MA Design

Last week, we joined our client, Sarnova, for an exciting event about their new HQ in Dublin, OH. The room was filled with anticipation and enthusiasm as their staff got an exclusive sneak peek into what's in store for their new home. They got to see conceptual renderings for the exterior redesign of the building, interior amenity spaces, and outdoor amenities as well as the finish palette for the design. We were honored to have Brian LaDuke, CEO of Sarnova, alongside Jim McGannon, Sr. VP of Human Resources, and Chris Amorose Groomes, the Mayor of Dublin, sharing their insights on what this next chapter means for Sarnova. The goal is clear: to create a headquarters that embodies innovation, activity, and hard work. Drawing inspiration from the surrounding landscape, the new HQ will boast vibrant color schemes, modern furniture, and cutting-edge technology, fostering a culture of energy and creativity. But it's not just about work – it's about well-being too. Green spaces, ample natural light, and wellness amenities will be seamlessly integrated to support employee health and vitality. We can't wait to bring Sarnova’s vision to life and are excited about this incredible journey with them!

Our last Sustainability Committee member spotlight goes out to Ally Balmer! 🏗️💚 Ally's passion for sustainability and the built environment is at the heart of everything she does. From co-hosting our sustainability-focused MA University to spearheading internal Earth Month initiatives, Ally is a driving force behind our sustainability committee. "I’ve always been interested in the intersection of our natural and built environments. It’s a big reason why I got into architecture in the first place. Finding innovative ways to design our buildings so they have a positive impact on the environment instead of a negative one can be challenging but very rewarding at the same time. Earth Month is a great time to start conversations with friends, family, and coworkers about what we can do better for our planet!" 🌎

This Earth Month, we're proud to unveil our revamped Sustainability Action Plan (SAP) at MA Design! ✨ What exactly is a Sustainability Action Plan (SAP)? It's our roadmap for creating a greener future, outlining how we'll achieve our sustainability goals over time. Rooted in our commitment to future generations, this plan holds us accountable and guides our actions. Explore how we're reshaping our commitment to sustainability and join us on this exciting journey! Dive into the details here: https://loom.ly/21ZIoNk 🌎

This week's Sustainability Committee spotlight is on Kori Baker! 🌎💚 Kori is an Interior Designer and manages the Material Library for the committee. She researches healthier alternatives to commonly used building materials and is a resource for the firm. Every project, whether or not it's pursuing LEED or WELL Certification, can benefit from using sustainable, less toxic building materials. When she's not at work, "one of my favorite ways to spend time outside is exploring the Metro Parks around Columbus with my dog 🐶. There are many different parks in the area and we never run out of new places to try."

Did you know? Over 66% of households in the United States have a furry (or scaly!) friend at home! Pets bring us joy, companionship, and endless love. 🐶🐱🐰 But with great companionship comes great responsibility – and that's where veterinary care steps in! Veterinary care isn't just about keeping our pets healthy; it's about ensuring they lead long, happy lives. From routine check-ups to emergency care, vets play a crucial role in keeping our beloved pets wagging their tails and purring with contentment. 🩺💙 At MA Design, we're passionate about supporting veterinarians and their dedicated staff. That's why we design spaces tailored to enhance the veterinary experience, making visits comfortable and reassuring for both pets and their owners. From offering raised hoteling stations in the lobby that allow owners to do remote work while waiting on their pet to have a procedure to conveniently placed leash hooks, we prioritize functionality and tranquility. We've even created separate quiet spaces just for our feline friends to ensure they can feel comfortable and safe. Offering best-in-class veterinary care means prioritizing the needs of both pets and their caretakers. Here's to all the incredible staff at MedVet and veterinarians everywhere, whose unwavering dedication keeps our beloved companions healthy and happy. Thank you for everything you do! 🐾

💚🌍 This week's Sustainability Committee Spotlight is on Kris Hemeyer, Fitwel Ambassador! 💚🌍 With a keen focus on holistic wellness, Kris prioritizes the health of not just the building itself, but also its impact on the environment, users, and the wider community. Whether it's advocating for green building practices or pursuing educational opportunities to enhance project design, Kris is committed to making a positive difference! When asked about her favorite ways to connect with the outdoors, she had this to say: "I’ve been spending a lot more time outdoors the last several months, thanks to our dog, Bolton! He loves exercise and takes my husband and I on multiple walks every day! Another favorite outdoor activity of mine is Zumba on Sunday mornings. Our dancing crew is committed, rain or shine, and even throughout the winter! Not only does Zumba get me outside and moving, exercising with friends is a great way to maintain social health, too."

