Strategies to Jump-start your Next Community-Recreation Master Plan
This article originally appeared in the PRB+ Magazine Finding Focus Article from November 30, 2024 In today's fast-paced world, accessible and well-designed recreational spaces have become increasingly vital. A survey conducted by the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) found most people agree that local recreational facilities should offer a wide variety of services, such as healthy-living classes, programming for […]
Community and Technical College Students Thrive When Design Centers their Needs
The career and technical education sector fills an important role in our communities: maintaining a workforce with the skills and knowledge for in-demand jobs in the present and future. FGM Architects (FGMA) has partnered with community and technical colleges to deliver spaces that can create a bridge from high school to college or prepare students […]
Making the Case for Wellness Rooms in First Responder Design
It’s not a new concept that our environment has a direct link to our emotions and how we feel. But can a building be designed to actually support and improve the mental wellbeing of its occupants? The 21st century has added new challenges to first responders, particularly those working in policing and law enforcement. Police […]
Inclusive Learning Environments to Support Mental Health and Neurodiversity
Education institutions across the country are seeing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of their new and returning students. Most commonly, colleges are reporting higher rates of symptoms of anxiety and depression (Zhai & Du, 2020). Simultaneously, there is an increased demand to meet the social, psychological, and academic needs of […]
How to Buy Furniture for a Church or Non-Profit: 7 Tips
If you have ever been involved in a remodel or a new construction project, the task of finding furniture for the new space has probably made it on to your team's to-do list. This potentially overwhelming and expensive task doesn’t have to be a headache. It can actually be really fun. But it is important […]
The Three-Legged Stool of Architecture
photo by Neil Cummings: https://flic.kr/p/MrobFb As the sales adage goes: QUANTITY, QUALITY, and PRICE – Pick Two One of the most basic dynamics to understand when you approach an architectural project is what we call the “three-legged stool”. Every construction project is like a stool with three legs: scope, quality, and cost. If one of […]
Creating an Exciting Community Pool on a Budget
Article as published on Athletic Business With 30+ years of experience, John Dzarnowski has worked on recreation projects of various sizes. Dzarnowski's article in Athletic Business, Creating an Exciting Community Pool on a Budget examines some of FGM Architects' latest projects where budgets were a large component. A well-designed and programmed aquatic facility is a […]
Popular Misconceptions About the Catholic Mass, Part III: Communion Reception
The concept that communion in the hand is the only or preferred form of reception for Catholics since Vatican II is mistaken. Part I: Music Part II: Ad Orientem / Versus Populum Part III: Communion Reception With this third and final piece in our series on popular Mass misconceptions, we again approach a complex and […]
Popular Misconceptions About the Catholic Mass, Part II: Ad Orientem / Versus Populum
Part I: Music Part II: Ad Orientem / Versus Populum Part III: Communion Reception Many Catholics are unaware that priests are not required to celebrate Mass facing the assembly. In the second of a series on popular misconceptions about the Catholic Mass – particularly a few widespread changes in practice since the Second Vatican Council […]
Catholic Liturgy 101: Introduction to Liturgical Catechesis
Occasionally friends and colleagues request a very basic survey of concepts on Catholic worship and liturgical catechesis – that is, teaching on liturgy. We find the progression in the following outline helpful when explaining what liturgy is and why it's important in the big picture of the Catholic faith, as well as how each of […]