Amy Passes NCIDQ Test, Earns Licensure

Amy Diecidue Savoie, an Interior Designer with HMS Architects, recently passed the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) Examination and earned the prestigious NCIDQ Certificate. With this, she also became a licensed Interior Designer with the Louisiana Office of the Governor State Board of Examiners of Interior Designers on 2/13/09.

Passage of the Examination and earning NCIDQ credential signifies that Mrs. Savoie has met the standards for education, experience and examination for interior designers in North America. A minimum of six years of combined education and experience is required before being eligible to take the practice-based Examination. The NCIDQ Examination is a rigorous, three-part examination requiring examinees to demonstrate competence in a wide variety of aspects that affect the safety of the interior environment. The examination covers programming, schematic design, design development, contract documents, contract administration and professional practice, among many other related topics such as codes, sustainability and universal design.

NCIDQ has long been the standard to identify those interior designers who are uniquely qualified to protect the public health, safety and welfare, explains Deborah Steinmetz, 2009 NCIDQ President. The NCIDQ certificate is the mark of a professional, and this credential is what every user of a space should look for when choosing or working with an Interior Designer.

HMS Bolsters Its Green Building Credentials

HMS Intern Architect, Michael Vega, has successfully completed the LEED Accredited Professional test through the Green Building Certification Institute. His achievement propels HMS Architects to rank among the most qualified LEED savvy architectural firms in Louisiana. Michael joins Nate Walker and Scott Welty at HMS in the pursuit of green building practices as LEED Accredited professionals.

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program, administered by the U.S. Green Building Council, sets specific benchmarks and standards to define and measure the environmentally friendly aspects of buildings. A certified LEED AP can help to streamline the process, having demonstrated sufficient knowledge of the process and the strategies of making a LEED Certified Building.

More about LEED projects done by HMS

More about LEED APs at GBCI

More about LEED at USGBC

HMS Converts to BIM

Since June, HMS has been pioneering the conversion to a Building Information Modeling System (BIM), which is replacing Computer Aided Drafting (CAD) as a drawing tool. This shift is comparable to the shift from hand-drafting to CAD, which brings with it added speed, efficiency, and accuracy to the client.



Whereas CAD is simply a computerized system of lines, BIM uses a fully modeled digital building, from which the lines of the drawings are derived automatically. This allows us to integrate traditional plans and sections with 3D views, with perspective views, even to sophisticated computer environmental simulation, and offer these to the client in a comparatively reduced timeframe.

It also can integrate with contractors, and estimators, during construction, and building operations after completion.

HMS is ahead of the curve in this transition, as we are the first company we know of in the area to convert to this new technology, and have been using it with several projects already.


More about the New Basin Canal Lighthouse, designed in BIM
More about the Andrew H Wilson School, rendered using BIM

HMS to speak at Green Building Workshop

Charles Montgomery, from HMS Architects, and Linda Morgano from Global Green, are partnering to present our work on Andrew H. Wilson Elementary School, set to be the first LEED Certified School in Louisiana, at the High Performance Schools Workshop at LSU.

This free workshop is jointly sponsored by Global Green, the American Institute of Architects, Louisiana State University, and the Bush Clinton Katrina Fund, to bring architects, engineers, school officials, building maintenance personnel, and elected officials together to discuss past green building successes and future solutions, specifically in schools.

HMS is honored to present Andrew H. Wilson and our experiences in its design and construction to better educate the community at large. The workshop is on February 28, 2009, from 9 am to 4 pm at the LSU College of Art & Design.

More about the Andrew H. Wilson Elementary School

More Information on the Workshop

HMS Wins Award in South Central Construction

Falstaff recieved an Award of Excellence in Renovation/Restoration in the Louisiana Best of 2008 awards, by South Central Construction.

South Central Construction has recognized HMS and Citadel Builders for their work in renovating the Historic Falstaff Brewery by converting it into apartments. The building, which was built in stages for more than a century, was largely preserved, while still accomodating the vastly different needs of apartment units, as opposed to beer tanks. The end result is an apartment complex with high ceilings, large windows, light-filled courtyards, modern conveniences, and yet over a hundred years of character and history built right in.

HMS is honored to be recognized by South Central Construction, and congratulates Citadel Builders for also being recognized for their work on an inherently tricky construction job.

South Central Construction also noted the groundbreaking at the LSU Union Theater, the renovation of the 1965 theater, the largest on campus, to modern standards, amenities, and design.

