SSA Architecture,
Small Studio Associates, LLC
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April 2012
Horsemans park bid opening will be this month. Construction to start in May. We again see some small improvement in the tenant improvement sector with quite a few new project leads and some contracts too. This up-tick could very well be real or be due to competitors dropping out. During the first quarter we saw a rush to get some ADA related work done before the new (2010 standards) regulations became mandatory.
March 2012
We completed a successful 504 compliance meeting on the project and the plans for Horsemans Park are out to bid. Please check with the Clark County government web site to find out details of the bidding. We have seen a resurgence of interest in remodeling hotel rooms for ADA compliance as the March 15, 2012 deadline for the new ADA rules came and went.
February 2012
We released the final drawings to Clark County for the bidding of Horseman's park. The plans should be out for bid during March. This is an extensive remodeling of a park built in the 1970's. The job is interesting because this park is used for horse back riding. It was built prior to ADA and the other current disability regulations. So we had quite a challenge getting the work done in compliance with the wishes of the end users and the budget and ADA. If you are interested in bidding this job, start watching the Clark County web site.
Also we are finishing up on some last minute retrofit work for hotel units that were not originally built per ADA. Many hotel operators are waking up to the March 15, 2012 deadline for the new regulations and trying to get the ADA compliance work done ASAP. These jobs are typically being self performed by the casino operators who frequently have their own contractor's licenses. Occasionally they negotiate contracts with bidders who become involved before we do. If you don't know about this Google "ADA 2010 regulations" and have a wake up call.
January 2012
While the Simmons job is at the half way point another public works project is just starting. Hampton ADA compliance project is awarded and expected to start any minute. The selected contractor is M C Mojave construction. In speaking with some other Las Vegas commercial architects, we see a small improvement in the market. We think that this is partly attributable to attrition of competitors and partly due to a small improvement in market conditions. Perhaps this is a 2 to 3% uptick in new leads. We now learn that while newscasters were touting the end of the recession last year there was really a second smaller downturn. While the news does not indicate any movement it appears that small businesspersons are calling this a bottom and starting to move back into investments in proven businesses in a small way. Prices for new construction are extremely attractive compared to 2006 and we see every job drawn being built within budget.
December 2011
The remodeling project at Simmons has begun. the construction contract has been awarded and construction has started. In speaking with others in the construction economy we are seeing a slight improvement and are getting more calls related to new project inquires. Several tenant improvements were finished in time for the holiday season which is a significant improvement over last your. In speaking with tenant improvement customers with projects completed during the months of September and October, 3 out of 5 report that they are seeing big success in their business plan and that they are pleased with the market that they are in. We have not looked into the other two projects but both are awaiting the opening start up of a larger venue that they are within needed in order to attain profitability.
October 10, 2011
There are two more jobs bidding for www.SNRHA.org this month. These projects are mainly for compliance with ADA, UFAS and 504 regulations. A pre-bid meeting will be the week of 10/27/2011.
September 21, 2011
We have a full time position open for an intern. The position is filled.
September 2011
SNVRHA.org will be posting two more SSA jobs for bids this month if the work goes according to the current schedule. Check their web site for more information as it becomes public.
August 2011
The SSA project done for the Housing Authority at Landsman Gardens is out for bids. The voluntary prebid meeting was August 5. As we don't update this site frequently we won't keep the bid date listed here. More information is on www.snvrha.org.
July 2011
The contract for Horsemans Park footings was awarded and construction completed by the end of July. thanks to all those who helped.
June 14, 2011
Internship position has been filled. thanks to all those who applied.
June 2011
During June we issued plan sets for bit on Landsman Gardens. You can go to www.SNVRHA.org web site to download the plans. Also this month we completed the construction of the "Horse footings" on Horsemans Park. We also completed construction of a commercial architectural project at the airport and a couple of downtown tenant improvements. In talking with other surviving architects we think that there is a slight uptick in our work. It is hard to tell if that is a result of economic improvements in Las Vegas or attrition or other architectural firms. Probably it is both.
May 2011
The SNRHA project at Schaffer Heights is about 99% complete and was identified as substantially complete some time ago. For those of you who have been following these 504 / ADA compliance projects there are just a few punch list items left. The two others: Espinoza and Hampton are both still underway.
