Plaza Ciudaña Grand Opening

Plaza Ciudaña, a 68-unit, LEED for Homes Platinum Certified residential development in Albuquerque's Martineztown neighborhood, celebrated it's grand opening this week. This project focused on transforming and revitalizing this 12-acre site into a vibrant urban living experience within this historic community.

For more information about the project, click over to our website, or to the Greater Albuquerque Housing Partnership.

La Vida Llena Carter Hall Ceremony

The Design Group recently participated in the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Carter Hall expansion at La Vida Llena, a continuing care retirement community in NE Albuquerque.

The Carter Hall project included the update and expansion of a multipurpose auditorium and dance hall, dining facilities, administrative and reception areas, and an outdoor patio.We are honored to have been part of this community, working with administration, staff, and residents to transform their home with modern, flexible spaces.

DG Team News

DG has exciting staff news to share!

Wendy Caruso, AIA, LEED AP BD+C

Architect Wendy Caruso has been promoted to Principal Architect. With 16 years of design and project management experience, and nine years at DG, Wendy has become an integral part of our firm's leadership.

Eric Haskins, AIA

Eric Haskins is now a registered architect. Eric has been with the firm since 2007 as an architectural designer, and we're proud of his latest accomplishment.

Congratulations to Wendy and Eric!

Alana Marrazzo, NCIDQ

Jeniffer Garrett

We have also added two new members to our growing firm. Alana Marrazzo has joined us as our Director of Interior Design, bringing six years of experience to her role. Jennifer Garrett is a recent UNM graduate, photographer, and designer who joins us as an Intern Architect. We're glad to have them both on our team!

New USGBC Board Member

DG’s own Jeff Zellner, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, has recently become a Board Member of the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) New Mexico chapter. Jeff is a Principal Architect and has been with The Design Group for nearly 11 years. We’re proud that his sustainable design expertise will benefit the green community statewide.

Congratulations Jeff!

http://www.usgbcnm.org/

Roadrunner Food Drive Success!

For the past three years, The Design Group has held a holiday food drive for one of our favorite charities, the Roadrunner Food Bank.

As you may or may not know, New Mexico has the highest rate of childhood hunger in the nation and is #2 for Food Insecurity.  The reality of this problem was brought to light in the Albuquerque Journal last October:

http://www.abqjournal.com/278640/news/hunger-really-does-exist-in-nm.html

We’re proud to say that our efforts in December raised 215 pounds of food donations, which beat our previous record by over 80 pounds! Way to go DG-ers!

DG Community Commitment Program

As a commitment to our local communities, and in recognition of our employees who generously donate their time to their favorite causes, we are proud to introduce the DG Community Commitment Program. For every hour of volunteer work, The Design Group will match employee efforts with a $10 donation to their chosen organization.

We're looking forward to making a real difference in 2014!

DG Headquarters is LEED Platinum

The Design Group is thrilled to announce that our own Headquarters Building has been certified LEED Platinum!

Platinum is the highest level of LEED Certification which can be achieved, and we are honored that our sustainable design efforts have made the grade.

Our website profile of DG Headquarters has more information about the building and our green design features.

Wherry is LEED Silver!

The Design Group's recent classroom addition to Wherry Elementary School has achieved LEED© Silver Certification!

Back in January, APS reported that the new spaces were popular with their students and staff, and we're proud that the project is now a sustainable success as well.

Read more about the project at our website.

The Design Group Makes the Top 10!

The Albuquerque Business Journal recently ranked the top Architecture Firms in New Mexico, based on billings for 2012, and the Design Group came in at number six!

We were also noted for having the biggest increase in employees for 2011-2012, with four new team members, and ranked 5th in the total number of employees in the firm.

As part of the article, photos of our Hidalgo Medical Services, Wherry Elementary School, and UNMH Anesthesiology Department projects were also featured.

The article was published in the June 7-13, 2013 edition of the Business Journal, or subscribers can find it online, here:
http://www.bizjournals.com/albuquerque/subscriber-only/2013/06/07/the-list-architecture-firms.html

Moving Clients Out of Their Comfort Zone

"Creating a building is an act of optimism, a belief in the future."

