How City Planning, Zoning and Regulations Shape Successful Architecture Projects
Few topics carry as much long-term impact for a city as its approach to planning and regulation. For municipal leaders, understanding the regulatory process, infrastructure implications and public-engagement landscape isn’t optional — it’s essential to making growth work for communities. Susan Barr brings a unique perspective with her years inside the Development Services Department of […]
Winning the Vote: How to Run a Successful Recreation Facilities Referendum
Recreation centers, public parks and trails, pools, and athletic facilities form the foundation of community wellness and engagement. Successful funding for park districts and projects requires a multifaceted approach. How to run a successful recreation facilities referendum Recreation centers, public parks and trails, pools, and athletic facilities form the foundation of community wellness and engagement. […]
Station Design: Fire Station Renovation Benefits & Pitfalls
This article was originally published in Firehouse Magazine on October 31, 2025. Joshua Mandell shares several benefits of renovating a fire station rather than building a new one but also warns of pitfalls. Key Takeaways Renovation of a firehouse or any public safety facility typically costs less per square foot than new construction. Sustainability plays […]
St. Louis PK-12 Leader Emily Spindler Shares Insights on the Future of Ed Spaces
Last month, the St. Louis Business Journal brought area leaders together to discuss the present state (and future vision) of PK-12 learning environments. FGMA’s Regional PK-12 Practice Leader Emily Spindler sat down with thought leaders from Utilitra, S. M. Wilson & Co and Haworth to discuss safety, technology and gathering ideas and intel from the […]
Bringing Architecture to Life: Victor Rivera Andino on the Power of Renderings
When FGMA Designer Victor Rivera Andino talks about renderings, a highly realistic 3-D image that brings an architectural design to life, his passion is contagious. To him, a rendering isn’t just a polished image — it’s a story, a glimpse into a future space that has the power to inspire, persuade and bring communities together. […]
Designing for the Senses: How Architecture and Education Meet to Create Inclusive Schools
When an architect and an educator begin talking about schools, you might expect to hear about lesson plans, floor plans and maybe the occasional budget constraint. But when Lock Pampel-Montague, a PK-12 design architect at FGMA, and Laura Karle, a school-based physical therapist, connect, the conversation shifts into a different dimension — one where sensory […]
The Tree on Top: The Lore Behind the Topping Out Ceremony During Construction
A Reflection as Houston Elementary School Tops Out Have you ever looked up at a construction site and spotted a lone tree perched on a steel beam? No, it’s not a holiday leftover or an offbeat attempt at rooftop landscaping — it’s a time-honored tradition known as the topping out ceremony. That quirky little tree […]
Five Architecture Tips for Building Your Church
Building a church requires faith, vision and trust. Every step of the process should reflect the church's mission and encourage connection. FGMA offers ministries guidance and tools to create a space that will serve communities for generations to come. In this video, FGMA Principal Bobby Celio shares five quick tips for building a church!
Beyond Loudest Voices: A New Blueprint for Community Engagement in Architecture
In the world of architecture and planning, community engagement has followed a simple formula — a few town halls, a public survey and a consensus-based program design process. It has been a process that favors traditional advocates, a limited amount of recreation activities, and a focus on cost-recovery with limited outside partnership involvement. But for […]
How Flexible Learning Spaces Support Every Student
A flexible physical space allows learning to be personalized and differentiated, dynamically adapting to the diverse needs and talents of each student. Versatile learning represents a significant shift in educational practices, focusing on personalization, engagement, and holistic development. It allows students to explore their interests, work collaboratively, and develop skills necessary for the future. By […]