A few weeks ago, I was in Denver with Larry while he attended a tour of a LEED certified apartment building with Rocky Mountain Green. The building was located in the Highlands neighborhood, and I happened upon a great combination of businesses, which included a tea bar, an auto repair shop, and a place for expecting mothers and their partners.

Larry designed this house in 1991, and this summer it burnt down in the Black Forest Fire which destroyed 464 homes. Sometimes when people rebuild after a disaster they take the opportunity to make massive changes or chose an entirely different house design. However, this owner wants to re-create a home very similar to the one that he loved, so LGA Studios will be helping him get it built again.

As winter goes on, it's a pleasant time to revisit a couple of homes from this past summer's Parade of Homes. Both of the ones pictured below were designed by LGA Studios and built in Mountain Shadows, a part of town that had our efforts and our hearts.

Those of you who have spent time around me have probably heard “EMI” come up sooner or later. EMI and I have a little history. At a Missions conference in 2003, between all the booths for teachers, church planters and nurses, I found it: Engineering Ministries International, the place where Architects can be Missionaries.

LGA Studios is proud to be a part of the rebuilding of Venetucci Farm. The Venetucci story is one of community and a now-legendary commitment to giving back, making better, and bringing joy. Many of you who have grown up in Colorado Springs have memories of going to this historic urban farm each October to pick out the perfect jack-o-lantern contender.

LGA Studios is proud to call Colorado Springs our home. We've grown up here and built our business here, and we have a special place in our hearts for the Westside and for our city's vibrant downtown. If you haven't seen it yet, this quick video is a fantastic tribute to all that Downtown Colorado Springs is, and excites us about all that it could be!

One of our clients is photo-documenting the construction of their house! The build is looking good and the photography is nice. Plus they managed to get a good shot of an one-antlered deer on the property.

Our blog this week is a chance to guest blog for our main blogger, Lisa Morrell. Lisa has been doing an excellent job of keeping up the weekly blogs for LGA Studios. Some things have been going on in Lisa’s life recently and we haven’t had a weekly posting, so I, Larry, feel like a guest blogger this week.

A few weeks ago I, Mary Gilland, finally got to tour the Bestway Disposal recycling facility. I know that probably doesn’t sound like a good time to most people, but I was very excited and wanted to see where all the stuff I recycle goes, and what is done with it.

This week, we are showcasing the work of LGA Studios Associate, Frank Callaio. Before he moved to Colorado Frank designed houses in Pennsylvania, including the entire River Shores neighborhood. These photos were all taken in the completed neighborhood, which is partially on the banks of the Susquehanna River.

Better Block Pikes Peak (BBPP) provided a unique and beautiful experiential demonstration of the transformative powers of urban renewal. With food trucks, wall art, a bar on wheels, more walkways and seating options, and a sculpture garden, Pikes Peak Avenue became a place to gather on a late summer night.

Recovery in Mountain Shadows is still in an early season. The orange cones blocking the neighborhoods heavily affected by the Waldo Canyon fire are gone. Demolition of the incinerated houses is mostly complete, and quietly empty expanses (marked only by the signs for the Demolition Contractors) line the streets where once there were steady rows of homes. Here and there stand affected homes, inexplicably missed by the fire.

Many future architects like to play with Legos as children. Some of them still do when they grow up. The official “Lego Architecture” brand was founded by Adam Reed Tucker, an architecture graduate who considers his artistic medium to be Legos. He independently created his original models, then later teamed up with the Lego company. These pre-designed sets in the "Lego Architecture" line are designed on a beginner-friendly scale.

This past August, an LGA-designed home was toured in the 2012 Colorado Springs Parade of Homes. It won Best Kitchen in the parade this year and is described quite flatteringly on the Parade website. This house also won "The People's Choice Award" in the Parade, which means that visitors to the Parade voted this house as their favorite!

Come one, come all to volunteer or just enjoy the downtown Better Blocks exhibit! “Build a Better Block” projects are going on all around the USA.

Even from a young age, it’s been clear to me that God designed me to be a designer. Well, the first thing I wanted to be when I was growing up was an astronaut… ha! I went from that to wanting to become a florist. Then, after I went on my first mission trip with my whole family to Juarez, Mexico, I wanted to become a missionary.

These front door photos are delicious eye candy, and even better: possible ideas for your new home! Check out “14 Eye-Catching Options for Your Front Door,” as well as a great article about “Selecting the Right Front Door” on Bob Vila’s website.

We are a local business, deeply saddened to see the lives thrown into chaos as a result of the Waldo Canyon Fire, and the destruction of such a beautiful part of our city. We stand with other local businesses, with sentiments similar to Stauffer & Sons and Classic Homes about the survivor’s situations. We designed some of the homes that were burned down and we want to be an active part of the healing process.

In June, LGA Studios moved to a new office. Why move from our other downtown address? The number one reason is to share space with the rest of the Collaborative Design Group (CDG). The CDG, (which has been mentioned before on the blog) is a coalition of six different small companies.

In wake of the fires, we don't have a new entry this week. We are proud to be a part of a town that has so much sacrificial community spirit, and we want to offer our condolences to the many who have lost their homes. LGA Studios wants to be a part of renewal of Colorado Springs in the days ahead.