Playing LEGO Matters

LEGO, the creative toy originally manufactured by the LEGO Group in Denmark . According to Wikipedia, “Lego” was derived from the Danish phrase “leg godt,” which means “play well.”

LEGO’s interlocking block system made their pieces easy to assemble and connect for constructing a project. Many schools have used it as part of teaching tools. So far, the most impressive way to utilize this education program we’ve seen is the UrbanPlan. UrbanPlan is an educational program initiated by ULI America (Urban Land Institute).

Similar to the video game SimCity, where the player acts as a town’s overall planner to build and manage the town’s growth. UrbanPlan is a more realistic “game” and engaging exercise for people interested in learning the fundamental forces of developing a city or a neighborhood.

When discussing building a town, we inevitably think about a green neighborhood. What is a green neighborhood? You might ask. It is a neighborhood developed in a way with sustainable practice and design. A good example is the project certified with LEED-ND.

“To encourage development within and near the existing community and public transit infrastructure…To reduce the incidence of obesity, heart disease, and hypertension by encouraging daily physical activity associated with walking and biking.” — LEED ND- Smart Location.

On this momentous day, we design the card for planners and developers. Thank them for applying the Smart Location principle, so that everyone could enjoy walkable, bikeable, and even healthier neighborhoods!

Empanada Matters

April 8th, is Empanada Day.
An empanada is a type of turnover shaped bun like a crescent moon. It is a fried or baked pastry with a filling wrapped with delicate, flaky bread. The food was originally from Spain, as the word “empanar” means to coat with bread. Over time, Spanish colonists carried their “specialized meat pie” traveling to Latin America and the Philippines. As this pastry is convenient to consume, it soon became part of the local’s culture.

Empanada is a nutrition-rich food; one 89g of typical meat-based empanada contains 10g of protein and 2g of dietary fiber. 6–7 pieces of empanada can give us enough daily calories. Moreover, empanada has versatile fillings, from breakfast meat and cheese to dessert-flavor apples or bananas. Regardless of fillings, they are people’s favorites because they are usually cheap, quick, and suitable for on-the-go meals.

Street food vending is very popular in dense urban neighborhoods. You can see many empanadas stand popping out in the downtown area. Those food trucks function like mobile restaurants and travel and park based on the neighborhoods’ lunch demand. The vendors are licensed and considered mobile units with a non-fixed location.

When thinking about the readily-available food from those food trucks, it reminded us of a WELL feature:

“Mobile food markets, food carts, and fruit and vegetable stands are additional ways to increase access to fruit and vegetables in the environment where individuals live, work and learn.” — WELL, N13 Local Food Environment.

While this feature does not mention the word “food truck,” and the studies collected by WELL only focused on diets regarding fruits, vegetables, total fat, and saturated fat; we can still use this WELL fundamental to increase the overall accessibility and visibility of fruit and vegetables on wherever allows street food vending. In that case, we could expand the healthy food retail outlet and lower BMI on an areal scale.

On this momentous day, we design this card for foodtruck vendors. Thanks to them carry more fruit and vegetables around so people have more nutritious options at mobile food stands.

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By the way, if you are interested in this topic, you might also want to check out “Start-Up City” written by Gabe Klein and David Vega-Barachowitz, published by Island Press.

Baseball Matters

March 30th is Major League Baseball Opening Day.

The initial baseball league was founded in the 1860s by a group of soldiers who played the game during the Civil War. It expanded into a national tournament and established the “National Association of Baseball Players” (NABBP).

In 1867, after Cincinnati Red Stockings was established as the first professional team, the NABBP split into amateur groups and the national league of professional baseball clubs. The first game in National League was on April 22, 1867, marking the beginning of Major League Baseball (MLB).

As baseball expanded throughout the 1960s to 1970s, many cities built multipurpose stadiums to accommodate the surging population of MLB and NFL fans. The popularity of these sports made a perfect reason for planners to include sports fields in their overall site plans.

