and honored to see Bruce Gora awarded posthumously with …

As design professionals, we often enjoy the unique challenges that come with participating in a design competition. And who doesn’t like challenges, right?
In the spirit of fostering a little friendly competition and in the pursuit of the best solutions to any design problem, we frequently share news about the latest design competitions with our colleagues.
Here are the ones that caught our eye most recently:

Rising Tides – Seeks to respond to the sea level rise, primarily in San Francisco Bay. Interested in “design interventions…to sustain quality of life, preserve the environment and …

The other day an article was forwarded to PK Studios and quite honestly, it was the title that grabbed my curiousity.  “Diversity’s Missing Ingredient”.  It addressed the importance of not only being true to yourself, but also being true to your company and your colleagues.
Ask yourself, how many times have I sat in a “team” meeting and found myself not agreeing with my colleagues, or having an aura of tension fill the room because we are not all agreeing on previously made decisions? When we engage in conflict, it can …

The American Institute of Architects chief economist is reporting that the Architecture Billings Index (ABI) is slowly beginning to stabilize.
The index held at a level of 42.8, just lower than a March reading of 43.7. (A 50.0 reading indicates unchanged conditions – neither an increase or decrease in billings). Inquiries remained almost level at 56.8, indicating another rise in interest for architectural services.
The news comes after several months of all-time low performance, starting in the second half of 2008 and continuing through January-February of this year.
A rise in the inquiries …

Jeffrey Curl, landscape architect at PK Studios in Naples, was featured as a guest commentator today in the Naples Daily News. The article, entitled “Put power of place in Naples building renaissance,” evaluates “where we are, where we want to be and how we got to where we are” in the context of the Naples man-made environment.
The past, Curl says, had “…simplicity – nature and a potential in paradise; modest cottages, ‘shotgun’ houses which incorporated windows directly across from one another for cross-ventilation…” The homes were “sustainable, livable and facilitated …

LEED used to be just a buzz word. Most outside the stakeholder industries were unaware and unfamiliar with its requirements and benefits. LEED for Existing Buildings (now Green Building Operations & Maintenance) was elusive, even to those intimately involved in design & construction.
All of that is changing now.
According to “The Cost Efficacy of Building Green,” a piece authored by Debra Hazel at GlobeSt.com, developers and property managers are looking at any and all ways to make their existing portfolio stand out from the pack.
One unique way is pursuing LEED certification.
Debra …

The Ole Community, located within Lely Resort in Naples, has changed the face of master-planned communities in Naples and Florida forever.

Ole, and its sister community – Paseo in Fort Myers, are based on similars concept of a strong town center with integrated commercial uses, a pedestrian network, and residential products that inspire a more urban residential scale.

The Ole Clubhouse is the focus of social life at the community. Commercial uses are built into the framework of a traditional clubhouse concept.

The 16,000 square foot clubhouse features amenities such as a resort …

The Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce will offer the “Collier County Planning and Capital Projects!” event tomorrow at the Chamber building.
The discussion will center around over $100 million in local capital projects planned by the County, and is “specifically designed for planning, engineering, design and construction firms specializing in infrastructure improvements in our community.”
The cost of attendance is $10 for Chamber Alliance members, and the event runs from 8 AM to 9:30 AM at 2390 Tamiami Trail N.
For more information, see the Chamber’s website or call (239)298-7932.

Ever wonder how a solar panel comes to life? Check out this video from the Discovery Channel: