/ALTMayJune

Brooks Design Build BUCKING TRENDS

Nestled in the Colorado wilderness is a corporate hunting and fishing retreat that isn't short on creature comforts or charm thanks to their innovative design.

Perkins+Will

Dean Larkin Design

Their new Toronto studio designed the kind of university classrooms that would have inspired them as students: the green, cutting-edge Engineering 5 Building.

Larkin has stamped their signature inside/outside aesthetic on some of the hippest homes in the Hollywood Hills and the hottest stores in Los Angeles.

ENGINEERING EDU

ARCHITECTURE LEADERS TODAY

T H E M A G A Z I N E F O R C A P TA I N S O F I N D U S T R Y www.architectureleaderstoday.com

May/June 2011 $24.95 USD $26.30 CAN

INSIDE MEETS OUT

ARCHITECTURE LEADERS TODAY T H E M A G A Z I N E F O R C A P TA I N S O F I N D U S T R Y www.architectureleaderstoday.com

Zack | de Vito | 74 REDEFINING CALIFORNIA LIVING

The architecture/design firm out of San Francisco revolves around husband-and-wife duo Zack and de Vito – a team who is not only redefining modernist architecture as a whole, but the construction and interior design of the structures as well.

42

in this issue

22 T H E M A G A Z I N E F O R C A P TA I N S O F I N D U S T RY

ARCHITECTURE LEADERS Editor-in-Chief Todd Weaver Editor Diana Doyle Executive Editor Jonathan Mack Assistant Editor Joseph Orange

TODAY

Creative Director Maria J. Owens Art Director Anthony Walker Director of Advertising Julian Vu Editorial Design Kris Apodaca Photography Editor Ian Palmer Video Director Susan Maybach Editorial Director Kate Darling Staff Writers Joel Cornell, Paige L. Hill Copy Editor Chelsea Muth, Mariya Bouraima Assistant Copy Editor Amy Roberts Content Directors Brandon McBride, Lisa Talbot, Cathy Bradford, Sophia Hartwick, Juan Stewart Vendor Relations Director Diana Stephens Vendor Relations Eric Miller, Steve Peters Advertising Sales Coordinator Patricia O’Brien Advertising Sales Director Peter Jostens Advertising Sales James Banks, Moe Kazemi, George Johnson Publisher Steve Reed Reprints/Circulation Anne Brewer

oZ WORLD MEDIA, LLC 1100 H Street NW, Suite M Washington D.C. 20005 www.architectureleaderstoday.com Architecture Leaders Today is an international quarterly B2B trade journal that services the architecture industry in design/ build, education and healthcare architecture, interior design, and residential and commercial sectors. ALT has a readership of 200,000 C-Level executives within the architecture industry.

We do not accept subscription requests from the general public, however an abbreviated version is available on our website.

on the cover Brooks Design Build, Inc.

An example of one of the Colorado firm's residential designs showcases their handiwork with a log cabin aesthetic and wood materials.

4 May/June 2011

06 Editor’s Note 08 Guest Editorial 11 Staff Editorial 12 Industry News

14

14 The Hot List

Products, concepts and inspiration for your next project

128 Advertising Index NORTHEAST

22 Architecture in Formation

No two designs are alike for this New York-based firm. From penthouses to lofts to cutting-edge public housing units, Architecture in Formation runs the gambit.

32 Robert Lund & Associates

Designing the high-end homes along the Eastern seaboard is just another day at the office for Robert Lund & Associates out of New York.

36 J. Graham Goldsmith Architects

With roots firmly established in New England, in terms of both geography and design, this firm spans the range of projects: commercial, institutional, government and residential.

38 McMahon Architects

Specializing in office and corporate interiors is how this firm sets itself apart from their New England colleagues. McMahon Architects is all about designing from the inside out.

42 Nest Architecture

When Kip Kelly teamed up with a couple starting their own green building materials business, their home renovation quickly became a science lab for green products.

The result: a net-zero house with curb appeal.

50 AM Sutton

This award-winning residential firm has been using energy-efficient initiatives and environmentally conscious designs since “green” was still considered green –- 1984.

52 Northeast Regional Marketplace

58 WEST

INTERNATIONAL

58 Dean Larkin Design

108 Perkins+Will

66 Studio 3

116 Flansburgh Architects

68 MAKE Architects

122 AEG Architecture

74 Zack | de Vito

123 International Regional Marketplace

They say that the Californian lifestyle is all about the great outdoors. This architect capitalizes on that idea by blurring the lines between where the inside of these luxury residences ends and the world outside begins.

Though only ten years old, this firm is strengthened by their repeat client base -– designing public spaces and educational facilities for small communities in Oregon, in particular.

The innovative designs coming out of this Los Angeles-based firm have been catching the attention of young chefs and hot restaurateurs – their work is unapologetically “modernist” and they like that.

The husband and wife team at this San Francisco-based firm are at the forefront of innovative and green design. They are currently transforming an abandoned fast-food restaurant into a highly sustainable burger joint.

78 A Studios 2

Three friends from architecture school reunited to form a bicoastal firm with an emphasis on collaborative design, eco-friendly building practices and international outreach.

86 Brooks Design Build

These architects are putting the views of Colorado’s mountainous landscape to good use with their residential designs focused on stone and wood structures and using sustainable building practices.

96 West Regional Marketplace MIDWEST

102 Davis Architectural Group

For the architects at this Toronto firm, designing an engineering building at the University of Waterloo, an alma mater for much of the team, was the chance to design the classrooms and study space that would have inspired them as undergrads.

In terms of sustainable, educational design, this Boston firm is at the head of the class.

Their Energy Lab on the Big Island in Hawaii is garnering press and praise for its success as a working “living building.”

Everyone from the New York Police Department (yes, the NYPD) to the American University in Cairo (yes, Egypt) is clamoring for the coveted designs coming out of Architecture & Engineering Group.

ARCHITECTURAL PRODUCTS

30 AF New York

The principals at this Manhattan firm claim their highly cutting-edge designs in architectural fixtures and bathrooms always return to the phrase “necessity is the mother of invention.”

41 Oasis Kitchen & Bath

The range of appliances and fixtures stocked at Oasis Kitchen & Bath runs from opulent, luxurious options to energy efficient choices made of green materials. Better yet, if they don’t have what you need already, they will find it for you.

95 Skinner Painting

Putting in more than 30 years in the industry seems to have worked for Roy Skinner.

He is one of the most highly demanded residential painters in the Los Angeles area and one of only 24 “authority” licensed painters in the state.

116 Sound Solutions

Repeat clients and tight business relationships are the foundation of this Ohio-based firm which uses an all-encompassing approach to design.

They didn’t choose just anyone to design and construct the concrete base for the FNB Stadium in South Africa where the 2010 FIFA World Cup was hosted. Sound Solutions says they owe the honor to “miracle” concrete mixture, fibreC.

103 Stuart J Fine & Associates

117 Alumicor

Designing high-profile religious structures takes patience, research and perhaps even some divine inspiration. This firm enjoys designing the spaces where people interact and build a sense of community.

This Canadian company specializes in LEED Certified architectural aluminum envelopes, like the one on the University of Waterloo’s new Engineering 5 Building.

104 River Bluff Architects

For the rural community of Hamilton, Mo. an innovative, green addition to the local school doubled as the town’s social and meeting center.

106 Midwest Regional Marketplace Architecture Leaders Today 5

editor’s note

TODD WEAVER editor@ozworldmedia.com

Paige L. Hill Chelsea Muth

Well versed in a range of design topics, Paige’s career has taken her from Readers Digest UK to hard daily news. She has a Master’s in English from the University of South Carolina-Columbia.

Chelsea is an NYU graduate with a post graduate degree from the University of Toronto. A seasoned world traveller, she has logged many hours for non-profits administering aid to African countries.

Joel Cornell

Now, here’s the architecture part….

By now, everyone’s heard of the Frank Gehry smack-down by an anonymous billionaire architecture aficionado who is offering $300 million to a city that hires someone other than Gehry to design its museum.

Where this person’s apparent disdain for Gehry’s signature curvy designs originates, we don’t know. Or perhaps it’s not disdain at all, but rather this person is simply one of those “equal opportunity” rich guys wanting to champion for the underdog. Or maybe he's a past client of Gehry's and this is some type of personal vendetta. I hope to find out one day.

With the Birkin in mind, I began thinking about Gehry’s work. While the engineering behind his designs is highly complex and something that many architects find daunting, even if you do possess the engineering and design prowess to create a Gehry-reminiscent building, you probably wouldn’t want to. After all, no one wants to be known as, “that architect who’s not Frank Gehry, yet knocks off Gehry's stuff.”

Just like Mercedes Benz would never knock off Rolls Royce. Or like Tag Heuer wouldn’t knock off A. Lange & Söhne. Or Michael Kors wouldn’t knock off Hermès Birkin. Oh wait… he did. Oops.

Weigh in by taking the poll and leaving your comments on the legacy of Gehry’s work at architectureleaderstoday.com.

Joel uses his background in technical writing to translate complex jargon into vivid narratives. Past work includes projects with the State Department, the DOD, the World Bank and many retail giants.

Felicia is a freelance writer based in Atlanta, Ga. A graduate of the University of Maryland, she has contributed to several magazines including Today’s Chemist at Work.

Rebecca Carnes

Before I begin, this editorial does (eventually) have something to do with architecture. You just have to get through my lengthy analogy first….

While I am certainly no authority on designer women’s handbags, I am nominally familiar with the renowned Hermès Birkin bag. Originally custom-made for actress Jane Birkin in 1984 to address the very specific need of “needing pockets,” interested parties now need two things to own one: patience and deep pockets. Hermès says this bag has a two-year wait list, as each one is handmade (although as I learned in my poor college days of waiting in long lines to be granted entrance to the hottest clubs, the way off a wait list is via prestige and cash. This concept rings true with the Birkin wait list as well). Retail price can be over $35,000 depending on the size and materials requested… think pink ostrich and silver or orange crocodile and gold. Or, you could be conservative and just get the standard black or brown calfskin, which is only a cool $10,000.

I was walking through Macy’s the other day when I saw from afar what appeared to be a display of Birkin bags. Only because my wife has wanted one since they were first introduced, I approached the display. Like an idiot, I realized this was a classic case of “when it’s too good to be true… it is.”

Upon further investigation, this semblance of Birkin had an appealing price tag of under $500, but a deceptive moniker of Michael Kors. While Kors is certainly not to be down-played given his brand’s impressive boom following his Project Runway collaboration with Heidi Klum… this was not a Birkin. This was a knock-off. But instead of being sold out of a clandestine street car on Canal Street, it was being marketed at an LED backlit, Lucite display at Macy’s.

CONTRIBUTORS

Felicia Willis

Hermès is to Gehry, as Michael Kors is to...

Marylyn Simpson

Rebecca enjoys a career of writing about critical issues and prominent business leaders of our time.

Her work has been recognized both locally and nationally.

With a diverse background in B2B magazine writing, ranging from framing to New York Fashion Week, Marylyn brings a unique perspective to Industry Leaders Today.

6 Architecture Leaders Today

guest editorial

Live to Eat or Eat to Live Modified from lifeofanarchitect.com, May 2, 2011.

by Bob Borson AIA’s Young Architect of the Year, 2009 Bernbaum Magadini Architects, Dallas, Texas

TEXAN AND ARCHITECT BOB BORSON DISCUSSES WHY THE KITCHEN IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ROOM IN THE HOME AND WHY THAT SHOULD MATTER TO RESIDENTIAL ARCHITECTS.

To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statement: “The kitchen is the most important space in the home when it comes to marketing and selling our new homes.”

Strongly disagree 6.7%

Somewhat disagree 5.7% Neither agree nor disagree 8.0%

Strongly agree 41.6%

Somewhat agree 38.0%

Base: 300; Professional Builder, March 2011

8 Architecture Leaders Today

Everybody knows it … and when you are a residential architect and design a lot of houses, you really, really know it: the kitchen is the most important room in the house.

It’s just one of those things. Despite my predilections for spouting my opinion like fact (instead of just what I believe), I can’t tell you why this is true. If you have a party – everyone ends up in the kitchen. This is an area of the house where there is family activity, it is a space that has specific purpose – sort of like the bathroom but if you’re having a party and everyone ends up in the bathroom, I’d say it was either a bad party or 1974.

The kitchen is also the most expensive room in the house. Once you add up all the expenses associated with cabinetry, counter tops, appliances, and lighting (task, accent, and undercounter), it’s easy to see why this room is special. It’s also the one room where we almost always have to rein in the client on what they want to do and how much of their budget they want to dedicate to the kitchen as a percentage of the whole.

Have you also noticed that there are certified kitchen designers out there? These are people who are dedicated and knowledgeable about the specific intricacies of putting together a well functioning and beautiful kitchen. Have you ever seen a certified living room designer?

They don’t exist …

I get a lot of magazines and on a good day I skim through them when on the phone with engineers. One of the magazines that graces my desk ran an article recently that caught my eye.

The article was titled “Survey: Majority of builders believe that kitchen is key to selling new homes.” While I don’t generally believe that the road to happiness is necessarily through following the thought process of the majority, I really thought this was an article worth sharing.

Did you ever wonder which features in your kitchen had the most value or importance? If you were looking for some sort of justification that the ideas you had about expanding or improving your kitchen were good ones – you can check the chart below and see what the people who were surveyed thought.

Even though I don’t design speculative housing, I spend a lot of time talking about kitchens, their value and role in the home and within the budget. Now I feel like I have some data to back up what I already believe for the most part. Home is where the heart is – but it’s the kitchen that is the heart of the home.

Approximately how many of the houses built, designed or engineered by your company during the past 24 months include the following kitchen features?

All

Most

Some

None

Garbage disposal

69.3%

17.4%

9.2%

4.1%

Energy-efficient/ Energy Star appliances

52.1%

33.0%

13.2%

1.7%

Pantry

48.6%

28.9%

18.4%

4.1%

Granite/quartz countertops

43.2%

28.7%

22.6%

5.4%

Low-flow fixtures/ faucets

42.5%

25.8%

24.4%

7.3%

Food prep area

33.2%

28.4%

26.6%

11.8%

Island

32.5%

39.0%

20.3%

8.1%

Trash/recycling pull-out drawer

26.3%

22.2%

33.2%

18.3%

Fireplace/hearth

26.1%

18.8%

29.3%

25.8%

Wall oven

25.5%

29.3%

31.4%

13.8%

42-inch/extendedheight cabinets

24.7%

24.3%

31.3%

19.7%

Breakfast nook

23.4%

22.0%

37.3%

17.4%

Pull-out racks

22.8%

38.4%

26.0%

12.8%

Lazy Susan

22.2%

35.1%

23.3%

19.4%

Breakfast bar

21.3%

30.8%

33.9%

14.0%

Dual sinks

17.3%

19.4%

34.3%

29.0%

Professional- or designer-grade range hood

14.1%

23.8%

41.4%

20.7%

Kitchen office/ computer nook

10.6%

23.0%

42.1%

24.4%

Professional-grade oven/cooktop combination

9.5%

21.5%

45.1%

23.9%

Wine storage area

6.6%

22.2%

46.7%

24.6%

Warming drawer

6.4%

16.0%

36.5%

41.1%

Trash compactors

5.0%

6.4%

32.5%

56.1%

Radiant heated floors

4.7%

7.6%

34.5%

53.2%

Separate faucet for pot filling

4.7%

7.9%

39.6%

47.8%

Outdoor kitchen

4.6%

6.4%

29.8%

59.2%

Specialty drawer refrigerators

4.6%

12.0%

35.6%

47.9%

Induction cooktop

4.0%

7.6%

35.9%

52.5%

Dual islands

2.0%

1.2%

21.5%

75.4%

Built-in composting bin

1.5%

2.2%

12.3%

84.1%

Base: 295; Professional Builder, March 2011

BERKELEY REPERTORY THEATRE • BOSTON CONSERVATORY • CALIFORNIA SHAKESPEARE THEATRE • CARNEGIE HALL • ZANKEL HALL CELEBRITY CRUISE LINES • DENVER ART MUSEUM HAMILTON BUILDING • US CAPITOL VISITOR CENTER • EMERSON COLLEGE, PARAMOUNT THEATRE • HAYDEN PLANETARIUM • UC SAN DIEGO PREBYS MUSIC CENTER • FOX CALIFORNIA THEATRE • MGM MIRAGE CIRQUE DU SOLEIL LOVE • SONOMA STATE UNIVERSITY GREEN MUSIC CENTER • MESA ARTS CENTER GRIFFITH OBSERVATORY PLANETARIUM UC DAVIS MONDAVI CENTER FOR THE ARTS • NAPA VALLEY COLLEGE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER SAN FRANCISCO MUSEUM OF MODERN ART MGM CITYCENTER, CIRQUE DU SOLEIL VIVA ELVIS SAN FRANCISCO WAR MEMORIAL OPERA HOUSE • SANTA FE OPERA • CSU NORTHRIDGE VALLEY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER • SIGNATURE THEATRE CENTER • CYPRUS CULTURAL CENTRE SAN FRANCISCO CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC PHILADELPHIA ACADEMY OF MUSIC VERIZON WIRELESS AMPITHEATRE AT ENCORE PARK AUERBACH • POLLOCK • FRIEDLANDER Performing Arts/Media Facilities Planning and Design

SAN FRANCISCO

NEW YORK

www.auerbachconsultants.com

MINNEAPOLIS

info@auerbachconsultants.com

staff editorial

Through the Subterfuge China seems to play their human rights record like James Bond might – making all the right moves in some areas, while acting brazen and unruly in others.

The Chinese government doesn’t seem intent on a keen subterfuge with which they, like a magician or an artist, woo all the right people and escort the villain to a swift and righteous end.

No, China seems to have taken the wrong pages from the world’s finest 00 agent. Like the master spy, they seem capable of merely running brazenly into the opponent’s lair, brashly announcing their identity and thinly veiled intentions to whomever might be in earshot.

Not terribly smooth there, Bond, James Bond.

Such has been the plight of Chinese architect, artist and known dissident Ai Weiwei. As of this writing, 34 days have passed since Ai’s detainment at the Beijing Capital International Airport.

No official notifications have been given regarding his whereabouts or reason for the detainment.

It’s nearly impossible to define where China’s record of human rights violations began. These humanitarian indiscretions are at once the fault of the entire Chinese justice system and no one’s fault at all. Is the office that carries out the indiscretion to blame? Or President Hu Jintao? From this frayed hierarchy of indiscretion comes the inability to properly aim any human rights initiatives at the right person, system, court or government.

“I solemnly declare that here comes a namecalling era, and we would curse the enemy softly to death,” Ai said.

In November 2010, police placed Ai under house arrest. Ai said that it was in response to an argument regarding a new studio he was building in downtown Shanghai. The government, however, said he lacked the appropriate building permits and that the studio would be knocked down.

Hours before the party planned by Ai marking the demolition that was to take place later, Ai was put under house arrest, only to be released the next day.

Under the cover of night, Ai’s studio was demolished on January 11, 2011. As Ai attempted to catch a flight to Hong Kong, he was arrested on April 3, 2011.

To date, this was the last time Ai was seen publicly and there has been no word on his location or condition. Approximately 50 police officers searched the studio where Ai had been working recently, taking with them his laptops and copies of his hard drives. The police also detained his wife and his eight staff members.

At this point, the government’s list of reasons why Ai was arrested includes tax evasion, bigamy, and spreading indecent images on the internet.

In several supposedly “vile” photographs, Ai and several of his colleagues are standing entirely

nude behind several large busts representing the Chinese zodiac. Sure, Ai could perhaps cut back on the dumplings, but no eroticism, perversions or other assaults to the senses exist in these collections. The state-run media outlets have attempted to portray him as “a deviant and a plagiarist.” Ai’s accountant, driver, studio partner and assistant have all been reported missing since the arrest.

Herein, China’s intentions match those of a ministry of thugs with an Orwellian execution on a uniquely brash yet elementary level so cliché it seems fictional. Considering the human rights record China has maintained, internal critics, activists and dissidents are in a terribly vulnerable position. These outspoken citizens face a mountain of awesome power.

Despite the Chinese government’s best efforts, the Internet is spreading. With it comes a connectivity and breadth of vision that can combat injustice on a level never before seen in our history.

Because of organizations such as Wikileaks, the doors blocking our view of the corruptions within governments from China to the USA to Canada are beginning to swing open. Concerned fellow humans are now able to watch Ai’s case as closely as his neighbors can.

However, all traces of Ai, his work, his art and his plight have been purged from the Chinese internet. These Sisyphean efforts on behalf of the Chinese government make it increasingly difficult not to make some more contrived references to 1984.

Still missing to this day, an incredible base of support has surged to protest this injustice.

Supporters in Hong Kong have protested by projecting giant images of Ai onto landmark buildings, corporate headquarters and even police and government buildings of the now-symbol of the government’s injustice. Hundreds of petitions requesting his release have flooded the Chinese government from around the world.

For the latest updates on Ai’s disappearance and links to global petitions, visit freeaiweiwei.org.

by Joel Cornell

CHINESE ARCHITECT, ARTIST AND ACTIVIST AI WEIWEI HAS SPENT THE MAJORITY OF HIS LIFE COMBATTING INJUSTICES WITHIN THE CHINESE POLITICAL SYSTEM. NOW, AFTER DECADES OF VISIONARY WORK AND DISSIDENCE, AI’S POLITICALLY MOTIVATED ARREST HAS THE WORLD UP IN ARMS. AI IS QUICKLY BECOMING AT ONCE A CRITIC AND VICTIM OF CHINA’S HUMAN RIGHTS POLICY.

May/June 2011 11

industry news

Stories by Paige L. Hill and Joel Cornell

Lost in Translation It’s “verde” in Spanish and “lyu” in Mandarin and “green” in English. However you say it, it’s good for the environment and it’s the building trend that isn’t slowing down anytime soon. Two green schools recently erected in two very different parts of the world define “green” in distinctly different ways.

For Guatemala, it is a school constructed out of recycled plastic bottles; and in Singapore, it’s a swirling grass roof over the top of the Nanyang Technological University in Singapore’s School of Art, Design and Media.

Former Peace Corps volunteer Laura Kutner was asked to find the funding to finish constructing an elementary school in Guatemala, but she chose instead to use the plastic soda bottles that litter the countryside to finish the job. Kutner said she realized that the size of the common soda bottle was the exact width of the metal frames that made up the existing walls of the unfinished school. She teamed up with a designer to create “eco-blocks” – plastic bottles filled with inorganic trash, then encased them in chicken wire and covered with a few layers of cement. The bottles provide not only cost-effective and eco-friendly insulation for the classroom walls, but also a way to promote picking up litter – nearly 8,000 bottles were used for Kutner’s project alone.

In a wooded corner of Nanyang Technological University’s campus sits the newly constructed five-story School of Art, Design and Media with a sweeping grass roof that blends into the environment. The roof ’s gradual curve makes it easily accessible for students and staff and gives the campus and additional green space for informal gatherings. The actual building is largely made up of a glass façade – a high-performance envelope that reduces energy costs and filters daylight into the classrooms.

The revolutionary design also serves as an inspiration for the many design students it houses.

Photo: CPG Corporation

Photo: Hug It Forward

Project Niger Delta “Maa-Bara,” means “water-farm” in the Ogoni language, one of five major languages in the Niger Delta. It is also the name of a revolutionary project from a group of brilliant minds at MIT. The Niger Delta is also home to team member Ogheneruno Okiomah, who designed the progressive architectural system that gives the Delta residents a chance for better food.

“Small-scale architectural interventions can catalyze large-scale socioeconomic development,” Okiomah said.

In the Niger Delta, pollution from oil extraction makes it difficult for 30 million people to access healthy food. Approximately 11 million gallons of oil - equivalent to one Exxon Valdez spill - have seeped into the delta each year for the past 50 years.

Maa-Bara architecturalizes a reciprocal relationship between communities and oil companies. Companies divert excess gas from the flaring stream (burning oxygen to release toxic fumes) and use this waste stream to power an intermediary landscape of aquaponic production. While waiting for proper remediation of the landscape, the locals can use oil power to grow food locally.

The Maa-Bara pod is a scalable structure for the environmentally friendly propagation of fish and vegetables, using local materials and constructed by local carpenters. It converts kitchen scraps into feed for cultivating tilapia and converts tilapia waste into nutrient solution for growing vegetables. The closed-loop system utilizes rainwater to secure sanitary produce for sale to the local community providing local food access, increasing local employment opportunities and creating zero waste while restoring local dignity and industry.

12 Architecture Leaders Today

What’s in a Name?

When did irreverent architect Frank Gehry become, well, so reverent? A philanthropist/architecture aficionado out of Iowa is offering a $300 million reward to any art museum in the world who would dare to build a new museum and not use Frank Gehry as the architect – claiming that he not only wants to give other architects a chance, but that he is just plain sick of “swoopy buildings” and “bashed-in sardine cans” as art museums. Considering how that money could be put to use in this economy, $300 million for a non-Gehry museum seems like a waste of money. Or maybe the move is just bold enough to, at the very least, point out that perhaps we have put the name “Frank Gehry” on a pedestal so high that no other architect has a shot at the big name projects.

After all, there is a Gehry-designed art museum in Minneapolis, Minn; Toledo, Ohio; Biloxi, Miss.; Toronto, Ontario; Herford, Germany; Bilbao, Spain… getting the point? Good.

Though the philanthropist behind the fat wallet won’t reveal his identity for fear of being ostracized, he spoke with famed humorist and author Joe Queenan who reported the conversation to trusted news source The Wall Street Journal. The philanthropist said to Queenan: “Don’t get me wrong, I like iconoclastic, swoopy structures that look like bashed-in sardine cans as much as the next guy. I like Czech dance halls that look like a 747 plowed right into the façade as much as anybody. I bow to no man in my admiration for an architect who can design an art museum that looks like an intergalactic recycling center. I just thought it would be nice to give the second-most-famous architect

Photo: Samuel Negredo /Wikimedia Commons

in the world a shot at a payday. Whoever he is. I know I’ve got his name here somewhere.”

Architecture, art, photography and cuisine are supposed to be subjective. They are everchanging media through which we communicate. They are also openly critiqued. How did big names like Andy Warhol, Annie Leibowitz, and Wolfgang Puck get to their permanent paycheck status of artistry? If Gehry is being hired by every city in the world that needs to house a few paintings, he must be somewhat “good.”

So, where do we draw the line between hiring someone based on their name versus on the quality of their work? Or are they, as I suspect, one and the same and Gehry deserves the niche he has worked decades to carve out for himself?

After all, the man isn’t perfect. MIT sued him in 2007 for constructing a “leaky” Strata Center in Cambridge, Mass. – $300 million, coincidentally. The reflection off the stainless steel mirrored exterior of the Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles caused nearby buildings to catch fire. And more recently, Gehry’s Spruce Street residential tower in Manhattan’s mirrored exterior has been setting neighboring buildings ablaze, as well.

Still, in the three months since the philanthropist offered the $300 million, there haven’t been any takers. The philanthropist concluded that perhaps we are too afraid to not hire Gehry: “Cities are afraid to seem backward and square.

There’s nothing a local tourism board or chamber of commerce fears more than acquiring a reputation for being un-cool. So there’s a strong possibility that my $300 million might just sit there, unclaimed, forever.”

Photo: Dubai Travel Guide

industry news

The Mile High Club The world watched with jaws dropped when the world’s tallest building (pictured above) was completed in 2009 – the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It stands over 2,717 feet tall and has 160 stories. And it still stands to be put 2,562 feet to shame, should the plans for a new mile-high skyscraper just approved by the Saudi Arabian government come to fruition.

The Mile-High Tower, also named the Kingdom Tower will be constructed in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. It will be able to accommodate 80,000 residents, as well as shopping, entertainment, a five-star hotel, and offices. It will also cost roughly $30 billion (US) to construct and the current development of the building is being managed by Emaar Properties PJSC. Interestingly enough, the same designer behind the Burj Khalifa, Adrian Smith, is the architect on the Kingdom Tower. Smith has partnered with Gordon Gill Architecture on the project.

Though plans for the tower were first announced in May 2008, it did not seem likely that construction would ever begin on the building in the sky when in 2009 the developer announced plans to scrap the whole thing. There was also talk that the building would be scaled back by 500 meters or so. But, in April 2011 the plans were approved and were put once again in motion to build a building no taller and no shorter than one mile high.

May/June 2011 13

the hot list

THEHOTLIST

PRODUCTS, CONCEPTS AND INSPIRATION FOR YOUR NEXT PROJECT

tile in motion

by Ivanka ivanka.hu

1

Concrete’s robustness is accompanied by an active force that expresses the material’s contradictory states of fluidity and cast solidity. Hungarian design firm Ivanka has endeavored to turn these aesthetic ideas into reality. In order to exploit the versatility of concrete, the Fluster collection features interlocking concrete tiles with unique palettes and patterns, all of which are completely customizable. From simplistic accents to hugely diverse mosaics, the new tile brings new ideas when concrete is in the mix.

14 Architecture Leaders Today

the hot list

make every hour count

by Formfjord formfjord.com

This upscale clock is not just another way to mark the passage of time – it’s a piece of art. Much like time, this premium-cast stainless steel clock can’t be tampered with. Formfjord can make any design you can dream up and this one, “Cioccolato” was designed to suggest generosity. It came out of a collaboration between industrial engineers from SCHMOLZ + BICKENBACH and German design studio Formfjord. If you like it as much as we do, don’t waste a minute getting one – only 2,000 were made.

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up and around

by Prof. Levy from City University London David.Chan.1@soi.city.ac.uk

This revolutionary take on the traditional escalator may very well be the wave of the future. The Levytator doesn’t take spatial orders from anyone with its capabilities to go snaking, zigzaging, or curving around any route imaginable. This is because the Levytator doesn’t loop under itself like current escalators. The double-helix like design is made up of a continuous loop of curved modules that can bend around any curve. The designer has already obtained a patent in the U.S., so we do not have a very long wait!

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May/June 2011 15

the hot list

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ariel would be jealous

by Maya Romanoff mayaromanoff.com

The problem with opulence is that, for some, it is so hard to attain. Maya Romanoff is changing this with her Flexi Aphrodite Mother of Pearl Wall Tiles. Composed largely of bivalve shells, or windowpane shells, farmed sustainably in the Indo-West Pacific, the tiles are rapidly renewable, LEED approved materials. Crafted from renewable materials free of heavy metal, the flexible wall application installs easily and beautifully with low-VOC adhesive.

don’t leave the seat up

by Kohler kohler.com/numi

We often take our perhaps most used fixture for granted -– the toilet, the john, the porcelain throne or the necessarium. Whatever you call it, it can’t compare with the Numi Toilet by Kohler. As the leading plumbing fixture in design, technology and engineering, the Numi Toilet is not only the most water-efficient toilet on the market, it has every creature comfort you never knew you wanted: motion activated lid and seat opener, seat warmer, advanced bidet with three different water motion settings, air dryer, deodorizer, feet warmer and even a wide selection of music to enjoy while you, err… just don’t forget the remote!

16 Architecture Leaders Today

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the hot list

it doesn’t grow on trees

by Kostas Design kdsgn.it

This modern take on the indoor house plant will make growing your book collection a bit more exciting.

Italian-based designer Kostas, just premiered the tree at the 2011 Milan Deisgn Week as part of a child’s room exhibit. Just like trees, the shelf comes in different varieties of solid wood: ash, ebony or tineo finishes. The designer also boasts that the shelf can be assembled in just 10 minutes and supported by only two screws.

May/June 2011 17

the hot list

care for a glass of high-tech?

by Sand & Birch sandbirch.com

When that fresh bottle of Chateau Margaux is finally peaking in 2020, this futuristic wine cellar will be on par for design and technology. The Opale – a luxurious, refrigerated wine cellar by Italian designer Sand & Birch stands over six feet tall and can hold up to 60 bottles of vino.

The black and white contrasting design is meant to evoke the image of a black stone wedged in a gem-setted white base. A matching remote control will even open the door for you; alas, it cannot open the bottle.

take this bike and store it

by Manifesto Architecture mfarch.com

As those living in the city already know, urban space of any kind is always at a premium.

With more and more bike riding denizens of modern cities scouring every inch for more room, Manifesto Architecture has been working with spaces that rarely see any real use.

The Bike Hanger is a new vertical storage system for 20-36 bikes delivered via a Ferris wheel-like structure. Deigning to use electricity, the system is powered locally and manually in the obvious way: pedaling. No more carrying your wheel to work only to find your bike’s chain cut. This new system is secure, clean, and a great aesthetic addition to boot.

18 Architecture Leaders Today

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the hot list

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staff pick!

domo arigato culinary roboto

by Gaggenau gaggenau.com

Cooking is a labor of love. With their new BL 253 model oven, Gaggenau has sought to take just a bit of that labor out of the equation. With the simple push of a button, the lift oven’s glass ceramic base lowers directly from the oven to the countertop, where food dishes can be easily loaded and then raised into the cooking cavity. The oven features 11 different heating methods, automatic temperature recommendations and precise electronic temperature control.

May/June 2011 19

NORTHE A ST

22 Architecture in Formation 32 Robert Lund & Associates 36 J. Graham Goldsmith Architects 38 McMahon Architects 42 Nest Architecture 50 AM Sutton

The entryway of a residence in Beverly Hills, Calif. designed by Nest Architecture.

Photo by William MacCollum, Architectural Photographer

northeast | residential

TOP LEFT: Long Island House, 2006 (rear wing was built in 2010) The entertaining wing of the house folds away from the more low-slung private wing, which recalls the original ranch-style house. Exterior volumes are clad in clear cypress or stained cedar slats with expansive glazed openings framed in mahogany to nestle the house seamlessly within the landscape.

LEFT: Entry foyer. The formal entry is an intimate light-filled gallery where one can glimpse the more dramatic soaring interior spaces just beyond an art wall dedicated to the owners’ photography collection, hung salon-style.

ABOVE: The kitchen is not only the heart of the house, but of the entire property. By day it’s filled with soft northern light, framing the constantly changing seasonal landscape.

Photos by Tom Powel.

22 Architecture Leaders Today

residential | northeast

Penthouses, projects and everything in between Architecture in Formation brings organic design from high-end Tribeca lofts to sleek public housing.

by Chelsea Muth

May/June 2011 23

northeast | residential

A

rchitecture is a collaborative, social practice, according to Matthew Bremer, founder of the New York City firm Architecture in Formation.

“The architect is the conductor and not any one-instrument player,” Bremer said. Architecture in Formation (AIF) is a small, design-centered firm, noted for its skill in creating buildings suited to their unique environments, dimensions and clients. Tailoring each project to its clients’ needs, AIF prides itself on originality.

“Our work is very context-specific, in terms of learning from an existing environment and set of circumstances,” Bremer said. Under his direction, a five-person team of architects underscore the firm’s broad lateral interests, with expertise in industrial and graphic design. The native Texan got his graduate degree in architecture from Yale University, an architecture program that some consider the best in the country. Following graduation, Bremer put his ravenous ambition to good use by founding AIF in 2001.

AIF undertakes two main types of projects, custom high-end residences and affordable multiple-family housing. AIF also oversees custom single-family 24 Architecture Leaders Today

homes, commercial facilities, furniture design, exhibitions and master planning.

“We cut a very broad swath, with radically different project types requiring very different approaches,” Bremer said. The firm values its collaboration with professionals from multiple disciplines and often brings in curators to install their clients’ art collections. The firm’s artistic inspiration and jack-of-all-trades capabilities yield consistently classic, elegant designs.

One such project, a residence that Bremer calls “the house for a butcher and an art maven” demonstrates the firm’s ability to draw natural surroundings into residential home designs. This Long Island undertaking redesigned a 1970s home on three acre property. Though the firm was primarily contracted for a kitchen renovation, AIF ended up demolishing and reconstructing the entire house.

Original designs were completed between 2006 and 2007; however, the firm unrolled blueprints again in 2010 to complete an extensive renovation of the rear wing.

“This is one of my favorite projects. When you work that long with a client, you either become the best of friends, or the worst enemies,” Bremer said

residential | northeast

THIS PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: A curved granite retaining wall leads from the street to a parking court, creating a dramatic yet picturesque entry sequence.

At night the house glows from within, the steel spine doubling as a light cove.

A hand-trowelled plaster fireplace anchors the various spaces of the soaring public wing. Entry gallery, media room, dining room and kitchen pinwheel off the house’s central hearth.

Another perspective of the internal spine of the house from the stairway.

OPPOSITE: Looking south across the sitting room, views of the rolling landscape are framed along the walls like artwork. Outside, eastern and southern exposures receive extra deep overhangs to block harsh summertime sun, yet let light pour in during winter.

Photos by Tom Powel.

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northeast | residential

ABOVE: Construction sequence photos of the Navy Green Supportive Housing Building, by Architecture in Formation as design architect with Curtis + Ginsberg Architects as architects of record.

RIGHT: Rendered view from the street. The eight-story, 97-unit housing facility for formerly homeless persons, developed by Pratt Area Community Council with Dunn Development and L&M Equities, is standard plank-on-bearing wall construction, as is common for affordable housing projects of this type and scale in New York. The architects placed the bearing walls perpendicular to the street, allowing for a highly animated façade of vertical and horizontal picture windows held within corrugated metal siding. Architecture in Formation’s Matthew Bremer said they were equally interested in creating a rich variety of framed views for the residents, as creating a compelling graphic identity seen from the freeway.

Photos by Graig Donelly. Rendering courtesy of Architecture in Formation.

of the home’s butcher and art maven homeowners.

“Luckily, in this case, it was the former,” he said.

As on all projects, Bremer worked closely with his clients to incorporate their distinct personas into the design. In addition to helping the owners grow their art collection, landscape architects and lighting design consultants to bring specific expertise to the project. AIF incorporated expansive views into the new structure by bringing attention to the property’s 100-year-old trees. Additionally, the firm created a glass-windowed, detached garage, to display the homeowners’ cars like works of art.

Bremer concluded the “dream project” last year, putting finishing touches on the high-end residence and completing the master suite.

Another one of the firm’s residential projects, Fractal Pad, is a cutting-edge, urban home located in the Tribeca neighborhood of Manhattan for a young Wall Street trader for J. P. Morgan. It is an urban loft residence designed in a metropolitan style which stands in stark contrast to the natural environment.

“He came into the firm talking fast, glued to his phone, with high expectations,” Bremer said.

“He was like, ‘come on, surprise me. Let me live somewhere I haven’t seen.’”

Commissioned in 2010, Fractal Pad won Interior Design Magazine’s “Best of the Year” award. AIF surpassed the challenges of a demanding client and difficult space. AIF’s meticulous designers worked painstakingly to meet its client’s standards – including going through 12 bathroom designs before settling on a final one for the master bath.

The biggest challenge was that the building itself had severely limited natural light, with windows only along the south wall.

“It was kind of a dark bowling alley,” Bremer 26 Architecture Leaders Today

said. However, Bremer’s client was undeterred by the limited light.

“He actually loved it. As opposed to wanting a typical big New York project that’s all about the view, he wanted a completely internalized environment,” Bremer said.

Using “theatrical games,” AIF overcame the home’s restricted lighting. The firm commissioned an artist to install a continuous daylight video to project on one wall. On loop, the video runs through an entire day of Californian sun in eight minutes - unless the owner decides to use the wall to watch TV. “For us, this project was an ideal exercise that kept on going. Everything was customized, re-thought and originally designed,” Bremer said. “We selected all the furnishings and worked with him and an art consultant on starting an art collection. Since he didn’t have any windows, he had amazing walls to work with.”

Not all of AIF’s work is for high-end clients. The firm collaborated on a supportive housing facility design in Brooklyn. AIF collaborated with a design team including FX Fowle and Curtis + Ginsberg on the Navy Green large scale development in Brooklyn, and is the design architect for one of the four new residential towers, which will contain supportive housing for Pratt Area Community Council.

“Our approach is not to just do the bare-minimum, polite social housing design, but to think of this as creatively as we do our custom, single-family residences,” Bremer said. “We really want to think about providing a sense of home and community to those most in need.”

It was after a design partner from FXFowle took note of Bremer’s work in the AIA New Practices New York Showcase, that he enlisted the firm to collaborate on a proposal for Navy Green’s sup-

residential | northeast

HOWARD MECHANICAL

New York-based Howard Mechanical is an HVAC specialist that services residences throughout the New York metropolitan area.

Having been in business for 35 years, Howard Mechanical has the experience to serve the most demanding HVAC needs whether the project is big or small. Most of their work is based in luxury apartments located in and around the Upper East Side of New York, though their capabilities allow them to service any type of residence and any type of system whether through-the-wall or central air.

Howard Mechanical has enjoyed working with Matthew Bremer and Architecture in Formation on a variety of projects including the 25 North Moore Street project. This project was a residential loft building which required Howard Mechanical’s HVAC expertise on a multitude of levels in design, installation and servicing.

For more information on how Howard Mechanical can service your HVAC needs, please call owner Howard Lang at 718-777-0900 or email howardmechanical@yahoo.com.

May/June 2011 27

northeast | residential

28 Architecture Leaders Today

residential | northeast

f you look at “ Imost of our work,

no two projects are alike.

I’m proud of that.”

THIS PAGE: Fractal Pad, 2010. Tribeca, New York City. The entire 3,000 sq. ft. loft is an interior landscape of white lacquer, plaster and corian, stitched together with santos mahogany plank flooring that crawls up walls and other surfaces in unexpected locations. Photos by Tom Powel.

LEFT PAGE: Matthew Bremer, Architecture in Formation founder. Photo by Steven Clute

portive housing facility. The joint proposal beat out its competitors, and the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development commissioned the team for its design.

Redeveloping the site of Brooklyn’s former Brig Prison, Navy Green will soon stand as a mixed-use development of market rate and affordable units, as well as supportive housing, comprised of four mid-rise towers, spanning a 103,000 sq. ft. city block. AIF undertook one of the four towers which faces a shared public green space. This particular building is dedicated to providing 97 efficiency units of supportive housing for the formerly homeless.

“This is a very unique typology for New York urbanistically,” Bremer said. “You see the shared communal green in European urban planning models, but very rarely in the states, especially New York.”

Eager to tackle more public housing design, AIF has already started its next chapter in affordable housing.

“We’re in early feasibility stages of our next project for the same nonprofit developer. This one will be a similar sized home for formerly homeless senior citizens,” Bremer said. “If you look at most of our work, no two projects look alike. I’m proud of that.” ALT May/June 2011 29

northeast | architectural products

AF NEW YORK

NOW IN ITS THIRD GENERATION, AF NEW YORK CONTINUES TO STUN WITH CUSTOM ARCHITECTURAL HARDWARE.

by Joel Cornell

“Necessity has always been the mother of invention,” said Bennett Friedman, principal and design director for world renowned AF New York. “But for us, the two concepts are really one-in-the-same. Invention, in terms of cutting-edge, custom designed kitchen, bath, tile and architectural hardware, is a necessity both for us and for our clients around the globe.”

Built on a foundation of nearly a century of design expertise, AF New York is one of today’s leaders in innovative, custom designs for every facet of a household. From brand names to custom design work, AF New York manufactures, supplies and designs just about everything you can imagine, including faucets for kitchen or bathroom, basins, showers, bathtubs, mirror and glass fixtures, drawers and knobs, hardware, sinks, counter tops, racks,

30 Spring 2011

bars and hangers, and so much more.

As the third generation of the family that has successfully changed the design landscape through AF New York, Friedman, his two brothers and a cousin inherited control of the company from Friedman’ father and uncle in the late 70’s. Their goal was to take what was then a more traditional business enterprise and turn it into a top-tier design firm driven by creative projects forming unique personal spaces. In the hands of Friedman and his family members, AF New York expanded drastically over time, eventually coming to encompass new unforeseen areas such as merchandising, graphic design, external marketing and business development.

“What we’ve worked at the hardest has been developing very strong connections with our clients and our consumer base, all in order to understand where their desires, and in turn widespread trends across the industry, originate,” Friedman said. “We focus on the direction of the many different markets around the world, and we’ve been doing our part to lead those trends through unique custom design work.”

The scope of their work is largely reinforced by their large presence within the industry. This allows them to initiate new concepts, reformat older trends and translate a vast history of aesthetics into a new era.

While based in the Manhattan, their work extends throughout North America, Asia, Europe and South America. Much of their local work focuses on relationships with New York architects and planners, some of the best in the world.

“We frequently host discussions and events with local talents working in the design industry,” Friedman said.

“This puts us together with the best and brightest and allows us to identify sources of artistic inspiration and aesthetics in architecture throughout the marketplace.

We always hold our focus on conceptualization and integrated practicality for everything that we do.”

Many of the individual pieces that AF New York designs and manufactures are created with the intent of artistry and high creativity in mind at all times. Particularly with their custom design work, each piece is intended to stand on its own as an artful piece that enhances, defines or creates the aesthetic mood desired by the architect, client or homeowner.

“We constantly see each and every market yearning for some outlet of expression,” Friedman said. “We want to allow the architect, designer and homeowner alike to own their own sense of vision, culture and lifestyle. This is not just about embracing new ideas in a centuries-old industry, but moving those ideas forward into new and never before experienced areas of design.

You can’t predict the future, but you certainly can expect it and be prepared for whatever may come.” ALT

northeast | custom homes

32 Architecture Leaders Today

custom homes | northeast

Keeping Up With The Joneses For boutique New York firm Robert Lund & Associates Architects, high-end residential clients are their bread and butter... or, toast and caviar.

by Brooklyn Hays

I

t’s unusual to find an architectural firm that prides itself on leaving no stylistic footprint.

“Architecture is not about a building style, it’s about people,” Robert Lund said, founder of Robert Lund & Associates, Architects (RLA). “It’s about what people see and experience in the space they inhabit; the interplay of light and shadow they observe and the surprises they discover.”

This approach is evident throughout RLA’s diverse portfolio. While the majority of RLA’s work is high-end residential projects, the firm has designed everything from multi-family housing, office buildings, a winery, an airport and even a starting-gate/advertising framework for a ski team in Minnesota that has produced many Olympians.

Lund’s observations about architecture were formed while he participated in projects of wildly different scales. After graduating from architecture school, Lund joined Philip Johnson/John Burgee and had the privilege of working on the design of some of the firm’s city-defining skyscrapers. With the New York firm Bates & Booher, which later became Bates Booher Lund, he focused on high-end residences. In 1987 Lund started RLA, with offices in Manhattan and East Hampton, N.Y. Presently the firm is located in both Minneapolis, Minn. and Bridgehampton, N.Y. Two decades later RLA remains small and Lund has retained his distinctive approach. If the firm has a knack for any one thing, Lund acknowledges, it’s complicated and unusual renovations - transformations, really.

“In considering projects you really need to assess the assets and liabilities” Lund said. “For example, we’ve transformed two 1970’s contemporary houses; one into a gracious shingle style family summer house, another into a Mediterranean villa. Both were waterfront locations. Standardized modern boxes had simply been dropped on these wonderful parcels of land, but both completely missed opportunities to take advantage of the extensive water

views the properties afforded. In both cases, because of the strictly regulated, environmentally sensitive areas, the renovations had to be achieved without changing the original footprint of the houses.

“Each house started, basically, as a solid cube” Lund said. “Due to environmental regulations, we were not allowed to expand outside the buildings’ footprints. So we carved new spaces, creating new experiences and sightlines out of these boxes.”

Lund said it was ultimately a wonderful challenge with very satisfying results.

Spatial procession, or how people travel through a space and relationship between the cover of shelter and the outdoors, is integral to RLA designs.

“We always try to remember that the life outside of a building is as important as inside and the interconnection between the two, the transitional space, is critical,” Lund said. “Buildings must first and foremost provide shelter, but every opportunity should be taken to enhance the experience of those spaces and add magical elements whenever possible.”

Lund said the key to these magical elements is frequently inspired by listening very carefully to a client’s input at the start of a project. In 1992, RLA used an unusual approach to win an international competition to design a new airport terminal for East Hampton, N.Y. “In this case, the client was the community of East Hampton. We did not submit a specific design, rather recommended a process for gathering the community’s input in the design of the building, suggesting that it be considered one of three processional ‘gateways’ to the town, in addition to the scenic road OPPOSITE: A 70’s box renovation – the house is transformed into a shingle-style house which maximizes exterior views of the surrounding water and wetlands. The originally confining house visually expands outward (although maintaining the initial footprint) through the use of covered terraces and exterior walkways.

May/June 2011 33

northeast | custom homes

NORTH PRAIRIE TILEWORKS Since 1991, North Prairie Tileworks has produced custom ceramic tile for kitchen backsplashes, bathrooms, fireplaces and floors.

They specialize in Arts & Crafts accents and custom installations, with over 150 glaze colors in their color palette. The RLA Architect’s project included a kitchen backsplash, custom bathroom floor tile and a custom fireplace surround. For more information on North Prarie Tileworks, please visit www.handmadetile.com.

See ad on page 52.

THIS SPREAD, TOP, MIDDLE, RIGHT: Lakefront house - a new house for a family passionate about boating. All rooms open to lake views; the linear form of the house traces the crest of the hill which gently slopes to the water.

BOTTOM: Airport - View of the terminal building from a western runway

and water approaches,” Lund said.

One of RLA’s most recent projects illustrates the firm’s style diversity rather dramatically. The clients expressed to RLA how they had always loved ornate Victorian architecture and wanted a house in which they could luxuriate in the Victorian experience. Again, the assets were a phenomenal piece of property in Minnesota surrounded by water views; and a pair of adventurous clients.

The liabilities were a severely sloping site and strict environmental and zoning restrictions. The result was a multi-gabled, multi-turreted composition complete with patterned graduated slate roofing, elaborate brickwork and an exterior color palette of 12 different trim colors decorating balustrades, brackets, columns and cornices. As part of the equally elaborate interior, RLA designed custom rift oak carved woodwork and custom-designed tile work.

In contrast, Lund is currently building a small, energy efficient, custom-designed modular home that uses geothermal and photovoltaic technologies, combined with the firm’s usual passive solar, daylight and natural ventilation components. The goal is minimal energy consumption.

“We’ve been very fortunate in our architectural practice,” Lund said. “The construction partners, builders and suppliers we work with, Graystone Builders, Choice Wood Companies and North Prairie Tile to name a few, really have given us the opportunity and platform to explore unique solutions. They are always part of the team. Their opinions and suggestions, moving each project forward, are invaluable. They, too, share our understanding of clients, space, and exploration.” Lund’s longtime associate, Christina Brophy, agreed.

“We really have been privileged in the clients we’ve attracted and the long-term relationships we’ve developed. There’s never any repetition; everything is new and different for each client and each site.”

“Overcoming obstacles, finding solutions to problems that may initially seem insoluble, is what we like to do best,” Lund said. “It’s so satisfying when clients call and tell us, months and even years later, that living in the space we designed has been way beyond their expectations; that not only does it feel tailor-made, but there are aspects they never even realized they had. We like those surprises.” ALT 34 Architecture Leaders Today

custom homes | northeast

GRAYSTONE BUILDERS Graystone Builders, Inc. has been producing fine homes for over 30 years with offices in Butter Lane Corner in the heart of Bridgehampton. Graystone believes a successful building project requires the well-planned efforts of client, architect, contractor and craftsmen.

Graystone Builders has assembled a team of skilled craftsmen to complete their projects, many of whom have worked with the company for over 20 years. These long relationships help Graystone maintain their outstanding reputation for fine teamwork and excellence in construction and project management. Together, the Graystone team has the experience and skill to interpret and execute the most creative and complex architectural details.

At Graystone Builders, the primary source of work is through referrals from previous satisfied clients and respected architects. References are available upon request. For more information, please call (631) 537-1414.

See ad on page 53.

May/June 2011 35

northeast | custom homes

DISTINCTIVE DESIGN FROM NEW ENGLAND

H

igh-end residential and commercial architecture has placed J. Graham Goldsmith Architects firmly on the radar in the design world in the U.S., especially from New England. The firm has a concrete reputation for quality design for a variety of building types including single and multi-family residences, office buildings, and commercial space.

The firm was founded in 1983 by J. Graham Goldsmith in Burlington, Vermont after he earned a BA in Architecture from Syracuse University, and then a Master’s in architecture from the University of Pennsylvania. He also participated in Louis Kahn’s studio. From the very beginning, the firm was a force to be reckoned with in the New England architectural community.

With three offices located in Burlington, Vermont; Nantucket, Massachusetts; and Hobe Sound, Florida, the firm currently employs six individuals whose primary focus is to continue the legacy 36 Architecture Leaders Today

that Goldsmith started almost 30 years ago. The company has completed more than 400 projects.

“We do a lot of high-end residential and that’s what we’ve been specializing in lately,” said Alan Nevins, senior architect for the firm. “We do commercial, institutional, and government work as well.”

The distinctive design philosophy of the Goldsmith firm is based on the belief that natural light enhances the mood and expression of a building.

The firm incorporates existing man-made or natural features into the designs.

“When we design any architectural building or house, we take into consideration the characteristics of the site. We consider the orientation towards the sunlight and also towards any views that might be available,” Michelle Bellerjeau said, architectural designer for the firm. “That is highly important to us in Nantucket, Vermont, or any mountainous area where there’s a nice view and not just an urban lot.”

custom homes | northeast

J. Graham Goldsmith Architects credits their success to their unique approach to design and staying true to their roots firmly planted in New England. by Felicia Willis A specific project that uses nature in the design is Waterfront Plaza in Burlington, Vt. Currently under construction, the firm has designed the four story building with a one level underground parking garage, fourth floor terraces, and a multifaceted brick façade designed to compliment nearby historic buildings.

“With the Waterfront Plaza Building, we designed the fourth floor terraces specifically so the tenants can go outside and enjoy a fantastic view across Lake Champlain to the Adirondacks. It’s an absolutely phenomenal view,” Bellerjeau said.

“We are aware how that’s so important for the end user – the client, and as a design philosophy, that’s something that we always take into consideration.”

The firm recently completed a project for the Emory A. Hebard State Office Building and Waterfront Redevelopment in Newport, Vt. This project involved renovating dilapidated apartment houses along Lake Memphremagog and constructing

a 95,000 sq. ft. office building, boardwalk and overlook parks. Following that project, the firm completed a LEED certified office park out of an adaptive reuse of the dysfunctional Rossignol warehouse/manufacturing facility. The office, named White Cap Business Park, also boasts tropical garden atriums and large skylights.

“We’re actually doing a little bit more interior work lately including corporate interiors and residential interiors,” Bellerjeau said. The Heritage Country Club in Boca Raton, Fla. is just one example. This project entailed the interior design of the clubhouse and pool area, including the media room, Grande Hall, Cyber Café, Billiard room, tenant services lounge and golf simulator space.

The firm credits their success to their unique approach to design, efficient use of space, attention to the environment, adherence to budget, their ability to expedite the permit process and to making their clients top priority. ALT

THIS SPREAD (CLOCKWISE FROM BOTTOM LEFT): J. Graham Goldsmith, A.I.A – Principal Architect. Photo courtesy J. Graham Goldsmith Architects, P.C. A recently built private residence, with guest house and boat house, sits on a bluff featuring breathtaking views of Nantucket Harbor, Coatue and Polpis Harbour.

Side yard with lap pool and guest house.

Airy, open Nantucket kitchen.

Photos by Susan Teare.

May/June 2011 37

northeast | commercial

From the Inside Out

Boston-based firm, McMahon Architects, redefines the corporate landscape with their innovative interior designs.

by Marylyn Simpson

S

pecializing in corporate office interiors, Boston-based architecture firm McMahon Architects has been a front-runner in providing a diverse set of clients with progressive interior designs for over 15 years. From pre-planning analysis to the final steps of completion, McMahon Architects works with each client to ensure they receive the best, individualized attention for their office space needs. David McMahon, President and founder of McMahon Architects, heads up his team of 10 talented Designers and Project Managers.

“When you profit from good design it means that you’re going to get the benefit from high quality design work,” McMahon said. “Our business clients are looking for design work that will improve their profit and we understand that.”

For each client, an individual and dedicated team is formed under the philosophy that working together in a collaborative team effort always leads to more effective and successful projects. Stressing the importance of bringing state of the art quality to their corporate and other clients, McMahon and his team follow a philosophy he calls “Profit from Good Design,” in order to produce the best possible product.

“We develop designs to achieve the business goals,” McMahon said.

“Some frequent examples are, to attract or impress customers, attract new employees, and to create spaces that make employees more productive and happier. The first part of our work is really listening to what the client is asking for. Then, we apply our knowledge and experience to guide our clients to excellent design that will provide value for the money spent.”

And what exactly is that client asking for? McMahon said that his corporate clients are requesting more open workspaces and shared collaboration environments. Making cubicles and windowless offices is a thing of the past; now, corporations are turning to firms like McMahon’s in order to produce open floor workspaces. Cafes are being substituted for what were 38 Architecture Leaders Today

once meeting rooms. McMahon calls this hybrid of personal and work space the ‘Third Space’ - where employees can enjoy home-like comforts, such as non-office workspaces that are still within a structured atmosphere of a traditional office.

Adapting to these new corporate philosophies have introduced a new set of challenges for McMahon and his team. Using ever-evolving technology to their advantage, McMahon stresses the importance of balancing out increasingly accelerated speeds in which a project can be completed with the same quality that has defined the industry. In addition to balancing out speed with performance value, McMahon notes that community-based thinking, as well as sustainable designs, are philosophies that are beginning to change the corporate world and the firm is successfully bringing these philosophies to their clients.

“Many clients are reducing the hierarchy within offices,” he said. “There are still basic workstations, but those workstations are evolving. Nobody wants to work in the infamous cube.

“I think we’re moving far more quickly than anyone thought - four or five THIS PAGE: Reception, Audax Group. The simple form of the new stair creates a dramatic sculpture in the otherwise simple and serene reception area.

OPPOSITE PAGE, TOP LEFT: Second floor café, Audax Group. The new open stair and mirrored columns expands the views from the second floor lobby.

TOP, RIGHT: Detail of café millwork, international financial services company. A detail of the sustainable and low-VOC materials that were selected to create the cheerful and energized break area.

BOTTOM, LEFT: Mentoring area, The Possible Project. Strong colors in unified areas creates zones of activity in an open and flexibly-planned space.

BOTTOM, RIGHT: File storage, international financial services company. The orientation of the high density filing allows for natural light into the most interior of office functions.

Photos by Greg Premru Photography.

commercial | northeast

May/June 2011 39

northeast | commercial

THIS PAGE, MAIN: Café, The Possible Project. The bright red of the Café's finishes creates a highenergy center for the non-profit organization’s many participants.

ABOVE: Web connection touch-down and reception, The Possible Project. This high counter with internet connections supports the young entrepreneurs’ search while allowing maximum oversight and guidance by their mentors.

Photos by Chelsea Proulx Photography.

years ago toward a new way of working, where sustainability and energy conservation will be an outgrowth of employee demands. I think we’re really at the tip of that movement. Younger employees and firms are demanding that all aspects of their companies be efficient. They’re embracing many of the items that the older employees and firms might not take seriously.”

For a large international financial services company McMahon created a sun-filled office space with an articulated ceiling. The ceiling treatment was a cost effective way to organize and create visual interest in what would otherwise be a vast sea of work stations. This project was designed to respond to the demands for a responsible and sustainable construction project and is expected to obtain LEED Silver.

Many of McMahon’s recent clients have followed this community-based sustainable philosophy, including The Possible Project, a foundation that helps high school students develop their entrepreneurial skills in a learning-centered environment. Another business McMahon has worked with is Audax Group, a venture capitalist company. Both clients provided their own sets of challenges. McMahon once again looked to the needs of those who would be reaping the benefits of his designs allowing him to develop the most efficient and creative use of space.

“We were able to create a number of different spaces in a traditional corporate office space for The Possible Project by opening up the ceiling and making it an exciting place -- a ‘Third Space’-- for these young entre 40 Architecture Leaders Today

preneurs to come and talk about their ideas, share their concerns about the future and have meetings with their mentors,” McMahon said. For Audax Group McMahon responded to the ‘lean’ direction of the founding executives and distilled the design elements to a handful of materials and spare details that reflect the no-nonsense business philosophy of this highly successful corporation.

Looking towards the future for his company is something that has defined McMahon Architects from the start. McMahon aims to extending the firm’s repertoire into more hospitality and restaurant projects which will further develop their solutions for ‘Third Space’ and help them use their strong design strengths to their clients’ best benefit.

“We provide individualized architectural design solutions,” he said.

“Sophisticated yet straightforward solutions to complex projects so that our clients Profit from Good Design.” ALT

ZANDUR Zandur, an innovation leader in sustainable flooring, sets a new standard for “green” design with expanded color and profile options for its highlyrecycled cork rubber tile line. The elegantly textured material is available in 48 standard colors in addition to three exciting new raised-profile options.

For more information, please visit www.zandur.com. See ad on page 54.

architectural products | northeast

TRULY INSPIRED KITCHEN AND BATH SUPPLIES AND FIXTURES

OASIS KITCHEN AND BATH DESIGNS HAS PROVEN THEIR ECLECTIC CAPABILITIES, PROVIDING ADEPT IN-HOUSE CONSULTATION AND STATE-OF-THE-ART GREEN FIXTURES.

by Chelsea Muth

As a showroom operating under APR Supply company, Oasis supplied kitchen and bath products to Nest Architecture’s meticulous, eco-friendly Scott Residence (Fresco House) project.

“Kip Kelly is an architect and a designer, so he knew exactly what he was looking for. He made things really easy for us because he already had designs in mind. Once he saw the products he wanted he had an ‘aha’ moment,” said Keith Thompson, showroom manager of Oasis of Lebanon, Penn.

Searching for an eco-friendly bathroom fixture and shower set, Kelly found a range of in-house green products at Oasis, including low-flow showers and toilets.

“We had the products here,” said Gina Hammer, design consultant. “We used the domestic manufacturer Sigma, based in California. Kip was looking for line and style.”

Oasis showrooms first opened in 1999, operating under the expert guidance of APR Supply, established 1922.

“The showroom is a natural extension of our core business,” said APR CFO Dave Robinson. Oasis has

extended its five locations to enact APR’s deliberate business strategy, offering service primarily to contractors and their clients, and secondarily to the public,” Robinson said.

Akin to Kelly’s dual expertise, Oasis’ five professional showrooms specialize in both design and architecture. Tech-savvy staff, with more than 40 years experience, operate each showroom. Each location has exhaustive bathroom and kitchen displays, uniquely catered to local markets and demographics. Oasis’ vast fixture supplies include sinks, faucets, garbage disposals, instant hot water dispensers, filtered cold water systems, vanities, cabinets and mirrors, showers, shower doors and tubs.

The showroom displays products from reputable national manufacturers like Native Trails, Barclay Products, Pearl Baths, Century, Moen and Delta.

Beyond the convenience their displays provide, several Oasis locations are only 45 minutes apart, allowing customers to visit multiple showrooms to visualize a broad range of products.

Catering to architects and clients, as well as the public, Oasis’ showrooms are suited to experts like

Kelly as well as novice homeowners.

“For people who don’t have a clear vision, that’s where our service steps in,” Thompson said. “We have builders come in with their clients. It’s nice to be able to touch and feel everything firsthand.

These clients are making big cabinetry decisions they’ll live with for a long time. Pieces like that would be hard to order from a catalog or website.”

Thompson emphasizes the power of Oasis’ broad range of in-house products to facilitate design by allowing customers to see investments firsthand.

“We get people thinking they may be able to design differently,” Thompson said. “Design choices can be overwhelming. The options are limitless. Our staff assistance and concrete displays really help customers weigh options and price points.”

In serving esteemed architects such as Nest Architecture, Oasis proves its high quality and eclectic capabilities.

“We can order anything under the sun,” Thompson said. “We have relationships with favored vendors, but if clients like Kip Kelly come in with specific products in mind, we can accommodate them.”ALT

Architecture Leaders Today 41

northeast | green building

Branching Out

Nest Architecture’s Kip Kelly renovates a 1960’s house into a net-zero home, raising his already widely-admired design philosophy to a whole new level.

by Paige L. Hill

42 Architecture Leaders Today

green building | northeast

OPPOSITE: The Fresco Net Zero House, Lebanon Valley, Penn. A 21-foot accordion door opens the solarium to a koi pond and the backyard.

ABOVE: Stone steps float up and over the front water feature and to a five-footwide cedar door, perforated with a grid of squares. Custom cedar door by Thomas Orner Creations.

Photos © 2010 William C. Simone www.billsimonephotography.com

W

hen architect Kip Kelly, AIA, met a Pennsylvania couple with his same fascination for eco-friendly design and construction, he had no idea he would soon be the designer behind their dream renovation of their rustic, 1960’s home into a veritable energy factory composed of green materials from top to bottom.

“It all started with a conversation with the Scotts,” Kelly said, referring to the home’s owners Rick and Cindy Scott. “We discussed our similar philosophies about responsible construction, stewardship of the earth’s limited resources and the importance of healthy environments for not only the end user, but all individuals involved in the construction process.”

Kelly said soon after they met the conversation turned to how to convert their outdated home in Pennsylvania’s Lebanon Valley into a modern home that produced as much energy as it consumes. The Scotts were looking for a way to bring the home into modernity and, at the same time, expand their cramped living space.

“When you have an existing structure, the most responsible thing you can do for the environment is renovate that structure,” Kelly said. “The house had good bones and an ideal orientation from

an architectural perspective, so the plans came together rather quickly.

The front of the single-story house faces north and opens into the main living space which expands to the south. There is a master wing to the west and a kitchen/dining area to the east. By expanding the living space to the south with a large-scale extension, the couple took the opportunity to give their home the environmentally-conscious overhaul they had always wanted.

“Construction can be a wasteful process, and we didn’t want this project to add to landfills. The house was in good shape with a solid foundation, so we set out to salvage as much as we could. We used exclusively green and eco-friendly materials throughout.”

That idea to keep materials as eco-friendly as possible spurred the Kelly/Scott team to research the green marketplace for innovative materials and products.

“The renovation became a laboratory of sorts; we tried myriad products and processes. We left materials out in the rain and the elements for weeks to see how they would hold up; and, I’ve got to say on the whole we were very impressed with the

quality,” Kelly said. The team used recycled dry wall and tile, fly-ash concrete, bamboo plywood, FSC lumber, zero-VOC adhesives and sealants, denim insulation, compressed sunflower seed board for cabinets, custom concrete counters, and recycled office-paper counter tops. The Mythic paint used throughout the house is so completely toxic-free, salesmen have been known to drink it.

“We used to go to the green marketplace for responsible products; now we find ourselves searching out green companies for the hippest and most innovative products.”

The Scotts, who had long been advocates of green materials, used their renovation as research, and soon were building a business – Fresco Green Building Supply Company-- around their “science project.”

Rick and his longtime friend, Richard Frescatore, opened the Fresco Green showroom in the winter of 2010, just as the remodel was being completed.

The Scotts affectionately renamed their home “The Fresco Net-Zero House.”

“Net-zero refers to a house that generates more energy than it uses,” Kelly said. To minimize energy usage, Kelly designed a whole-house, geothermalbased, radiant heating system beneath the recycled May/June 2011 43

northeast | green building

FRESCO GREEN Fresco Green is an education and solution center focused on providing sustainable materials and services. Their goal is to participate with and help homeowners and businesses interested in saving energy, conserving resources, supporting local economies and protecting the health of people and the environment. For more info please visit www.frescogreen.com.

See ad on page 55.

porcelain tile floors. Existing windows were replaced with efficient low-e double glaze units and LED light fixtures were installed throughout. Recyled denim insulation was added to the walls and ceilings. In the addition, a sedum-planted roof was installed to provide extra insulation and complement the lush rear garden. More than 95 three foot by five foot photovoltaic panels were installed on the roof to provide the home with 20-Kw of electricity, more than enough to supply the Scotts’ needs. In addition to generating its own power, a rainwater harvesting system which includes six 300-gallon storage tanks was installed in the basement to provide the house with a constant supply of fresh water.

“The house is like a living organism. We were focused on getting the house off the grid, but also endeavored to create a finished product that was fresh and modern,” Kelly said. “We wanted to promote the concept of going green by creating warm, naturally-lit spaces, built from 100% recycled and non-toxic materials, that flow out to the outdoors.”

For Kelly, the living room expansion provided him the opportunity to flex his design muscles. The addition replaced a 60’s style solarium which had seen better days. The south wall includes corner glass at each end and a series of floor-to-ceiling bi-fold doors which open directly onto an existing 44 Architecture Leaders Today

koi pond. A four foot overhang shades the space in the summer but allows the sun’s rays to penetrate into the space in winter.

“During the winter months, the suns heats up the tile floor during the day and radiates the heat back into the house at night,” Kelly noted.

The Scotts took advantage of their newfound space creating an intimate conversation area furnished with reclaimed wood furniture, and a special space away from the glass for their grand piano. Kelly designed a small gallery space for their art with LED “mood” lighting to highlight the collection.

“Architecture, especially at this scale, is all about the details and the Scotts were very in tune with the resolution of the connections between materials and the integration of the systems into the architecture.” Kelly said. “We specialize in wholehouse renovations and we’ve integrated ‘green’ technologies on some level in every project we’ve ever been involved with…but we’ve never before been asked to make certain every single product we specified was environmentally friendly. The Scotts were not only interested in making their dream home a healthy place to live, they also wanted the work environment to be healthy for everyone involved with the construction – these are truly special clients.”

STONY BRIDGE LANDSCAPING Pennsylvania-based Stony Bridge Landscaping creates innovative and dynamic landscape projects for residential and commercial properties by using creative outdoor living designs with the installation of plants and rooftop gardens. Stony Bridge advances sustainable principals in Central Pennsylvania by encouraging plant life use in residential settings.

Stony Bridge considers it an honor to work with Kip Kelly and Nest Architecture in completing the green roof garden. For more information, please visit www.stonybridge.com.

See ad on page 56.

green building | northeast

CLOCKWISE FROM BELOW: The Fresco Net Zero House, Lebanon Valley, Penn. In the living room, the bamboo plywood ceiling extends through the clerestory glazing, drawing one's eye to the treetops above.

The master bedroom's palette of warm materials include recycled wood flooring, American clay walls and organic silk drapes, making the bedroom a comfortable retreat.

Internally illuminated three-form pedestals punctuate the efficiently designed master bathroom.

Photos Š 2010 William C. Simone www.billsimonephotography.com

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CLOCKWISE, FROM RIGHT: The Alden Carriage House, Cornwall, Penn. A stair leading to the spa entry foyer, elegantly illuminated by an original gable window.

The entire carriage house was moved from its original location and set upon a new foundation nearby.

The copper-clad storage cabinets dramatically punctuate a hallway in the salon.

Photos © 2009 William C. Simone www.billsimonephotography.com

Kelly founded Nest Architecture, Inc. in 1995 fueled by his desire to create warm, minimalist, natural-feeling, light-filled spaces that catered to the specific needs of the user. One might say, in short, a “nest.” Kelly received his degree in architecture from University of California Berkeley in 1981, with an emphasis in environmental design.

“I strive to create architecture that enhances peoples’ lives and make them feel comfortable,” Kelly said. “I’m very focused on natural lighting, and I always try to bring in light from at least two different directions, sometimes adding a skylight or translucent doors to balance the light in a room. Living spaces should be drenched with balanced, glare-free, natural light airy and connected to the outdoors.”

Though many of the architect’s designs have garnered him celebrity-like status: being featured on the cover of the book Dream Homes, Los Angeles and on international television shows like America’s Next Top Model, Kelly says the Fresco House has prompted the kind of conversations he hopes will continue.

Kelly concluded, “Ideally, the Fresco House will not only encourage the use of sustainable materials and green technologies, but will raise awareness of healthier ways to build, and healthier ways to live.” ALT 46 Architecture Leaders Today

green building | northeast

THOMAS ORNER CREATIONS Thomas Orner Creations was originally established as a creative outlet for the owner to express and apply his unique talents and abilities while providing high-end, handcrafted products to his clients.

Orner possesses an innate ability to walk into a building or a room and work with the surroundings to determine the most functional and artistic use of the space.

When building furniture or cabinetry, he carefully considers the environment, materials and dimensions of the existing space, as well as the client's specific desires and the purpose of the commissioned work.

Orner combines innovative design and superior-quality craftsmanship along with his love of natural materials to create one-of-a-kind projects. Applying his masterful skills and creative genius, his work offers both personalized beauty and functionality.

His artistry also commands lasting strength and durability using both traditional and creative woodworking methods.

Thomas Orner Creations provides premium design, woodwork, cabinetry and furniture in both residential and commercial markets. Pictured is the recently completed “Scott Residence,� a net zero project completed with Nest Architecture in Lebanon, Penn. Visit www.TOCreations.com to view Thomas Orner Creations' online photo gallery. See ad on page 55.

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CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP: Residence designed by Nest Architecture in Beverly Hills, Calif. The living room, entryway and bedroom.

Photo by William MacCollum, Architectural Photographer

48 Architecture Leaders Today

northeast | green building

Getting the Green Light AM SUTTON ASSOCIATES HAS BEEN ON THE CUTTING EDGE OF GREEN INITIATIVES SINCE 1984.

by Felicia Willis

F

rom New York to Ohio to Colorado, and most places in between, AM Sutton Associates’ five-person general practice firm prides itself on catering to the client in the context of their specific needs.

The firm was started in 1984 by principle Alfred Sutton. The company’s special niche is the design of aesthetically appropriate, richly detailed and environmentally sensitive structures.

“For me, it seems the green movement that’s going on has always been part of our focus,” Sutton said. “I’ve had solar panels on my own home for 20 years. We are energy management minded because, whether the budget is small or large, it’s always a part of the project. Efficiency of the home or commercial facility is always a priority.”

AM Sutton Associates client-centered approach and cutting edge foresight in the area of the green movement are what have made this firm a powerhouse throughout the years. The services of AM Sutton Associates include adaptive reuse, architecture, building analysis/forensic, construction management, consulting, engineering, estimating, graphics, planning, programming, site analysis, and space planning. In keeping the client happy and within the budget, the firm focuses on specific client objectives in the context of the resulting operating costs.

“Our intention is to provide focused service for our clients while maintaining the highest standards of design quality their budgets will allow.

We have been continuously engaged in every aspect of commercial and residential architecture since our 1984 inception and would apply that direct practical experience to your project and its successful realization would become our priority,” Sutton said.

He revealed that the company is often contracted to fulfill a full range of architectural projects for one client.

TOP: This new 3,000 sq. ft. Energy Star home in Mt. Sinai, N.Y. was designed with modest exterior proportions and a spectacularly grand interior. It speaks to the concept that good things do come in small packages.

MIDDLE, BOTTOM: Two traditional custom estate homes in Old Westbury, N.Y. Photos courtesy of AM Sutton Associates.

50 Architecture Leaders Today

green building | northeast

GREAT BAY CONTRACTING

TOP: Villa Lombardi’s North Cocktail Room, Holbrook, N.Y. BOTTOM: Big homes need exceptional efficiency. 12,000 to 16,000 sq. ft. estate-style homes require a high level of aesthetic detailing while simultaneously maintaining efficient energy utilization for long-term operation.

Photos courtesy of AM Sutton.

“We like to think of it as a buffet table of architectural ideas,” Sutton said. “We handle high quality designs of residential and commercial type projects, mostly in Long Island. For residential projects, the firm specializes in custom homes, estate type projects, multi-unit residential, as well as simple additions and alterations, while on the commercial side, AM Sutton Associates has made a name for itself designing medical offices and food service facilities.”

It is not only the clients of AM Sutton Associates who are impressed with the work done by the firm. The company has received a number of awards for their work, including five Libby Awards, an Energy Value Housing Award and the 1st place Care Award for Significant Alteration from the Colorado Historic Society.

“We present the conceptual alternatives and the client makes the choice.

This allows for a client friendly design process and the end results are specifically tailored to their needs. We allow the design management to be tied directly into the budgets as well,” he said. ALT

Family-owned and -operated Great Bay Contracting, Inc, has been serving Long Island and New York Metropolitan homeowners and business owners since 1983. Great Bay specializes in all aspects of custom commercial and residential renovations.

Ranking among their very satisfied customers are Ouidad Salon’s flagship NYC location, Costco Wholesalers, Silverlake Cookie Company and the U.S. Postal Service. Their diversified experience in the industry includes apartment, townhouse and office renovations including custom finish work and lobby and corridor renovations.

Great Bay services an elite clientele working closely with designers and architects to ensure utmost satisfaction. They understand the need for competitive pricing, timely installations, quality products and superior craftsmanship.

Among these talented trade partners is AM Sutton Associates.

Great Bay has developed a professional and personal relationship over the last 25 years with AI Sutton, his family and exceptional staff. Sutton brings his expertise to the client addressing every concern, building on their input and ideas. Great Bay considers it their privilege to work with him on many of their projects.

Great Bay attributes their success to understanding client expectations, giving attention to every detail and completing a project to the client’s total satisfaction. Great Bay has a long list of repeat clientele. For more information contact Great Bay Contracting at 631-665-5091. See ad on page 56.

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regional marketplace | northeast

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56 Architecture Leaders Today

WEST

58 Dean Larkin Design 66 Studio 3 68 MAKE Architects 74 Zack | de Vito 78 A2 Studios 86 Brooks Design Build Residential design by Dean Larkin Design.

Photo courtesy Dean Larkin Design

west | custom home

The Blue Jay Residence, Calif. The client’s “Hollywood-hipster lifestyle,” as Dean Larkin described it, needed a house to match.

So, Larkin reimagined the existing home and expanded it to nearly 6,000 sq. ft. Larkin utilized the indoor/outdoor aesthetic to incorporate stellar views of the city below with custom Fleetwood doors which open the indoor living space to the outside. The dramatic infinity-edge pool feels perched on the edge of the world. Lit with color-changing LEDs, the pool becomes a kinetic work of art connecting the water with the star-speckled sky.

58 Architecture Leaders Today

custom home | west

blurring the lines

by Marylyn Simpson

Dean Larkin Design's famous indoor/outdoor aesthetic has made his firm one of the most sought-after in L.A.

May/June 2011 59

west | custom home

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP RIGHT: The sitting room serves as a transitional space for entertaining and lounging; the master suite can be seen just beyond. The room boasts rich walnut floors and a common ceiling which extends over the outdoor sitting area.

Some of the kitchen’s features can be seen best by daylight: limestone flooring, recycled quartz counter top, whitewashed, reclaimed oak Valcucine cabinets and The dining area has just enough room for eight and overlooks the dramatic pool just outside.

Another angle of the kitchen shows off the many textures at work.

The island neatly hides extra storage at its base.

The front entry welcomes guests with a floating stepping-stone pathway, lit by LEDs and accompanied by soothing waterfalls. At the end awaits a massive 14-foot solid walnut door.

A

born and raised Angelino, architect Dean Larkin has spent the last two decades designing both residential and commercial real estate focused on the Southern Californian lifestyle. Heavily fixated on indoor/outdoor concepts of design, Larkin’s work distinguishes itself as a fusion of mid-century modern and outof-the-box aesthetics; a look that Larkin says has defined his firm, Dean Larkin Design, as a leading high-profile architectural firm in Los Angeles.

“I foster a team approach with everyone,” Larkin said. “We’re 100 percent all on the same page.

Everyone gets excited during the design process.

Of course we’ll be challenged and people will have different opinions. But people come to us to give them something out-of-the-box and we will meet their needs.”

Much of the success of Larkin’s design process with his clients can be credited to the team-like approach he uses in the office. Rather than taking a more traditional and hierarchical approach, Larkin says he runs a democratic office, where he and his team collaborate to produce the best designs for their demanding clientele.

“We get a good reputation because of the way we approach projects,” Larkin said. “Even the ‘tough cities’ don’t seem tough to us. When people are really committed to design, we’ll take it on and do our homework and get it right. Our clients have a good time and that’s how it should be, it’s how I was taught, that’s what really sets us apart from many other firms. We know our stuff.”

While Larkin and his close knit team have developed a successful design process, they are not immune to the daily challenges that come with balancing the wants of a client with the architectural vision of Larkin and his team. According to Larkin, the level of his clients’ sophistication has steadily increased over the last 10 years; and, he has found that his high-end clients are more 60 Architecture Leaders Today

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custom home | west

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP RIGHT: The master suite connects the outside views with the indoor sleeping and lounging area by the use of a common walnut celing. The sliding glass doors blur the lines between inside and out.

The covered sitting area next to the pool makes for a comfortable and elegant entertaining space. The common ceiling extends out from the master suite.

The master bathroom uses lava rock wall and limestone flooring, giving the room an earthy texture that is not seen in most bathrooms. The shower is outfitted with jets, steam and full-range showerheads. The seat in the shower was carved from a 3,000 pound boulder. The limestone tub is from Duravit and the fixtures throughout are by Dornbracht. The floor-to-ceiling windows display the green brush just outside.

The spacious master bedroom highlights the reclaimed Brazilian peroba rosa bed and a bluestone double-sided fireplace; over it hangs a piece of art by William Laga. To the left of the fireplace sits a custom chair carved from the stump of a fallen tree.

Another angle of the outside sitting area shows off the large piece of art by Kenji Nanao hanging over the bed. It also demonstrates how the common ceiling functions in blurring the lines between outdoor and indoor living.

At nighttime the lights from the pool, master bedroom and outdoor fire pit highlight the lines of the Blue Jay Residence spectacularly.

passionate and appreciative of quality design, as well as more honed demands. Larkin said that rather than see his client’s needs as a challenge, he takes them on as opportunities to diversify his portfolio and raise the bar for his firm --helping it evolve into what it has become today.

Larkin and his team recently completed the first Vivienne Westwood store in the U.S. Located in West Hollywood, Larkin evolved his aesthetic for the famously irreverent British fashion designer, and incorporated his signature indoor/outdoor design concept. The store’s opening brought out the Hollywood stars and celebrities, but projects like that do not come knocking on Larkin’s door every day.

Even in the face of the economic downturn, Larkin and his team have been able to come through relatively unscathed. Speaking to the longevity and financial strength of his firm, Larkin said that he was able to hire new employees in 2010, something many architectural firms could not.

Larkin credits his financial success to growing the firm’s residential market -- going back to their base, so to speak.

“I made a very concerted effort not to be too commercial heavy,” Larkin said. “I put the effort into ‘when times get tough, go back to your base.’

So I made a real effort in 2008 to put an effort into growing our residential market. That’s proved to be a really good move for the firm. We’re not unscathed but we haven’t had to do a lot of the drastic cutbacks our peers have.”

The firm has recently expanded their portfolio into sustainable design. While some of his clients have been weary of green practices, Larkin said that he and his team incorporate green elements into May/June 2011 63

west | custom home

DA LIGHTING STUDIO DA Lighting Studio’s close working relationship with Dean Larkin Design has proven to be a great match. Lighting is always a key ingredient when it comes to Dean Larkin’s designs. From an elegant and sophisticated fast track restaurant for a celebrity chef to a vibrant and colorful nightclub, DA Lighting Studio is always there to meet the most stringent deadlines, meet the budget and provide the desired aesthetic while being conscious of the environment and longterm maintenance. For more information on DA Lighting, please visit www.dalightingstudio.com.

See ad on page 96.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP RIGHT: The Nydes Residence, Calif.

The soaring living room ceiling, along with the disappearing glass doors, invites the outdoors in and accentuates the home’s 270-degree views of the Pacific Ocean, downtown Los Angeles and the nearby Getty Art Museum.

The once 1980’s French-style house was stripped down to reveal the skeleton of the original mid-century home that had been remodeled. From there, Dean Larkin began a redesign that better fit the client’s taste. The exterior is made up of various materials: glass, stone, wood and stucco forms.

The deck was constructed out of horizontal planes of ipe wood, which contrast with the varying colors of stone and blue pool.