Baseball also helps to train hand-eye coordination; swinging, catching, and running on the field could develop muscles in the arms and legs. The intensity level of this sport increase burning calories and prevents heart-vascular disease, which makes perfect sense to be included as part of the community’s amenity.

Nevertheless, three years ago at Nationals Park, Dr. Fauci threw the ceremonial first pitch on baseball’s opening day. While his pitch wasn’t perfect, it marked a critical milestone in predicting the reopening.

Reading baseball’s fascinating history and health benefits reminded me of a WELL feature.

“At a community scale, active design considers the ways in which communities can encourage populations to be active through public infrastructure, such as cycle lanes and green space.” - WELL V01 Active Buildings and Communities

On this momentous day, we design this card for community planners, thanks to their professional input on buildings and communities so we can enjoy many active public intrastructure.

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By the way…

the exact day of Dr. Fauci’s first pitch was on 7.23.2020. He threw out the first pitch prior to the game between the New York Yankees and Washington Nationals at Nationals Park.

If you like this topic, you might want to check out our updated [Place] Scorebook to learn more out our places. And make them a better place.

Clean Water Matters

March 22nd is World Water Day.

This day was the official commencement date of the “Water for Life Decade” campaign in 2005. The purpose of this declaration was to draw attention to the importance of fresh water and sustainable water arrangement around the world.

From “too much water” like a flood to “too little water” like drought, climate change profoundly influences our lives. Water availability has become less predictable in many places. Thus, ensuring everyone has access to sustainable water and sanitation services is a critical strategy to help mitigate the impact of climate change.

Water is essential for the general public’s health. It also helps to reduce poverty, increase food security and maintain peace among the communities. Accessing clean water, sanitation, and hygiene is a human right. Though these items sound basic, protecting this right remains a global challenge. An estimated 3 billion people worldwide lack access to wash their hands at home safely, and 2.2 billion people lack safe drinking water.

While reading these astonishing statistics, it reminded us of a WELL feature.

“The first step toward increasing consumption of good quality water is to make it easily available and removing barriers to accessibility. When the addition of drinking fountains is combined with information sessions, consumption of plain water has been found to increase.” -WELL W06, Drinking Water Promotion.

On this momentous day, we design this card for water utility company, thanks to their dedication on providing us clean water sources.

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By the way, “Clean Water and Sanitation” is also marked as the United Nation’s Goal of the Month. The UN Water Conference (March 22–24) will seek game-changing solutions to the multifaceted global crisis associated with water from the flood, drought, or polluted drinking water all-encompassing. Find a way to join them!

Sleep Matters

March 17th is World Sleep Day.

This holiday is celebrated on varying dates each year. It falls on March 17th this year, also known as St. Patrick’s Day — a perfect reason to have a good sleep after an exhausting parade.

According to CDC, “insufficient sleep has been linked to the development and management of several chronic diseases and conditions.” That is not only a slogan, but also back up by studies. Many studies have shown working over the weekend inhibits recovery from work-related stress. Matthew Walker, a professor of neuroscience and psychology at the University of California Berkley, has researched sleep to human health and well-being. His studies have shown that sleep not only impacts our learning, memory, and immune system but also affects our genetic code.

People use the phrase “sleep like a baby” to describe having a good nap or getting complete rest from a night of sleep. Our modern innovation seems seamlessly linked to the historic baby carriage. From the 1950s baby coach to the recent sleeping pod, it is not surprising to find commonalities in their ergonomic designs.

While part of society still has this stigma associating sleep with laziness, we feel grateful that our employer understood this WELL feature.

“Short afternoon naps also provide an opportunity for restoration during the workday, leading to benefits in mood, alertness, and cognitive performance, such as productivity and learning.” — WELL M06, Restorative Opportunities

On this momentous day, we design this card for interior designers. Thanks to them for applying WELL features to all comfy and restorative spaces.

Making Your Own Lunch Matters

March 10th is the National Pack Your Lunch Day.

