Gresham Smith

Recent Updates to the USDOT DBE and ACDBE Programs: Essential Information for Stakeholders

Pam Kordenbrock — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 09:36:51

As the second feature in our ongoing coverage of the transportation reauthorization renewal process, this article covers changes to the US Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program. When the Surface Transportation Assistance Act was passed in 1982, it made earlier efforts by USDOT to establish a uniform…

Jose Tavarez Named Gresham Smith’s Dallas Office Leader

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 15:22:32

Gresham Smith is pleased to announce that Jose Tavarez has been named Office Leader for the firm’s Dallas location. With over a decade of architectural experience and a distinguished record of leadership and community engagement, Jose brings a strong vision and dedication to growing the firm’s presence and impact in Dallas…

Gresham Smith Welcomes Aaron Kachler as Energy Project Engineer

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 07:25:00

Gresham Smith is excited to announce that Aaron Kachler, P.E., LEED AP, has joined the firm’s Building Engineering market as an Energy Project Engineer. Kachler brings over ten years of experience in high-performance building design and sustainability consulting. In his new role, he will lead energy analysis and sustainability initiatives,…

Think Inside the Box: 6 Considerations for Efficient & Durable Cold Storage Envelopes

Poppy Hill, AIA, NCARB — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 13:22:43

Note: This article first appeared in Refrigerated & Frozen Foods magazine. As e-commerce and fast delivery windows drive demand for cold storage, owners and developers are balancing speed to market with long-term operational performance and GMPs (Good Manufacturing Practices). For many, the “box-in-box” approach – placing a high-performance cold envelope…

Gresham Smith Recognized as Sustainability Partner Champion by City of Phoenix Aviation Department

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 15:12:13

Gresham Smith has been awarded the inaugural Phoenix Aviation Department Business Champion Recognition Award in the category of Sustainability Partner Champion. The honor acknowledges the firm’s pivotal role in advancing environmental stewardship through the development and ongoing implementation of the City of Phoenix Aviation Department’s Sustainability Management Plan (SMP). The…

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) – Terminal 3 Modernization and Expansion

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 11:40:43

To accommodate the rapid growth in international travel at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), a multi-phased terminal modernization program has been in the works with extensive renovations across Terminals 1, 2, and 3. As part of this program, the modernization of Terminal 3 plays a crucial role in enhancing passenger experience, functionality, and overall airport operations. Terminal 3 is a key hub at FLL, primarily serving domestic flights and acting as a major operational base for JetBlue Airways. The terminal features Concourses E and F with a total of 20 gates, offering passengers a variety of dining, retail, and passenger service.

Gresham Smith’s Zoë Fisher Set to Speak at SEC‑AAAE Conference

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 08:00:00

Gresham Smith is proud to announce that Aviation Architect Zoë Fisher, AIA, NCARB, will represent the firm at the Southeast Chapter of the American Association of Airport Executives (SEC‑AAAE) Annual Conference on Monday, March 30 at 2:30 p.m. in Savannah, Georgia. Fisher will participate in a session titled “Enhancing Passenger…

Designing to Protect Its People: A Strategic Blueprint for Strengthening Oncology Staff and Patient Well‑Being

Steve Verner, AIA, EDAC — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 08:00:00

Note: This article first appeared in Becker's Hospital Review. As healthcare organizations grapple with unprecedented levels of burnout, staffing instability, and workplace violence, our Gresham Smith team has observed the urgent need for the built environment to evolve in ways that better support care providers. The 2025 NSI National Health Care Retention & RN…

Alberta O. Jones Park

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 11:19:43

Alberta O. Jones Park is the product of decades of work, community planning and public-private partnerships to transform a former FEMA disaster area into a vibrant public park for nearby residents of a West Louisville neighborhood. Gresham Smith led the master planning for its second phase of construction as a part of our ongoing work with the Parks Alliance of Louisville.

This 20-acre site, once a low-income residential area severely impacted by flooding in 2009, was transformed into public green space following a FEMA buyout. The Louisville Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD) and Parks Alliance collaborated to acquire the properties, paving the way for revitalization. Named after Alberta Odell Jones, a pioneering attorney and civil rights champion whose first law office was just blocks away, the park honors her legacy through a community-centered design.