Falstaff in the Best of 2008 at South Central Construction
More about the Historic Falstaff Brewery


LSU Union Theater featured in South Central Construction
More about the LSU Union Theater

Marrero Readiness Center Wins Job of the Month

The Marrero Readiness Center is the Job of the Month for Architectural Building Components for October 2008.

This award is presented by Architectural Building Components for outstanding design, construction, and craftsmanship.

HMS thanks the General Contractor, Citadel Builders, and their Roofing Contractor, E.R. Barnes, LLC for their good work, and Architectural Building Components for their products and recognition.

Within very stringent time constraints, HMS Architects designed the Louisiana Army National Guard Marrero Readiness Center and received accolades for the quality of the design and the building sustainability. In addition to meeting all of the space requirements and anti terrorism criteria, the facility will obtain Gold LEED accreditation.

More about the LEED Gold Marrero Readiness Center

More about the Marrero Readiness Center from LouisianaMilitaryReconstruction.com

More recent Jobs of the Month at Architectural Building Components

HMS Wins Bronze

HMS Architects received two Bronze Awards from American Society of Interior Design, South Central Chapter for the 2008 Excellence in Design Competition.



The Bronze award for Hospitality: Living was bestowed on the HMS Architectural Team of Charles Montgomery, Michael Buisson, Amy Savoie and Stacey Boldt for their Design for SpringHill Suites by Marriott located at Harrahs at Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, La. This new construction reflects the new movement in hospitality toward an intimate boutique design (i.e. specialty amenities, one of a kind design elements, open space plans, spa like bathrooms, etc.) The design team developed a prototype that bridged a generation 3 package to a generation 4 interior design package. The design team accomplished the design aesthetics, within Marriotts goals and our clients budget. The owners enthusiastically endorsed the completed project making it rewarding for both client and design team.

The Bronze award for Corporate: Large (+15000 Sf) was bestowed on the HMS Architectural Team of Charles Montgomery, Amy Savoie and Stacey Boldt for their Design for Corporate Offices of Intralox, LLC located in Harahan, Louisiana. This renovation project transforms the interiors with new standards to be used throughout the clients international offices. Custom millwork, bright colors and unconventional finishes for the engineering and customer service departments reflect the companys bold and vibrant personality. What makes a good working ambiance? The personality and culture of the organization: exactly what the design team accomplished during the interior renovations of this corporate office.

These awards are a shining example of why HMS Architects has a high referral rate from existing clients. HMS Architects is a recognized leader in providing sound, creative and enduring design through a collaborative process. We are fortunate enough to have exceedingly capable architects and interior designers to lead projects and bring fresh new solutions to our projects.
The awards were presented at a Gala Ceremony in Little Rock, Arkansas Saturday, October 18, 2008. Amy Savoie, Allied member of ASID was present to accept the awards for HMS Architects. The level of professionalism and the quality of work has gotten better each year reported Antoinette Wyre, Chair, ASID Design Completion. The judging panel was comprised of nine professional level ASID board members from the St. Louis, Missouri area.
HMS Architects offers a full range of architectural services, including: Feasibility studies, Programming and planning, Master planning services, Consulting services, Conceptual design services, Preparation of construction documents, Interior design services, Landscape design services, Project management, Construction administration services, as well as Expert witness and consultation.



More about the Intralox Renovation
More about the Bossier City Springhill Suites



Springhill Suites Article in Archi-tech Magazine

HMS Projects Honored by ABC

Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc. (ABC) Honors Louisianas Top Construction Projects Designed by HMS Architects

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) New Orleans/Bayou Chapter recognized the regions top 2008 construction projects during its Excellence in Construction and National Safety Excellence awards celebration on November 5, 2008.
ABCs Excellence in Construction awards program recognizes the quality and innovation of merit shop construction and honors all members of the construction team, including the contractor, owner, architect, and engineer.
Among the top 2008 construction projects in the region recognized by Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) New Orleans/Bayou Chapter were projects designed by HMS Architects.

2008 Excellence in Construction Winners:
Excellence Award Category Recipients:

Durr Heavy Construction, LLC:
Specialty Contracting-Sitework/Landscape/Hardscape: National Guard Covington Readiness Center designed by HMS Architects.

Citadel Builders, LLC:
Institutional-$10 to $25 million: Covington Readiness Center Designed by HMS Architects

Citadel Builders, LLC:
Historical Renovation- $10 to $100 million: Falstaff Apartments designed by HMS Architects.

This years winners were judged by a distinguished panel of industry experts on complexity, attractiveness, unusual challenges, completion time, workmanship, safety, and budget

More about the Covington Readiness Center
More about the Falstaff Apartments

More about Durr Heavy Construction Awards
More about Citadel Awards