Mariela Ortiz and Omar Bailey, AIA, LEED AP, NOMAAs architects, we’re trained to read form the way others read language. We look for meaning in scale, in material, in the way a space holds memory. But every so often, architecture shows up...
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Our Approach to Academic Nursing Design
by Jeremiah FairbankNursing is a unique and demanding profession—one that requires an equally distinctive approach to education. With ongoing nursing shortages, preparing the next generation for long-term success is more critical than ever. With students required to...
Preview: Johns Hopkins University’s Bloomberg Center’s Integrated Timber Roofscape
By Matt Gifford, AIA, LEED AP, and Michael HarrisonThe new Bloomberg Student Center at Johns Hopkins University showcases a groundbreaking approach to mass‑timber roof design. It features 29 unique timber roofs, all engineered to appear as continuous, seamless...
Elevating Care for Mental Health
by Cathleen Lange, AIA, LEED APAs designers, we’re enabling a critical shift in the perception and treatment of behavioral health. Mental illnesses affect tens of millions of people each year in the U.S., yet according to estimates, only half of the people with mental...
Cultivating Joy in Pediatrics
by Kelsi Schwede, AIA, LEED GABanner University’s Diamond Children’s Play Zone is an innovative pediatric care space designed to support patients from 18-months to 18-years. Designed to extend the hospital’s Child Life Programs, this multi-sensory, interactive...
Evolving Student-Centered Design at Johns Hopkins
By Matthew Gifford, AIA, LEED AP, and Kalyn Pavlinic, NCIDQ, LEED AP, IIDAThe transformation of student life at Johns Hopkins University is a story of evolution—one that our team began with the design of the Brody Learning Commons and has...
Designing for Inclusion: It Starts Within the Team
by Katherine Chappelle, IIDA, EDACIn healthcare design, we invest deeply in creating environments that support dignity, well-being, and connection. We think intentionally about inclusion—who we’re designing for, what they need, and how our decisions shape their...
Strategic Planning in Uncertain Times
by Sonja Bochart, IIDA, LEED AP, LEED AP BD&C, WELL AP, LFA and Annelise Pitts, AIA, LFAIn a world that feels increasingly unpredictable, strategic planning may feel useless. How can you chart a course when the landscape is constantly changing? But that...
Sustainability Through Adaptive Reuse
by Janette Blackburn, FAIA, NCARB, LEED AP Imagine delivering a bold vision for an all-inclusive, campus wide gathering place within the realities of existing building fabric. Add in fiscal responsibilities and stewardship of campus...
Q+A: Perspectives on Modeling and Drawing in Architecture
by Derek Noble, AIA, LEED AP Architectural models—whether physical or digital—play a crucial role in communicating design concepts, making ideas accessible and comprehensible. Thoughtful model-making bridges the gap between abstract...
2026 Pathways: Professional Advancement
We’re proud to announce the recent advancement of several of our talented, dedicated team members. These Bulfinches have demonstrated leadership, exceptional ability, and an active commitment to advancing the future of the firm. Career...
Designing a Custom Creative Thinking Game: From Concept to Community
By Natalie Shutt-Banks and Sabin CiocanHow do you spark creativity and empathy in a fast-changing world? For our annual All-Firm Design Charrette, the answer emerged through a collaborative journey—one that blended rigorous systems thinking and infused the element of...