Darden Architects Christmas Party!

What a special Darden Architects Christmas Party! Terrific fun to cap off a fantastic year!

Darden Architects featured in The Central Valley Business Journal

Fantastic write-up in The Central Valley Business Journal. Thanks to Ben Keller for his journalistic prowess. And Special Thanks to the Readers for casting their votes.

Darden Architects received the 2014 Best of Business award for "Best Architectural Firm."

Darden Architects received the 2014 Best of Business award for "Best Architectural Firm." Thanks to the readers and staff of the Central Valley Business Journal for this honor. We are overjoyed to receive this recognition of our work, and support for our community.

Christmas Tree at the Fresno Yosemite International Airport

Darden Architects' designed Christmas tree at the  Fresno Yosemite International Airport. This year's theme for Christmas at the Airport was "Christmas Classics" movies.

 

The Kings Canyon lodge gets a $400k upgrade.

Darden Interior Design is excited to be part of this project. The Kings Canyon lodge gets a $400k upgrade.

The project has been featured in The Business Journal and the Fresno Bee:

http://www.thebusinessjournal.com/news/tourism/14958-kings-canyon-lodge-gets-400k-upgrade

http://www.fresnobee.com/2014/12/14/4285886_new-auto-parts-store-coming-to.html?rh=1

Photos of Darden Architects Interior Design project Community Media Arts Collaborative 3rd Floor Remodel

Photos of the latest Darden Architects Interior Design project: CMAC (Community Media Arts Collaborative) 3rd Floor Remodel! It was a joy to support the growth of this fantastic organization/facility. Special thanks to Paul Mullins Photography. Artwork pictured by the very talented Aileen Imperatrice.

Heli-stop wins APWA "Project of the Year"

Darden Architects design project: Heli-stop at Kaweah Delta Health Care District in Visalia, CA wins American Public Works Association Central California Chapter 2014 "Project of the Year"!!

The new "Welcome to Fresno" sign is Complete!

The new "Welcome to Fresno" sign is Complete!

Darden Architects was honored to be part of this project with Quiring Construction and the Fresno Chamber of Commerce's Leadership Fresno Class 30 to build a landmark 110 years in the making: The brand new "Welcome to Fresno" Sign!! Congratulations all around!

Darden Architects and our Designer Martin Ilic honored by Leadership Fresno for work on and support of the project:

Fresno City College OAB Earns National Historic Preservation Honor

Darden Architects is excited to have been apart of this project that has earned a National Historic Preservation Honor.

http://kvpr.org/post/fresno-city-college-oab-earns-national-historic-preservation-honor

Picture Credit: David Wakely

CMAC Near Completion

Darden Architects latest Interior Design Project is near completion. Please enjoy the latest Article in the Fresno Bee

Darden Architects Received the 2014-2017 Intern Development Program Firm Award

Darden Architects was recently awarded the 2014-2017 Intern Development Program Firm Award. Darden Architects was one of only 16 firms nationwide that received the award, the only firm in California's Central Valley, and one of three firms in California.

 

Since 1991, the IDP Outstanding Firm Awards program, administered by the NCARB/AIA Internship Advisory Committee (IAC), has recognized firms who actively embrace the Intern Development Program (IDP) and demonstrate a commitment to interns by making the path to licensure an integral part of the firm’s culture. In 2008, the program expanded to recognize "IDP Firms" that meet twelve essential criteria in the categories of Mentoring, Supervising, Training Opportunities, Commitment to IDP, and ARE Support.

 

Our firm knows that industry standards change with time and is committed to providing an environment that fosters professional growth and continual learning for our staff. Weekly lunch presentations, nearly all of them AIA Continuing Education Unit approved, are selected to build the designer’s knowledge of the latest products, technology and standards. This creates a uniform body of knowledge among the employees to produce well-coordinated drawings, and a forum in which to discuss master specification and construction document issues. We keep an in-house ARE study library and fully reimburse test registration fees upon receipt of license.

An aspirational design professional with a desire to get thier architectural license doesn’t want to be a drone stuck in front of the computer screen at some firm that doesn’t value your professional growth. With many ongoing projects, Darden Architects can provide opportunities to get the 5,600 training hours needed. Working at a firm like Darden Architects will provide opportunities for design, the chance to attend site meetings, administrate projects, and interact with consultants, clients and state agencies. We value our up-and-coming staff and want to see them succeed, and our ongoing commitment to the Intern development program is proof of this.

Aera to help Bakersfield College develop science center

Darden Architects' project Bakersfield College Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics grant building was recently featured in The Bakersfield Californian. Read the article here.

First day of School for Gaston Middle School Students

The Darden Architects' designed Gaston Middle School was in several headlines when it opened its doors for the first time to students.


Fresno's Gaston Middle School opens its doors for the first time: http://abc30.com/264448/

First day of school for new campus: http://www.yourcentralvalley.com/story/d/story/school/18993/-B3Gk_DyNUGedBD9bahQMg#.U_KJxfXrBaQ.twitter

Former Olympian visits Valley for opening of new aquatics center

A former Olympian visited the Valley for the opening of the new Darden Architects' designed aquatics center in Reedley, CA. Read the story here.

State of the Art Swimming Pool in Reedley, CA

The Darden Architects' project was recently featured on KMPH Fox 26.

