Craftsmanship Series: Lighting The Smith Center
Architects who enjoy developing all of the details of a project from massing concepts to stair railings, will understand that working on The Smith Center for the Performing Arts in Las Vegas, NV was an extraordinary experience. From the Italian marble walls and floors to the custom metal railings and grilles; the custom Venetian plaster … Continue reading
Craftsmanship Series: The Use of Wood in Architecture and Design, Part I
As part of our Craftsmanship in Architecture Series, we will be discussing the use of wood in architecture and design. This topic will span several posts, with this first one focusing on wood sources, sustainable considerations, and species selection criteria. Wood is a nearly perfect building material. A renewable resource, it is readily available and … Continue reading
Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of The Ballpark in Arlington
The following was authored by DMSAS Architect Jon Zubiller. Jon attended Carnegie-Mellon University where he received his Bachelor of Science in Civil & Environmental Engineering and Bachelor of Architecture. Jon joined the firm in 2001. As we finally (hopefully) break away from this long-winter’s grip, our attention turns to the boys of summer, as they take … Continue reading
What Makes a Building Modern? A Few Words on Architectural Language
Architects often talk about architecture in what amounts to a unique language. This language is used to describe everything from historical styles (Art Deco, Beaux-Arts), to individual buildings and abstract concepts (contextual, tectonic). We tend to assume that non-architects – clients, consultants, relatives – not only understand us, but also speak the same language. This … Continue reading
Craftsmanship: For the Love of Limestone
Limestone is found all over the world: as soft, yellow stone in southern England, creamy buff stone in southern France, a variety of interesting colors found in the Burgundy region, as well as numerous types in Portugal and Asia. It has been used as a building material for thousands of years: from the pyramids of … Continue reading
Is THAT Building Worth Saving? The Metrics of Preservation
The following post was authored by Principal Craig Williams, and states positions on a few current controversial issues. The positions are those of the author. Friends and followers of the firm know that our practice was founded 35 years ago when we worked in many of Washington’s historic districts doing townhouse renovations and additions, along … Continue reading
Chance Discoveries in the GPS Age: Nelsonville, Ohio
It happens that the state of Ohio has only one National Forest, and in the midst of that forest, nestled among the hills of the Hocking River Valley, is a small city called Nelsonville. It is seemingly unremarkable – it has a population of just over 5,000 and a technical college, but on a long … Continue reading
Places We Love, Part II
On this Valentine’s day, we finish our look at some of our staff’s favorite places on earth. These places represent the connections we make with the places we work and play; sometimes a brief encounter, sometimes a mainstay of everyday life. In case you missed Part I, you can check it our here. We hope … Continue reading
Places We Love, Part I
In honor of Valentine’s Day, we once again spoke with our staff about the buildings, spaces, and places they love the most. The subjects of our affection vary in form and function, but they all have some unique draw that earns our admiration. We hope you enjoy them as much as we do and we encourage … Continue reading
Parchment 
Celebrating Retail Innovation in Las Vegas
Posted by dmsarchitects on June 12, 2014 · Leave a Comment
Recently, two occurrences converged to create a great excuse for a party – not that one ever needs an excuse for a party. This past winter and early spring, our Las Vegas retail, dining and entertainment (RDE) project for Caesars Entertainment, the LINQ, had what can best be described as a soft opening. From late … Continue reading →
Filed under Commentary, Design · Tagged with architecture, DMSAS, ICSC, Las Vegas, RECon, retail, The LINQ, urban