February 2011
SNRHA has given SSA notice of intention to proceed another project for ADA/504 compliance Landsman Gardens. this is a continuation of a contract that SSA won in 2009. Landsman will probably be bidding mid year. The work includes bringing some old units up to modern disability compliance and updating the office and some other buildings on the site. There is also a lot of site work fixing walks. Contractors wanting to bid this work should check the SNVRHA web site for public notices.
May 29, 2010
Phase 1 of our Southern Nevada Housing Authority ADA/504 upgrade project was bid last week and we are expecting it to award this week. Our estimate was less than 1/2% off of the average bid. Sometimes we estimate really good... but that close is a miracle! The project consisted of 5 scattered site homes being adapted for persons with mobility impairments. This contractor did well on a similar project recently so we are hopeful that this one will construct smoothly.
May 12, 2010
Today was the rededication of Manch. the ceremony was great and everyone loved the school. I announced the news that Manch won two awards at the SIPA international conference. Our project won best in category and best of show (overall best).
February 24, 2010
This months issue of In Business Las Vegas ranked SSA as 10th in the valley! So I can say that we are in the top ten!! It is good to be in such great company. Also, looking at the others listed I would estimate that SSA runs with the lowest overhead of any of the top 10. Value and quality architecture is what we offer. Here is the link: http://www.zinio.com/reader.jsp?issue=416117000&o=int&prev=si That takes you to the magazine. The top ten list is on page 14.
November 21, 2010
Effective immediately we no longer will be able to post private projects on this web site. Unfortunately competitors have used this client list as an opportunity to attempt to solicit our clients. this has not been successful but never-the-less brings up another case where the economy of the construction business has gone down and led to "Interesting practices" by others. We regret having to take that action at this time. We really enjoy showing off our work to others. Meanwhile, we have enough work posted here to establish our qualifications well enough. We have saved the ongoing project information and pictures. When the economy improves we will post those jobs.
November 2009
As of this date we are no longer posting client names unless the projects are already public information. Apparently some designers are using the information from our web site for client recruiting. As the current projects and clients are passing through the office we are keeping records on what ones are not posted to the web site. Sometime in the future we will post them. Looking at the web site entirely we think that there are plenty of examples of our work. If you wonder if we have done some type of project before please phone us for more information.
October 08, 2009
SSA sent some staff to the CEFPI annual conference in Washington DC last week. They brought back some great information that will not only be valuable to the design of schools. As part of SSA's staff training process we have pour staff members go to these events and then bring the information back to the office to train the remaining staff. This year SSA was the only architectural firm in Las Vegas attending the CEFPI conference. We place a great emphasis no staff training and hope that this makes our firm a stronger competitor and a better architectural firm. We expect to have some pictures posted showing projects in DC on this site soon. Apparently the stock of existing schools leads them to historical building restorations.
September 22, 2009
Today I saw the first draft of the YouTube presentation that the client put together. It looks really good for a first draft. As you will see the video guy didn't quite get the word that the exterior had changed yet. I'll post a new link as they work the bugs out. This is the first of multiple advertisements on the project. It emphasizes the glamour of the project under normal conditions and the safety issue when it is "Buttoned Up." I'm now able to tell you the project name is "Zero Point" and in Busby Arizona. It is a granite mountain about 5000 feet elevation above current sea level. http://www.youtube.com/user/ZeroPointCondos
September 16, 2009
Yesterday we had a great meeting with the client on the "Something" (2012) project. He gave permission to show some progress work on the web site. I directed staff to make some changes on the perspectives that we have up already. so maybe in two weeks we'll update those too. Meanwhile some of the conceptual hand sketches that Alan and Ken had are now released for viewing.
September 08, 2009
WOW!!! Sarah and Manch are on the front page of the Las Vegas Review Journal Today!!! This is the link to the LVRJ http://www.lvrj.com/news/57691842.html
Here is our page on Manch Elementary School project. For that reason I have posted a link to the Manch pages here. Exterior, Kindergartens, Office, Great Rooms, Exterior Views and Corridors. These pictures were taken during the week before school started and the first week of school. So some punch list items are not done yet in the photos. Also sometimes I had to turn on the lights for the photography and other temporary reasons while the lights normally stay off for school operation. To my knowledge this is the second elementary school classroom building ever to be 100% daylighted in the Clark County School District. I was also the architect of the first, at J. S. Park elementary. The first page are design images. click on the links to find the constructed images. Also click on the square photos to see some larger versions.
August 23, 2009
It's the day before school starts and I have to tell you that Manch is ready!!!! It's awful hard to get workers to finish when they know that the next stop is the unemployment line. So The last bid seemed to take forever. But it LOOKS GREAT! I hate to toot my own horn but an architect who works for me went out to the site with Sarah and I last week and he had not seen the work. He told me its the best school that he has ever seen!!!! WOW! Of course I always think highly of my own work on one hand.... and on the other hand remember what got "Value Engineered" out that would have made it better. So its hard for me to be objective. But some of the teachers told us that they were teary eyed when they saw it ant thought of working there!!! So that's an unbiased opinion! Here's the link. Be sure to click on some pictures to see construction photos. Sarah, who is 10 years old, helped dad to make a few video clips. I'm going to try to understand YouTube and upload some clips soon. Just for fun!!!
July 1, 2009
We went to Manch for a construction phase visit yesterday and it is nearing completion! The finish work on the planets in the kindergarten area is wonderful and I told the manufacturer that I plan to submit it for an award. Also the VCT work is marvelous too. All of these highly skilled workers are usually only available to the big casino jobs but the students at Manch are lucky to have them due to the economy. I put three new photos from that visit on the bottom of the Manch page.
June 17, 2009
Ken was invited to speak at the C. H. Decker Elementary School Career Week today. SSA put together a nice presentation on how we design schools for CCSD, Green Building and Architectural Design. Ken also showed them a power point presentation and an animation fly over of the architectural design too. He brought about 8 presentation boards showing our really cool interior design solution for the kids. The first through fifth graders who attended has a great time as did Ken. Ken began presenting for career week at CCSD elementary schools about 6 years ago when he increased his participation in CEFPI. Alison Starker did a great job of organizing this and gave Ken this nice certificate.
June 9, 2009
Christine and I just got back
from the Kimball Art Museum. We went to see it again because of the lighting
system that was used in that building. It is impressive and I was
thinking of incorporating it in the resort. Some early renderings left
me wondering if there is a better system than a series of huge skylights
because of having some intense light and then a gap. While I was away a
few of the rendering machines finished running some
preliminary interiors
.
The interiors still leave me wondering which way to go but the Kimball trip
left us with another option to consider.... one that works and is proven just
like the periodic skylights. A choice between the two should give us the
best green building and daylighting solution and with 2012 protection too.
May 26, 2009
So I was saying it is going to be "Something". A project to build a resort to enjoy your vacations, nurture your ascension to a higher plane and built to avoid the more negative predictions regarding the end of the long count Mayan calendar during December 2012 and for up to 4 years thereafter. As I mentioned two days ago the structural units are formed around courtyards that are daylighted and below ground. By interconnecting a set of these modules into suites we develop residences that the client will sell to buyers. These are of course the most luxurious 2012 units that we are aware of and double as a new age resort as well as 2012 survivability protection. One unit is a studio apartment or a typical hotel room with a king sized bed. Two units could be configured to be a two bedroom one bath or a more spacious one bedroom one bath. By adding units the number of persons who can occupy goes up. Two persons per unit maximum. The client offers standard plans with up to 4 units interconnected. These are not for sale to the general public. Those wishing information may write SSA. Click on our email link and be sure to give your contact information. The client will not respond unless you identify yourself. Because of this situation a background check will be performed before you can participate beyond the initial contact. Naturally the client does not want to accidentally end up with any crazy people living here. When you do not feel like being at the resort your room can be turned back to management and rented out to resort conference visitors or not as you like.
May 24, 2009
If you have been following
what I have been allowed to disclose they you are probably wondering what the
architecture looks like. The
individual 
units are surrounding a daylighted
courtyard. Each is about 14 x
26 feet. Due to the loads of being
underground and under great seismic pressure this module is integral to the
structural design. Yes we have
promotional floor plans. Here is a
link. Not only would this be a
comparatively luxurious stay (for an external disaster scenario) under lock
down but it will be a nice resort 24.7.365 any other time.