Reedley's State Of The Art Swimming Complex: Pool Is Stainless Steel

Posted: Aug 14, 2014 5:46 PM PDT

Rich Rodriguez

Reedley High School's $7 million state of the art swimming complex will officially be unveiled Friday morning.  The 50-meter Olympic sized competition pool is eight lanes wide and 6-feet-7-inches deep.  What makes the pool one of a kind in the Valley is its made of stainless steel and not gunite. 

Assistant Supt. John Quinto says it's more expensive but in the long run will save the district money.  "A gunite pool comes with a one year warranty.  Our pool will have a 15 year warranty.  The gunite pool will have to be re-plastered in 7-8 years.  We won't have to do that with a stainless steel pool."

Reedley High hasn't had a swimming pool for two years so members of the swimming team had to get up at 4 in the morning to travel to nearby Dinuba to use its' pool for practice.  In November 2012 voters in the school district approved Measure K that provided the money to build the swimming complex.  Some of the other features include canopied bleachers, a warm up pool, boys and girls locker rooms, classroom and a snack bar.

The aquatics complex will be the new home for Reedley High and neighboring Orange Cove High School.


http://www.kmph-kfre.com/story/26285721/reedleys-state-of-the-art-swimming-complex-pool-is-stainless-steel#.U-6OCY0ZA8M.twitter

Darden Architects long awaited design project: the brand new Rutherford B. Gaston Sr. Middle School opens next week.

Learn more with this excellent video news story thanks to ABC30 action news

Interior Design team project: the Community Media Access Collaborative (CMAC) is expanding

We are so pleased to be a part of this excellent project. Take a moment to learn more. Fresno Bee Article

(This exterior photo has been pulled from MATT construction website. MMA Architects renovation project)

New Aquatics Center in the Reedley Exponent

Darden Architects' latest design project: the Reedley High School Aquatics Center has been featured in the news. Please enjoy. Reedley Exponent Article

Alta Elementary School New Library Ribbon Cutting!

http://www.reedleyexponent.com/articles/2014/06/11/opinion/doc53989bc738820168237590.txt

Reedley Exponent
by Felicia Cousart Matlosz

Published: Wednesday, June 11, 2014 11:19 AM PDT

More good news was celebrated on June 9 at Alta Elementary School, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new library.

You’ll find photos on page B8 (as well as bit of an introduction on B1).

The library is a dramatic change from the classroom that served as a library at the 420-student campus.

And it has some visual touches that make it welcoming and inspiring.

For example, there is a large-sized, eye-catching Dr. Seuss quote on one wall. I point it out in on both B1 and B8, but it’s worth repeating: “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more things that you learn, the more places you will go.”

The idea came from Grant Dodson, an architect with Darden Architects. He also had the idea of using a photo motif based on an old photograph reflecting Reedley’s history.

Dodson said working on libraries can sometimes allow an architect the opportunity to “give it a little bit of character.”

 In this case, he wanted the library to remind visitors not only of its function (hence the Dr. Seuss quote) but the school’s long history in the community.

For Principal Vickie Nishida, who attended Alta as a child, the new library “is like heaven.”

School officials also are making sure that “Mitchell Square” – named after Alta’s longtime principal, Charles Mitchell – will be represented as part of the new library. Mitchell Square was a place with benches on the school grounds, where children would chat and read. A patio just outside the new library will serve as an outdoor spot for that same purpose.

Juan Garza, superintendent of the Kings Canyon Unified School District, said the governing board and district now have expanded or built a library at every campus in the district because libraries are integral to education.

The new Alta library, he said, is “going to be here for years and years to come for students and staff.

As Nishida put it: “This is a very special day for us.”

Gaston Middle School hosted Open House to students and community

The community got it's first look at the New Rutherford B, Gaston Middle School this weekend. The school, designed by Darden Architects, is Southwest Fresno's first middle school in 35 years.

Read the story here:
http://abc30.com/101396/

"Welcome To Fresno" sign in The Business Journal

Darden Architects has been recognized in The Business Journal for our design support provided to the Leadership Fresno (Class 30) effort to construct a new "Welcome to Fresno" road sign along highway 99.

Construction continues at Gaston Middle School in Fresno

Gaston in The Business Journal

Our latest design project: Rutherford B. Gaston Middle School was featured in The Business Journal this week. Please enjoy this stand-out article.

Rutherford B. Gaston in the News

The forthcoming Rutherford B. Gaston Middle School was featured in the Fresno Bee last weekend. 

http://www.fresnobee.com/2014/03/08/3811840/gaston-fresno-high-building-almost.html

Darden Architects gives tour of New Academic Building to Local Students

As part of a series of community/school outreach efforts by the firm, our own Antonio Avila & Martin Ilic lead a tour of the recently constructed Edison High School Academic Building for students. Word of this event was featured in the Business Journal:

http://www.thebusinessjournal.com/news/construction/10735-fresno-architects-show-new-school-building

Welcome to Fresno greeting sign designed by Darden Architects

A monument sign with a rustic design incorporating wooden timbers and a base of river stones was the winner among public voting in Leadership Fresno's effort to erect "Welcome to Fresno" signs at the north and south gateways to the city.

Leadership Fresno's Class 30 will take the winning design, selected from among three contenders designed by Darden Architects, to the Fresno City Council for approval on Thursday. Read more...

Edison High School Academic Building Featured on Style of Design Web Site

Edison High School Academic Building Featured on Style of Design Web Site