We have yet to learn who or when initiated this momentous day to raise awareness to bring lunch boxes, but stumbled a fascinating history of the school’s lunch box.

Lunchbox style

In the 1900s, the kids who attended school either went home to eat lunch with family or carried leftovers from home for lunch wrapped in a metal pail, many of which were recycled tobacco boxes.

Until the 1920s, lunch food from home was still covered in metal ware or wrapped in handkerchiefs. It was not until 1950 that school lunch entered a new era, and kids started bringing mini-suitcase-like lunchboxes to the schools. Those lunch boxes are often printed with a popular image to show off each one’s unique brand. At the same time, many private companies entered the school’s lunch business, and schools began to set up full cafeterias on campus.

Though plastics and vinyl make most lunch boxes that we see nowadays, it was only until the 1990s those metal lunch boxes were replaced by the plastic containers that were first invented during the 1940s’ Tupperware boom.

Lunch Choices

Speaking about lunch choices, while peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are still popular, turkey hotdog roasted vegetables and organic offerings have gradually become a trend for the carried lunch to schools. This nutrition-oriented focus was fulfilled in the 2010s, the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act passed in congress brought people’s attention back to the nutrition aspect of school lunches.

“Bring Your Lunch” is Healthy

A survey from the American Heart Association said that more than 56% of employed Americans who typically eat lunch during work hours struggle to make it healthy. While the reason why they don’t have healthy lunch choices was not apparent, reading about the lunchbox’s fascinating history reminded us of a WELL feature.

“Space that allows individuals to reheat or assemble food prepared at home can support healthy eating habits and cooking skills. Sufficient storage space can ensure safe food storage to accommodate the storage need of individuals who brings meals from home.”
-WELL N10, Food Preperation.

On this momentous day, we design this card for lunch box makers. Thanks to them for supporting everyone’s healthy eating habits.

Daylight Saving Matters

Daylight saving time always starts on Sunday, and the date is flucuate every year.

Today begins Daylight Saving Time. The core concept of marking this momentous day is to remind us to use natural light more smartly.

In 1784, Benjamin Franklin, an American polymath, suggested a form to reset the clock twice a year to take advantage of extra daylight in the evening hours. He wrote his proposal for the Journal of Paris. By his calculation, the total savings for the citizens would be equivalent to hundreds of millions of dollars today.

Besides saving energy and giving us an economic boost, scheduling our activities around natural light can regulate our circadian rhythm. Circadian rhythm is the human body’s internal clock with a period that is slightly longer than 24 hours, and it resets every day by the natural light-dark pattern in the environment.

Human beings perceive images through visual cues that form on the retina. Those cues are shown by visible light, defined as electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength between 380 and 750 nanometers. The light level must achieve our vertical plane. Our eyes’ vertical plane from 0° to 45° is suitable for viewing biological effects. The vertical plane from -90° to 0° is ideal for visual tasks such as reading letters or examing details.

The vertical illuminance on the eye should be measured to evaluate the impact on circadian rhythm; several light characteristics also impact our circadian rhythms, such as how we were exposed to light or our photic history.

Reading all these interesting facts about daylight saving and what influences our biological clock reminded me of a WELL feature:

“Since the circadian response of humans to lights depends on the light entering the eye, factors such as spectral properties of the light, brightness level, duration, and timing of exposure should be all considered.” -WELL L03 Circadian Lighting Design.

On this momentous day, we design this card for interior designers. Thanks to them for understanding the critical aspect of Circadian rhythm, so residents can enjoy their space which supports our eye-sight and biological clock.

Cereal Matters

Cereal, a popular breakfast item, is celebrated today, March 7th.

When discussing breakfast cereal, we inevitably think about the puffy cheerios or crunchy flakes. In fact, many other grains also serve as breakfast cereals — for example, wheat, oats, rice, corn, barley, or rye.