🌿✨ During Earth Month, as we celebrate our planet and advocate for its protection, we're thrilled to announce a significant milestone for one of our projects: Jane E. Heminger Hall, the latest addition to The Ohio State University College of Nursing’s facilities, has achieved LEED Silver certification! The project embodies the College of Nursing’s vision to be a world leader in thinking and achieving the impossible in order to transform health and improve lives. The building is the first on OSU’s campus to be designed to meet both LEED and WELL certification standards. Now that we have wrapped up LEED certification through the U.S. Green Building Council, the final push to complete the WELL certification with the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) is up next. Not only was there a big emphasis on occupant health strategies, such as biophilic design, intentional material selections, and many other WELL-related strategies, the LEED success can be attributed to a heavy focus on energy efficiency and robust commissioning efforts. The project was designed to be nearly 28% more energy efficient than a baseline project. This partnered with enhanced systems and envelope commissioning efforts, really helped to make the project what it is today. Another MA Design LEED certified project underscores our commitment to sustainable design contributing to being good stewards of our resources, and contributing to the health and well-being of our community members. We extend our gratitude to the OSU College of Nursing for entrusting us with their vision. Together, we're shaping healthier, more sustainable environments for generations to come. 🏥🌱

We are so excited to share that our Mulby Place Apartments project with Homeport was announced the Architecture Category Winner at last night's Voices of Design Awards! 🏆 Voices of Design is an initiative with The Center for Architecture and Design that recognizes local projects that not only make a positive impact on the community but also make architecture and design accessible to all. Mulby Place is a 55+ community and a catalyst for change in downtown Linden, bringing new life to Cleveland Avenue. This development is focused on accommodating the growing senior population and promotes aging in place. Accessibility was a driving force in this project, which includes double the required number of accessible units. In addition to each building being thoughtfully equipped with a laundry room, community room, and fitness room, there are several outdoor amenities such as a walking path and a pocket park to get residents outside exploring the neighborhood and fostering a sense of community. Juror Ruchelle Pride shared her thoughts on the project - "Great human-centric design concept and intentional effort to improve community development in a historically underserved area. Clear focus on a senior housing development and community revitalization." Learn more about Mulby Place on our website - https://loom.ly/fhLTLHI

Next up in our Sustainability Committee Spotlight Series is Cameron Guthrie 🌍🌿 Cameron's commitment to sustainability goes beyond just advocating for green building principles; he seamlessly integrates his passion for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) into his actions. As a board member of NOMAColumbus he enjoys volunteering with the group and giving back to the community. "Throughout April, I find ways to volunteer my time at an Earth Day volunteer site with Green Columbus and go on hikes with friends. This year I also enjoyed volunteering with NOMAColumbus leading up to Earth Month. We volunteered at the Green Columbus' Linden Tree Nursery to prep 3,000 trees to give away this fall. In addition, I'm training for a half marathon and have been running regularly to prep for the Cap City Half Marathon."

Wondering what it takes to make an office building eligible for tenants to achieve LEED v4 and WELL v2 certification? Let us break it down for you! This is precisely what we've done in designing the core & shell of Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. new corporate headquarters in Equity Commercial Real Estate Solutions' Truepointe development in Hilliard, OH. As sustainability enthusiasts and leaders in innovative stormwater management solutions, ADS is aiming for both LEED and WELL certifications for their tenant space within the building. To help them achieve these certifications, our design team incorporated specific features into the core & shell. The core & shell itself is also striving to meet LEED Silver certification. Some of these design features include: - Connection to nature via quality views from the building, nature walk, pocket park - Shading fins on west façade - High-performance glazing system - Rainwater capture and treatment system for irrigation purposes (using ADS’ stormwater management products!) - Outdoor and indoor water use reduction - EV charging + infrastructure on site - Bike infrastructure on site - Heat island reduction - Optimized energy performance and daylight Together, we're not just building offices; we're shaping a future where sustainability and innovation thrive. We’re excited to be helping ADS achieve their goals of having a sustainably-designed corporate headquarters. 🌍💡