Tipton Associates, APAC

Tipton Team Spotlight: Shane Higdon is celebrating 28 years at Tipton Associates this week.

Shane’s strength is turning complex operational challenges into clear, intuitive design.

As a firm principal and head of our Civic / Education studio, Shane is a trusted strategic partner to university leaders, industry clients, and partner design firms. He guides high-stakes projects across a broad spectrum of needs, including adaptive reuse, specialty labs, campus planning, student housing, and veterinary education and care.

Whether navigating historic registry constraints, collaborating seamlessly with fellow architects, or balancing large-scale master plans, his focus is always on solving the problem without ego.

For nearly three decades, that steady focus and collaborative spirit have helped shape both our work and our studio culture. Happy anniversary, Shane!

Building Blocks: A City Built by Kids is back this Saturday, September 26!

Organized by AIA Baton Rouge, this free, family-friendly event is a creative, hands-on peek into the worlds of architecture and urban planning.

The Capitol Park Museum will transform into a giant interactive city grid where kids take the lead. Armed with official building permits, assigned zoning, and plenty of materials, young designers get to construct their own pieces of a shared city. It is a fantastic, playful way for kids to see how individual ideas come together to shape an entire community.

Location: Capitol Park Museum, 660 N Fourth St
Date: Saturday, September 26
Time: 9:00 AM – noon
Admission: Free and open to the public

Bring the family by for a morning of making, planning, and creative play. We cannot wait to see what the next generation of builders creates!

Save the Date: Friday, November 20

We're manifesting cooler weather as we look ahead to our annual White Light Night block party with Mid City Redevelopment.

Join us for a lively, family-friendly celebration with arts & crafts vendors, food trucks, live music, games, and more! And if you're a vendor who'd love to be a part of this magical night, please register here: https://pro.software4nonprofits.com/secure/cause_pdetails/MjI2NDQ2

When we set out to reimagine Hogan Dining Center, our first step was simply listening to Duquesne students—mapping how they move between classes, where they gather, and what brings a sense of comfort to a busy day on campus. Bringing those student insights back to our studio sparked an active, interdisciplinary back-and-forth across our architecture and interior design teams as we translated real routines into built form.

The process brought some incredible moments along the way. We had the honor of meeting the building’s namesake, Rev. Sean Hogan, C.S.Sp., bonded over baseball during site visits with our partners at Rycon Construction, and finally stood together as a team at the grand opening ribbon-cutting to watch the space come alive. We're grateful to Duquesne University for trusting us with a place that plays such a central role in student life.

We are thrilled to share that Perry Dining Hall at Mississippi State University has been awarded the Collegiate Citation—the top higher education honor in American School & University’s 2026 Educational Interiors Showcase.

Originally built in 1921, Perry Hall was reimagined from a traditional cafeteria into a vibrant, modern food hall and social hub. The design seamlessly blends historic architecture with contemporary campus life, incorporating diverse culinary stations, retail favorites like Starbucks and Moe’s Southwest Grill, and the return of the university's beloved State Fountain Bakery.

Congratulations to the design team, our clients at MSU Dining/Aramark Collegiate Hospitality, Mississippi State University leaders and stakeholders, and everyone involved in turning this beloved landmark into an award-winning space for the student community.

Read the full showcase feature:

From the 2026 Educational Interiors Showcase: Perry Dining Hall The project received the Collegiate Citation, the top honor for higher education projects in the design competition.

Congratulations to Dustin Bonanno, AIA, CDT on two recent professional achievements!

Dustin has officially earned his architectural license. From his early work as a draftsman to his role as a specification writer, Dustin’s progression reflects steady dedication to his professional growth and technical craft.

In addition to earning his license, Dustin was recently named to the Baton Rouge Alliance for Students' Changemakers program. The initiative brings together local leaders dedicated to advancing high-quality education across Baton Rouge—a mission that closely aligns with Tipton’s commitment to shaping inspiring learning environments and serving our community.

Dustin’s expertise, hard work, and civic engagement are a hallmark of his work with our firm. Please join us in congratulating him on these well-deserved accomplishments.