Publications

Western Interiors and Design
August / September 2008
08WesternInteriorsX.pdf" title="Santa Fe Twist">Santa Fe Twist

Southwest Contractor
December 2006
New Mexico Best of 2006

The Santa Fe New Mexican
September 2006
Art of Space

Southwest Contractor
June 2006
Santa Fe Prep’s Novel Library

Western Interiors and Design
September / October 2005
Santa Fe Intervention

Su Casa
Spring 2005
Su Casa / AIA Residential Design Awards

Santa Fean
October 2005
The Home Issue / Great Spaces by Beverley Spears

Sunset
April 2005
Santa Fe Modernity

The Santa Fe New Mexican
January 2005
Spears Architects - Busy with Beauty

Su Casa
Winter 2005
Santa Fe Light and Magic

The Santa Fe New Mexican
May 2004
Los Luceros

The Santa Fe New Mexican
January 2002
Spears Architects Specializes in Diversity

Santa Fe Trend
Winter / Spring 2001
The Feminine Case: An Eye on Five Architects

Sunset
October 1999
Western Home Awards: Sublimely Santa Fe

Santa Fean
November 1995
Great Homes Contest Winners

Philosophy

The major interest of the firm is to satisfy the needs and program of the client through the creation of environments that are spatially rich, articulated by sunlight and shadow, comfortable and welcoming. The respect of the surroundings and cultural context, whether urban or rural, is critical to each project. Durability and low maintenance are important aspects of the work. Wherever feasible, we use alternatives to wood construction to help reduce the demand for timber as well as to enhance building performance. It is the firm’s goal to practice architecture as a fine and humanistic art serving our clients and the community at large. Spears Architects strives to maintain the highest professional standards in all aspects of our work.

Services

Commercial / Educational Facility Design

Space Planning

New Construction

Renovation / Remodeling

Urban Design / Landscape Architecture

Site Planning

Master Planning

Long-Range Facility Programming

Landscape Design

Design Standards and Covenants

Historic Preservation

Restoration

Adaptive Reuse

Documentation

Surveys

Residential Design

New Construction

Renovation / Remodeling

Energy Conscious Design

Health Promoting Design

Green Building

LEED Certification Process

Adobe

Straw Bale

Rastra

Energy Conscious Design

Health Promoting Design

Awards

AIA Western Mountain Region

1996 Design Award
Merit Award for the Fondell-Picascia House

AIA New Mexico Chapter

2009 Design Award
Merit Award for the Santa Fe Rape Crisis Center

2009 Design Award
Merit Award for the Rio Grande School Classrooms and Administration

2007 Design Award
Honor Award for the Lamy Building & Grounds Improvements

2007 Design Award
Special Recognition Award for the La Tierra House

2002 Design Award
Merit Award for Interior Architecture for the Lannan Foundation Meeting House

2002 Design Award
Merit Award for Historic Preservation for the Historic Los Luceros Restoration

2000 New Mexico Architects Medal
For the advancement of the practice of architecture, outstanding
professional achievement and sense of social responsibility

2000 Design Award
Honor Award for the Morin House

1998 Design Award
Merit Award for the Christensen House

1995 Design Award
Merit Award for the Old Santa Fe Trail House

1994 Design Award
Award of Honor for the Block-Drucker Zen Garden

AIA Santa Fe Chapter

2008 Design Award
Honorable Mention Award for the Rio Grande School Classrooms and Administration

2006 Design Award
Award of Citation for the Lamy Building & Grounds Improvements

2006 Design Award
Award of Citation for the North Tano Road House

2005 Design Award
Award of Citation for the Santa Fe Rape Crisis Center

2005 Design Award
Award of Citation for the Rio Grande School, Multi-Media Center and Classrooms

2004 Design Award
Honor Award for the Historic Los Luceros Restoration

2002 Design Award
Award of Citation for the Russell House

2002 Design Award
Award of Merit for the Lannan Foundation Meeting House

1995 Architectural Awareness Award
Certificate of Outstanding Achievement

1994 Architectural Awareness Award
Certificate of Outstanding Achievement

1993 Professional Achievement Award
Certificate of Outstanding Accomplishment

AIA / Sunset Magazine

1999-2000 Western Homes Award
Merit Award for the Pedregal House

AIA / Su Casa Magazine

2004 Design Award
Honor Award for the Morin House

2004 Design Award
Merit Award for the Russell House

2004 Design Award
Merit Award for the Thomas House

City of Santa Fe

2010 Heritage Preservation Award for Compatible New Construction
For the design of the Camino Rancheros House

2009 Heritage Preservation Award for Compatible New Construction
For the design of the Santa Fe Community Convention Center

2006 Heritage Preservation Award for Compatible New Construction
For the design of the Camino Ranchitos Residence

2005 Heritage Preservation Award
For the design of the Plaza Stage with its historic setting

1999 Heritage Preservation Award
For the rehabilitation of the Stockstill House

1989 Certificate of Appreciation
For the Santa Fe Historic Neighborhood Study

Santa Fean Magazine

1995 Great Homes Competition
First Place for the Old Santa Fe Trail House

Southwest Contractor Magazine

New Mexico Best of 2006
Green Building Project Award and Private Project Under $5,000,000 Award for the Santa Fe Preparatory School Library

New Mexico Historic Preservation Division

2005 Heritage Preservation Award
For the Historic Los Luceros Restoration

Old Santa Fe Association

2003 Award of Recognition to Beverley Spears
for Her Contributions to the Character and Traditions of Santa Fe

About Us

Spears Architects was established in 1981 as a design firm focusing on commercial / institutional facilities, residential design, urban design, landscape architecture, and historic preservation. We continue to develop these areas of expertise and to blend them in many projects, creating a body of work architecturally rich and sensitive to its environment. Through this work, the firm has established an excellent record of responsiveness to client needs, budget management, and timely performance of contract obligations.

Our involvement in over forty institutional projects has given us an understanding of the technical challenges created by tight budget constraints, complex project programs and the economic and functional implications of project schedules. We are particularly proud of our ability to work with client “communities”, whether they be for office, school, church, or museum projects. Drawing from our experience with government and institutional projects, we recognize the sensitivity required to address the important needs of clients and are aware of the foresight necessary for successful design and construction.
The firm is directed by Beverley Spears, FAIA, architect and landscape architect. Our staff of ten includes three architects, one project manager, three intern architects, a technician, and the office manager. We enjoy the diversity and problem-solving nature of our work. Our designs are simple, yet elegant. We have won more design awards from the American Institute of Architects in the past ten years than any other Santa Fe firm.

Contact Us

Spears Architects
1334 Pacheco St.
Santa Fe, NM
87505
505.983.6966

Green Building

At Spears Architects, we strive not only to craft meaningful places, but also connections to the larger context of the world in which we live. As we seek to relate a building to its surroundings through daylighting and connections to outdoor spaces, we also endeavor to bring people closer to the natural environment through the creation of sustainable buildings and places that respect that environment. Integral to this goal is the creation of places that are healthy for their occupants.

We seek a holistic approach to green building, looking at all aspects of the project, from water catchment and re-use in our arid climate, to energy conservation, to our choice of sustainable materials such as adobe, strawbale, and Rastra (a composite structural block material made of recycled styrofoam and concrete).

We regularly build with adobe, and we have championed straw bale construction since 1992, helping establish and direct the New Mexico Straw Bale Construction Association, and taking an active role in testing, codifying and establishing procedures for State permitting of straw-bale structures. We have participated in straw bale workshops, have designed three straw bale house projects, and consulted on two other house projects.

In addition to adobe and straw bale, we have also completed many cast pumice and Rastra (a composite structural block material made of recycled styrofoam and concrete) projects. When using wood we seek to use sustainable woods and engineered wood products such as parallams that help to decrease the demand for large and old-growth structural members. Other non-structural alternative materials that we have used include mud plasters and adobe floors.

Our membership and volunteer work in the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), our work with chemically sensitive clients, and our implementation of the USGBC’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building rating system are just a few of the ways we integrate these ideals into the practice of architecture.


