Architecture and Design
Continuing Education from SwiftEnvirons
SwiftEnvirons is an AIA Continuing Education Provider – focused on the issues that impact people and the Earth.
Architecture and Design
AI Architectural Design Screen Test
Take Two of our AI Test Our second test of AI in architectural design delivered some unexpected results and insights. Here’s what we discovered. See here for the first test: https://www.swiftenvirons.com/2024/07/05/adventures-in-ai-and-design/ AI Technology Check all that apply to AI: The Test Takes Off For our test, we used a photograph Read more…
Architecture and Design
Gold Country Resiliency
A Case Study in Wildfire Defense and Home Hardening We embarked upon improvements to our property that includes Calfire recommendation for a combination of Home Hardening and Defensible Space to give your house the best chance of surviving a wildfire. Our solution is not perfect by any means as compromises Read more…
Anchor Institutions
Sports Medicine at UC Davis
A return to the home field My visit to the UC Davis Edwards Family Athletic Center (EFAC) and the UCD Health clinic became an unexpected homecoming—professionally and personally. But first a little about this striking facility. I had the chance to tour the new Gensler-designed facility with James Maus from Read more…
Anchor Institutions
Visiting the Latest Labs: UC Merced
In September 2025, we visited University of California, Merced for the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) Shared Resource Laboratory project. Between tours of the campus and research facilities, our team (Uta Grieshammer, Susan Swift, Dan Eriksson) kicked off this exciting project that will expand with the research core facilities Read more…
Anchor Institutions
Lab Construction Continues On Pace
History Repeats Image above: Beckman Institute, City of Hope, Duarte California. When the NIH rejected a grant for synthetic insulin in the 1970s, researchers led by Arthur Riggs proceeded without federal funding. The rest is history. And history repeats itself. Construction Progress Despite federal changes, committed California institutes and researchers Read more…
Anchor Institutions
Aggie Square: Background
A Decade in the Making The project started in earnest over a decade ago with a vision. Mark Romney, with his experience with AURP, was instrumental in championing revisioning a planned academic research zone at the Med Center in Sacramento. For proof of concept, we brought on experts in academic Read more…
Anchor Institutions
The Wexford ConnectLab at Aggie Square
After over a decade of visioning, leadership and delivery, Sacramento’s Innovation District is on the horizon. The SwiftEnvirons team is grateful for a visit to the Aggie Square project. Thanks to Claire Drummond of Wexford Science and Technology hosted our tour. Our focus for this visit was Wexford’s ConnectLab at Read more…
Architecture and Design
Learning from Notre Dame de Paris
A devastating fire brings destruction to a global treasure. Disaster ensues. Recovery is human nature. Rebuilding is a Herculean effort, completed in only a matter of years. The result is a beautiful resurrection. That is the story of the Cathedral Notre Dame de Paris. It can also offer an inspiration Read more…
Architecture and Design
Visite: Cathedrale Notre Dame de Paris
We visited the resurrection of the global treasure in Paris, France. What did we learn? While it wasn’t on the radar when we planned our visit to Paris for December 2024, a rare opportunity arose when the announcement was made that the venerable cathedral was reopening after destruction in the Read more…