Innovations in design: 'working with and engaging owners'.

• Author: White, Rindi
• Position: SPECIAL SECTION: Architects & Engineers

Fresh. Clean. Inviting. That's the way people frequently describe buildings designed by Spark Design, a trio of women behind a number of prominent buildings under construction in Anchorage.

Take the new locally-owned Natural Pantry store, for example. Owners Rick and Vikki Solberg approached the landowner, Neeser Construction, and engaged with them on a design-build process with Neeser working as the developer and Spark Design as the architects. As a large natural foods grocery store, a boxy shape is almost inevitable. But the entrance and the exterior are livened up by simple curves, colorful finishes and a variety of textures.

"Looking at the site plan, we have traffic coming up A Street and also along 36th [Avenue]. At that major vehicular intersection, the client wanted to create a focal point to draw the community in. At this location, the design incorporates a community garden, outdoor seating, and an indoor caf6 area, where customers can purchase food and beverages," says Tara Gallagher, one of the three founders of Spark Design.

The circular entrance area, Spark cofounder Deanna Wlad says, was incorporated as a way to make the entrance inviting from the major intersection and to bring in as much natural daylight as possible. The covered canopy draws inspiration from a canopy of trees--a nod to nature and to healthy living.

"The canopy is the focal point for community activity," Wlad says. "They plan to have community classes on living a healthy lifestyle and a community garden where fresh produce is donated to local homeless shelters."

Overlapping Schedules

The Natural Pantry project, which was expected to be completed in January with the official grand opening later in the spring, is an example of Spark Design's collaborative process. Glenn Kolberg, project superintendent for Neeser Construction, says the design firm places a strong emphasis on team collaboration. While traditional design-bid-build projects take a more stair-step approach in which the work proceeds in phases, design-build projects often have design and construction schedules that overlap. Owners, designers, and builders work together throughout the course of the project.

"A lot of the projects Spark is working on with Neeser are design-build. You have to have an open-minded design team that works really well together for not only a unique-looking, beautiful building, but to meet budget constraints. And Spark Design is really good at providing materials and design...