In early American history, native American grounded and boiled cornmeal to become the “grits,” which is still popular in many southern states. In 1854, a German immigrant started the nation’s first commercial oatmeal manufacture production. Later in the 1890s, breakfast cereal consumption had a breakthrough. John Harvey Kellogg, an American businessman and physician, invented a lighter, flakier product, which is widely known as today’s breakfast cereal.

Undoubtedly, cereal is essential for every household’s kitchen, whether for children or adults. Statistics show Americans purchase 3.1 billion boxes of cereals with much more varieties than a hundred years ago, from sugary and refined flakes to less processed or whole grains.

While reading these fascinating histories about breakfast cereals, a WELL feature came to mind.

“Promoting the consumption of whole grains by increasing whole grain options can also help individuals increase their intake of dietary fiber.” — WELL N03 Refined Ingredients

On this momentous day, we design this card for cereal makers. Thanks to them for increasing whole grain selections and making healthy cereals available to all!

Employee Matters

The first Friday in March is Employee Appreciation day.

This day was made to honor and acknowledge those employees who tirelessly offer their professional skills and soul-reaching passion for the jobs they care about. Initially launched by Dr. Bob Nelson in 1995, this day was to celebrate his book “1,001 Ways to Reward Employees” and to remind managers of what constitutes a good business.

While many suggest pampering employees on their appreciation day by hiring a masseuse or manicurist, some suggest having a wellness coach come to the office to lower employee stress. We often forget that
many working individuals function as caregivers for their beloved ones and care for their families diligently on a daily basis. They have to take time off and adjust their work schedules to meet their loved one’s needs. An estimated 9% of workers left their job due to balancing their family responsibility and work obligations. Their absenteeism cost the industry billions of dollars in productivity.

While reading these astonishing statistics, it reminded us of a WELL feature.

“Flexible work arrangements can help retain and attract employees while improving employee productivity and engagement.” — WELL C10, Family Support.

On this momentous day, we design this card for employers. Thanks to them for striking on supporting families so their employees could be productive for both the family and the business.

Love of Peanut Butter Matters

March 1st is the National Peanut Butter Lover’s Day.

According to National Peanut Board, this spread was first invented by Marcellus Gilmore Edson from Canada in 1884. He was the first to patent peanut paste, a finished product from milling roasted peanuts between two heated surfaces.

And why do many people love peanut butter?

Astronaut Chris Hadfield once demonstrated how to make his favorite peanut butter sandwich in his “Space Kitchen.” He squirted peanut butter onto the specially packaged tortilla and squeezed some honey to make his “peanut butter honey sandwich in space.”

We looked at peanut butter’s nutrition content closely and realized that 100 grams contain 24 grams of protein and 654 mg of Potassium. No wonder peanut butter, the creamy, nutrition-rich, and easy-to-consume food, has been accepted by many working professionals. Peanuts and beans are also alternatives in many meatless meal recipes.

Watching peanut butter’s fascinating space recipe reminded us of a WELL feature.

“Nutrition education has been shown to be more effective when focused on changing specific behaviors rather than only increasing knowledge.” -WELL N07, Nutrition Education.

On this momentous day, we design this card for dieticians. Thanks to their nutrition education, so shoppers have wisdom to choose food, not just peanut butter.

Guitar Matters

The 11th of February is known as the National Guitar Day.

It’s not surprising to know this curvature string instrument has been played for over a thousand years. The word guitar was adopted from the Spanish word “guitarra,” which comes from the Andalusian Arabic. That language was spoken primarily from the 9th to the 17th century.

Besides the guitar’s extended history, their sound is also our faithful audio companion. From Gipsy King to John Mayer, we love this magic six-string instrument and often get emotional with their live performance.

When talking about live guitar performances, we inevitably think about “reverberation time.” A space with a modest reverberation time can often enhance the music performance. Suddenly, a WELL feature came to mind.

“ Projects that alter room geometry can change layouts and room dimensions to support optimal reverberation time as needed.” — WELL S04, Reverberation Time.

