Ideas

Our design process guides us to plan for today’s requirements and prepare for tomorrow’s unknowns. Here we pull back the curtain on our practice to share that process with you.

Lark logo with bird

Lark Spectral Lighting Tool Reaches New Milestone

ZGF, in collaboration with the University of Washington, has released an updated, peer-reviewed version of the Lark Spectral Lighting tool.

Research and Tools
June 16, 2022

Fast Company Features PAE

Fast Company covers how the PAE is designed as the first developer-driven Living Building in the world and its impact on future generations.

News
June 14, 2022
Small wooden model showing interior view of Portland Airport Main Terminal Expansion

A Model Mastermind Follows in Her Family's Footsteps

In this latest series of Humans of ZGF interviews, we sat down with the model shop team to learn about their unique career paths into model building, the most memorable projects they’ve worked on, and what’s on their bench right now. 

Methodology
May 20, 2022
Close up of hand holding tweezers working on model construction.

Imagineering New Possibilities in Architectural Model Building

In this latest series of Humans of ZGF interviews, we sat down with the model shop team to learn about their unique career paths into model building, the most memorable projects they’ve worked on, and what’s on their bench right now.

Methodology
May 03, 2022
Large metal sign with perforated panels that spells out the word Kashiwanoha

One Model Builder, A Thousand Miniature Cars

In this latest series of Humans of ZGF interviews, we sat down with the model shop team to learn about their unique career paths into model building, the most memorable projects they’ve worked on, and what’s on their bench right now.

Methodology
April 28, 2022
Concrete interior of the facility with office space wrapping around an atrium.

Net-Zero Building Boom in Bloomberg

Bloomberg CityLab highlights three ZGF projects – PAE Living Building, California Air Resources Board new headquarters, and the Portland Airport – that are all leading the way in net-zero design. 

News
April 07, 2022
Photo of kaleidoscope installation at Cincinnati Children's hospital

One Craftsman’s Journey from Wooden Boat Construction to Industrial Design

In this latest series of Humans of ZGF interviews, we sat down with the model shop team to learn about their unique career paths into model building and fabrication, the most memorable projects they’ve worked on, and what’s on their bench right now.

Methodology
April 05, 2022

Caring for Healthcare’s Greatest Asset: Caregivers and Staff

The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of leading with empathy, continuing to have honest conversations with our clients, and ensuring our healthcare providers and staff have a voice in the care that they give and receive.

Community
April 04, 2022

A Developer’s Guide to Mass Timber for High-Rise Residential

As interest in and demand for mass timber accelerates, and recent code changes allow for mass timber in taller buildings, developers are exploring mass timber solutions for high-rise residential structures. Many of mass timber’s benefits, including its lower carbon footprint, are well-documented but considerably less information is available to accurately analyze the cost of a mass timber building.

Sustainability
March 15, 2022

International Women’s Day 2022: Spotlight on Shara Castillo

Community
March 07, 2022