The master bathroom emphasizes the home’s unifying philosophy that every room is a private sanctuary balancing utility, grace and style. Considered the client’s personal sanctuary, the design draws in a vast amount of natural light with the creative use of glass.

The family room is large in size, but intimate in ambience. The dropped beams from the ceiling and stone fireplace make for a comfortable atmosphere highlighting the outside flora in a large window.

The view from the master bedroom overlooks a hilltop setting with floor-to-ceiling glass sliding doors and a deck that edges out over the wilderness beyond the Nydes Residence.

their residential design through energy conservation, including using daylight as an alternative to electric energy.

“There’s nothing more energy efficient that we can do than create a house where you don’t have to turn on a light during the day. That’s one of those things we bring to the table and sets us apart from others,” Larkin said. His residential designs focus on the use of natural light through extensive glass and invisible surfaces, again playing up the indoor/outdoor aesthetic.

Larkin said that at the end of the day it’s about designing for the client and their specific wants and needs. Taking a positive and innovative approach to his designs, Larkin looks toward the future, striving to create spaces that are livable, luxurious and cutting-edge.

“We want our homes to be convertible,” Larkin said. “You should be able to vacation in your own home. There should be that much excitement and fun and that much immersion into where you live.” ALT 64 Architecture Leaders Today

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AGAIN AND AGAIN

Since 2001, Studio 3 Architecture has manifested a portfolio of astounding complexity and diversity, all from just a handful of talented designers.

by Joel Cornell

T

o achieve an understanding of the unique talent that Studio 3 Architecture brings to their industry, one simply needs to look at their portfolio. Their project history boasts a long list of repeat clients who keep coming back to the decade-old firm; because, they rely on the firm’s talent, expertise and dedication to service that span a multitude of sectors. The firm was founded in 2001 in the hometown of company founders Gene Bolante, AIA and Leonard Lodder, AIA – Salem, Ore. “Both my partner Leonard and I were employed by a local architectural design firm here in Oregon,” Bolante said. “I ventured outside of architecture, when I tried my hand at multi-family development projects for a few years. Eventually, I still pined for the design side of building in architecture, but I really wanted to do it on my own terms the second time around. I had been in frequent contact with Leonard and he joined me in the initial venture in 2001 as a partner.”

A small architecture firm, Studio 3 Architecture, comprised of the two principals, two CAD technicians, one of whom is also an interior designer, and an office manager/book keeper/marketing specialist. The firm’s limit on project size or 66 Architecture Leaders Today

complexity has yet to be reached, as the range of project types and budget amounts stands as a unique marker for a firm of such a size.

“Over the course of this economic crisis, we’ve watched the larger firms around us shed employees just to stay alive, whereas we’ve kept every element of the business strong and relatively immune,” Bolante said. “Those employees, now let loose into the marketplace by the larger firms, have been a huge influx in terms of the competition we face in bidding for projects, particularly for public works projects. All things considered, it’s been a fascinating and very welcome challenge to us, because it helps us to make sure that our skills, our talent and vision and what we can offer to a client are all at an absolute maximum.”

In association with Opsis Architects, Studio 3 Architecture has designed a new 30,000 sq. ft., three-story building for Chemeketa Community College Reading Training Center, located in Brooks, Oregon, just north of Salem. The range of specialty design involved in the project exemplifies the capacity that Studio 3 Architecture can accomplish.

The facility includes classroom and lab space for Fire, EMT and Criminal Justice programs at

the college. Classroom and lab spaces have been arranged vertically by program, so that each floor addresses one of the three program areas (i.e., Fire on the first level, EMT on the second level and Criminal Justice on the third level). Each level includes faculty offices, as well as support spaces.

The project included major site planning and a master planning effort for the Brooks campus.

The orientation of the building is predominately along a north-south axis, which helps to connect the building to the site and the community. The site includes major scenario type training spaces to the south with parking, vehicular roadways and pedestrian pathways clearly connecting the public and secure areas of the site. Views from the faculty offices as well as public spaces in the building extend south over the outdoor training venues.

“In working with clients over and over again so frequently, we’ve learned all about the little nuances in each project and in each client,” Bolante said.

“We don’t have one specialty in project type or sector, but if anything is our specialty, it is taking our knowledge, the client’s wishes and our ability to comprehend those small nuances that even the client might not be aware of -- the end result should never be anything less than perfection.” ALT

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OPPOSITE PAGE: Chemeketa Community College, Brooks Campus. Project completed in conjunction with Opsis Architecture.

THIS PAGE, TOP TO BOTTOM: Oregon School for the Deaf Dormitory, Salem, Ore. Front view.

Oregon School for the Deaf Dormitory, Salem, Ore. Interior view down hallway.

Salem Evangelical Church, Salem, Ore. Classroom addition, rear entry.

RICH DUNCAN CONSTRUCTION Rich Duncan Construction provides outstanding performance in the construction industry. In 43 days, they brought the community together by completing the design, plans, permitting, procurement of donations, volunteers and scheduling for the Extreme Home Makeover of the Oregon School for the Deaf. In 131 hours, they achieved a Certificate of Occupancy and LEED Gold certification. The team at Duncan Construction specializes in all phases of commercial construction. For more information, please visit www.richduncanconstruction.com. See ad on page 96.

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MAKING DESIGNS COME TO LIFE

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AT MAKE ARCHITECTURE, THE FOCUS IS ON THE ACTIVE NATURE OF THE DESIGN PROCESS, AND THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN DESIGNER AND CLIENT.

by Marylyn Simpson

o call Bill Beauter and Jess Mullen-Carey’s professional partnership an organic collaboration, would be an understatement.

Though both New Yorkers, it wasn’t until Beauter and Mullen-Carey were establishing themselves as go-to architects in the Los Angeles area that the two met and began to develop, unknown to them at the time, the foundation of their architecture and design firm, MAKE Architecture. Soon after Beauter moved to California in 1999 to accept a position as Project Architect at an L.A. firm, he and Mullen-Carey expanded their professional repertoires into an increasing number of side projects, as well.

“Interestingly enough, when we first got together it was to bounce ideas off each other that were not specifically architectural-oriented, as much as they would be product design,” Mullen-Carey said. “After we started doing our own projects two or three nights a week, we got a call from a client who had a friend building a wine bar. We started in an architectural-related area because we were doing architectural projects during the day for other people and then came the Bodega Wine Bar, the first project that we were referred to from one of our own clients. What we tried to do as we evolved is to incorporate that stuff into the architectural projects.”

Beauter and Mullen-Carey’s side projects overtook the rest of their workload, prompting them to break off from their employers and start what is now MAKE Architecture. With their design-heavy background, the partners decided to incorporate a fully comprehensive palate of design services including furniture, products and graphic design.

Beauter and Mullen-Carey take a well-rounded approach to their projects and pride themselves on a hands-on involvement on every project, from preliminary planning to wall colors.

“When you hire an architect or an interior designer, someone else is designing a logo, it can tend to get a little schizophrenic,” Beauter said.

“We’re trained designers, so we’re capable of doing all these different things and we have interest in all of them. The wine bar project is a perfect example. We designed a cast acrylic sink when there was nothing like it on the market at the time.

We found a source for it, we worked with them to figure out how to produce it and they produced it.

It got quite a bit of buzz and now you see similar products on the market.”

THIS SPREAD: Western Avenue Retail Center and Car Wash, Torrance, Calif. A pair of planes with glazed facades lightly floating over retail, restaurant and office spaces. Each folds gently in order to provide spaces of greater volume to maximize daylighting or offer a greater sense of connection to nearby Western Ave. The open facade intends to offer a welcoming and visual presence to the surrounding street and neighborhood. Storefront and curtain wall glazed areas incorporate staggered horizontal mullions to create the visual effect of a gentle woven screen in lieu of a rigid grid of verticals and horizontals. Photo by MAKE Architecture.

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With their innovative and modern conceptual approach to architecture and design, there have been new sets of challenges both principles have adapted to in recent years. The current economic climate has challenged MAKE’s business approach, but their underlying principles have stayed the same.

Providing their clients with the best quality and service have kept clients coming back even during the recession. Always following up with former clients, expanding their diverse portfolio and doing preliminary reconnaissance with clients has buoyed MAKE Architecture through the tough times relatively unblemished according to Beauter.

Reaping the benefits of their pro-active attitudes, Beauter and Mullen-Carey continue to work on a series of innovate projects ranging from a high-profile wholesale showroom to a small, yet innovate new restaurant headed by a group of young L.A. chefs. Such projects continue to put MAKE on the map allowing them to expand their information base and influence within the industry. Mullen-Carey stressed that at the end of the day their success is in their ability to “get it built” – making ideas a tangible, feasible reality, without overriding their budget or building without a specific vision or purpose.

THIS PAGE, TOP AND OPPOSITE PAGE: 39th St. Residence, Manhattan Beach, Calif. Entertaining friends was the key goal put forth by the client for this remodel and third floor addition. For this 1970’s beach house located on a hillside street just a few doors from the Pacific Ocean, MAKE took advantage of the new third floor as an opportunity to reorganize the house on its narrow site to provide a better organization and maximize the active space’s connection to the outdoors and the views of the ocean beyond. Photos by John Edward Linden.

THIS PAGE, BOTTOM TWO: Broadway Hollywood Loft, Hollywood, Calif. Photos by John Edward Linden.

TORTOISE INDUSTRIES Tortoise Industries is a California-based custom metal fabricator that also specializes in powder coating. Tortoise Industries works with high-end clients like MAKE Architects on commercial and residential projects that require custom design, manufacturing and fabrication. Several projects with MAKE Architects include custom designed metal stools for Bodega Wine Bar and a custom external façade for the Beverly Blvd. property that used custom metal rings. For more information on how Tortoise bridges the gap between architects, designers, production and manufacturing. Please visit www.tortoiseindustries.com. See ad on page 97.

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WE’RE MODERNISTS FIRST AND FOREMOST, WHICH TO US, MEANS LIVING IN THE MOMENT. WE’RE DESIGNING TODAY AND BUILDING TODAY. THAT’S THE APPROACH.

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THIS SPREAD: Bodega Wine Bar, Hollywood, Calif. Bar with wine wall becomes “tree” canopy. Fiber optic “cloud” chandelier begins inside and creeps outside to Sunset Strip. Abstract etched wall panels act as depict a “film strip” of wine being poured into a wine glass. Photos by John Edward Linden.

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“There are a lot of people in our field that don’t lack for good ideas,” Mullen-Carey said. “For us, a great idea isn’t really more than just that, if you can’t bring it to fruition. From early on, it was a clear idea to us that we’ve carried through the years. You can see it because of the amount of stuff we’ve produced. As we design, we stay in tune with the budget, the construction and often you can compare one of our early design renderings to the finished product.

“There’s very little difference between them and I think it’s a testament to that mission we want to

get built. We don’t want to go off on tangents and design things that are three times the budget just because we can.”

Part of the “getting it built” process includes the sustainability of their materials, their use and longevity -- Beauter and Mullen-Carey practice sustainable architecture practices as much as they can. On a recent project, a house in Manhattan Beach, Mullen-Carey and Beauter were determined to re-use as much of the house’s existing material as possible, consciously conceiving a structural system that would minimize the amount of demolition

and effect on the existing construction.

Looking to the future, the pair plan to continue to enforce green practices as a means of doing architecture the way it should always be done.

“We’re modernists first and foremost, which to us means living in the moment,” Beauter said.

“We’re designing today and building today, that’s the approach. Green products are all means of achieving sustainability. We do things sometimes where the re-use aspects get blown away in the wake of the fanciness of what we do. Sustainability and innovation shouldn’t be forgotten.” ALT May/June 2011 73

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A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH F SAN FRANCISCO FIRM ZACK | DE VITO ARCHITECTURE USES THEIR UNIQUE SET OF SKILLS TO PROVIDE BOTH DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION SERVICES TO THEIR COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL CLIENTELE.

by Marylyn Simpson

or the last two decades, San Francisco-based architecture firm Zack | de Vito Architecture has provided their commercial and residential clientele with not only a high level of design, but also in-house construction services enabling them to take a comprehensive approach to each of their projects. While many architectural firms don’t offer both design and in-house construction services, founder and co-owner James Zack, uses his unique skill set to his advantage, providing his clients with an array of services.

Taking a hands-on approach to his craft, Zack started his career in architecture working under his contractor father and learning the ins-and-outs of the construction industry. It wasn’t until college that he discovered another crucial component to architecture: design. Using his construction background coupled with his newfound love for architectural design, Zack founded his own firm in 1991, following his graduation from the University of California-Berkeley. His wife and partner, Lise de Vito joined the firm in 1996 and rounded out the Zack | de Vito name.

Zack’s unorthodox approach to running a firm stresses the importance of being an integral part of his firm’s day-to-day activities. From management tasks to big-picture responsibilities he believes that staying involved in every aspect of the firm is crucial in today’s turbulent economic climate.

“I figured out a long time ago that we can get the kind of projects and quality we want without being the sole author of every detail” Zack said. “I look at my peers who have critically focused, design based practices and I think we take a more team oriented approach to design, and still get great projects.

Half my week is spent on management -- a lot of marketing and getting our name out there. We’re normally an eight to ten person firm. Right now we have five people, so I spend more time working on projects these days, which is not a bad thing.”

Dealing with the particular set of financial challenges thrown his way, Zack said that in addition to implementing new marketing tactics, he and his team have readjusted their firm to take on smaller projects, taking it one day at a time, building their firm back to the position where it was before the stock market crash.

“In the end, I think we’re all trying to get back to where we were a few years ago,” Zack said. “It’s going to be a long slow climb back up to sustainable business practices. In one sense we are close to the THIS SPREAD: Chattanooga Street Duplex. (LEFT) Interior ground floor of the larger of the two units showing the open plan of dining, living and kitchen with 11-foot ceilings, concrete floors and rift-cut oak cabinets. (RIGHT) Rear, garden-side view. Built on a steep upward-sloping lot, this duplex is set with the hill side allowing for an open concrete patio with an upward terracing garden for either physical or visual access from each level of the interior.

Photo by Massimiliano Bolzonella.

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THIS SPREAD: Laidley Street Residence.

FAR LEFT: Front, street-side elevation. The push/pull of volumes is apparent at this side with "pop-outs" of the window seat bay and cube deck. The custom, open steel window and off-set pivot hinge door system allows the volume above to appear to float.

TOP RIGHT:View from top level in dining room looking back through the house towards the window seat, illustrating how open, front-to-back, the interior of the home is. The open stair to entry below is flooded with light from the skylight above.

BOTTOM TWO: Entry view. Located on a steep downward-sloping lot, it starts as a two story house at the front, street-side; then it opens up with glazing and decks as a three story at the back.

The “notch” that occurs where one volume slides out further than the other allows for light and views into every room in the house.

Detail shows three-level translucent stair and light core.

Photos by Bruce Damonte.

DOUBLE-D ENGINEERING Double-D Engineering is a structural engineering firm in San Francisco that has been providing structural and seismic engineering services for small residential projects to midsize office buildings since 1994. They also specialize in seismic upgrades, indoor and outdoor climbing walls and outdoor art projects. Double-D Engineering is sized to allow participation by the principal and partners in virtually all aspects of all projects. Because of this, it is known for its high level of service and quality of work. Their clients are predominantly architects, developers, design/build contractors and property owners.

Double-D Engineering is proud to have collaborated with Zack | de Vito Architecture on several of their projects. For more information on Double-D Engineering, please visit www.doubledengineering.com. See ad on page 97.

top tier of the architectural profession with added value and service. I think that in this economy it’s one reason why firms like ours suffer. People don’t have to have what we offer, a high level of design and management, they can always find a less expensive architect, or use a design/build contractor. Until money is more readily available, it will be slow.”

The top tier architects also stay on the cutting edge of design by shifting their focus to sustainable design; likewise, Zack | de Vito and their team have adapted to reflect that. For one of their latest projects, keeping sustainability at the forefront of the design and construction methods has resulted in more innovation both in terms of architectural design and business concept. Approached by a newly developed fast food chain, Zack and his team are transforming an abandoned Jack in the Box into a sustainable, highly energy efficient burger joint, and will most likely provide design/build services for the project. Combining such forward-thinking concepts, Zack | de Vito continues to find the best way to implement money and energy saving ideas into all of their projects.

“Anyone who understands sustainability in architecture and construction knows that it is all about energy,” Zack said. “I’m learning more and more that if you design a building to be energy efficient and to produce its own energy, it’s much better than the green washing of using a recycled window or reclaimed wood flooring. While using sustainable materials is important, in the end it’s a focus on energy.”

San Francisco, and the architectural challenges that the city presents, has perhaps been the biggest force in shaping the firm -- Zack and his team take into consideration the geographical challenges of the city on every project within the city limits. Zack confides that there are many factors that play into building a quintessential San Franciscan home.

From limited lot space to the height of the home, Zack said that like the rest of his projects, it’s about being able to adapt to the situation with an open mind and sense of creativity.

“There’s always a new way of thinking about space. The ever-present challenge of working in San Francisco is creative space planning and getting light into buildings,” he said. “They tend to be vertically oriented houses so you have to figure that out. In the end, the design that is visible often ends up being the façade.” ALT May/June 2011 77

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Founded in Friendship For college friends Tony Garcia, Jessie Whitesides and Vince Stroop, opening collaborative design studio A2 Studios has been a dream come true.

by Marylyn Simpson

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ony Garcia, Jessie Whitesides and Vince Stroop were fellow architecture majors at Arizona State University where they bonded over a shared passion for art and design -- creating a lasting friendship that would eventually lead to their bicoastal design studio collaboration.

After graduating, each went on to pursue different design opportunities, and it was almost 10 years later, in 2004, that the friends found themselves working together again.

They opened a design studio with a global presence, a concept that would allow each principal to remain in their current location; yet, empower them to work collaboratively with remarkable opportunities for future growth.

“We really wanted to grow into a practice rooted in the notion of a globalized environment rather than a local environment,” Garcia said.

“During our initial few years, Vince and I were living in San Diego and Jessie was in Santa Rosa.

Before truly launching our studio, the concept of a global environment made us think, ‘Does it really matter where we are living?’ It expanded from there over the last few years with Vince relocating to open a new location in New York. With projects abroad and on a national level, we began to see the expansion of our ‘globalized’ studio.”

Currently, Garcia manages the San Diego studio while Whitesides is in Santa Rosa and Stroop is in New York City.

While establishing A2 Studios as a bicoastal architecture studio, Garcia, Whitesides and Stroop 80 Architecture Leaders Today

PREVIOUS SPREAD: Shores House, La Jolla, Calif. Nestled into the La Jolla hillside, this home underwent a complete remodel.

To mitigate coastal requirements, the existing footprint remained the same, but the interior and exterior spaces were reconfigured with all new finishes and modern conveniences such as whole-house radiant floor heating. Limestone pavers surrounding the pool and a Meranti wood deck with an adjacent cast-in-place fire feature provide an excellent area from which to admire the stunning coastal view.

ABOVE, LEFT: The kitchen was reconfigured as the core of the home with direct access to all lower level spaces. Designed around a central island that functions as the main cooking space, it divides the informal beverage station from the rest of the kitchen. The Miele induction cooktop, steam oven and built-in refrigerator add to the sleek and efficient layout. Light colored surfaces, dark bluestone tile and the warmth of the walnut cabinets create a unique blend with the perfect amount of contrast. Seen here, beyond the kitchen, is the family room.

ABOVE, RIGHT: The view from the entry provides a glimpse of what’s beyond while still allowing the spaces to unfold as you circulate through the home. The dark bluestone tile provides a high level of contrast and refinement against the rich woods and neutral wall colors.

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PHILCO WOODWORKING Philco Woodworking Inc. specializes in bringing architects' visions and designs to life through the custom fabrication and installation of doors, windows, beams, ceilings, architectural millwork and custom cabinets. Philco’s innovative approach to achieving a high level of detail allows them to excel at specialty work. They are always finding ways to achieve the toughest designs no matter the challenge. In working with clients, they understand the importance of cooperating as a team to complete quality work on time.

Additionally, they have worked with A2 Studios on a variety of projects in Southern California, providing custom woodworking pieces and millwork. Philco’s quality work covers a broad range of eyecatching pieces that have caught the attention of design authorities nationwide. An accredited BBB member with honesty, Philco Woodworking stands behind their products and the craftsmanship and quality that goes into each piece. For more information, please visit www.philcowoodworking.com. See ad on page 99.

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ABOVE: Healdsburg House. This Mid-Century Modern remodel captures the essence of its design era. The footprint of the house creates a courtyard to the interior that elevates the importance of the landscaping and the pool. The original pool was demolished and rebuilt

by Stan Johnson Pool Construction and Renovation. A deep-blue plaster was selected to bring the water to life. The custom coping is a pre-fabricated black concrete tile designed to be flush with the surrounding grass landscape. The automatic cover was installed to be completely concealed when open, and travels over the integrated hot tub near the entry stair at one end of the pool. Photo by Jack Journey.

developed a philosophy that would guide them through the evolution of their future design efforts.

Their belief in the high quality of service they provide to their clients has been the team’s number one motivator. They are focused on a principal-led delivery system where each of the three is directly involved in all phases of a project.

