CASE STUDIES PORTFOLIO FIRM PEOPLE LEARNING IN THE NEWS CONTACT BLOG ALL PUBLICATIONS PRESS RELEASES EVENTS AWARDS press kit archive 04 NOVEMBER 2021 : AWARDS Gould Evans is Awarded their Sixth Chicago Athenaeum American Architecture Award for the Olathe Indian Creek Public Library FORMER ABANDONED SUBURBAN BIG-BOX STORE TRANSFORMED INTO 21ST CENTURY LIBRARY Kansas City, MO – November 4th, 2021 – Nationally recognized design firm, Gould Evans, is pleased to announce the Olathe Indian Creek Public Library has received a 2021 American Architecture Award from the Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and the European Centre of Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies “Our team is honored to receive an American Architecture Award this year, “ says Sean Zaudke, Associate Principal of Gould Evans. “Libraries of today are no longer about books or maker spaces (although Indian Creek contains both). The library is more about quickly refocusing and repurposing its functions based upon community needs and the design places an emphasis on flexibility and embracing change. This project focuses on the functional transformation of the traditional library concept into a 21st century model.” Re-establishing nature in a commercial retail setting, the Olathe Indian Creek Public Library adaptive reuse project is a story of transformation. The transformation focuses on the conversion of a vacant, big-box retail structure—inspired by daylight and a connection to nature that was non-existent in the big-box context. Underlying the 21st century library model is a focus on the future. The library achieves this focus in two ways: by designing for adaptability to future change and by integrating sustainability strategies throughout the design, including the 2030 challenge energy reduction, daylighting and a focus on community wellness. At the library's entry, users are greeted with a maker space, a café, a conference center, and a flexible workplace environment—with traditional library programs, reading spaces, and collections experienced deeper within the library. In this way, the Olathe Indian Creek Library becomes a community hub, creating a unique asset different than that of a typical public library. In its 27th year, The American Architectural Awards® are the nation’s highest and most prestigious distinguished building awards program that honor new and cutting-edge design in the United States. In 2021, the Museum received a record number of projects for new buildings, landscape architecture, and urban planning from the most important firms practicing in the U.S. and globally. Over 100 projects were selected by a distinguished group of Miami architects, educators, and developers. The full list of 2021 winning projects can be viewed here: https://www.chi-athenaeum.org/. This is Gould Evans’ 6th American Architecture Award. Previous American Architecture Awards include the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community Justice Center, Missouri Innovation Campus, University of Kansas Debruce Center for the Original Rules of Basketball, the Lawrence Public Library, and the NOAA La Jolla Lab Consolidation Project (Southwest Fisheries). High resolution photos of the Olathe Indian Creek Public Library, taken by Michael Robinson, can be downloaded here. About Gould Evans Gould Evans’ award-winning designs are recognized for their specificity to people and place. Our diverse portfolio of architecture stems from a design process that starts with the client’s goals. We share a passion for regional architecture and design that positively impacts our communities. To learn more, visit www.gouldevans.com. Gould Evans Media Contact Lia Fondrisi lia.fondrisi@gouldevans.com # # # read full press release KEYWORDS: architecture | community | design | gould evans news | kansas city | library design SHARE: DIRECT LINK: sixth-chicago-athenaeum-award 30 JUNE 2021 : PEOPLE 2021 Associate Principal Promotions We’re proud to promote these leaders who work across disciplines, providing a breadth of perspective and new possibilities for our culture, clients, and communities. Congratulations to Steve Brezovec, Heather Gentili, Teresa Jan, Whitney Lang, Betsy Lynch, Julie Nelson Meers, and Liz Thelen-Torres. read full announcement SHARE: DIRECT LINK: 2021-associate-principals 30 JUNE 2021 : PEOPLE 2021 Vice President Promotions This new group of Vice Presidents joins an established cohort of highly valued associates, adding to their collective knowledge and influence. read full announcement SHARE: DIRECT LINK: 2021-vice-presidents 30 JUNE 2021 : PEOPLE 2021 Senior Associate Promotions Along with our new Associate Principals and Vice Presidents, each of these individuals has made significant contributions to the firm. We look forward to their leadership in creating an inclusive culture and impactful, enduring work. read full announcement SHARE: DIRECT LINK: 2021-senior-associates 25 JUNE 2021 : PRESS Envision Kansas City’s Version of a Central Park The Gould Evans Studio for City Design makes the case for urban freeway removal in "Closing the North Loop opens up brighter, greener future for KC," recently published in the Kansas City Business Journal (KCBJ). The North Loop is notably included in the Freeways Without Futures 2021 report as one of the country's worst highways. Furthermore, they argue that recent infrastructure updates have made this portion of interstate superfluous. learn more KEYWORDS: city planning | freeway removal | kansas city SHARE: DIRECT LINK: envision-kansas-citys-version-of-a-central-park 16 MARCH 2021 : PRESS Strong Towns: Dennis Strait and Abby Kinney Discuss People-Centered Urban Planning Dennis Strait and Abby Kinney "are going against the grain and fighting for the city they love," says Strong Towns. Listen to The Bottom-Up Revolution podcast episode to learn more about their work moving Kansas City in a positive direction—along with colleagues and partner organizations Urban3, Incremental Development Alliance, and Strong Towns—"through concerted and creative efforts to know their neighbors, listen to resident concerns, and educate people on the city’s trajectory." hear more from our Studio for City for Design SHARE: DIRECT LINK: strong-towns-dennis-strait-and-abby-kinney-discuss-people-centered-urban-planning 04 FEBRUARY 2021 : AWARDS Canary Studio Honored with GDUSA Award Our in-house branding and graphic design studio Canary Studio was recently awarded a Graphic Design USA (GDUSA) award for their work on ASU Foundation’s office installation. read full announcement SHARE: DIRECT LINK: canary-studio-honored-with-gdusa-award 26 JANUARY 2021 : PRESS RELEASES Kelly Dreyer Joins the Aligned Board of Directors Gould Evans is pleased to announce that Kelly Dreyer, AIA LEEP AP, has joined the board of Aligned—a nonprofit, nonpartisan coalition of business leaders committed to improving education in Kansas and Missouri. Aligned believes the business community has the obligation, opportunity, and capacity to increase college and workforce readiness in students through an ambitious, aggressive, and comprehensive reform agenda. read full announcement SHARE: DIRECT LINK: kelly-dreyer-joins-the-aligned-board-of-directors 21 JANUARY 2021 : PRESS Opinion: Ricardo Millhouse featured in The Arizona Republic “We the public are not unsusceptible to experiencing homelessness, especially in times of pandemic,” argues Ricardo Milhouse, associate in our Phoenix studio, humanistic social scientist, and PhD Candidate in the School of Social Transformation at Arizona State University. And Phoenix has an opportunity to transform its public areas to be more accommodating to unsheltered people, both in design and their access and use. read full announcement SHARE: DIRECT LINK: opinion-ricardo-millhouse-featured-in-the-arizona-republic 19 JANUARY 2021 : EVENTS Join Us at UDL Higher Education Digicon 2021 During this two-day conference, our UDL higher education community will unite to share research, innovative practices, challenges, and future opportunities. The event will feature workshops, design labs, breakout spaces, networking opportunities, and a global range of speakers—including three sessions from the Gould Evans education team. read full event details SHARE: DIRECT LINK: join-us-at-udlhe-digicon-2021