On this momentous day, we design this card for recording studio owners. Thanks to them for making quality albums, from knowing the equipments to understanding the spaces.

Sky Lantern Matters

Fliping through our old date book, “a lantern festival tha was held in the town center” was maked on February 12, 2025, which is January 15th in the lunar calendar. Due to nature of lunar calendar, the date of Lantern Festival is always fluctuated on Gregorian calendar.

Many activities are held during this occasion, such as eating sweet rice ball soup, guessing lantern riddle, or releasing “sky lanterns,” a viral event in many Asian nations. One well-known tale since the Qing dynasty was that villagers fled to the mountain due to bandits’ attacks. After the bandits left, villagers greeted the neighbor villagers to report safe by releasing these sky lanterns. Therefore, these lanterns are also called “Blessing Lanterns,” “Kongming Lanterns,” or “Peace Lanterns.”

From time to time, releasing sky lanterns has formed a unique custom and special bond within its local community. The entire releasing lantern process reminded us of a WELL feature.

“Additionally, incorporating other key aesthetic elements, such as local culture, materials and art can help celebrate the project’s unique identity and further enrich the space for occupants and visitors.” — WELL M02, Provide Connection to Place

On this momentous day, we design this card for peace makers. Thanks to them for being part of the lantern culture.

Pizza Matters

Pizza, an American household staple food, is celebrated in February! A common belief that pizza originated in the Naples area began with basic flatbread with several toppings.

One popular flavor was “Pizza Margherita,” a flatbread topped with tomato sauce, mozzarella, and fresh basil. According to an Italian tale, the name “Margherita” was created because queen Margherita of Savoy favored that taste and the color combination: green as the basil leaves, white as the mozzarella, and red as tomatoes.

Moreover, modern science has told us that basil is rich in micro-nutrients such as Vitamin K, Zinc, and potassium. Mozzarella is a good source of protein, calcium, and phosphorus. Tomatoes have the primary dietary source of the antioxidant lycopene.

While reading these exciting nutrition facts and their associated health benefits online, a WELL feature came to mind.

“Clearly display nutrition information at point-of-decision on the packaging or adjacent signage, such as total calories per serving, micronutrient content, and total sugar content per serving.” -WELL N02, Nutritional Transparency.

On this momentous day, we design this card for package designers: thanks to them for styling the package beautiful and educational.

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An additional side note: If you are interested in searching the detailed nutrition facts, check out FoodData Central, powered by USDA.

Medjool Date Matters

The 4th of February is Medjool Date day. This day is marked by highlighting the health benefit of the Medjool dates. Medjool date was initially grown in the Morocco region. According to WebMD, the Medjool date is an excellent source of phytonutrients and higher in fiber, which can lower the risk of heart-related disease. It also contains 50% more potassium than bananas, preventing muscle weakness and fatigue. Moreover, its vitamin B value can help improve metabolism.

While reading these fascinating health benefits about this dark wrinkled, dry fruit, a WELL feature came to our minds:

“ Increasing the availability, visibility and access of fruits and vegetables can support fruit and vegetable consumption.” — WELL N01, Fruits and Vegetables

On this momentous day, we design this card for grocery owners: thanks to them for increasing fruits and vegetables available to all!

Carrot Cake Matters

The 3rd of February, is National Carrot Cake Day. Carrots, one of the high-fiber vegetables, are considered a perfect ingredient for making the cake due to their natural sweetness.

The carrot cake first appeared in Antoine Beauvilliers’ cookbook, published in 1824. In the 1960s, carrot cake became a popular dessert. One speculation is that a cooking series, “the French Chef” with Julia Child, premiered on Boston Public Television and drew immense popularity across America.

While reading these fascinating histories about this delicious carrot cake, a WELL feature came to mind.

“Limited intake of sugary foods can help individuals meet the WHO sugar recommendations and reduce their daily sugar intake.” — WELL N03, Refined ingredients.

Julia Child once had this famous quote “a party without cake is just a meeting.” There is no doubt that cakes makes our event more festive. On this momentous day, we design this card to cake bakers. Thanks to them for making parties loving and healthy!

School Play Matters

Today, the first Wednesday in February is “Global School Play Day.”

Many studies have shown that early childhood education, particularly the first five years of life, has a long-term impact on many adults’ lives afterward. Moreover, playing functions as an essential role in quality childhood education. For kids younger than preschool, an outdoor playing area that meets their cognitive development needs is even more critical.

According to Peter Grey, a Research Professor of Psychology at Boston College, “Play, by definition, is self-controlled and self-direct. It’s the self-directed aspect of playing that gives it its educative power.” Maria Montessori, an Italian physician and educator, also once said, “there must be provision for the child to have contact with nature; to understand and appreciate the order, the harmony and beauty in nature.”

While reflecting on their experienced wisdom, a WELL feature came to mind:

“incorporating natural elements into buildings can support relief from mental fatigue, as well as help establish a sense of place. “ — WELL, M02 Nature and Place.

On this momentous day, we design this card for playground builders. Thanks to them for making playgrounds full of fun and vegetation.

Clothes Matters

January 26th is Clashing Clothes Day. It is an atypical holiday celebrated on the fourth Thursday in January every year. On this bizarre yet fun day, people are encouraged to wear a clashing outfit without the fashion police flashing on their style.

This quirky celebration reminded me of a WELL feature:

“ … flexible dress codes are important, because clothing insulation is also one of the primary forms of intervention for addressing suboptimal thermal conditions.” — WELL T04, Individual Thermal Control.

Moreover, in ASHRAE 55, there are three primary methods to see how space and system are designed according to standard thermal comfort. One crucial way is to use “the occupant-controlled naturally conditioned space”. That implies an environment where occupants are nearly passive or in a sitting position and have the freedom to adapt their clothing to thermal conditions.

On this momentous day, we design this card for managers. Thanks to them for making the work environment fun and comfortable.

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By the way, here are more details about WELL standards. There are ten concepts in the WELL standard: Air, Water, Nourishment, Light, Movement, Thermal Comfort, Sound, Materials, Mind, Community, and Innovation. These concepts are comprised of 110 features. Each feature includes various parts. All the parts within each feature must be completed to achieve the credit point. Four tiers of certification show the project’s accomplishment: Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. If you want to learn more about getting this professional credential, check IWBI’s webpage.

Florida Matters

Before 1819, Florida was still under various authorities. Since then, the United States purchased Florida from Spain and made it part of the statehood in 1821. Because of its geographic location and abundance of sunny weather, Florida is known as the “Sunshine State.”

Lately, its geographic elevation and sea level have made it suffer from extreme weather, even the most among other states along the sunbelt. In the last decade, the speed of the rising Florida sea level has increased. The surrounding sea surface is raised by as much as one inch every three years. Scientists now forecast that in just the next 15 years, the sea level will have increased by another 6 inches.

In 2022, Ian, a large destructive category-four Atlantic hurricane, struck Florida hard, which made many people lose their properties and homes. The hurricane brought more than a foot of rainfall, making the increasing sea level a more imminent issue.

While we enjoy the at-season fresh fruits from Florida, we cannot stop thinking about a sustainable design principle:

“… protect floodplain function by limiting new development within the 100-year floodplain of all types of waterways and watercourses.” — SITES 1.2-Protect Flood Plain Function

How can we determine which area is within the 100-year floodplain? You might ask. We use FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map. These areas are generally depicted as zone A, AE, A1-A30, AH, AD, AR, A99, V, and VE.
Floodplains function to store and derive water from extreme weather events. Many risks can be avoided by building within the regulated distance from the floodplain. This principle reduces the risk impact on the properties and leads to more recreational opportunities.