“Our clients respond very well knowing that a principal of the firm knows their project inside-andout,” Garcia said. “Our work does not represent a dictated style or aesthetic for which we want to be known, but rather a feeling or experience for which we want to be remembered.”

Unlike other firms that have established themselves based on a certain aesthetic their clients must prescribe to, A2 Studios interprets each client’s personality and aesthetic preferences into a cohesive design concept.

“At the end of the day, we don’t own the project when it’s finished. The client is ultimately the one who has to occupy our creation.” Whitesides said.

Using a client-friendly approach has proven to be advantageous throughout the recession for this boutique-sized studio. Each principal’s unique skill set allows the team to take on almost any project.

This has produced a diverse portfolio, including commercial, mixed-use, custom residential, winery, hospitality, ecclesiastical and public works, and has created job opportunities that would otherwise not exist.

They continue to re-evaluate their business methods, implementing new approaches such as collaborating with other design firms to take on new sectors, or teaming up with general contractors to form design/build teams. Marketing themselves towards recession-friendly niches like hospitality and small renovation projects has also proven beneficial.

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STAN JOHNSON POOL CONSTRUCTION In Windsor, Calif., specialty swimming pool design, construction and maintenance isn’t handled by a large corporation or an unqualified opportunist. All aspects are under the vision one man, Stan Johnson, and his company, Stan Johnson Pool Construction.

Since the late 1980’s, Johnson has been working in the design and construction of complex, custom pool systems in the nearby area. With every single project, each client works directly with Johnson to achieve their dream pool system. Much more than just a passive owner, Johnson is on-site with the client every step of the way, helping to see the client’s vision come to fruition and to ensure that his top-quality standards of design and construction are met. Their vast range of design, supplies and services extend into the frequent maintenance, renovation and remodeling of the client’s pool system. With a focus on durability and aesthetics, Stan Johnson has maintained the experience, the portfolio and the dedication to quality service in order to stand proud as the premier local pool contractor. See ad on page 98.

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MILGARD ABOVE: Healdsburg House. As with any Mid-Century modern home, great importance is placed on bringing the outdoors in. Here the interior space is focused on the courtyard through long expanses of sliding doors and fixed glass panels. All door and window systems

by Milgard, offered an affordable system with a slim design profile, mimicking the original design intent from the 1950’s.

While architecture is the studio’s main focus, this creative trio decided to incorporate their other love into the business -- art. Infusing graphic design and photography into their repertoire gives them an added edge not commonly found in other firms. When asked about their decision to incorporate photography into the firm, Whitesides said that like architecture, photography is meant to evoke emotion, whether clients realize that or not. In addition, the trio has found that graphic design provides a creative outlet that has played an important role in the studio’s development.

Having discovered her passion for prints, textures and design at a young age, Whitesides said that being able to fuse those skills in the practical application of graphic design has not only benefited A2 Studios but also their fellow contractors to whom they often market these services.

“Even though contractors may be able to construct a high level of finish and design, they often do not have the ability to present and market their services with an identity that matches the quality of their practical skill set.” Garcia said. “Graphic design and photography follow many of the same design principles as architecture and the three of us are able to integrate all of our skills and strengths to broaden the type of projects we take on.”

Continuing to branch out from commercial ventures, A2 Studios also gives back to the community.

As students at ASU, Garcia, Stroop and Whitesides worked with Habitat for Humanity. In 2007 Stroop traveled to Phnom Penh, Cambodia to build homes for Habitat’s Global Village Program.

As part of her graduate architecture degree, Whitesides and the University of Washington’s design/ build team built an elementary school and a womens’ clinic for a squatter community in Mexico.

Most recently, the studio has donated design services to be auctioned off. Both past and current philanthropic experiences have allowed each partner to form personal connections with people and

When the Healdsburg community decided to go green for its latest affordable housing project, the design team led by BAR Architects in San Francisco made windows and doors a priority—and energy efficiency was just one reason why.

Tasked with developing a total of 64 affordable family apartments in one of the area’s busier neighborhoods, the challenge became how to make them both sustainable and peaceful. For this, BAR turned to Milgard’s Montecito and QuietLine vinyl windows, which provided the perfect complement of style, noise reduction, weather protection and energy efficiency.

Javco Windows & Glass Contractors of Napa did the installation, which also included Milgard’s efficient and low maintenance Ultra fiberglass patio doors. For more information about Milgard please visit www.milgard.com.

See ad on page 98.

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ABOVE: Lasseter Family Winery. Custom detailing to scallop the catwalk around the tanks dismisses the need for guardrails and brings the winemaker closer to their creations.

LEFT: Principals Vince Stroop, Jessie Whitesides and Tony Garcia.

OPPOSITE: The winery’s custom built barn slider doors, by Portal Architectural Openings, are a signature statement for the Lasseter Family Winery. The barn style doors allow the fermentation and barrel rooms at the winery to be open to the covered crushpad without interference of a swinging door leaf. The doors are designed using fully insulated door panels to maintain the critical temperatures inside the building. They are clad with a stained Western Red Cedar on the exterior to express a traditional Northern California barn aesthetic, while the interior finish is a custom color metal panel detailed to match the interior building walls. The black iron metal strapping and decorative clavos by Rocky Mountain Hardware, give the door an authentic look.

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organizations that have helped them grow. These relationships have led the studio to places like Moscow, Russia, where Stroop designed the public spaces for a 40-story office and high-end retail complex.

A2 Studios strives to implement eco-friendly design methods with all projects. Whitesides said she and the team educate clients about the benefits of eco-friendly products.

“I have completed numerous projects with prefabricated steel structures where the structural steel is made from recycled material,” Whitesides said.

“The erection time is a lot faster than traditional building methods, and the exterior materials used with these types of buildings is much more energyefficient than those with regular batt insulation and siding.”

Beginning as a team of architects, designers, collaborators and friends, A2 Studios continues to stay at the front of the industry. Looking to the future and continually developing their brand of client-friendly architecture, A2 Studios will grow its influence on the very industry that inspired this team to become what they are today- artists, architects and philanthropists. ALT

PORTAL ARCHITECTURAL OPENINGS Since 1996, Portal Openings has provided consulting, sales and installation of exceptional doors, hardware and windows to the Napa area. Portal’s own proprietary designs for oversized doors for the wine and highend residential industries draw leading architects in Calif.

These architects rely on Portal Openings’ extensive experience to solve their challenging door projects. For more information, visit www.portalopenings.com.

See ad on page 97.

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The Lodge at Trout Creek Photo by David Patterson Photography

Brooks Design Build finds harmony between

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reality and idealism in rustic Colorado.

by Rebecca Carnes

T

o Brian Hanlen, president of Brooks Design Build Inc. in Steamboat Springs, Colo., good design is a delicate balance between process, reality, and form; where presenting a client with a wide array of ideas is always worth the time it takes to put them together.

“Exposing people to a lot of options enables you to proceed with confidence,” Hanlen said.

“Introducing people to a broader spectrum of ideas up front takes more effort but they can feel

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more confident with the direction they’re going. If you’ve seen ten other options then you know which one befits you and will work the best.”

Hanlen avoids repeating a look from client to client by making an effort to explore multiple ideas for each client. Clients of Brooks Design are encouraged to keep an open mind instead of getting trapped in a limiting mindset like “rustic Colorado” or “traditional east coast.” He tries to strike a balance between listening to the client’s ideas and reminding them to keep an open mind.

“It’s give and take,” Hanlen said. “You never know how different clients will react. It’s a level of trust and some clients are willing to try something out even though they haven’t seen it before.”

When designing the Lodge at Trout Creek, a corporate hunting and fishing retreat based out of Colorado, Hanlen wanted to create something different that wasn’t too modern or overwhelmingly wooden. He used drywall to assist in displaying the timber elements, instead of drowning the structure in wood. The client, based in the Midwest, came to the project with very traditional taste, but Hanlen was able to introduce a more contemporary design utilizing timber, reclaimed materials, and steel.

The 6,400 sq. ft. house features a timber-frame great room, four suites and a large covered porch.

Hanlen said he takes great pains to not get stuck designing within a certain style.

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FOUR POINTS SURVEYING AND ENGINEERING Four Points serves Colorado premier land surveying and civil engineering services for all kinds of projects from start to finish.

Offering free consultation on any project, professional engineers and surveyors will collect information from you, determine what is needed, explain the value of the services and offer a written proposal at an excellent price. Please call 970-871-6772 or email wnmpepls@gmail.com to start today.

See ad on page 99.

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THIS SPREAD: The Lodge at Trout Creek Photos by David Patterson Photography

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THIS SPREAD: The Portland at Park Place Photos by Tim Murphy Photography

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“Good design is based off the function of a structure,” Hanlen said. “I always start with the floor plan and how it responds to its site before getting too caught up with a particular style. By considering up front how the structure will overlay onto a given floor plan, the aesthetics become easier to manipulate and adjust as needed. The best designs we have produced have a semblance of many ideas and styles which creates for a more successful final product rather than strict adherence to a particular style.”

Hanlen puts an emphasis on designing for the long term. Creating a house that will still be around in 150 years is the best way to be environmentally responsible, according to the designer. He also takes efforts to design with energy saving initiatives, most frequently incorporating ground source heat pump technology.

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Sundance Ridge Ranch (Williams) Photos by David Patterson

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“The real cost on society is when people build for the short term,” Hanlen said. “While we don’t promote ourselves as a ‘green’ or ‘sustainable’ firm, there has been a concerted effort as long as we have been in business towards building the best possible product, while at the same time taking the opportunity to learn exponentially from each project and to experiment with new ideas whenever possible.”

Brooks Design opened for business in 1996. Over the years, he has tackled a variety of projects ranging from single family, multi-family, land planning, development, and consultation. But his passion has always been highly-detailed single-family homes.

“I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished in 15 years,” Hanlen said. “When I was 12 years old I began working in construction with my grandfather. I’ve been in business for 15 years and in the industry for 24 years. I got into this to do something better, something different.

I don’t want to just do what the industry considers acceptable. I prefer to think, ‘how can we do this better?”

The Portland at Park Place residence was a blending of different ideas -- neoclassical in form and “mountain” in setting, making it a fitting home for the rustic Colorado environment. The home was built in historical downtown Steamboat Springs and meant to look like it had been there for the past 100 years; but, on the interior they took the opportunity to introduce new elements. Hanlen allowed it to blend in with the surrounding neighborhoods while giving it a more open floor plan, efficient construction, updated heating systems and modern conveniences. ALT

GECKO LANDSCAPE AND GARDEN CENTER Steamboat Springs, Colo.-based Gecko Landscape and Garden Center specializes in providing landscaping design and contracting to residential and commercial clients. Gecko’s nursery is fully stocked with seasonal plants, flowers and trees that are stunning and able to withstand demanding mountain climates. Gecko works mostly with local high-end residential homes. Backed with years of experience, Gecko’s dedicated team of designers and contractors implement sustainable landscape design into all of their projects, utilizing aesthetically pleasing design elements that are easy to maintain and reduce resource usage such as water. Gecko works with Brooks Design Build as well as their clients directly to compose visually stunning and environmentally sustainable landscapes. For more information on Gecko Landscape and Garden Center, please call (970) 870-3299. See ad on page 99.

May/June 2011 93

MODERN PAINTING FOR MODERN SPACES.

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architectural products | west

SKINNER PAINTING

ROY SKINNER HAS A LIFETIME OF EXPERIENCE IN HIS CRAFT, WHICH HAS EARNED HIM AN ELITE DISTINCTION FROM THE CALIFORNIA STATE LICENSING BOARD.

by Joel Cornell

Any homeowner, contractor or architect who has tried their hand at painting knows full well that it requires a certain level of skill, foresight and vision to excel at the craft. Roy Skinner learned his craft firsthand from an early age. Today, his firm Skinner Painting is one of the premier painting specialists in the Los Angeles area, having developed a reputation that is taking his brush skills all over the country.

“I grew up outside of Detroit, where all boys learned to work early on. I started painting with my father at age eight. By the time I was 11, I started earning off of my skill and haven’t really stopped,” Skinner said. “When I needed money, there was always a neighbor or a friend who needed something painted, whether it was a door, fence, room or wall. I’ve simply increased the scope of my first and only job, although I’ve certainly gotten much better at it.”

In the beginning, Skinner worked as an apartment manager, overseeing and personally handling the handiwork and painting for the entire complex.

The owner of the company liked his work and gave him more and more work until he was managing over 32 different buildings that needed constant

attention. At this point, the workload had increased to the point that he was happily forced to expand and grow the business.

In hiring only the finest, hand-picked employees, Skinner Painting was realized and the company expanded beyond apartment complexes into high-end residences, office buildings and local businesses. Every client came in through referrals and word-of-mouth.

“The personal connection we make with each client makes for zero blind referrals,” Skinner said.

“We have an extremely vested interest in keeping both our customers and our referrals happy and satisfied. Good work makes for good jobs makes for good business. All of this is summed up in the details, both in the work we do and the way we do it. For instance, we never have quotas. The work will be done when it’s done properly, not when it’s Friday at 5 p.m.”

Today, the majority of Skinner Painting’s clientele are private homeowners located around Los Angeles, from Beverly Hills to Hollywood. His attention to detail, willingness to work closely with clients and understanding that he may be painting over a $10,000 rug or priceless antique have made

him one of the most frequently requested custom painters. Additionally, his services extend beyond painting, into related craft like drywall, wood and window repair.

“Having more than 30 years of experience, our customers have come to expect nothing but the highest quality workmanship,” Skinner said.

“Whether the project is an interior or an exterior finish, we provide thorough and detailed work from surface preparation to the final touches.

Large or small projects, our company will work with the client and/or the decorator to make their vision a reality.”

In 2000, Skinner was recruited by the California State Licensing Board to help rewrite the state’s painter contractor test, which had not seen a revision in 25 years. Upon the completion of this endeavor, California endorsed Skinner as an “Authority of the Applications of Applying Paint.”

Of the more than 20,000 licensed painters in the state, only 24 have achieved this title.

“Being this authority lets me serve as an official witness or expert, but that’s not my interest,” Skinner said. “I just want to paint. I always thought I was pretty good at painting; now it’s official.” ALT Architecture Leaders Today 95

west | regional marketplace

We would like to thank Jess and Bill at Make Architecture for their continued support. We wish you all the best.

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96 Architecture Leaders Today

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regional marketplace | west

May/June 2011 97

west | regional marketplace

98 Architecture Leaders Today

regional marketplace | west

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MIDWEST 102 Davis Architectural Group 103 Stuart J. Fine & Associates 104 River Bluff Architects

Hamilton Elementary School, Hamilton, Mo. Designed by River Bluff Architects.

Photo courtesy River Bluff Architects.

midwest | hospitality

DAVIS ARCHITECTURAL GROUP

STRIKING THE PERFECT BALANCE BETWEEN DESIGN AND BUILDING

by Joel Cornell

When John A. Davis finished his degree in architecture from Ohio State University in 1974, he approached the industry with no preconceived notions on how buildings should be designed, and who should build them.

Through an all-encompassing approach to design and building, Davis has developed the Davis Architectural Group based on talent and vision spanning a plethora of sectors and industry verticals. His firm’s wide range of expertise has yielded growth, despite the economy, and has built a reputation on excellence, quality and dedication.

Davis quickly worked his way through the ranks at some of Ohio’s most reputable firms during the late 1970’s and the early 1980’s. As he began to see gaps in the local markets, Davis decided to strike out on his own and formed the Davis Architectural Group in 1983. The firm has always held a strong focus on the talents and skill sets of the individual designer. While maintaining a broad scope across many industries is vital, so too is the depth of knowledge and understanding that comes with a designer specializing in one sector or another.

Through this cohesive environment, Davis puts each member of his team in the proper position so that they can thrive and succeed. While so many architectural firms today have one team to market and obtain a job, another team to design the project and yet another team to manage the construction process, Davis Architectural Group believes that this process removes the most important aspect of design: strong, interpersonal, working relationships. On every occasion for every project, the team that the client initially

102 Architecture Leaders Today

interviews concerning the project will be the same team to design that project and lead it all the way through construction management to the final stages.

Approximately 75 percent of Davis Architectural Group’s business comes from repeat clients. This demonstrates the firm’s commitment of their clients and their projects. With such a focus on putting talented people in the right position and on always achieving their clients’ goals above their own, Davis Architectural Group’s rapid growth across the Midwest comes as no surprise.

As the firm has evolved and grown over time, David Architectural Group recently moved into a state of the art, 8,500 sq. ft. office and design studio.

Located in the heart of downtown Cambridge, Ohio, the firm is ideally located in order to provide in person, talented services to their clients Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan and throughout the rest of the U.S. ALT

T6, INC. Since 2003, T6, Inc. has been providing comprehensive technology infrastructure design to telecommunications and security clients based on individual customer applications. T6’s intent is to provide the best solution based on the client’s requirements. Technology should be designed to help the client solve a problem, not just technology for technology’s sake. For more information on how T6 can service your technology needs, please visit www.t6inc.com or call 614-419-7944. See ad on page 106.

religious | midwest

Temple Israel, West Bloomfield, Mich. The storytelling area, used by young children, features murals representing Biblical Israel. Photo by Beth Singer.

IN THE HOUSE OF GOD

STUART J. FINE & ASSOCIATES DESIGNS PLACES OF WORSHIP THAT ENCOURAGE INTERACTION BETWEEN THE BUILDINGS AND THEIR PEOPLE

by Felicia Willis

Stuart J. Fine, AIA, NCARB and president of Stuart J. Fine + Associates, Inc., is considered an innovator in the architecture and planning industry; and, especially in the field of religious structures, Fine is considered at the forefront of the design.

One particular large project that used a great deal of intense planning and technology was constructing an Orthodox Jewish mikvah in Oak Park, Mich.

A mikvah is a religious bath used for the purpose of ritual immersion and cleansing in Judaism. The word mikvah literally means “collection” and refers to the collection of rainwater or ritual bathing.

The construction of the mikvah was challenging, because of the many religious requirements. The building of a mikvah must first start with rainwater and the rainwater can only pass through a container made completely of material from the earth, such as clay, mud, stone or sand. Also, the client requested that no metal piping be used to carry the water.

To remedy this, Fine devised a 19 foot by 38 foot rooftop rainwater collector that would supply the bath with natural rainwater.

Built using slip forms, a method used commonly for building the pillars of fishing piers, water is carried to the bath through a concrete tube and the impurities are filtered out as the water passes through a series of gravity fed troughs. The system ends in a holding tank that can be corked or uncorked by the rabbi when the bath is being filled. Religious requirements also eliminated the option of using steel to reinforce the water pits for the mikvah.

Instead, the ritual bath was reinforced with fiberglass

C-bars and the concrete mix included a fiber mesh additive, a practice that is growing in popularity for building highway overpasses.

Every facet of the creation of the mikvah was under intense scrutiny, so that it would satisfy the client’s requirements, the needs of everyone that would use it, as well as an even “higher” authority, Fine said. When the mikvah opened its doors in 2000, it was the largest facility of its type in Michigan, as well as one of the largest in the entire Midwest.

Fine served as project architect for the construction of this project. He traveled to many mikvahs on the east coast to view existing facilities and learn more about them. One of the things that made this project so unique was that newer and more modern construction methods were used along with traditional methods that correspond with the beliefs of the 3,000 year old religious requirements.

The project timetable was a tell-tale sign of how detailed the interpretation process can be. Fine worked on the project for about three years and the client’s planning took even longer still.

In addition to the religious buildings, Stuart J. Fine + Associates, Inc. have other noteworthy projects including industrial, residential work, office interior build-outs, renovation work which include exterior renovations, and space planning. One such client is Temple Israel, also located in West Bloomfield.

They have been a client since 1994.

“I continue to do work for them today,” Fine said.

“A few of the projects that have transpired over

the years have been a school addition, a mikvah, a media center, and renovation of the main sanctuary and social hall.”

The current economy has been challenging on the profession.

“Because of the economy,” Fine said, “my direction has changed. I do a lot more office, medical, dental interiors and more exterior renovations.

Not many ground up buildings.”

But, Fine remains optimistic.

“Where projects are concerned, things are looking better for 2011. Although I’ve struggled, it looks like things are turning around for all of us,” Fine said. The company was born out of a recession, so Fine is no stranger to being successful in business, even with the current state of the industry.

“Before I started the firm, I worked for a large industrial architectural firm in the Detroit area. In 1992, due to another recession, I decided to take a chance and start my own firm, I’ve been working ever since,” Fine said. Repeat clientele is one of the reasons why Stuart J. Fine & Associates, Inc. has enjoyed their level of success.

“I’ve been around for a many years; I started working in this profession back in 1970,” Fine said.

