The Austin Central Library was named a Finalist in the IFLA's Public Library of the Year Award. This award program considers facilities around the world and honors the highest level of design excellence for library architecture. One of the...
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2018 Architizer A+ Awards Special Mention for Austin Public Library
The Austin Central Library was received Special Mention in the Architizer A+ Awards. A Lake | Flato – Shepley Bulfinch joint venture, the New Central Library pays homage to two big ideas: Austin’s love affair with books and with nature....
Austin Public Library Receives 2018 Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute HONORS Award
The Austin Central Library was honored with the 2018 Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute HONORS Award in the Libraries category. The project was recognized for design and construction excellence due to the reinforced concrete floor...
The new edge for town-and-gown relationships
by Joe HerzogThe traditional perimeter between an academic institution and its surrounding urban environment is no longer a defined line, but a blurred edge. As colleges shift from being introverted environments to becoming more integrated within their surrounding...
AIA designs of distinction
by Sarah BousquetThe American Institute of Architects (AIA) has been working to drive positive change through design for more than a century, calling attention to impactful projects that help define a better built environment. This year, Shepley Bulfinch is proud to...
Two ideas are better than one
by Lauren PerdueIt’s not about who owns the big idea; we believe the best idea wins when you have a team of inspired minds working together. Congrats to just a few of the Bulfinch brains taking us to new heights, on their recent...
“F” is for Fellows
by Jennifer Donham WellsPrincipals Jennifer Aliber and Angela Watson have both been elevated to the 2018 class of AIA Fellows! The honor is so well deserved—and one that can be claimed by only 3% of AIA members. We couldn’t be more inspired by or proud of our “Fellow”...
Continued evolution
by Carole WedgeAs architects and designers, it’s in our DNA to constantly explore and imagine what’s possible. During the past year and a half, we turned the lens of curiosity on ourselves to reimagine our visual identity and uncover the distinctive qualities that...
Finding your 90-second stories
by Cathleen LangeI recently attended a discussion led by Steve Slifka of Steelcase, entitled “The Art of Storytelling.” With great presentation style that was neither showy or dull, Steve shared the importance of telling your audience a story. Rather than spewing...
Making the case for sustainable design
by Carole WedgeUpdated July 2025 by Matthew Gifford. In the years since Carole shared her insights, we have made significant progress towards creating sustainably minded buildings. However, as we approach the year 2030, there is still a long way to go. Today, our...
Material witnesses: Natural selection
by Carole WedgeOne of my first architectural impressions as a child was Buckminster Fuller’s dome in Montreal. Having always had a soft spot for it, I was drawn to a video of students conducting a laboratory experiment to see if silkworms could be used as biological...
Creating joy through biophilic design
by Sonja BochartClose your eyes and picture your happy place. Contemplate how your body and your state of mind might feel there: calm, relaxed, peaceful, energized? Is there a breeze, or a particular scent you may experience in this setting? Imagine all of your senses...