On this momentous day, we design this card for professionals working at FEMA. Thanks to their dedication to improving the entire nation to prepare for and mitigate all hazards. Because of them, the infrastructure and facility are well-equipped when natural hazard arrives.

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By the way, according to recent NOAA’s ENSO advisory, El Niño conditions are current (at June 2023) and are expected to continue developing into winter 2023–24. When El Niño is stronger, the sea surface temperature is warmer than average. That will result in wetter in the southern tier of the United States (including Florida) and drier conditions over parts of the Pacific Northwest, Northern US, and Canada.

Pharmacist Matters

January 12th is National Pharmacist Day.

This day is dedicated to our hard-working pharmacists and honors their impact on our health and well-being. From the annual flu season to the unprecedented pandemic, pharmacists always work relentlessly behind the counter to give us reliable and professional healthcare.

The pharmacy is always considered a crucial community-serving retail in a typical neighborhood. Pharmacists work there on foot most of the time. They’ve set a good precedence for people like us who are used to sitting positions during work hours. Their work style reminded us of the WELL concept feature: Active Furnishings.

According to research, sedentary behaviors have been associated with various unfavorable health effects, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular risks, etc. Hence, the feature intends to encourage physical activities and posture breaks and discourage prolonged sedentary behavior.

“Active workstations are effective at decreasing time spent sitting, thereby increasing energy expenditure.” — WELL v07 Active Furnishings.

One way to make active furnishing feasible is to make at least 50% of workstations “Active Workstations.” For example, place step machines, bicycles, or treadmills under the desks so workers can move gently during repetitive tasks. The strategy will encourage long-term behavior change and inspire a more active lifestyle at work.

On this momentous day, we design this card for interior designers. Thanks to them for being thoughtful and considering for pharmasists’ well-beings.

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Wait, there is more about the Pharmacist

Many of us have standing desks and pedal bikes under the desk, so this WELL feature may not appeal to you. However, you probably are familiar with the TV show “Sex and the City.” Carrie Bradshaw and her girlfriends’ best conversations happened in this famous brunch place on 18 Greenwich Ave in New York City. If we turned the clock 100 years earlier, that conversation might have occurred at 215 Main Street in Smithfield, VA.

Why is it at that location, you might be wondering. It all started when soda was invented by a pharmacist…

The sketch shows where Simpson’s Ideal Pharmacy located.

Soda and Girl's talk

A Brooklyn-born pharmacist, Charles Alderton, formulated a popular carbonated soft drink: Dr. Pepper, while working in a corner drug store in Waco, Texas. Interestingly, a few years after his invention, the soda fountain became an integral apparatus in most drugstores.

In the mid-1900s, young ladies, men, and even merchants gathered at the soda bar in the drugstores. During the First World War, many young women began going to work in the office for the first time in downtown Smithfield. And it soon became the custom for those working girls to take a break at eleven o’clock and head for a drink at the Ideal Pharmacy, their local drugstore.

This image shows the area comparison of Simpson’s drug store with nowadays stand-alone pharmacy.

According to this book, A Pictorial History of Smithfield, the place offered “ornate marble and mirrored soda fountain that dispensed syrups in every known flavor, including claret, for sodas and ice, and each provided ice cream parlor tables, chairs and counter stools of wood and twisted metal.” The beauty of these soda fountains was described as elaborated as a dancing girl. While we modernized our drug store and removed the sleek soda fountain and the bar stool, the old “Drug store crowd” went alongside them….

A guesswork on what interior plan might look like inside the Simpson’s drugstore.

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By the way, almost every drugstore had a soda fountain by the early 1920’s. Due to the prohibition established in 1919, bars were closed, yet people still needed a place to socialize. At the time, “ice cream parlors were usually stand-alone businesses and did not include any part of a soda fountain”. Thus, Ideal Pharmacy run by the Simpsons family, continued as the gathering place for thirty-odd years until another wave of modernization in the 1950s caught up with them.

