Insights & News

Education

Designing for Mental Health and Well-Being in Student Housing

In the evolving landscape of higher education, student housing is no longer viewed merely as a place to sleep and store belongings. Increasingly, it is recognized as a critical factor in promoting student mental health and well-being.

Nicole DeFazio smiling, wearing a gray blazer and black blouse

Parva Markiw smiling, wearing a black sweater with grey button down underneath

by Nicole DeFazio, Parva Markiw

Bowling Green State University Moseley Hall exterior

Education

Places I Remember

Buildings and campuses may change over time, but memories from within them will always endure. DesignGroup’s John Ryan reflects on the emotional lives of buildings, a melody that continues over time.

by John Ryan

John Ryan

AIA, LEED AP

Associate Principal, Project Manager

Exterior daytime image of Ohio State University's inpatient tower

Healthcare, Education, Community, Science & Technology, Commercial

Prefab Construction: A Time-Tested Technique with New Innovations

Building a project with pre-manufactured components can save time, labor, and material. Here’s a look at why it has endured for longer than you may realize – and why it might or might not be right for your next project.

by Jamie Oxier

Jamie Oxier

NCARB

Senior Project Architect

Bright, naturally lit interior view of the Heritage College of Medicine atrium

Education

Achieving WELL Certification in Healthcare Education

Ohio University’s HCOM project set a new high bar for what’s possible when student wellness is at the center of a building’s design philosophy.

by Alana Haslow

Alana Haslow

LEED AP ID+C, NCIDQ

Principal, Senior Interior Designer

People in a brightly and natural lit waiting area in a medical facility.

Education

Medical Education Design: Six Shifts You Need to Understand

From reuse of aging facilities to expansion of new ones, our MedEd leaders discuss the trends that will affect design in this space for decades to come.

Portrait of Ben Niebauer at the DesignGroup office.

by Ben Niebauer, John Ryan

Exterior view of the Directions for Youth and Families Crittenton Community Center surrounded by trees with yellow leaves.

Healthcare, Education, Community

Reflections on 2023

DesignGroup leadership shares their thoughts as the firm’s 51st year draws to an end.

A series of four images: the first showing the interior of a library, the second showing a lobby space, the third showing windows, and the fourth showing an outdoor nature experience.

Healthcare, Education, Community, Science & Technology, Commercial

Grounded in Mission. Driven by Impact.

DesignGroup’s design philosophy expresses how we work and think. Inside our firm, it’s a foundational vision. Outside the firm, it’s a differentiating approach that puts our clients and their communities at the center of everything we do. Here’s a closer look at how we define what we do every day.

by Joe Mayer

Joe Mayer

AIA, NCARB, WELL AP

Principal, Designer

Education, Community

Concrete Exposed!

Pre-cast panels and other options can elevate this underestimated material from aesthetically stolid to striking. Here’s what you need to know to do it right.

by Robert Stroup

Robert Stroup

AIA, WELL AP, CDT, NCARB, LEED AP

Project Architect

Healthcare, Education

A New Way to Pay For Sustainable Building Design

Making a building more “green” is always our goal — but sustainable features can add expense to the project. Enter the Green Revolving Fund, an exciting new way to make the numbers work.

by Dan Malec-Kosak

Dan Malec-Kosak

NCARB

Senior Project Architect

rendering of college dorm building with living wall

Education

Climate Change and College Living: Bold Ideas for the Future

A recent competition challenged architects to find creative new ways to improve buildings in a changing climate. Our entry tackled a structure found on almost every college campus. Here’s how we reinvented it.

Shawna Foley smiling, wearing a black blouse and chevron scarf

Alex Keiser smiling, wearing a navy polka dot button down shirt

by Shawna Foley, Alex Keiser, John Ryan, Ben Niebauer

Bringing Diversity to Our Profession, One Firm at a Time

Designing for Mental Health and Well-Being in Student Housing

Places I Remember

Prefab Construction: A Time-Tested Technique with New Innovations

Achieving WELL Certification in Healthcare Education

Medical Education Design: Six Shifts You Need to Understand

Reflections on 2023

Grounded in Mission. Driven by Impact.

Concrete Exposed!

A New Way to Pay For Sustainable Building Design

Climate Change and College Living: Bold Ideas for the Future

Special-needs school in Pittsburgh is getting an $18 million renovation

Flooring Trends for Facilities with Heavy Traffic

Crittenton Community Center

Morris Hospital Unveils $13.2M Operating Room Renovation

Morris Hospital Completes Surgery Department Renovation In Morris, Illinois

Hybrid offices are a Necessary Future for Universities Facing the Squeeze for Campus Space

Principal at top architecture firm calls AI 'Pinterest for things that could be, rather than things that already are'

How Ohio University HCOM's Heritage Hall Achieved WELL Certification

Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine – Heritage Hall

The Business First 40 Under 40

Blend & Serve

Case Study: Renovation Helps Hospital React to Pandemic

DesignGroup and Columbus State Community College Achieve LEED Certified Status for Mitchell Hall

Office Space: Leading Edje's New Bridge Park Offices

UPMC Unveils Eighth Floor Renovation

Allegheny Health Network West Penn Hospital Radiology Department to Undergo 43,000-SF Face-Lift

DesignGroup Modernizes Mid-20th Century Library on Historic Washington & Jefferson College Campus

First Look: Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine