Dreyfuss + Blackford Architecture

12/09/2025

Dreyfuss + Blackford had a meaningful experience participating in this year’s Helping Hands event, hosted by J+J Flooring, The Collective, and many wonderful industry partners. This event brings local firms together to create and design themed Christmas trees, which are then delivered to Shriners Children’s Hospital. Each child gets to hand-select the tree that will brighten their room for the season. It’s a simple way for our community to come together and share joy, and we’re grateful to be part of such an uplifting experience. We are honored that our tree was selected among the top three designs, giving us the opportunity to help hand-deliver it!

This year, we designed an interactive, western-themed “I Spy” tree with the goal of providing a child and their whole family, of any age, with ongoing entertainment. The tree itself sits inside a custom, three-dimensional “storybook.” Behind the cover, riddles correspond to hidden ornaments on the tree, creating a hands-on “I Spy” experience. The back cover features removable "I Spy" books, reminiscent of a series-title page showcasing “other books in the collection.”

We prioritized sustainability and functionality, designing the display to be mobile and adaptable so it could be repurposed for other uses by the family over time. Additional elements, such as the horse, “I Spy” books, and ornaments, serve as keepsakes, allowing children to take a tangible memory of the experience home with them.

We are grateful to Weidner CA for partnering with us and bringing our graphics and vinyl wrap to life. Collaborating with such a skilled and generous company allowed us to create something truly rooted in creativity, teamwork, and holiday cheer! 🎄🐴✨

10/23/2025

Feeling inspired after an incredible night at the IIDA Northern California Chapter's 2025 MERGE! This year’s theme, “Empowering Artists,” was a beautiful celebration of creativity, design and collaboration. A huge thank you to Shawn McKenna with Arizona Tile for treating our team to amazing seats and such a fantastic evening! 🎭

All participating firms—and the talented Sac State student team—embraced the theme with next-level artistry. This was a night full of innovation, inspiration, and originality that united our design community and reminded us why we love what we do. 🎨💫✨

08/28/2025

✨ It's incredible to see how California State University, Chico is leading the way in sustainable building. ✨

Greg Schulmeister of Dreyfuss + Blackford Architecture highlights how Chico State's new University Services Building is a leap forward for sustainable construction. Instead of using steel—which takes a huge toll on the environment to mine and produce—they built it with mass timber. It's a fantastic, renewable material, and it shows that this project is about so much more than just a new building. It's about setting a greener standard for construction on campus and beyond.

📖 Want to read the full article? Click the link below:

https://theorion.com/105516/news/university-services-building-the-first-mass-timber-building-in-the-csu-system/

Swinerton

Over summer Chico State opened the first mass timber building in the California State University system. The University Services Building (USB) is home to Risk Management, Environmental Health and Safety and Facility Management and Services, along with the Emergency Operations Center. The nearly $20...

08/26/2025

Last week, our team gathered for our first "Look Up" event, a new series dedicated to exploring the broader ideas that shape design. The discussion was all about how design is experienced, from the big picture down to the smallest detail. Our team explored how intent, delight, and a commitment to core design principles can create truly meaningful spaces that communicate an organization's identity.

Read more about the key takeaways and examples from our conversation on our blog: https://lnkd.in/g6hZaBNd

07/03/2025

As the work week comes to an end...

05/29/2025

Unveiling Chico State University Services Building - one of the CSU system's first mass timber projects!

We're absolutely thrilled to share the completion of the Chico State University Services Building! This project is a fantastic example of design and sustainability coming together beautifully.

This $14.5 million, 22,132 square foot facility came to life through our incredible design-build partnership with Swinerton Builders. It was a collaboration that allowed us to bring diverse campus operations under one roof, creating a structure that's not just efficient but also truly forward-thinking.

Our favorite highlight? The extensive use of mass timber elements, masterfully orchestrated by Timberlab. For us, mass timber isn't just a trend; it's a core part of our design philosophy. It brings such warmth and a genuine connection to nature into the workspace, all while dramatically cutting down on embodied carbon. It's about designing spaces that feel good and do good.

Working side-by-side with Swinerton Builders, Buehler, and Chico State University from day one was key. The design-build approach really shines here – it meant we could set clear goals together and navigate any challenges with agility and precision. The result is a design that's both flexible and incredibly efficient, perfectly serving Chico State's evolving needs.

We truly believe this building is a testament to what's possible when thoughtful architecture and a collaborative design-build process come together. It shows how we can create institutional spaces that are not only high-performing but also prioritize wellness and offer long-term value.

To learn more about the project: https://lnkd.in/gYV8CZBK

Photography by Kyle Jeffers Photography

04/08/2025

As we gear up to celebrate 75 years of Dreyfuss + Blackford Architecture (D+B), we’re taking a moment to look back at where it all began. This incredible scroll captures our first 25 years—and now, 50 years later, it’s both humbling and inspiring to reflect on how far we’ve come. Here’s to the legacy behind us and the possibilities ahead. We can’t wait to see what the next 25 years bring for D+B and the future of architecture.

04/02/2025

Attending Pacific Regional Conference this week? If you see the Dreyfuss + Blackford Architecture team, Jennifer Reid and Shannon Santana, please come say hello and introduce yourself. Building relationships is important to us, and we'd love the opportunity to get to know you.

03/31/2025

As Women's History Month comes to a close, we're proud to shine a light on the career path of one of our own inspiring leaders, Jennifer Krauter, AIA, LEED AP, Principal and board member at DrDreyfuss + Blackford Architecture
Her commitment to positively impacting others in her new role as Principal is a powerful reminder that the path to leadership is paved with passion, perseverance, and a genuine desire to build a better future.

Thank you, Jennifer, for sharing your story and for your continued leadership!

You may read her reflection here: https://www.dreyfussblackford.com/building-a-career-my-path-to-principal-at-dreyfussblackford/