Blogs
BUILDING THE VOICE OF NATIVE COMMUNITIES.
The Positive Effect Covid-19 is appearing to have on the Global Climate
You’ve probably seen the stories from around the world, where air pollution in places like Beijing have cleared so much that images taken from space show the resulting improvements, waterways in Venice are now clean [...]
A Green New Deal
Author: Jim Houser, AIA Recently someone asked if I could talk about what’s in the Green New Deal. Well, the Green New Deal, if implemented, might give us a fighting chance to actually start to [...]
Introducing “Beyond Green”
Its 2020 and DMA is proud to introduce a brand new blog post we are calling Beyond Green. As 2019 came to a close, we as a firm, committed both to our clients and a [...]
Celebrating DMA’s 19th Anniversary
Dyron Murphy Architects (DMA) is celebrating its 19th anniversary today. The firm was founded in 2001 by Dyron V. Murphy, AIA, NCARB, James P. Houser, AIA and Greg Comer (retired), who set out to start [...]
Thinking of MLK
There's something we don't talk about enough when it comes to fighting climate change: Climate change disproportionately affects communities of color -- and we need to make environmental justice for those communities a priority. Dr. [...]
2019 Institute of American Indian Arts Gala
The Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) held their annual Gala this past week at the La Fonda Hotel in Santa Fe. This event draws in local community members, students and staff, alumni, artists, and [...]
Blanding Health Center Grand Opening
The Utah Navajo Health System (UNHS) Inc. Blanding Healthcare Center celebrated its grand opening on Friday July 26th. The event brought together hundreds of local residents, community members, and representatives from Blanding and across the [...]
Dennehotso Market Opens for Business
The Dennehotso Market is now complete and open to the public, serving as a central hub for community connectedness. The community celebrated by attending a commemorative grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony! The Dennehotso Market [...]
Nursing Home Design Trends
Architectural design for senior living and nursing home facilities has had to continuously adapt over the years to promote a high quality standard of living and to provide for dignified care for an aging population [...]
Integrating Artistic Features within Architecture
The integration of artistic features within architectural design enhances the built environment in a unique way, helping to make it more relevant to its users and visitors. At DMA, our projects seek to reflect artistic [...]
Bringing Architecture to Life After Dark
Exterior lighting plays an important role in our DMA designs. It is common for people to think of facility lighting strictly related to function, but the proper use of lighting can actually complement the architecture [...]
NHCC Campus Master Plan
DMA is in the process of providing a detailed Campus Master Plan and Assessment Report for the National Hispanic Cultural Center (NHCC). We are currently working to assess the existing campus in order to provide [...]
NTUA Headquarters Nears Completion
The construction work on the new Navajo Tribal Utility Authority Headquarters complex is nearly complete after several months of dedicated planning and building efforts. Crews are currently working on finalizing interior finishes including the clay plastering, stone [...]
IAIA Black Box Theater
The incorporation of intricate design features and state-of-the-art technology within the new black box theater at the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) Multipurpose Performing Arts and Fitness Center, enhances the new performance space. The IAIA [...]
Bringing the Blanding Health Center to Life
Navajo Health System (UNHS) Blanding Health Center recently kicked-off construction activities with a groundbreaking ceremony in March and earthwork starting the first week of April. The new 42,000 SF health center will feature 32 exam rooms, [...]
Montezuma Creek Health Center Construction Update
Construction is progressing rapidly at the Utah Navajo Health System (UNHS) Montezuma Creek Health Center. The new facility will bring a much-anticipated, modern look, as well as expanded health services to Montezuma Creek. With the exterior envelope [...]
Q&A with DMA | Featuring Chelsea Shendo
Our Administrative Assistant, Chelsea Shendo, is always taking on new responsibilities and working hard to support DMA! Chelsea completed an internship with DMA while in school working towards receiving her A.A.S. in Architectural/Engineering Drafting Technology. [...]
Behind the Design | IAIA Lloyd Kiva New Welcome Center
Lloyd Kiva New, (Cherokee, 1916-2002) was a primary figure in the establishment of the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Initially, New envisioned a “design laboratory” that taught young Native [...]
Q&A with DMA | Featuring Armando Romero
August 2017 marked Armando’s 15th anniversary with DMA! Armando’s first role was Job Captain, which progressed into the roles of Project Manager and Specifications Writer, then Senior Project Manager. Having been with DMA from the beginning, Armando [...]
Chinle Nursing Home Construction Update
Chinle Nursing Home Phase I construction is well underway with constant activity on site! Site earthwork, building structural foundations, and rough-in plumbing at grade are currently in progress. Primary building structural framing is scheduled for early February, [...]
Connecting Design to the Outdoors
Nature is an overarching theme in the design of the new health centers for Utah Navajo Heath System. The features, materials, and colors used throughout the design of the Montezuma Creek Health Center and the Blanding Health Center were [...]
Q&A with DMA | Featuring Daniel Feldbusch
Daniel Feldbusch has worked as a BIM/CAD Technician for 8 years at DMA! He works on all phases of our projects starting from the very beginning of the design, all the way through the end of [...]