Gresham Smith’s Dagmar Bachmann (Rittenbacher) to Present Workplace Violence Prevention Research at PDC Summit

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 08:00:00

Gresham Smith is pleased to announce that Healthcare Design Researcher Dagmar Bachmann (Rittenbacher) will speak at the 2026 International Summit & Exhibition on Health Facility Planning, Design & Construction™ (PDC Summit™) on Wednesday, March 11, at 9:30 a.m. CT in Houston. Texas. Bachmann will join fellow presenters Soheyla Mohammadi Gorji,…

The Future, Rendered: AI’s Role in Smarter Healthcare Design

Claudia Capraru — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 08:00:00

As hospitals navigate financial pressures, workforce shortages, and rising patient expectations, the stakes for capital investments have never been higher. In a recent Becker’s Hospital Review article, Director of Architectural Design Chris Hoal, AIA, LEED AP, shares how Gresham Smith is helping health systems harness the power of AI to…

Gresham Smith Welcomes Shaun Self as Senior Technology Systems Designer

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 08:00:00

Gresham Smith is excited to announce that Shaun Self has joined the firm’s Building Engineering market as a Senior Technology Systems Designer. Self brings extensive, cross-functional experience in technology consulting and adds depth to the Technology Systems team. In this role, he will collaborate with clients to seamlessly integrate technology…

Gresham Smith Names Christina Florez as Central Florida State Transportation Leader

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 17:02:29

Gresham Smith is pleased to announce that Christina Florez, P.E., has been named State Transportation Leader for Central Florida. In this role, Florez will spearhead the firm’s transportation strategy and operations across the state, focusing on deepening client relationships, expanding service offerings and supporting the continued growth of the Florida practice alongside Regional Transportation…

Gresham Smith’s Diana Chumak and Camille Colter to Present at 2026 WateReuse Symposium

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 08:00:00

Gresham Smith is pleased to announce that Water Resources Engineer Diana Chumak, P.E., and Engineer-In-Training Camille Colter, EIT, will represent Gresham Smith at the 41st annual WateReuse Symposium on Monday, March 9, in Los Angeles, California. Chumak and Colter will lead a session titled “A Gallon of Water for Your…

A Patch That Changes the Path

Claudia Capraru — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 08:00:00

What if a single patch could spark a lifelong interest in shaping the world around us? That question was posed by the Gresham Smith Women’s Employee Resource Network (ERN), where a group of members, all former scouts, saw an opportunity to inspire the next generation. That spark set Interior Designer…

Gresham Smith and University of Louisville Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute Create Strategic Partnership for Urban Greening

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 15:40:02

Gresham Smith and the University of Louisville (UofL) Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute have entered a five-year memorandum of understanding (MOU) to collaborate as part of the Greenprint Initiative, a 10-year program in partnership with Metro Louisville to develop a systemic, evidence-based approach to making downtown Louisville healthier and greener.…

Future Readiness: How Civic Architecture Can Redefine Resilience

Jeff Kuhnhenn, AIA, LEED AP — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 14:18:38

Note: This article first appeared in PRB+ Magazine. As communities face frequent climate events, social disruptions, and infrastructure challenges, civic architecture is being reimagined as a front line of resilience. Libraries, recreation centers, and municipal buildings—once regarded as the background fabric of civic life—are increasingly recognized as essential public assets…

Cheshire Bridge Road Emergency Bridge Repair

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 13:55:07

On December 20, 2023, the City of Atlanta’s Department of Transportation (ATLDOT) was forced to close the Cheshire Bridge Road bridge over the CSX railroad after a fire caused extensive damage. This marked the second road closure in two years, significantly disrupting commuters and businesses in the Lindridge-Martin Manor and Morningside-Lenox Park neighborhoods. As a critical corridor in Atlanta’s transportation network, Cheshire Bridge Road’s rapid restoration became an urgent priority. In response, the City of Atlanta enlisted the Gresham Smith-Platinum Geomatics joint venture team, along with C.W. Matthews, to quickly inspect, design, and repair the bridge. Through innovative design techniques and close coordination with key stakeholders—including CSX, the City of Atlanta, and six utility owners—the team successfully reopened the bridge on May 22, 2024, just five months later.