Specialty restaurants would provide everything from vegan to low carb dependent upon your personal preference for every day fare.
If it is locked down eating the remaining fresh food would be followed
with MREs. Such activities as
Tai Chi & meditation training and other activities adaptable to both
scenarios would continue regardless.
May 23, 2009
Something project postings are being posted late from my writing due to client vetting. So the clients personal wish in all this is not to be buried in a bunker for years alone. Looking at the Greenbrier and with brainstorming it led to the question of why not have most of the amenities of a resort in a small community? This would then be a resort community with all the amenities of a 4 star resort with new age direction prepared for the raising of human consciousness (any time) not just when December 2012 comes. AND. The resort has a day spa, conference center is designed with Feng Shui and energy consciousnesses considered. It would be a Green Building Perhaps LEED platinum. Cut into the rock of a mountain at a high elevation in the southwestern US. The living areas would surround a skylighted courtyard but be below grade. Like many hotels across the country where the rooms are along balconies facing a multistory courtyard. No the day spa and the conference center would not be a part of the facility protected from the negative catastrophic scenarios. Of course both types of use will want to have a good underground aquifer and fresh water fairly deep and sustained water supply.
May 22, 2009
Something site. So last night I got an email from someone interested in this project and it was referred to as the Something site. I suppose that it was as good as any name. Of course the client has not given permission for me to use the name. And of course the site is secret. If you are a believer in the 2012 prophecies then you may have heard that folding it predicted. The client is currently directing us to proceed on considering two sites in the southwestern United States. Both are at very high elevation above sea level and naturally protected from certain eventualities prior to the construction project that is contemplated here. I have now had some time to review the synergies between the apocalypse protection and the flowering of human consciousness. Interestingly there are quite a few. For those of you who follow the what some call the New Age thinking you may understand that you are being constantly bombarded with EMF. Radio waves from cell phones and TV and microwaves. Protection from these EMF problems will allow a person to meditate and sleep better. Provision to eliminate this problem from the facility will also protect it from an EMP. Electromagnetic pulses can come from the Sun, other external planetary sources, nuclear weapons or man made things like HAARP. The facility will be protected by a Faraday Cage. A side benefit will be that you cannot have your dinner interrupted by a cell phone there. To withstand long periods in lock down the facility would have to be carbon neutral and very energy efficient. In order to have less burden of generators. Of course cutting the building into a stone mountain will cut heat loss/gain. This reduces energy costs in resort mode and would lessen the potential for freezing from extraordinary cold outside in lock down mode.
May 21, 2009
So as I was saying yesterday SSA has been hired to design a project for a client who is concerned about the possibility of an apocalypse in December 2012. For those of you who do not know about the Mayan calendar which ends on December 2012, report simply that some people believe that something (five years of college brings me no simple vocabulary word other than something?) of extreme significance is coming. Research comes up with such possibilities as Planet x, Nibiru, Nostradamus prophecies, depopulation and lots more. As I said previously the client had directed us to prepare a place. Our design criteria is to prepare a place to live for when it comes. ?IT? It maybe The Flowering of Human Consciousness or a meteor impact type apocalypse. So the facility will be designed to survive the 2012 apocalypse that some predict and also to facilitate the human spirit ascendancy simultaneously. What an amazing concept!!! It turns out that my research shows that many people are building underground bunkers that look like a con-ex with a tunnel going to it. These would only last maybe a month in a white out. You probably know that Washington DC has the Greenbrier Hotel http://www.atomictourist.com/green.htm http://www.avhub.net/congressionalhideawaygreenbriar.htm Where the Eisenhower administration looked for safety from nuclear war and of course reputed underground bases. So the programming and research is well underway. And actually past underway. But the client is reading these releases and this is what I am permitted so say at this point on this topic. We are designing a place for people to avoid being Depopulated if it is an apocalypse AND nurturing to the human spirit if this is the flowering of human consciousness. Tomorrow I will talk about the site.
May 20, 2009
I have been working on an exciting project for some time but only got the clients permission to say anything about it on this site today! One of SSAs favorite clients From looking at our web site you must know that we do plenty of hum drum projects these days and are happy just to have the work! So or staff is really ready for something different and a challenge. Something different and interesting!