“The business has changed considerably since I started working in the architectural field. In the 1970’s, everything was drawn by hand. Offices didn’t have computers. Now all of our work is done on the computer. This is an improvement; it enables me to work on larger projects in less time and with more accuracy.” ALT May/June 2011 103

midwest | education

Back to School

River Bluff Architects designs state-of-the-art elementary school, which gives Missouri students a much-needed boost

by Paige L. Hill

Rural elementary schools like the one which serves the community of Hamilton, Mo. rarely get the funding to build a new school like their more urban counterparts in nearby Kansas City. But when the opportunity arose last year for the Hamilton R-II School District to build a state-of-the-art school, they chose an architecture firm that would not only give them an innovative educational space, but also one that could double as a community center for the town. They chose River Bluff Architects out of St. Joseph, Mo. for their forward-thinking design and colorful concept in hopes to excite the students.

The school district’s board visited a number of nearby schools, but none of them reflected how their school would need to serve dual functions for the community. The architects at River Bluff helped them settle on a “Main Street” theme 104 Architecture Leaders Today

which would divide the sides of the building into a “Media Center” and a “Café/Commons” area for both students and townspeople. The two areas were built as large glass enclosures meant to evoke creativity and an openness of mind.

The two areas are connected by a long, curving hallway with a dotted yellow line similar to an asphalt road and representing “Main Street.” Along one side of the hallway pod classrooms are grouped in a clerestory fashion by sixes and eights around a common space that can be used for group activities. On the other side, a fine arts room, learning lab and computer room are situated. River Bluff used blocks of color to help lead the students and define specific functions of different parts of the building. The exterior is brightly colored yellow and brick which contrasts with the gently-rolling

hills of the country landscape just behind.

The designers at River Bluff utilized a variety of materials to bring interest to the building for its curious, handsy attendees and use it for an educational purpose. The team used exposed ribbed concrete, reeded glass, and exposed steel structure and piping where they found it appropriate. The tactile nature also encourages little hands to touch and explore the engineering and design behind their school.

River Bluff emphasized the duality of the building by creating a two-way stage accessible to both the gymnasium and cafe/commons area. A moveable partition closes off the stage to the café area making a local production possible for Hamilton, or it can close off to the gymnasium for the school’s drama program.

education | midwest

J&S STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS, P.A.

This is a small certified WBE/DBE firm with large firm experience. The goal is to bring their knowledge of structural engineering to any project in a straightforward approach. J&S Structural Engineers, P.A has over 34 combined years experience with many different materials including steel, precast concrete, cast-in-place concrete, post-tensioned concrete, wood, masonry and cold formed metal framing. See ad on page 106.

Although building a LEED certified school was not a goal from the outset, the green concepts that River Bluff included in the construction have put the Hamilton School well on that path.

The architects used the vast natural light at their disposal for lighting through the use of glass and implemented into the media center, the cafÊ/ commons, the gymnasium and the group activity spaces. Considering the most-used hours for the school are during daylight hours, most of the structure needs no artificial lighting. River Bluff did account for those times when artificial lighting is needed by installing occupancy sensors in all rooms. The money saved on the energy-efficient structure can also be put to better use for the school’s young pupils. ALT May/June 2011 105

midwest | regional marketplace

106 Architecture Leaders Today

INTERNATIONAL

108 Perkins+Will 118 Flansburgh Architects 122 AEG Architecture

An elementary school designed by Flansburgh Architects.

Photo courtesy Flasburgh Architects.

international | education

W

hen the Perkins+Will’s Toronto studio took on the design of the new Engineering 5 building at the University of Waterloo, they faced the rigorous expectations of the 5,000-plus students and faculty at Canada’s premier engineering school. According to lead designer, Andrew Frontini, the highly innovative, 150,000 sq. ft. building has exceeded expectations and is being celebrated as a campus-wide inspiration to students for its groundbreaking approach to sustainability and collaborative design.

Perkins+Will recruited graduates of Waterloo’s engineering program when composing their multidisciplinary design team with the intent that the graduates would draw from their university experience to create the “ideal environment” – one that they would have enjoyed studying in.

“We wanted this building to celebrate the spirit of innovation and foster a collaborative spirit from the outset of the design process,” Frontini said. “And assembling a highly committed and integrated design team was the first step.”

Engineering 5 marks the first phase of a major expansion for Waterloo’s engineering faculty and initiates the master plan for a new engineering precinct on the campus. Since the building’s completion in the fall of 2010, the building has generated keen interest and has become the center of gravity for Waterloo’s engineering faculty.

“The client clearly stated that Engineering 5 would put the energy and creativity of its student population front and center,” Frontini said. “That has been realized in the creation of the 40,000 sq. ft. student design center on the first and second

108 Architecture Leaders Today

Daylight lit lounge spaces on each floor provide a place for faculty and students to interact and provide a sense of address for each of the three engineering departments in the building

FOR ENGINEERS,

BY ENGINEERS

education | international

Perkins+Will’s Toronto studio creates a groundbreaking incubator for student creativity

by Paige L. Hill

May/June 2011 109

international | education

FLYNN CANADA

“

The most sustainable building is the one you don’t have to build, and so adaptability is key.”

110 Architecture Leaders Today

Flynn Canada is proud to have taken part in the construction of the Engineering 5 building at the University of Waterloo, one of the largest and most dynamic buildings on campus. Their team fabricated and installed 26,500 sq. ft. of FibreC reinforced cement wall panels, which added a dramatic contrast to the balance of the clear glazed exterior walls.

“It was a great experience working on this project and helping to realize the vision of Perkins+Will Architects,” said Tony Baita, project manager. “The project ran extremely well — ­­ smooth from start to finish — and we would be honoured to work with their firm again.”

Over the years, architectural projects have become more and more complex, but one thing has remained the same — architects and developers turn to Flynn for innovative product solutions. Their custom and standard architectural metal profiles can make any design concept a reality.

Flynn Canada is Canada’s leading building envelope trade contractor across five major trade sectors: roofing, roofing service, architectural metals, curtain wall and glazing and environmental solutions. For over 30 years, Flynn has been providing quality contracting services to the institutional, commercial and industrial markets. Flynn’s 16 coast-to-coast branches are ready to serve any needs. For more information visit www.flynn.ca. See ad on page 127.

education | international

ABOVE: A third story bridge link connects the Engineering 5 Building to the main campus TOP RIGHT: Research and teaching labs are highly flexible environments with abundant natural light.

BOTTOM RIGHT: Tracing Public Movement; the atrium and feature stair provide a panorama of the building’s varied program.

Photos by Lisa Logan Architectural Photography.

levels of the building.”

This world-class facility for undergraduate research, experimentation and innovation provides work bays, design studios, meeting spaces, student machine shops, engine test labs and a 100-seat computer commons. The building’s most technically sophisticated space is an anechoic testing chamber where researchers can test electronic devices without interference from outside electromagnetic frequencies. In addition, Engineering 5 accommodates four floors of research labs, classrooms and faculty offices for the mechanical, electrical and systems engineering departments.

The university expressed a desire for each depart-

ment to have an address and identity within the new building; and, that all of the functions share in a vibrant common area that would foster community and interaction.

These objectives have been skillfully translated into a bold architectural aesthetic that clearly delineates the building’s various uses and celebrates its public realm. At the heart of the architectural strategy is the articulation of the building’s transparent envelope or “skin” as the design team called it. The six story building was covered using a unitized curtain wall system to create a highly abstract and illuminated geometry. The skin of the upper floors appear to be a series of 3-D pyramids, but it is actually a flat surface printed with a large scale graphic making the entire building a trompe l’oeil from the ground level.

“We wanted to create the illusion of a volumetric - one that would maximize the surface of informa-

tion exchange,” Frontini said. “We wanted it to look as if the creative intelligence within can’t be contained and is radiating out through the skin of the building.”

The illusion was created using a silkscreen process and a baked-on ceramic ink applied as a series of dot patterns with varying densities. Individual glazing units were prefabricated off-site and clipped together on the building frame to create a precisely coordinated and seamless surface.

“The seamlessness of the graphic abstracts the scale of the building in the daytime and as the sun sets, the building slowly transforms,” Frontini said.

Transparency is an ongoing theme throughout Engineering 5. The factory-inspired student design center can be seen throughout much of the building and is a dominant feature from the exterior. Through this openness, program spaces are meant to feel cohesive and showcase students May/June 2011 111

international | education

ABOVE, TOP: The six story atrium is animated by the sculptural presence of the LED feature stair.

ABOVE, BOTTOM: Widened corridors outside the larger teaching spaces provide places for students to interact between classes.

OPPOSITE: The work bays of the student design center are overlooked by classrooms and design studios.

Photos by Lisa Logan Architectural Photography.

at work as an ongoing active exhibit.

“People passing by the building can observe students at work on alternative fuel vehicles or robotics projects,” Frontini said. “This is the incubator for students to cultivate their creativity – a flexible and robust armature where they can bring their imaginations to life.”

Before the completion of Engineering 5, students were using improvised spaces dispersed throughout the campus. The university expressed the need for a centralized space and the result is a highly adaptable industrial space with state-of 112 Architecture Leaders Today

the-art capabilities. This “daylight factory” is one part of a daylight harvesting strategy employed throughout the building. Corridors on all floors terminate in sunny lounge spaces, offices feature glazed screens that transmit borrowed light to corridors and a central atrium telegraphs light deep into the building.

Engineering 5’s central atrium is the heart of its public space system, connecting the various departments and functional areas around a dramatic architectural space. The main staircase zigzags strikingly through the social heart of the building. The staircase is a cranked tubular truss clad in black metal acoustic panels interspersed with graphic LED strips. Perkins+Will treated the staircase as a kind of research project to which all of their engineers contributed. The result is a striking sculptural presence that simultaneously functions as circulation, social mixer, light fixture and acoustic baffle for the space.

“We wanted people to take the stairs and be inspired by its innovation while they climbing it,” Frontini said. “The benefits are manifold. The staircase attracts people, fostering interaction while promoting a more active lifestyle and reducing elevator congestion.”

A significant social space is highlighted by the two story hanging garden where three birch trees grow on a terrace above the building’s main entrance.

As the garden matures, this displaced natural element will tie into the lush vegetation in the foreground of the building’s storm water pond and read in sharp contrast to the abstract, geometric order of the building’s façade. The hanging garden and other landscaped areas were conceived as an extension of the surrounding natural landscape and features indigenous, drought-resistant plants requiring no irrigation and minimal maintenance.

In response to the design challenge of connecting Engineering 5 to the existing campus and the

education | international

built infrastructure, the design team created a glazed pedestrian link, which crosses over a regional rail line and the campus’ ring road. This transparent ribbon of space ties into the third floor where lighting and the dramatic use of color traces the main public routes.

The building is designed to lend itself to maximum adaptation with minimum of cost and disruption for future students. The building is highly modular and rational in its planning. A central service spine brings power, data, gas and water to every floor of the building. Lab partitions are easily moved with just a screwdriver and can be reconfigured along the spine to accommodate changes in class size.

“We took the approach that it was our job to make the building as sustainable as possible in its construction and its future adaptation,” Frontini said. “The most sustainable building is the one you don’t have to build, and so adaptability is key.”

WALLACE INTERNATIONAL Wallace International supplies and installs engineered, automated gate systems for highsecurity applications. Wallace International is the North American manufacturer and provider of Bi-fold SpeedGates, engineered to travel three feet per second. SpeedGates are operational at airports, transit yards, ports and detention centers across Canada and the U.S. Wallace is also the North American distributor of Heras Delta cantilever gates with variable-speed motors, engineered in Holland to exacting specifications. Delta gates travel at 1.5 feet per second and can maintain a high-cycle count even in adverse weather conditions. The rack-and-pinion drive offers a cleaner and quieter operation than standard chain-driven gates.

For more information, call 866-300-1110 or visit www.wallaceintl.com for a full range of gate products and specifications. See ad on page 125.

May/June 2011 113

international | education

ABOVE: The student design center and the building’s public space system are clearly visible in contrast to the geometric frit pattern that covers the glazing of the upper floors.

OPPOSITE: The student design center showcases the creative output of the undergraduate student teams.

Photos by Lisa Logan Architectural Photography.

In the 1960’s, when the firm was known as Shore, Moffat and Partners, they collaborated with Waterloo to create the campus’s master plan and design many of its early structures. Over the next few decades, the firm has contributed to the evolution of the campus on an ongoing basis, authoring many key teaching and research spaces.

“We have a long and successful relationship with the University of Waterloo, and designing the Engineering 5 project was like coming full circle to the firm’s roots,” Frontini said.

114 Architecture Leaders Today

When it came to the initial design process Frontini said that a lot of the team’s inspiration came from simply responding to the university’s needs for innovation, image and sustainability.

The dean of engineering, Adel Sedra, asked the team for an iconic building that would speak to the school’s innovative programs.

“The dean is a very dynamic leader. He and his team engaged us at every stage of the project,” Frontini said.

The $48 million project was delivered under a tight timeline tied to Canada’s federal infrastructure spending and academic space needs. A highly collaborative design approach that featured all of the key stakeholders and a highly rational and flexible planning strategy were required to stay on schedule.

For the University of Waterloo, the Engineering

5 building has provided a powerful marketing and recruiting tool for its ever growing and highly competitive population of prospective engineering students and faculty. For Perkins+Will it garnered some unexpected press, as well.

“The building has been attracting a lot of attention, even while under construction,” Frontini said.

“The staircase and the façade are appearing in blogs and on the Flickr sites of amateur photographers before we’ve even begun to promote it.”

Engineering 5 is an example of the firm’s commitment to an innovative architectural approach that seeks inspiration from client needs. Projects of this caliber are what attracted Perkins+Will to the Canadian market in 2009. Perkins+Will will form a Canada-wide practice over the coming decade. ALT

education | international

BONDFIELD CONSTRUCTION, INC. As an active leader in the construction industry throughout Ontario, Canada, Bondfield Construction, Inc. has been manufacturing buildings of the highest quality since the early 1970’s.

The company was founded in Concord, Ontario with the intention of keeping their level of service and quality a step above the rest at all times — a goal at which the company has yet to fail. As a full service design/build general contracting firm, Bondfield has maintained the ability to specialize in a vast range of building types, from theatres, libraries and recreational centers to hospitals, correctional facilities and long-term care facilities. While many builders stand out in the field of educational buildings or institutional buildings, Bondfield Construction, Inc. manages to specialize in all of the above, granting them exclusive access to new, burgeoning sectors and unique projects of all sorts.

“It was a conscious decision we made in the late 1980’s before the economic recession of the 1990’s,” said vice president of operations Steve Aquino. “If there was ever a time when projects stopped coming in from one sector or another, we would always have other work to fall back on.

“At first, we realized that increasing the range of our projects might mean losing some of our specialized knowledge concerning the finer details of schools or hospitals or libraries. We’ve bridged that gap through retaining specialists who have worked within one sector or another for many years.

This leaves them able to perform any kind of project, in addition to being able to serve as a special advisor on any project within their specialty that we may take on.”

In having a long-standing partnership with Perkins+Will, Bondfield Construction, Inc. has held true to their lofty goal of maintaining the highest quality that a design/build firm can offer.

See ad on page 125.

May/June 2011 115

architectural products | international

SOUND SOLUTIONS

ON A WINNING STREAK WITH THE FUTURE’S TOP PLAYER IN THE BUILDING MATERIALS GAME: FIBREC

by Joel Cornell

116 Architecture Leaders Today

W

hen the celebrated FNB Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa needed a renovation in order to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup, they employed only the best products for every aspect of the project. For the entirety of their concrete materials, the designers of the new stadium approached an Austrian manufacturing company paving a new road in the future of sustainable concrete materials — Rieder.

When Hans Rieder founded Rieder in 1959, the scope of work consisted mainly of traditional precast concrete, concrete pavers and other various types of highway and railway sound abatement products throughout Austria and into Germany and Italy. The company grew and evolved, but

always emphasized cutting-edge products and techniques at the forefront of their business model.

In 2003, Hans retired and his son Wolfgang gained control, aiming to take the company into a new era of technology, sustainability and efficiency. Wolfgang focused on developing products idealized for export, involving simple and environmentally friendly production and installation methods. That year, an astounding product was developed — fibreC. The miracle product, fibreC, is created through a natural extrusion process which incorporates layers of fiberglass into a concrete matrix. The omission of any steel reinforcement allows for the construction of slim, yet highly stressable concrete elements. The end result is a lightweight material, 13 millimeters thick, with high flexural strength.

No chemicals or colors are added to alter appearances or to increase durability. Only natural aggregates are used to achieve the desired color, and the concrete is composed only sand, cement and water.

FibreC is cured naturally, requiring no heat. The final product is 100 percent recyclable.

Sound Solutions is an exclusive distributor of fibreC in North America.

“Many of our institutional clients needed flexible concrete building materials with a life cycle longer than 50 years,” said Sound Solutions principal Andrew Rogers. “We found exactly that and more in fibreC. More and more architects are looking to use better design tools that can create more shapes, as opposed to simple, square boxes. FibreC is and will be a leader in all aspects of material design to carry us through the future.” ALT

international | architectural products

ALUMICOR

CONSISTENTLY LEADING THE WAY IN GREEN BUILDING INNOVATION

by Chelsea Muth

S

ince 1959 Alumicor has driven innovation in the building industry with its products and manufacturing capabilities that effectively respond to the evolving needs of the architectural and building community.

Alumicor has earned respect and recognition for technical competence, responsiveness and integrity and is a preferred Canada-based supplier of architectural aluminum building envelope products.

Alumicor’s commitment to sustainable design through the exclusive use of recycled aluminum complies with LEED’s materials and resources credit 4 for recycled content. Fully dedicated to support green building projects, Alumicor only provides architectural aluminum profiles that are extruded from recycled aluminum billet.

Alumicor offers a comprehensive product line of aluminum curtain walls, windows, vents, storefront and entrance doors, all of which complement any building design. Specialty ventilators which deliver maximum security can be installed into any of their fixed window products or curtain wall systems; and styles which are engineered to meet high performance and energy efficient specifications are also available. Alumicor offers zero sight line vents for maximum security, discreet operable windows for use in curtain walls and fixed window systems and storefronts.

Alumicor has also provided state-of-the-art anodizing since 1976. This high-capacity, environmentally friendly process produces a fine degree of color uniformity and coating consistency. Anodizing is available in a range of standard colors including clear, bronze and black. Exceptionally large 10-meter tanks accommodate large architectural sections and specialty items.

Alumicor is even more poised than ever to service the North American market with the addition of a new 180,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility, distribution warehouse and corporate office located in Toronto, Canada.

Alumicor proudly boasts five manufacturing facilities as well as a number of sales centers across the country.

Alumicor is a dynamic company committed to success. This success is shown in product innovation and dedication to employee satisfaction.

Workplace safety and promoting a culture of mutual respect and continuous learning is considered a top priority, and they recognize that their most productive investment is their employees. Alumicor’s goal is to provide innovative products, on time and at a competitive price; it is through the dedication, skills and initiative of their employees that Alumicor will continue to prosper. ALT May/June 2011 117

international | green building

WHEN ARCHITECTS FORGE A PATH TO THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF SUSTAINABLE DESIGN As leaders in eco-friendly design, Boston’s Flansburgh Architects receive high awards and international jobs in the academic arena.

by Rebecca Carnes

The Flansburgh design of 565,000 sq. ft. Lawrence High School in Lawrence, Mass. references the city’s rich textile manufacturing heritage and features a campus-like structure to support six career academies, each with a specific professional development focus to serve 3,000 students.

A

s a leader in sustainable, educational building and design, Flansburgh Architects has garnered high marks from the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED program for over a decade. The Bostonbased firm specializes in the design of eco-friendly academic facilities in the U.S. and abroad. In recent years the firm’s international reach has extended over several continents, with projects located in Lebanon, Mongolia and the Congo. Flansburgh has received over 80 awards for architectural design excellence, sustainable design, and facilities master planning.

“We hope to create iconic, sustainable, and memorable buildings that are inspired by place,” said Flansburgh Architects President David Croteau. Originally founded in 1963, the firm achieved 118 Architecture Leaders Today

early success in Massachusetts’ educational sector.

“As success so frequently begets success, the firm has stuck to what it does best,” Croteau said.

Through the decades, schools have grown ever more institutionally diverse. This diversity helps keep the design approach fresh. With clients ranging from PreK-12 public, charter and independent schools, to colleges and universities and utilizes a multitude of building programs types, including athletic centers, dining commons, stadiums, libraries, and theaters. Perhaps the firm’s most unique design solutions are those realized for a school’s project-based, learning spaces.

“Our office completed the first LEED certified public school building in Massachusetts back in 2001, when no one knew what LEED was. Now, nearly every member of our firm is LEED certified,” Croteau said.

Flansburgh Architects is committed to involving

green building | international

THIS PAGE: The Hawaii Preparatory Academy’s Energy Lab will be the first school facility in the world to meet the Living Building Challenge, a standard that exceeds LEED Platinum. The Energy Lab was conceived as a high school science building dedicated to the study of alternative energy.

May/June 2011 119

international | green building

ABOVE: The new 32-bed, 19,500 sq. ft. Williston Northhampton student dormitory and three faculty residences integrate the campus and local community. The dormitory is powered by a geothermal energy system.

120 Architecture Leaders Today

the client, and intimately understanding the physical environment of an institution. This process typically includes meeting everyone involved at a school. For each project, Croteau establishes a makeshift office on campus, and for a week he and the design team attend classes to get to know students, faculty and staff.

