Regenerative design: elevating educational spaces with Lumion
How Ford Architects approach sustainable and resilient design
Impact on education
Ford Architects, a Denver-based architectural studio with a focus on education and community-centric projects, stands as a beacon for mindful regenerative design. Their ethos of learning from the past while designing for the future is complemented by their dedication to improving public spaces.
The team uses Lumion to bring their environmentally responsible solutions to life, taking local contexts, cultural nuance, and climate into account. We sat down with Alan Ford, one of the founders, and Emma Meriwether, the Architectural Designer, to discuss their approach. Read on to discover how Ford Architects uses visualization to communicate stories to their clients.
Tell us about your firm’s background and where you are today.
Alan: The firm was founded in 2007. Our primary focus is on education – and with over 30 years of experience in this project type, we have a rich history in the field and have completed many local builds. In terms of project types, my primary focus is on buildings from early childhood education (ECE) through 12th grade, while Kathryn, our CEO, leads other commercial projects. There’s a big need for early childhood projects: the sector is underfunded. We’re excited to be contributing in this field.
We are a small practice, currently with eight members – we like this size as it suits our operational style. Our office is located in a development called Taxi, a creative community with around a thousand people, including architects, filmmakers, graphic designers, and other professionals. We're based in the RiNo area of Denver, a really cool up-and-coming neighborhood.
Your firm is clearly passionate about sustainability and regenerative design. We understand you’re publishing a new book that relates to these topics, could you shine a light on that for us?
Alan: The new book, "Creating the Regenerative School," written with co-authors Kate Mraw and Betsy del Monte, focuses on sustainable and regenerative design, incorporating case studies from around the world and interviews with experts. It’s actually the second edition of a book I did in 2007, “Designing the Sustainable School.”
For the original project, we used case studies from firms all over the world, conducting research to find the best projects that were successfully engaging in sustainable ideas. There wasn't as much to work with back then. Over the intervening years, we aimed to use science and evidence-based research as much as possible because our clients in the school sector are very risk-averse and first-cost focused. We needed to show positive educational outcomes to sell these ideas. The main focus previously was on daylighting and daylight harvesting: an empirical study from California showed academic benefits from using natural light in schools.
This time around, we delved deeper into research, including over 50 hours of interviews with architects. We organized conferences on early childhood, bringing in experts from diverse fields, including doctors, psychiatrists, neuroscientists, and quantum physicists as keynote speakers. Architects excel at translating these ideas into architecture, so it was more about amplifying what these thinkers are already doing in their fields.
What does "regenerative" mean to you?
Alan: It’s all about continuous mindful improvement of spaces. Here’s an example: Leonard Mlodanow’s book "Subliminal" demonstrated through fMRI scans how the brain responds to the environment and how crucial it is. Numerous other studies have shown the profound impact of our environment on us. We’ve applied these findings to education spaces.
This exploration is reflected in the new book, focusing on what we need to do to address the climate crisis and how we can design schools more intelligently to improve environmental and community health. This is where the term “regenerative” in the title comes from.
What kind of projects do you cover within the book?
Alan: We included over 40 case studies in this edition, featuring large and small projects from Europe, Africa, China, and across the US, particularly along the coasts where these concepts are advancing more quickly. We interviewed numerous subject matter experts and included articles on themes related to regenerative design, such as health and safety. We wrote and edited all the content and did all the graphic design ourselves, making it a much more holistic effort. Most of the visuals featured in the book were made with Lumion.
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What do you hope both the book and the work your team does at Ford will help to achieve?
Alan: I see the book as a call to action. We have the tools and knowledge today to understand the short-term and long-term implications of what we do. The choices we make when designing have lasting implications and can either serve the better good, or in part, do harm. The research and case studies presented in the book are examples of how we can do better based on best practices today. The responsibility to protect health safety and welfare is codified in architectural licensing laws and standards set by professional organizations like the American Institute of Architects. These frameworks ensure that we adhere to current best practices and uphold our duty to the public. Essentially, we hope the book serves to raise the bar of expectations around best practice in learning environments.
Alan Ford
Principal, Ford Architects
Visualization is the hallmark of what we do – if we can't communicate, then we don't succeed with our projects.