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	Publications Western Interiors and Design August / September 2008 08WesternInteriorsX.pdf" title="Santa Fe Twist">Santa Fe Twist Southwest Contractor December 2006 New Mexico Best of 2006 The Santa Fe New Mexican September 2006 Art of Space Southwest Contractor June 2006 Santa Fe Prep’s Novel Library Western Interiors and Design September / October 2005 Santa Fe Intervention Su Casa Spring 2005 Su Casa / AIA Residential Design Awards Santa Fean October 2005 The Home Issue / Great Spaces by Beverley Spears Sunset April 2005 Santa Fe Modernity The Santa Fe New Mexican January 2005 Spears Architects - Busy with Beauty Su Casa Winter 2005 Santa Fe Light and Magic The Santa Fe New Mexican May 2004 Los Luceros The Santa Fe New Mexican January 2002 Spears Architects Specializes in Diversity Santa Fe Trend Winter / Spring 2001 The Feminine Case: An Eye on Five Architects Sunset October 1999 Western Home Awards: Sublimely Santa Fe Santa Fean November 1995 Great Homes Contest Winners
	Philosophy The major interest of the firm is to satisfy the needs and program of the client through the creation of environments that are spatially rich, articulated by sunlight and shadow, comfortable and welcoming. The respect of the surroundings and cultural context, whether urban or rural, is critical to each project. Durability and low maintenance are important aspects of the work. Wherever feasible, we use alternatives to wood construction to help reduce the demand for timber as well as to enhance building performance. It is the firm’s goal to practice architecture as a fine and humanistic art serving our clients and the community at large. Spears Architects strives to maintain the highest professional standards in all aspects of our work.
	Services Commercial / Educational Facility Design Space Planning New Construction Renovation / Remodeling Urban Design / Landscape Architecture Site Planning Master Planning Long-Range Facility Programming Landscape Design Design Standards and Covenants Historic Preservation Restoration Adaptive Reuse Documentation Surveys Residential Design New Construction Renovation / Remodeling Energy Conscious Design Health Promoting Design Green Building LEED Certification Process Adobe Straw Bale Rastra Energy Conscious Design Health Promoting Design
	Awards AIA Western Mountain Region 1996 Design Award Merit Award for the Fondell-Picascia House AIA New Mexico Chapter 2009 Design Award Merit Award for the Santa Fe Rape Crisis Center 2009 Design Award Merit Award for the Rio Grande School Classrooms and Administration 2007 Design Award Honor Award for the Lamy Building & Grounds Improvements 2007 Design Award Special Recognition Award for the La Tierra House 2002 Design Award Merit Award for Interior Architecture for the Lannan Foundation Meeting House 2002 Design Award Merit Award for Historic Preservation for the Historic Los Luceros Restoration 2000 New Mexico Architects Medal For the advancement of the practice of architecture, outstanding professional achievement and sense of social responsibility 2000 Design Award Honor Award for the Morin House 1998 Design Award Merit Award for the Christensen House 1995 Design Award Merit Award for the Old Santa Fe Trail House 1994 Design Award Award of Honor for the Block-Drucker Zen Garden AIA Santa Fe Chapter 2008 Design Award Honorable Mention Award for the Rio Grande School Classrooms and Administration 2006 Design Award Award of Citation for the Lamy Building & Grounds Improvements 2006 Design Award Award of Citation for the North Tano Road House 2005 Design Award Award of Citation for the Santa Fe Rape Crisis Center 2005 Design Award Award of Citation for the Rio Grande School, Multi-Media Center and Classrooms 2004 Design Award Honor Award for the Historic Los Luceros Restoration 2002 Design Award Award of Citation for the Russell House 2002 Design Award Award of Merit for the Lannan Foundation Meeting House 1995 Architectural Awareness Award Certificate of Outstanding Achievement 1994 Architectural Awareness Award Certificate of Outstanding Achievement 1993 Professional Achievement Award Certificate of Outstanding Accomplishment AIA / Sunset Magazine 1999-2000 Western Homes Award Merit Award for the Pedregal House AIA / Su Casa Magazine 2004 Design Award Honor Award for the Morin House 2004 Design Award Merit Award for the Russell House 2004 Design Award Merit Award for the Thomas House City of Santa Fe 2010 Heritage Preservation Award for Compatible New Construction For the design of the Camino Rancheros House 2009 Heritage Preservation Award for Compatible New Construction For the design of the Santa Fe Community Convention Center 2006 Heritage Preservation Award for Compatible New Construction For the design of the Camino Ranchitos Residence 2005 Heritage Preservation Award For the design of the Plaza Stage with its historic setting 1999 Heritage Preservation Award For the rehabilitation of the Stockstill House 1989 Certificate of Appreciation For the Santa Fe Historic Neighborhood Study Santa Fean Magazine 1995 Great Homes Competition First Place for the Old Santa Fe Trail House Southwest Contractor Magazine New Mexico Best of 2006 Green Building Project Award and Private Project Under $5,000,000 Award for the Santa Fe Preparatory School Library New Mexico Historic Preservation Division 2005 Heritage Preservation Award For the Historic Los Luceros Restoration Old Santa Fe Association 2003 Award of Recognition to Beverley Spears for Her Contributions to the Character and Traditions of Santa Fe
	About Us Spears Architects was established in 1981 as a design firm focusing on commercial / institutional facilities, residential design, urban design, landscape architecture, and historic preservation. We continue to develop these areas of expertise and to blend them in many projects, creating a body of work architecturally rich and sensitive to its environment. Through this work, the firm has established an excellent record of responsiveness to client needs, budget management, and timely performance of contract obligations. Our involvement in over forty institutional projects has given us an understanding of the technical challenges created by tight budget constraints, complex project programs and the economic and functional implications of project schedules. We are particularly proud of our ability to work with client “communities”, whether they be for office, school, church, or museum projects. Drawing from our experience with government and institutional projects, we recognize the sensitivity required to address the important needs of clients and are aware of the foresight necessary for successful design and construction. The firm is directed by Beverley Spears, FAIA, architect and landscape architect. Our staff of ten includes three architects, one project manager, three intern architects, a technician, and the office manager. We enjoy the diversity and problem-solving nature of our work. Our designs are simple, yet elegant. We have won more design awards from the American Institute of Architects in the past ten years than any other Santa Fe firm. Contact Us Spears Architects 1334 Pacheco St. Santa Fe, NM 87505 505.983.6966
	Green Building At Spears Architects, we strive not only to craft meaningful places, but also connections to the larger context of the world in which we live. As we seek to relate a building to its surroundings through daylighting and connections to outdoor spaces, we also endeavor to bring people closer to the natural environment through the creation of sustainable buildings and places that respect that environment. Integral to this goal is the creation of places that are healthy for their occupants. We seek a holistic approach to green building, looking at all aspects of the project, from water catchment and re-use in our arid climate, to energy conservation, to our choice of sustainable materials such as adobe, strawbale, and Rastra (a composite structural block material made of recycled styrofoam and concrete). We regularly build with adobe, and we have championed straw bale construction since 1992, helping establish and direct the New Mexico Straw Bale Construction Association, and taking an active role in testing, codifying and establishing procedures for State permitting of straw-bale structures. We have participated in straw bale workshops, have designed three straw bale house projects, and consulted on two other house projects. In addition to adobe and straw bale, we have also completed many cast pumice and Rastra (a composite structural block material made of recycled styrofoam and concrete) projects. When using wood we seek to use sustainable woods and engineered wood products such as parallams that help to decrease the demand for large and old-growth structural members. Other non-structural alternative materials that we have used include mud plasters and adobe floors. Our membership and volunteer work in the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), our work with chemically sensitive clients, and our implementation of the USGBC’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building rating system are just a few of the ways we integrate these ideals into the practice of architecture.

Spears Architects 1334 Pacheco St. Santa Fe, NM 87505 • 505.983.6966 •