Doug Majewski, CEO and Principal Architect, recently provided the Albuquerque Business Journal with some tips on how to get clients to move out of their comfort zones.

In addition to helping our clients understand the different facets of architecture, we also build trust and communication by listening to their vision for the project and showing them the imaginative possibilities available to them.

The article was published in the June 7-13, 2013 edition of the Business Journal, or subscribers can read it online, here:
http://www.bizjournals.com/albuquerque/print-edition/2013/06/07/how-i-get-clients-to-move-outside.html

Hidalgo Medical Services Wins Non-Profit of the Year Award

NM Business First

New Mexico Business First has named Hidalgo Medical Services as the Nonprofit Health & Human Services Provider of the Year! Congratulations to our clients at HMS for this well-deserved honor.

The Design Group recently completed the HMS Public Health Facility in Silver City, New Mexico. Please visit our website for more information about this exciting project!
http://www.designgroupnm.com/design-hidalgo-silver-city.htm

Congratulations!

We're proud to announce that Design Group team member Emily Brudenell has passed her Architect Registration Examinations! Emily has been with our firm for over four years and is currently working on the renovation of Berrendo Elementary School for Roswell Independent Schools. She is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and a LEED Accredited Professional.

Way to go, Emily!

Reigning Champs

The Design Group competed in our favorite event of the year - the Urban Olympics for the Amy Biehl High School Foundation. At the 4th Annual competition, our Design Groupies defended their title for the Best Costume, and also won 1st place in the Human Scream event!

Congratulations to all of our team members who participated, and thanks to the Urban Olympics crew for putting on another great event.

Newest Architect

Congratulations to Design Group team member Jorge Gonzales for passing the Architect Registration Examinations! Jorge has over 15 years of experience and has been with our firm since 2003. He has managed several significant Design Group projects, including Rio Rancho City Hall, Wherry Elementary School, and Desert Willow Family School. In addition to becoming a registered architect, he is also a LEED Accredited Professional.

Wherry Elementary School Success!

The Design Group's recently completed classroom addition to Wherry Elementary was profiled by Albuquerque Public Schools as having a positive impact on students and staff:
http://www.aps.edu/news/new-building-is-a-hit-at-wherry-elementary

LEED Gold at NMSU

The Design Group's recent addition to the Health and Social Services Building at New Mexico State University has just been certified LEED Gold.

The addition houses a 150-seat lecture hall, administrative offices, and other spaces within the two-story building, and also integrates a new outdoor memorial for student reflection and healing.

Please visit our website for more information on this project.

DG Nominated for Sustainable Business Summit Award

The Design Group has been selected as an Honoree for the 2012 Business Weekly Sustainable Business Summit Awards:
http://www.bizjournals.com/albuquerque/blog/2012/06/business-weekly-announces-sustainable.html

Winners will be announced on July 26th.

Click here to view a slideshow of all the nominees.

DG HQ in 3D

We've recently added a 3D model of our Headquarters building to Google Earth.
Check it out online at Google Maps!

Choose the "Earth" view in the top right corner of the map.

If you have the stand-alone Google Earth application installed on your computer, you can click our building to see more information about the model. Just browse to 120 Vassar Drive Southeast, Albuquerque, NM.

Download Google Earth

Fashionable Olympians

The Design Group took home the trophy for Best Costume at the 3rd Annual Urban Olympics! The event raised over $25,000 for the Amy Biehl High School Foundation, in support of student programs at the school. Teams of five competed at Albuquerque Civic Plaza on May 4th in fun events such as water cooler relays, office chair races, and giant Jenga.

We're proud to sponsor this event for a project that is close to our hearts.

Amy Biehl High School Foundation Press Release

DG Headquarters Awarded Jeff Harnar Citation of Merit

DG Headquarters has been chosen by the 2012 Jeff Harnar Award for Contemporary Architecture to receive a Citation of Merit Award.

The Jeff Harnar Award for Contemporary Architecture, established by the Thornburg Charitable Foundation, was created to encourage creativity and excellence in design and to honor the memory of Jeff Harnar, a talented Santa Fe architect who successfully crafted modern materials and innovative design for projects that reside comfortably and respectfully with the rich architectural heritage and diversity in New Mexico.

Please visit the official site for more information:
http://www.jeffharnaraward.com/