WASHINGTON: suspended ceiling. The project team coordinated carefully to achieve a continuous flowing form while using a product not inherently designed to curve. Research facility Location: Seattle Contractor: Anning-Johnson Company Architect: Flad Architects Labor partners: Laborers International Union of North America; Western States Carpenters This tenant improvement project for an undisclosed confidential client within an existing building in Seattle features a custom suspended wood ceiling system developed as a prototype for future phases currently under construction. The project involved the design and installation of a highly sculptural ceiling intended to evoke the motion of a wave approaching shore. Flad Architects and Anning-Johnson Company collaborated closely to translate this conceptual design into a buildable and repeatable system. Anning-Johnson performed the complete suspended ceiling scope, including the custom fabrication and installation of the wood ceiling assemblies. The complexity of the ceiling geometry and the requirement to achieve a continuous flowing form while using a product not inherently designed to curve in this manner made this project unique and challenging. Over several months of design coordination with the architect and general contractor, Anning-Johnson constructed a full-scale mock-up in its warehouse to study geometry, attachment methods, and visual continuity. This process allowed the project team to refine the system and achieve the desired architectural expression. The city of Seattle required the entire ceiling system to be provided with toolless access. To meet this requirement, Anning-Johnson engineered the ceiling as a torsion spring system, introducing additional technical and coordination challenges. The installation required repositioning panel backers to align with the suspension grid, as well as close collaboration with the manufacturer, who modified backer locations on each panel to match field conditions. When reviewing the entries for this award the judges were impressed by the thoughtful problem-solving, and execution of the toolless access system. The team delivered a custom ceiling system that met regulatory requirements while maintaining the design intent and a high level of craftsmanship.

LSU Health Shreveport plans Research Expansion Project. Published 4/10/2026 LSUHS Research Expansion Project. Courtesy of the LSU Health Sciences Foundation Shreveport, La. LSU Health Shreveport (LSUHS) is planning to begin construction in January of 2027 on the Research Expansion Project. Designed by Flad Architects in association with Prevot Design and Sutton Beebe Babin Architects, the strategic development will create a new hub for biomedical discovery through the adaptive reuse of an existing 181,000-sf mall. The first $90 million phase of renovation will transform 92,500 sf of space to house the Cancer and Cardiovascular Research Facility. Featuring an integrated vivarium, the center will include leading-edge laboratories for studies in cell metabolism, protein modification, and more, as well as offices for investigators and advanced instrumentation suites. The remainder of the complex will undergo general improvements in preparation for the next phase. Located less than a mile from the institution's main campus, the project addresses a crucial need for further research capacity to accommodate faculty who have been awarded R01 grant funding from the National Institutes of Health. The former Sears building offers wide-open volumes that can easily adapt to evolving programs, delivering a flexible and cost-effective solution that enables future changes in size and scope. Additionally, the choice to renovate an existing structure will allow for an expedited construction timeline. EMA Engineering & Consulting is acting as MEP/FP engineer and Aillet, Fenner, Jolly, & McClelland is serving as civil engineer. Completion is expected in September of 2028. | Organization | Project Role | | Flad Architects | Lead Architect & Structural Engineer | | Prevot Design Services | Architect | | Sutton Beebe Babin Architects | Architect | | EMA Engineering & Consulting | MEP/FP Engineer | | Aillet, Fenner, Jolly, & McClelland (AFJM) | Civil Engineer |