May 24, 2009
SSA has been fortunate enough to be pretty busy given the state of the economy here in Vegas. So I'm in the office on a Sunday trying to catch up on the graphic design work that I prefer to do personally. Like this web site. You should start seeing a few new pages and links on the site and many more images.
April 23, 2009
Ken & Christine just returned from SIPA where the learned lots of new ideas and the latest thinking regarding energy savings and LEED. Also, going forward you’ll note some changes in this web site resulting from Ken’s meeting with the guys from a really great web developer! This was their first trip to SIPA and so everything was new and interesting on the first seeing/hearing. While Ken has been a LEED accredited professional for many years new thinking abounds and the SIPs are surely a great easy way to attain LEED points.
April 2, 2009
SSA has prepared 2 power points for Ken Small To present to the national conference of SIPA, the structural insulated panel manufacturers association. Due to SSA’s interest in energy efficient buildings we have two projects nearing completion that will “Break the Bank” with our local utilities. Both will have a near zero energy gain through the building envelope. Ken was invited to speak to SIPA regarding the Jacob Manch Elementary project. Check out SIPA’s web site www.sips.org.
February 10, 2009
The first construction contract for the HACLV architectural contract awarded to SSA for UFAS and ADA upgrades is completed. M C Mojave Construction completed the work more than 1% under the original amount bid! Great credit goes to this contractor for its honesty and hard work as well as to the entire project team. Historically government projects (almost) never finish under the money. This was just the type of project where you would expect great difficulty in attaining such a goal and it was difficult! The entire project scope was nothing but remodeling and every time you open up the walls on an old house surprises will be there! Laymen would call the project that of upgrading homes for the handicapped. Every house had to have many walls redone. Kitchens and toilets were redone for accessibility as well as exterior access provided. All this was done with the goal of blending the final home into the neighborhood so as not to make the occupants main streamed. SSA has the utmost praise for the HACLV management team and the contractor.
January 15, 2009
The Las Vegas RED (Real Estate Development) announces in a full page spread that SSA was awarded The Pantheon Theater Project in Cesar's Forum Shops. SSA has been contracted to do both construction documents and interior design on the 600 seat roman themed theater and the project is well underway. The client also retained our firm to provide photo realistic imaging and presentation boards for Cesar's, the public and the performers who will be there to see what the developers have planned. Check out http://theredreport.com/ SSA regularly reads and advertises with this publication and we were honored and grateful to have been acknowledged as the “Deal Tracker” one page spread this month!
June 06, 2008
Today Ken is at Construct 2008 for some educational units. This year there is interesting new information on green building, green lighting and proper architectural communications. Ken is also taking a seminar on the latest thinking on BIM, building information modeling. Ken has been using BIM since before it was known as that. SSA has been using building modeling on AutoCAD, Revit and several energy modeling software packages since SSA's inception.
February 28, 2008
Today the construction contract was awarded for the Manch Elementary school job. Manch is designed with many architectural innovations. The new and remodeled buildings are designed with the latest green ideas like fully day lit classrooms, sound attenuation through slightly out of square walls and out door learning areas. The completed project is expected to finish at about $20 million including a considerable public drainage project that is being negotiated. This fully daylighted design follows on the heels of the Sandy Valley School buildings that were designed to be 50% illuminated by natural light.
December 15, 2007
Sandy Valley School buildings 11 month walk through with off without a hitch today. The project was completed with an amazingly low amount of contractor extras. Finishing at under 0.4% (four tenths of one percent) as this project did is unheard of on any CCSD project… let alone a first time construction of a new set of plans. Credit goes to the SSA production staff headed by Ken Small and Alan Wendelboe. Equal credit goes to Rafael Construction, Kevin King and Gerald Looney both of whom did a great job of looking out for the publics money while looking ahead to problem avoidance throughout the work. http://www.rafaelconstructioninc.com/ is one of the many fine contractors that any SSA client would be well served by. SSA was the first architect to bring this level of illumination to CCSD using a far more affordable approach with Solatubes. Use of the construction technologies on this job bring the early stages of green building to a client that up until recent years build mostly windowless ‘prisons’ for our children to be educated in. After Ken Small won multiple awards for the John S Park Elementary project he allowed to take the next step in innovation with this project.
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