Brent Spence Bridge

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 12:47:54

The Brent Spence Bridge project is a monumental endeavor that will transform interstate travel across the Ohio River between Covington, Kentucky, and Cincinnati, Ohio. The fast-paced $3.6 billion progressive design-build project involves two separate design firms and two state departments of transportation (Ohio Department of Transportation and Kentucky Transportation Cabinet). The project includes the addition of a new river crossing companion bridge, significant improvements to the existing bridge, and major upgrades to surrounding roadways. Walsh Kokosing, the joint-venture contractor, selected Gresham Smith to lead utility coordination and design across the entire scope of the project.

In our role working across state lines, we coordinate with over 30 primary utility company contacts, and as of early 2026, we have identified over 400 utility conflicts. From the beginning, our staff has analyzed design plans, identifying potential utility conflicts needing further investigation and guiding utility companies with their relocation designs. While untangling the complex web of facilities within the scope of the project, we have designed multiple joint trenches to house separate utilities into a single duct bank, which lessens the utility footprint in the most congested areas.

Taking Flight: A Fresh Look at CLT’s Terminal Lobby Expansion

Claudia Capraru — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 08:00:00

As one of the nation’s fastest‑growing airports, Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) needed a terminal lobby that could keep pace with rising demand while elevating the passenger experience. That vision came to life through the $608 million Terminal Lobby Expansion, delivered by Gresham Smith’s aviation practice. The result is a…

Gresham Smith Launches New Energy & Utility Infrastructure Practice

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 16:54:02

Gresham Smith is excited to announce the launch of its Energy & Utility Infrastructure practice, a multidisciplinary group that helps public- and private-sector clients meet rising energy demands with resilient, scalable and integrated solutions. For decades, Gresham Smith has provided a mix of engineering, coordination and consulting services for a…

Gresham Smith’s David Park and Brad Sucher to Present at the 2026 AAAE/ACC Airport Planning, Design & Construction Symposium

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 08:30:00

Gresham Smith is pleased to announce that Senior Environmental Graphic Designer David Park, SEGD, and Senior Vice President Brad Sucher, AIA, NCARB, will speak at the 2026 AAAE/ACC Airport Planning, Design & Construction Symposium on Wednesday, March 4, in Indianapolis, Indiana. Recognized as the industry’s leading technical event, the symposium…

Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) – Terminal Modernization & Expansion

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 12:01:28

Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) is not only one of the fastest-growing airports in the country, but is also one of the fastest-recovering post-COVID airports in the U.S. With growth outpacing the capacity of AVL’s existing terminal building, Greater Asheville Regional Airport Authority called on Gresham Smith to design a new, larger terminal to keep up with the rapid demand. Our design more than doubles the square footage of the current terminal and will provide flexibility in design to allow for enhancements and innovations as air travel evolves while serving the air service needs of western North Carolina for decades to come.

Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR) – Concourse Expansion and Modernization

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 12:01:15

As domestic air travel continues its rapid growth post-pandemic, Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR) identified a need to renovate and expand its existing buildings and associated infrastructure to accommodate current and future growth. As a popular travel destination, airport leadership realized the need to maintain a high level of customer service while also showcasing the local community and greater region. Gresham Smith helped realize this vision by expanding and modernizing the existing building’s 12 gate concourses into an 18 gate terminal building, developing a design solution that improves the airport and acts as a modern gateway for visitors and locals alike.

Strategic Integration of Technology: Facilities Manager Magazine Article Highlights Technology Master Plans for Higher Education

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 09:00:00

In today’s digital era, technology must be strategically integrated into campus infrastructure, and a technology master plan (TMP) offers a roadmap for higher education institutions to align tech investments with their mission, foster collaboration across departments and plan financially for long-term success. By embedding technology early and engaging stakeholders continuously,…