IAIA Performing Arts and Fitness Center Dedication Ceremony
“Today we see the reemergence of the performing arts program at the new Multipurpose Performing Arts and Fitness Center.” Yesterday afternoon, the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) kicked-off their annual open house with [...]
Inspired Early Childhood Learning Environments
Our experience designing the Concho Head Start for the Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribes reinforced the importance of implementing design strategies that stimulate healthy growth and development for children and that inspire cultural connections and expressions within their [...]
Q&A with DMA | Featuring Andrea Moore
Andrea Moore has been a Construction Administrator at DMA for 9 years. Everyday she facilitates communication between our in-house design team, as well as contractors, engineers, and clients in order to maintain the integrity of [...]
Chinle Nursing Home Breaks Ground
The Chinle Nursing Home recently broke ground in Chinle, Arizona. When completed, this 80 bed, single story facility will accommodate levels 1, 2, and 3 of senior care services. The design for the nursing home [...]
Q&A with DMA | Featuring Nitish Suvarna
In his 9 years at DMA, Nitish Suvarna has worked on a multitude of building typologies including project assessments, master plans, renovations, additions, and new construction. Nitish enjoys and has experience designing for many different project types including judicial, [...]
NTUA Headquarters Takes Shape
Construction is well underway for the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority Headquarters complex. The foundation has been poured, the structural steel is being placed, and site work is ongoing. The facility features various administrative department offices, a new [...]
IAIA Multipurpose Performing Arts & Fitness Center Construction Update
The IAIA Multipurpose Performing Arts and Fitness Center is in the final stages of construction and is scheduled to be completed at the end of October. Currently, finishes such as paint, tile, casework, ceilings, and flooring systems [...]
Blanding Health Center Kick-Off
The DMA healthcare design team recently kicked-off the new Blanding Health Center. This project is the second of two new health centers designed for the Utah Navajo Health System. The first, Montezuma Creek Health Center [...]
NHCC Welcome Center Design Receives Approval
DMA recently completed the design of the National Hispanic Cultural Center (NHCC) Welcome Center. As a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA), the NHCC creates opportunities for artists through its art museum, library, genealogy center, [...]
Q&A with DMA | Featuring Mariah Garcia
Mariah Garcia has worked at DMA as a BIM (Building Information Modeling) Drafter for just over a year. She is a hard worker who is always looking for opportunities to learn something new. Mariah’s drive [...]
To’hajiilee EMS Celebrates Grand Opening
“WHAT YOU’RE SITTING IN NOW IS HISTORY. IT’S THE FIRST STAND ALONE BUILDING FOR EMS ON NAVAJO.”The To’hajiilee community, Division of Public Safety and Department of Emergency Medical Service staff and supervisors, Navajo Nation President [...]
A New Generation of Chapter Houses
The Chapter House has been an anchor for the people of the Navajo Nation for many years. Typically, these small, one-room buildings were intended to provide space for public meetings, community events, and monthly chapter [...]
Preparing for Leadership in the Work Place
Six years ago, Christina Horton, DMA Intern Architect, competed on the national stage of the SkillsUSA carpentry competition. Now she’s helping Central Community College of New Mexico (CNM) students to highlight their talents at the local level.SkillsUSA is an organization [...]
NTUA Headquarters Complex Office Building Breaks Ground
Navajo Tribal Utility Authority employees and board members gathered with members of the Fort Defiance community to break ground on the new headquarters complex Tuesday morning. The groundbreaking ceremony began with an opening prayer and [...]
Q&A with DMA | Featuring Logan Piburn
We spent some time with Logan Piburn, who shared with us a behind-the-scenes take on the life of a Code Specialist. Logan has been working at DMA for 9 years and performs advanced building code reviews to ensure that [...]
IAIA Multipurpose Performing Arts and Fitness Center Construction Progress
The Institute of American Indian Arts Multipurpose Performing Arts and Fitness Center broke ground in early November and construction is now fully underway. You can view a live stream of the construction site on the IAIA website.This project is [...]
A Look Back at 2016
What an exciting year 2016 was for DMA! From ground breakings to grand openings, our 15th year in business was rewarding by so many measures. As we look back on the milestone events that took [...]
Q&A with DMA | Featuring Vanessa Garcia
We sat down with Vanessa Garcia, one of the Project Architects at DMA, to talk about her role as an architect, where she looks for inspiration, and what a typical day-in-her-life is like. In her [...]
New AIA Albuquerque Executive Board Officers
The AIA Albuquerque Chapter introduced its newest members to the Executive Board this week. Nitish Suvarna, Project Architect at DMA, has been elected to serve as the Chapter’s new Treasurer.Each of the Executive Board Officers provide [...]
DMA Awarded New Welcome Center for National Hispanic Cultural Center
DMA was recently selected to design the new Welcome Center for the National Hispanic Cultural Center (NHCC) in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The Welcome Center will be a centralized location for ticket purchases, event and exhibit information, and [...]