Alan Ford
Principal, Ford Architects
Lumion has significantly improved our client presentations and project approvals by allowing us to create more realistic, richer imagery.
Alan Ford
Principal, Ford Architects
Visualization is the hallmark of what we do – if we can't communicate, then we don't succeed with our projects.
Alan Ford
Principal, Ford Architects
Lumion has significantly improved our client presentations and project approvals by allowing us to create more realistic, richer imagery.
How did your firm start using Lumion?
Alan: We used other visualization software before Emma introduced us to Lumion.
Emma: I was on the student version until I graduated. I’m a Lumion native, and have used it to portray my ideas pretty much since day one – it’s safe to say I grew up with it. Here at Ford, I was the one to show everybody how it works and how to use it. Since then, it's just flourished. I'm impressed how the software has evolved over time and excited to see what the future brings, and ray tracing implemented in L2023 changed the game for me.
How has Lumion improved the way you work?
Alan: It has significantly improved our client presentations and project approvals: Lumion has immediately allowed us to create more realistic, richer imagery. For Aspen Burlingame, for instance, we received the full approval of the city and the council, partially thanks to our visualizations.
There’s a cohesive style to the renders you do at Ford. Would you say you have a certain signature style? How has it developed?
Emma: That is true, I do have a certain way of doing things with Lumion. I developed my style at Ford, but I didn't have one before. I believe it’s a combination of both a lot of hours of practice and finding what works for me over a long period of time. My style developed through trial and error.
Emma Meriwether
Architectural Designer, Ford Architects
The execution is the best part of it all: Lumion has revolutionized how we communicate design.
What’s your perspective on the importance of visualization?
Emma: I always say that the people around me who aren't exposed to architecture don't really understand the 2D plans and how spaces work. For this reason, visualization is essential, especially in architecture, because it tells the whole story and shows exactly what a space is going to look like. It also gives the architect another medium to share their ideas – because we can see it and understand it, but not everybody can.
Alan: Indeed. Also, you have to make design decisions in incremental phases. I think it's important to use visualization in the early stages of a project because then the client knows what they're getting. Then, as you proceed along the project, there's fewer surprises because they've already seen what it looks like. But the other aspect of this is the intangible: budgets are stretched so thin on school projects that the only way we can really elevate their expectation is through tools like Lumion. And once people see it, they are much more inclined to invest in it and figure out a way to make it happen. If you don't use visualization software, then you’re just leaving them to rely on their imagination, which doesn’t promise much. Visualization is the hallmark of what we do – if we can't communicate, then we don't succeed with our projects.
What’s the best part about using Lumion for your impactful projects?
Emma: The execution is the best part of it all. It’s so easy to import a model from Revit with LiveSync and export it almost instantly, the render ending up looking as if you spent hours on it even when you didn’t. Lumion has revolutionized how we communicate design.
What is your vision for the future of architecture – and in particular regenerative design practices?
Alan: My vision for the future of architecture is rooted in regenerative design, where buildings and systems don't just sustain but actively restore and renew their surrounding environments. I hope that it will promote the health and well-being of both ecosystems and human communities, aiming to create positive outcomes that enhance both resilience and vitality of natural and social systems.
I see a future where architecture is adaptive and resilient, centered around the needs of individuals, and capable of accommodating a range of preferences. Imagine buildings made from simple, natural materials, much like how healthy food is made with just a few natural ingredients. These structures would be designed for multiple purposes, easily adaptable, and capable of being fully or partially demountable without leaving behind any waste.
The built environment and nature will be interwoven, with architecture that’s deeply connected to its place — respecting cultural and social context, history, local climate, and ecology, all while using locally sourced labor and materials. Instead of assembling parts from hundreds of vendors, there would be a more unified approach to design and construction, simplifying the process and focusing on the bigger picture. This means considering the broader impact of each architectural decision, looking beyond immediate needs to prioritize the long-term. It also means creating spaces that are not only functional but beautiful — environments that are human- and nature-centric, places that people will cherish and maintain for generations.
Your creative companion
Dedicated to their regenerative design philosophy, Ford Architects are transforming educational and community spaces one project at a time. With Lumion by their side, the team is redefining what it means to design mindfully. To learn more about their work, check out their upcoming book, "Creating the Regenerative School." Try Lumion for free and see how it can bring your own architectural visions to life, too.
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