The main goal of the architectural firm’s new website was to present architecture as art to the viewer. “We wanted the work to be viewed the way you view art when you’re in a gallery or … museum setting—white walls with a dynamic image,” says designer Jorge Lamora of EBD. The site needed to be easily updateable, capable of presenting large, readable images, and able to communicate to many different types of clients. “[Shears Adkins] clients are primarily developers and city planners who specialize in urban mixed-use projects,” Lamora says. “We love architecture, and this was a great client to work with.”

Shears Adkins approaches each project as a challenge bearing unique opportunities, constraints, client expectations and contextual issues. Buildings, the architects believe, should be of their time and distinguished with characteristics reflecting the vision established by the client and the design team together. This philosophy was very much in play when the firm partnered with EBD to map out a new website.

Rich in content, with razor-sharp imagery, the site is easy to navigate and moves fluidly with clarity and resolve. Lamora has no patience for sites that are slow or overburdened, the kind packed with too many small images, or for navigation that repeats itself. Using Photoshop and Flash, the images were loaded behind the scenes, resulting in a visual strip that seems to go on forever, Lamora says. The viewer can look at projects by category and view them quickly; visitors also have the ability to view a project synopsis or get a full-specification, printable PDF. Viewer comments have been consistently complimentary; they like the fact that the site is graphically clean, easy to use, elegant and not fussy. “They especially like the detail they can get in the large images,” Lamora says. “One client said, ‘The simplicity of the design mirrors your firm’s clear focus.’” Because EBD shared the goals of Shears Adkins so precisely, the benefits of that partnership are very apparent. Dana Rouse