(“ice cream parlors were usually standalone businesses and did not include any part of a soda fountain”. source: Pharmacy time)

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Choreography Matters

January 9th is the International Choreography Day.

It is the day to celebrate the mastermind of dance and beautiful body movement.

The word choreography, rooted in Greek, literally means “dance-writing”. Like writing a story, authors skillfully arrange the paragraphs and dialogue to compose a scenario. Choreographers design a sequence of steps and body movements that form a storytelling environment.

The early 20th century was when many cultural activities flourished. In 1909, Serg Diaghilev created the world’s first and most exciting dance company in Paris. He revolutionized the art form by working with the avant-garde elite at the time. Composers such as Stravinsky and Debussy and artists including Picasso and Matisse collaborated on his dance performance. Other than the classical ballet, the musical “On Your Toes,” later adapted into a film in 1939, first used a “choreographer” in the production credit. Not even mention Martha Graham’s dance company, which she founded in 1926 to experiment endlessly with the basic human movement.

Reading the dance performance history reminded us of a WELL feature.

“Facilitate all types of movement, including physical activity and exercise and reduce sendentary behavior through intentional design of built spaces.”— V01 Active buildings and communities

On this day, we design this card for interior designers. Thanks to their creativity so occupants can enjoy many active spaces and maintain a healthy life.

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While we are fascinated by the dancers’ perfection and the choreographers’ emotional staging, we inevitably think about their practice venue and its performance surface.

Martha Graham began developing her most influential movements of contraction and releasing in a tiny Carnegie Hall Studio in midtown Manhattan. According to Wikipedia, Martha started teaching in her studio at 66 Fifth Avenue near 13th Street and the Neighborhood Playhouse at 340 East 54 Street. With the support from individual patrons, Martha Graham’s dance company finally made its home on 316 East 63rd Street.

Though Martha’s original studio and the playhouse no longer exist. We could tell they were the typical Manhatten row houses from the historical photos. These row houses were wood-framed dwellings with load-bearing brick walls. The floors were most likely tongue and groove milling, and the stairs connecting each floor were also hollow staircases, which often generated a lot of noise when wearing heels. Whether dancers practice Ballet Russe’s classical, the Browdway show’s tap dance, or Martha’s significant floor work. The performance surface plays a vital role in a dense urban setting.

A dense vinyl floor might be enough for the solution when a row house in New York only hosts a single use, such as Marth’s dance school. However, building owners nowadays often encounter the situation of maintaining multiple functions in one building, and the project Square Fifty would be a modern example.

Situated at the corner parcel of 23rd and M Street, northwest DC, Square Fifty is a mixed-use building that houses three entirely different uses:

• The fire station on the street level

• The squash court in the middle session

• An apartment complex on the upper floors

Square 50, a mixed-use project at the west end of Washington, DC.

Although the squash courts provided a convenient onsite physical activity space, they challenged onsite users and neighbors. The squash court is located directly above the second floor of the fire station, where the fireman’s sleeping units are located. The pounding and impact vibration of the sports activities become the noise source for the fire station’s sleeping units below and the embassy next door. The designers creatively arranged two main squash on the east side towards further north to be away from the main office area at the neighboring building. They also maintained at least a one-foot gap from the partition wall to avoid potential structure-borne sound. Moreover, the squash club uses a double concrete slab system with a sound insulation layer to prevent sound transmission and keep both parts of the building functioning.

“Form follows function” or “Function follows form” is always a critical discussion during our academic studies. This endless argument can also be found in “Site for the program” or “Programs for the site.” While not all dancers and dance companies are fortunate to have a location similar to the Edgewood Arts Center for their practices, creatively placing whatever resources we have would be the answer for this ever-changing urban environment.

Edgewood Art Center is adjacent to the rail track and on the metro stop of Brookland-CUA

By the way, if you are interested in seeing more photos about this Square 50 project, it is published in Architecture DC magazine (Fall, 2018). You can also check out TEN Arquitectos’ website and under the “Habitacional” category