Where Design Evolves

From student portfolios to mass timber to historic preservation, design takes many forms – but always with one goal: lasting impact. This Top Five Roundup highlights how our work continues to move communities forward.

1. Portfolio Tips for Design Students

Portfolio Tips Download | We asked our designers and hiring managers to share their best advice for standing out in today’s competitive design field. Use this link to download the full guide and shape a deliverable that makes your story stand out.

2. Construction Begins on U.S.’s Tallest Mass Timber Student Housing Building

Ground breaking: Columbus, Ohio, is making history with the tallest mass timber student housing building in the United States, set to open in 2027.

We’re partnering with Chicago-based real estate development and investment firm Harbor Bay Ventures to design 9th and High, the 13-story, 242,000-SF development near The Ohio State University that showcases the environmental and economic potential of U.S.-sourced timber.

Project Architect Cameron K. Jacobson, AIA, NCARB, CDT , shares, “9th and High is more than student housing; it’s a prototype for the next generation to live, learn, and thrive.”

3. Nashville’s Bold New Vision for Juvenile Justice

Correctional News spotlights Nashville’s new Campus for Youth Empowerment with insights from Senior Architect Todd Orr , AIA, NCARB.

Todd explains how thoughtful design and justice reform work together to steer young people toward brighter futures in community support and rehabilitation: “Trauma significantly impacts development, which is why justice reform and thoughtful design are crucial partners in this initiative.”

Read the full feature.

4. A Look Inside The Crawford Hotel’s Guestroom Transformation

The renovated The Crawford Hotel - Denver Union Station is a homage to the opulence of traditional train cars and the grandeur of the station’s architecture. It boasts 112 distinct rooms designed with custom-made furniture, jewel-toned interiors, locally sourced art, and floral ceiling coverings.

Principal and Interiors Leader Stephanie Gearhart , NCIDQ, pulls open the door on the intricate design details of this boutique hotel that respect the building’s original character.

Bonus fact: the hotel was named after acclaimed urban preservationist and Union Station Alliance member Dana Crawford.

5. 30 Seconds on Design: Erica Ceder

“Every project is a discovery,” says Historic Preservation Leader Erica Ceder , AIA, LEED AP.

In just 30 seconds, she shares how historic preservation uncovers new layers of meaning and possibility in design. Share your favorite preservation story in the comments!

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