“Schools are impressed with our level of commitment, however there is an even deeper underlying moral responsibility that goes along with developing a sustainable design - that of educating students to live in a sustainable way,” Croteau said.

“Achieving sustainable designs for our educational clients couldn’t be a more laudable goal.”

Flansburgh Architects most recent signature project earned LEED Platinum, the USGBC’s highest certification level. Hawaii Preparatory Academy’s Energy Laboratory project on the Big Island of Hawaii is also pursuing an even more rigorous green assessment program, the Living Building Challenge. The Energy Lab is the third-ever Living Building attempted, and would become the first educational facility in the world to meet the Living Building Challenge.

Conceived as a high school science building dedicated to the study of alternative energy, the building is zero-net-energy, consuming a third of what it produces from wind and photovoltaic arrays. The Energy Lab catches and filters all of its own drinking water, and generates hot water from solar thermal panels. The building

is entirely naturally ventilated and incorporates an experimental radiant cooling panel system to supplement air conditioning. The movement of wind across the site shaped the initial concept for the building, and the naturally ventilated design was further enhanced through computer-generated dynamic energy modeling.

The project has received numerous awards including the 2010 Merit Award for Integrated Design/Integrated Development from AIA New Hampshire, the AIA Honolulu Members Choice Award, an AIA New England Design award, and the 2011 Walter Taylor Award from the American Association of School Administrators. The jury for AIA Honolulu described the project as: “An honest and powerful design response to site, use and materials. This project stands poetically in the landscape while leading by example with an unpretentious look at global environmental issues today.” The jury for the Walter Taylor Award remarked that the project is “an impressive example of how a building that is designed to foster student discovery, exploration and experimentation, can embrace and demonstrate those qualities.” HPA’s Energy Lab is a shining example of Flansburgh’s dedication to site responsive design that keeps them at the forefront of the sustainable buildings movement.

“It contributes to the lives of students who will make a difference in the world,” Croteau said. “All of the educational institutions with whom we work

green building | international

approach the project with the same intellectual rigor we do. While we’ve been early adopters of sustainable design, it’s exciting to see now that everyone in the design community is in it.”

Success truly begets success for Flansburgh Architects. Educational clients’ demand for sustainable facilities is greater than ever. Independent and international schools now eagerly embrace green projects. At home in Massachusetts, public schools were recently required to meet LEED Silver. In Lebanon, Flansburgh is striving for a LEED gold rating, a first for an academic building

in that country. Croteau believes strongly that the principles of sustainability, pedagogy, and sense of place are important considerations in all projects and should guide architectural design.

“As an architect it’s exciting to meet new people, and thrilling to seek out new challenges.

It keeps life interesting,” Croteau said. “When we bring sustainable buildings to remote locations, we find that international schools share an understanding of the value of sustainable design. They speak our language.” ALT

BELOW: The new, 67,635 sq. ft. Morey Elementary School is located in a dense residential neighborhood of single-family homes. The building’s modular layout uses repetitive building systems to reduce first cost and maximize operational flexibility. Skylights and clerestories in classrooms, gymnasium, cafeteria and library reduce electrical lighting costs.

May/June 2011 121

international | government

AEG

BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN ARCHITECTURE AND ENGINEERING

by Anne Brouillette

I

t takes a lot to get a recommendation from the New York City Police Department. But for Architecture & Engineering Group, it was no big deal. “We would readily recommend AEG to another agency requiring Architectural/Engineering Services,” Richard Robbins, chief architect, wrote.

AEG serves both public and private sectors in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, though they are based in New Brunswick, N.J. Their work, while focused in the Tri-State area, also extends overseas.

The firm specializes in condition assessment, structural integrity assessment, architectural and engineering design and approvals, interior design and space planning, site and civil engineering, construction management and construction inspection.

AEG is unique in that they focus on, like their name relates, architecture and engineering. They employ both licensed engineers and architects. Syed Tariq Mahmood received his Bachelor of Architecture in 1988 from the National College of Arts in Lahore, Pakistan. From there, he went to University College London. His private sector experience has allowed him to work on a variety of projects, including corporate sector interiors, libraries, airlines, and even data communication providers.

This varied history, coupled with Mahmood’s international background, has allowed AEG to grow in all directions. They’ve completed projects for the 122 Architecture Leaders Today

American University at Cairo Egypt, United Airlines, Bank of America, the U.S. Navy and The British Council, just to name a few.

A recent project for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey required AEG’s expert services in both fields. They provided design and construction support for black flow prevention, a device used to protect water supplies from contamination or pollution, as well as installing new domestic water services at Waldo Yard. The project also consisted of removing an existing underground tank and re-furbishing the space for new equipment. They worked closely with PANYNJ to have all drawings, specifications and cost estimates approved in a timely manner.

They’ve also completed two other projects for PANYNJ, including the rehabilitation of the Path Station at Exchange Place, N.J. and various assignments at Stewart Airport, N.Y. AEG developed detailed drawings for the removal and replacement of the existing pipes under the floor and opened details in existing grade beams and concrete walls to allow for the new piping, as well as replaced the granite floor.

Their work with the New York City Police Department involved a structural integrity inspection and load rating of 70,000 sq. ft. of a vehicle maintenance facility in Brooklyn. The job involved inspecting the two-story building for section losses in steel and concrete. Since there were no existing structural

drawings to work from, AEG used probes to test the concrete to determine where and how big the re-bars were located. They were then able to map out the building’s structure and provide detailed reports back to the NYPD showing where deterioration had occurred.

The engineering portion of AEG is headed up by Yousuf Tai and Ali Shahid, who both have a master’s degree in engineering. Together, they bring over fifty years of experience to the table.

Tai has worked around the globe in the private and public sectors, focusing on structural, civil and site engineering and assessment. At AEG, he is responsible for preparing design documents, assisting clients in selecting contractors, providing construction support services and project budgets.

Shahid has worked as a project engineer, senior engineer, project executive and director of structural engineering, ensuring his ability to handle any and all projects. Past projects include bridges, off-shore structures, high-wind and seismic environments and retaining walls.

Together, Tai, Shahid and Mahmood bridge the gap between architecture and engineering, an integral relationship that couldn’t function without the other.

It’s this sense of teamwork that’s made them one of the Tri-State’s finest firms, and that comes with a recommendation from New York City’s finest. ALT

regional marketplace | international

May/June 2011 123

regional marketplace | international

May/June 2011 125

regional marketplace | international

May/June 2011 127

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MidSouth Steel, Inc 16949 Highway 1 Harrisburg, AR 72432 midsouthsteel@att.net 870-578-9276

On-Site Systems 470 Satellite Blvd NE/Bldg A Suwanee, GA derek@on-sitesystems.com 770-614-4144

Mike Adams Plumbing 601 M and M Ranch Rd Granbury, TX 76049 meadams.1@netzero.net 817-573-4414

Osso Plumbing 118 W 83rd St Cellar E New York, NY 10024 ossoadolfo@yahoo.com 646-533-0043

Milano Electric 10143 Royalton Rd/Ste R N. Royalton, OH 44133 carmen@milanoelectric.com 440-582-2642

Palacio Collaborative 1425 Ellsworth Industrial Blvd NW/Ste 7 Atlanta, GA 30318 mpalacio@palaciocollaborative.com 404-609-9006

Milgard Windows romabrandon@milgard.com 916-869-1281

Parson Engineering 210 12th Ave S./Ste 209 Nashville, TN 37203 apezzi@parsonsengineering.com 615-386-9396

Jose A. Velazquez, PE 130-08 122 Pl South Ozone Park, NY 11420 javbintgro@aol.com 718-323-0754 Jose’s Masonry 2700 Cicero Rd Noblesville, IN 46060 joses_masonry@yahoo.com 317-213-8135 J-Squared Planning and Design 22462 E Hidden Trail Dr/Ste P Parker, CO 80138 j2design@comcast.net 303-726-1707 JTJ Commercial Interiors 200 Shady Grove Rd Nashville, TN 37214 tc_jtj@bellsouth.net 615-872-9363 Judson Truss, Inc. 202 Challenge Ave Prattville, AL 36367 chuck@judsontruss.com 334-358-1335 Kellenberger Electric 1540 Fleetwood Dr Elgin, IL 60123 tim@kellenbergerelectric.com 847-888-8192 Kim Engineering 11127 New Hampshire Ave Silver Spring, MD 20904 sunnykim@kimengineering.com 301-754-2882 Kitchens by Mittman 149-42 Cross Island Pkwy Whitestone, NY joel@kitchensbymittman.com 718-352-8818 Knell’s Door & Hardware 2090 Shirley Dr Kitchener, ON (CAN) rdippell@knells.ca 519-743-4344 Knotts Interiors 1505 N. Hermitage Rd Hermitage, PA 16148 knottsinteriors@yahoo.com 724-962-5766 KONE 3701 SW 29th St Oklahoma City, OK 73119 roger@wahlheim@kone.com 405-682-5651 Koorsen Fire & Safety 2719 N. Arlington Ave Indianapolis, IN 46218 klhenderson99@koorsen.com 317-542-1800 Lampley Construction Co. 7109 Loblolly Pine Blvd Fairview, TN 37062 sllampley@bellsouth.net 615-799-2088

Leliene Inc. 520 Allen’s Side Rd Sault Ste Marie, ON (CAN) mpochtaruk@heliene.ca 705-575-6556 LR Nelson Engineers 6765 West Russell Rd/Ste 200 Las Vegas, NV 89118 kent.barber@lrneng.com 702-798-7978 Lubo Lighting International 1352 Pierre-Mercan Carignan, QC (CAN) info@lubolighting.com 450-658-7795 M&M Cosmetic Sealants 1411 Ormsby Lane Louisville, KY 40222 mcfarljw3@insightbb.com 502-445-8612 Magnum Energy 211 W. Casino Rd Everett, WA 98204 gbaxter@magnumenergy.com 425-353-8833 Maspeth Roofing and Siding 54-30 44th St Maspeth, NY 11378 willie@maspethroofing.com 718-639-2200 Masterpiece Stair 2250 S. Jason St. Denver, CO 80224 masterpiecestair@gmail.com 303-922-5700 Matson Carlson & Associates 15658 Point Monroe Dr NE Bainbridge Island, WA 98110 sandra@costestimates.com 206-447-9558 May Hawfield 440 N. Wabash Ave/Ste 4409 Chicago, IL 60611 mayhawfield@sbcglobal.net 312-245-2792 MBB Enterprises of Chicago 3352 W. Grand Ave Chicago, IL 60651 evelyn@mbbmasonry.com 773-278-7100 McCombs Steel Co. 117 Slingshot Rd Statesville, NC 28677 mmccombs@mccombs-steel.com 704-873-7563 McFarlin Huitt Panvini 1213 16th Ave S Nashville, TN 37212 rmcfarlin@mhparchitects.com 615-329-3922 Med Flooring, Inc 2604 Grissom Dr Nashville, TN 37204 rlpmedfloor12345@aol.com 615-742-1699

Minnicks Heating & Cooling rob@minnicks.net 301-953-2820 Mitchell Acoustics & Drywall, Inc 3721 S. Missouri Ave Oklahoma City, OK 73129 mitchellacoustics@sbcglobal.net 405-677-8400 Montrose Surveying CO 116-20 Metropolitan Ave Richmond, Hill NY 11418 sona@montrosesurveying.com 7188490600 Morning Star Elevator 11641 Ridgeline Dr Colorado Springs, CO 80921 richard@mselevator.com 719-635-7960 Morse Construction 57 Central St Somerville, MA 2143 paul@morseconstructions.com 617-666-4460 MTE Consultants 520 Bingemans Centre Dr Kitchener, ON (CAN) ivandenhoff@mte85.com 519-743-6500 Multi-Media Interiors 4421 Park Blvd Ste 202 San Diego, CA 92116 fitweiler@gmail.com 619-296-4664

Pauly Jail Building Co diane@ind.paulyjail.com 317-580-0833 PCI Industries 21717 Rebublic St Oak Park, MI 48237 brandonp@pcionesource.com 248-542-2570 PCR Contractors Inc 5255 CR 42 Windsor, ON (CAN) jkuzniak@pcrcontractors.com 519-966-8718 Pecora Flooring 14700 Rt. 30 North Huntingdon, PA 15642 mcaralli@pecoraflooring.com 412-825-3780 Penonni 29 W 35th St 8th FL New York, NY 10001 flindquist@pennoni.com 212-239-7600 Philco Woodworking 4561 Mission Gorge Plc San Diego, CA 92120 philcoconstruction@sbcglobal.net 619-516-4253 Pool Covers Inc cking@poolcoversinc.com 707-864-6674

New England Window Systems 32 H St Boston, MA 2127 russell@fiberglasswindows.com 617-269-6397

Portal Openings 7996 Hembree Ln Windor, CA 95492 joel@portalopenings.com 707-695-3368

Next Energy Corp 1110 Burnett Ave/Ste E Concord, CA 94520 randy@nextenergycorp.com 925-798-0600

Precision Cabinets 900 W. Jericho Tpke Smithtown, NY 11787 precisioncab@optonline.net 631-543-3870

Nichiha 6659 Peachtree Ind Blvd/Ste AA Norcross, GA 30092 dhaugan@nichiha.com 866-424-4121

Precision Plumbing 1711 Dalshank St Pflugerville, TX 78660 lynne@pcplumbing.com 512-288-6684

Pro Custom Solar 5234 Kaitlyn Ct Princeton Junction, NJ 08550 cameron@procustomsolar.com 732-310-6052

Service Resource 216 Rucker Ave Nashville, TN 37210 c.hawkins.com@comcast.net 615-889-6892

Stony Bridge Landscaping 1800 Cornwall Rd Lebanon, PA 17042 ed@stonybridge.com 717-274-3595

Torres Fiscal Cabinets PO Box 727 Donna, TX 78537 felipe3e.torres@yahoo.com 956-461-3215

Product & Design P.O. Box 83286 marcelle@productanddesign.com

Shan Engineering, Inc 9039 Katy Freeway/Ste 216 Houston, TX 77024 mohammed@shanengineering.net 832-615-9308

Superior Enterprises 871 Thornton Pkwy Ste 184 Thornton, CO 80229 kfb@superiorenterprises.biz 303-472-7749

Tortoise Industries 3052 Treadwell Street Los Angeles, CA 90065 steve@tortoiseindustries.com 323-258-7776

Simplex Grinnell 6423 Shelby View Dr/Ste 107 Memphis, TN 38134 jeallison@simplexgrinnell.com 901-3860532

Surrette Battery Co 1 Station Rd Spring Hill, NS 0 jeffmyles@gmail.com

Triangle Fence Co err@wilkes.net 336-984-3961

Professional Flooring Services Grp 204 St. Charles Way, Box 304E York, PA 17402 mikeroser3@comcast.net 717-683-7473 Pro-Tone Contracting 148 Lawrence Plc New Rochelle, NY 10801 gmanolakis@pro-tone.biz 914-632-3690 Quest Hospitality Suppliers 1910 8th Ave NE Aberdeen, SD 57401 kent@questsupply.com 605-229-8811 R&R Engineering Systems 14886 W. Columbine Dr Surprise, AZ 85379 rob@reviewyoursolar.com 623-340-2851 Ramsey-Daugherty Co. Inc. 5123 Harding Rd Nashville, TN 37205 jay@ramseydaugherty.com 615-207-5894 Razorback Concrete Co. 211 North Sixth St West Memphis, AR 72303 kwetsell@razorbackconcrete.com 870-735-8610 Rhino Demolition 108 Case Ct Littel River, SC 29566 cgsmith@rhinodemolition.com 843-399-2153 Rich Duncan Construction 200 Hawthrone Ave SE Salem, OR 97301 richduncanco@comcast.net 503-390-4999 Robert D. Young Construction 90 N McKinley St Greenwood, IN 46143 ryoung@rdyci.com 317-887-8550 Rosebud Concrete 57 E. Rosebud Rd Myerstown, PA 17067 jpeach@rosebudconcrete.com 717-866-2353 Salt Electric 6401 N. Broadway/Ste M Denver, CO 80221 matthew@saltelectric.com 303-257-7212 San Juan Sound and Vison P.O. Box 1159 Norwood, CA 81423 simon@sjsv.net 970-327-0431 Schield Family Brands (Weather Shield) P.O. Box 309/One Weather Shield Plaza Medford, WI 54451 vweber@sfbrands.net 715-748-2100 x3723 Senate Masonry 3750 University BlvdW Ste 200 Kensington, MD 20895 everett@senatemasonry.com 301-816-0013

Skinner Painting royskinner2003@yahoo.com 310-227-9552 SM Lawrence Jackson, TN 38301 tmccalmon@smlawrence.com 731-423-0112 SnowCap Decorative Hardware 39844 M Rd Paonia, CA 81428 shelly@snowcapdh.com 970-527-3889 Solar Structure Systems 3623 S. 7th St Phoenix, AZ 85040 richard@solarstructuresystems.com 602-243-0291 Sooner Fireplace 7005 N. Spoon Ter Edmond, OK 73025 sales@soonerfireplace.com 405-348-9778 Soul Renovation Solutions 101-B Trotter St Nixa, MO 65714 chris@srsremodel.com 417929-1424 Sound and Vision 39 W. 32nd St. Ste. 1704 neil@svatusa 212-786-2340 Sound Solutions mail@soundsolutions.ca 416-740-0303 (CAN) Southern Stone 1100 E. Expressway 83 Donna, TX 78537 sylvia.southernstone@yahoo.com 956-464-5979 Speciality Concrete Services 130 Appleton Rd Rexford, NY 12148 specialityconcrete@gmail.com 518-424-2258 Stan Johnson Pool Construction Inc 117 Anna Dr Windsor, CA 95492 stan@sjpcinc.com 707-620-0904 Standards of Excellence 6085 State Farm Dr/Ste 200 Rohnert Park, CA 94928 kvilchyk@searsabd.com 650-591-2337 Steel Ceilings, Inc 451 E. Coshocton St Johnstown, OH 43031 grant.snowden@stellceilings.com 800-848-0496 Sterling Engineering Grp 7355 Village Green Dr Houston, TX 77040 dbrick@sedg.net 281-583-7088

T6, Inc. 101 Green Meadows Dr. South/Ste 110 Lewis Center, OH 43035 thom@t6inc.com 614-880-2555 TEA Consultants 62 Saturday Red Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464 jay@thompsoneng.com 803-381-8683 Tectonic 8 Johnson St. Staten Island, NY 10309 evelyn@tectonicindustries.com 718-966-4810 Terminix Services P.O. Box 5281 Asheville, NC 28813 rbarnes@trustterminix.com 828-253-3816 Terracon 5301 Beverly Dr Oklahoma City, OK 73105 aphancock@terracon.com 405-525-0453 Terzano Cabinetry 25 Ruta Ct S. Hackensack, NJ 07606 terzanocabinetry@verizon.net 201-373-9500 Textura Corp 1405 Lake Cook Rd Deerfield, IL 60015 bill.eichhorn@texturacorp.com 847-235-8422 The Comfort Group 659 Thompson Ln Nashville, TN 37204 shanaalford@thecomfortgroup.com 615-263-2900 Thomas 2419 E. Tremont Ave Bronx, NY catalanoplumbing@optonline.net 718-931-8200 Thos. Rewerts & Co. 4550 Main St/Ste 216 Kansas City, MO 64111 t.rewerts@rewerts.com 816-531-2666 TMP Consulting Engineers 52 Temple Place Boston, MA 2111 rnoce@tmpeng.com 617-357-6060 Tom Orner 200 Gale St Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 oymmot@hotmail.com 717-576-9435

Tucker Construction 1725-D Little Orchard St San Jose, CA 95125 mark@tuckercon.com 408-287-1424 TW Perry 8131 Snouffer School Rd Gaithersburg, MD 20879 jpurdy@twperry.com 301-840-9600 Upper Canada Speciality Hardware Ltd 10 Brentcliffe Rd/Unit 14 Toronto, ON (CAN) boydr@ucsh.com 905-940-8358 Upstate Door 26 Industrial Street Warsaw, NY 14569 rob@upstatedoor.com 5857863880 Valley Pacific Concrete 27580 Tabb Ln Menifee, CA 92584 kristi@vpconcrete.com 951-672-6151 Valley Security Co. 88 Riverwood Dr Oswego, IL 60543 tomcooksr@comcast.net 630-554-1090 Viridian 100 Gamble Rd Little Rock, AR 72211 matt@viridianusa.com 501-227-0648 Wallace Int’l mkielbiski@wallaceintl.com 705-434-2837 Western Pacific Electric 23615 137th Dr. SE Snohomish, WA 98296 gabe@wpelectric.biz 360-669-3959 Wilkerson Insulation Company 1611 Sain Andrews Terrace Rd Columbia, SC 29210 wesswilk@yahoo.com 803-513-5438 Window Works 38 East Northfield Rd Livingston, NJ 07039 callwindowworks@comcast.net 973-535-5860 WoodWorking Wonders 5250 Raleigh St Denver, CO 80212 bnc85ant@aol.com 720-300-9400 Zandur 80 Nottingham Dr. Nottingham, PA 19362 rmckee@zandur.com 610-932-4390