IAIA Breaks Ground on New Performing Arts and Fitness Center
Excitement and hope for a bright future abounded at the Institute of American Indian Arts campus Wednesday evening when the college held its annual Open House prior to the Ground Breaking Ceremony for the new Performing Arts and [...]
Oxford House Renovation
Oxford House Before Renovation Oxford House After Renovation Even the most careful architect can’t prepare for everything. Our best laid plans can easily be disrupted by hundreds of unforeseen conditions, from freak weather [...]
Montezuma Creek Health Clinic Breaks Ground
The Montezuma Creek Health Clinic, one of two new clinics for the Utah Navajo Health System, broke ground on Thursday, September 1st.The clinic addresses the region’s increased need for preventive and comprehensive primary care, behavioral health, [...]
Chinle Community Celebrates Grand Opening of Justice Complex
Haashkeeji Beehaz aanii Nihi diné’é Bee Baá AdahwiilyáThe Chinle community celebrated the grand opening of the newest Division of Public Safety Justice Center last Friday.Speakers, including representatives from the Navajo Nation Council, Division of Public [...]
Cottonwood Valley Charter School Celebrates Grand Opening
“We’re all in this together.”The theme for the grand opening of Cottonwood Valley Charter School (CVCS) in Socorro, New Mexico echoed across the newly completed courtyard on Wednesday. Teachers, administrators, board members and local leaders [...]
Exploring the Scope | Tribal Project Participation
Last week we introduced 10 factors influencing Native design right now. Today, we’re kicking off a series of in-depth discussions on these 10 things.Understanding the scope of a project would seem like the most primary [...]
10 Factors Influencing Native Design Today
The physical environments of indigenous communities tend to be harsher than an established metropolis or city might be. When rural communities are involved, the environment takes over as a very important factor. If a building [...]
5 Trends in Higher Education Design
Working within the fabric of college and university campuses is complex, and requires an understanding of trends in higher education as well as current use of existing space. The Dyron Murphy Architects (DMA) team is [...]
Active Learning Environments | A Design Trend Perspective
Flexibility. Collaboration. STEM. STEAM. Clusters. Neighborhoods. Pods. Connectivity. Integration.Design buzzwords can rise to notoriety almost as quickly as they become passé. Some stick around, evolving into monikers for trends that last a few years, and [...]
IAIA Lumion Modeling
A large part of the architectural method has a great deal to do with rendering. Rendering is the process of generating images from models with the aid of computer software. Vanessa Garcia, one of our [...]
Preserving Culture Through Architecture
The preservation of important cultural artifacts, whether on display in a museum or carefully stored away in an archive or repository, begins with the special design considerations of an architect. Even the slightest error in [...]
Step-by-Step Guide to Building Systems Analysis Reports
PRE-PLANNINGThe process of evaluation/assessment begins long before there are boots on the ground. Upon starting work I immediately begin with the general location including the surrounding area. Usually this means pulling up internet maps, aerial [...]
Redefining the ‘C’ in C-Store Design
The Dennehotso community is creating vast capital improvement opportunities to engage current community members and attract future generations by creating a more sustainable, engaging community for those who call it home. The community has adopted [...]
Our blog has moved!
Are you looking for an older blog entry from the Dyron Murphy Architects archives? You can access past articles, newsletters, brochures and Student Architect Sketch Competition (SASC) updates on our old blog by clicking here. [...]
Conserving Resources, Protecting Budgets: The EcoHouse Study
Is it possible to design a highly-efficient, durable, and affordable house in a rural location? All too often, quality of design suffers due to budget constraints, and sustainability becomes an item buried on a long-forgotten [...]
Keeping Inventory: Assessing Your Facilities
Spring is just around the corner, which means it’s time for spring cleaning. For many of our clients, the beginning of the year is also an ideal time to kick off a comprehensive facilities conditions assessment. [...]
Happy Holidays!
Yáʼátʼééh Késhmish dóó Baa Hózhǫ́ǫgo Nee Nínáadoohąh!Happy Holidays and best wishes for the New Year from the Dyron Murphy Architects team.
Landscape, Art, and Culture: Inspiring Local Architecture
The Navajo Nation Division of Transportation Office Complex (NDOT) draws inspiration from natural rock formations in the surrounding landscape as well as from traditional Navajo culture. The complex also integrates work from local artists, strengthening [...]
A School for the Community: Baca Dlo’ay Azhi
Community, culture and sustainability - our first project celebrating Native American Heritage Month is a true example of how design can be influenced by local culture to produce a beautiful and highly-functional facility. Baca Dlo'ay [...]
November is Native American Heritage Month
As a Native American-owned firm, Dyron Murphy Architects spends each day celebrating the unique and vibrant cultures of Native people across the country through our architecture. We are honored to collaborate with Native communities to understand their [...]
A Fresh New Space for CNM’s Ted Chavez Hall
When the Applied Technology faculty of Central New Mexico Community College (CNM) realized that Ted Chavez Hall no longer fit their needs, they sought an architecture firm to re-design–and ultimately re-envision–their workspace.Dyron Murphy Architects (DMA) [...]