/ALTNovDec2011

Nine-to-Five CPG ARCHITECTS

Sophisticated office designs from CPG, like the recently completed Nestle Waters North America headquarters, make employees look forward to Mondays.

Aesthetic Alliance

NAROFSKY ARCHITECTURE

The tour de force teamwork between Narofsky Architecture and Ways2Design takes residential design to new heights with an emphasis on emotional resonance and tactile expression.

Big Apple Bites

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

Nov/Dec 2011 $24.95 USD $26.30 CAN

JCJ ARCHITECTURE

This firm is putting their stamp on the Manhattan skyline with landmark projects in the Empire State Building and the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center.

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

Cruisin' down Highway One INTERNATIONAL DESIGN GROUP

This firm has designs all over the world, but some of their best work is closer to home – the rare and beautiful homes that sit perched over the Pacific Ocean.

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

Teacher's Pet

MITCHELL/GIURGOL A ARCHITECTS

From Ph.D. students at Rockefeller University to the undergrads running the full functional dairy at Cornell, this New York-based firm solves architectural problems in the higher education realm like, well, pros.

November/December 2011 5

21 42 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

ARCHITECTURE LE ADER S Editor-in-Chief Todd Weaver Editor Diana Doyle Executive Editor Jonathan Mack Assistant Editor Joseph Orange Creative Director Maria J. Owens Art Director Anthony Walker Advertising Director Julian Vu Editorial Design Kris Apodaca, James Barry Advertising Design Jennifer Bitzinger Photo Editor Susan Maybach Editorial Director Kate Darling Staff Writers Joel Cornell, Paige L. Hill Copy Editor Mariya I. Bouraima Content Directors Brandon McBride, Lisa Talbot, Sophia Hartwick, Jill Patel, Anna Hartwick, Quenshell Williams, Sharon Randolph, George Johnson Vendor Relations Director Diana Stephens Vendor Relations Eric Miller, Steve Peters Advertising Sales Director Peter Jostens Advertising Sales Moe Kazemi, Dwayne McCoy, Joseph Washington 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

NAROFSKY ARCHITECTS/WAYS2DESIGN

Narofsky Architects and Ways2Design work in perfect harmony to accomplish diverse projects, from a spacious downtown penthouse customized to the client's exclusive lifestyle to luxurious waterfront living on Long Island.

TODAY

in this issue IN EVERY ISSUE

08 Staff Editorial 10 Guest Editorial 12 Industry News 13 Calendar 16 The Hot List 143 Advertising Index NORTHEAST

24 JCJ Architecture

The New York branch of this firm certainly has a knack for snagging big name projects on the New York City scene, like the Empire State Building and the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center.

30 Narofsky Architects and Ways2Design

Soaring New York City skylines and Long Island’s historic waterfront serve as backdrops for recent projects out of this firm which works heavily in residential design.

36 Mitchell Giurgola

From designing a dairy at Cornell University to a super research center where Ph.D. candidates can collaborate at Rockefeller University, this firm understands the higher education sector inside and out.

42 Crown Design & Consulting

Restaurants hardly survive on their cuisine alone – ambience, design and perfect lighting all play into the dining experience. The restaurants designed by Crown all embrace this maxim.

46 The Design Alliance

This firm combines their experience in architecture and graphic design to renovate and re-brand universities and hospitals alike, breathing new life into historic buildings.

48 ikon.5 architects

This firm doesn’t mind being in the spotlight with a portfolio heavy in public projects and institutions, like the recently completed Kirkwood Public Library in New Castle, Del. that shines along a bland roadway.

54 CPG Architects

Gary Unger thrives on the fine art of creating spaces where people actually enjoy working – like the recently completed headquarters for Nestle Waters North America.

22 WEST

105 Pfeiffer Partners

17 SOUTH

74 Sorg Architects

The highly global firm based out of Washington, D.C. has designed projects everywhere from India to the Caribbean, like the recently completed U.S. Embassy in the Barbadian capital city of Bridgetown.

82 Studio Agoos Lovera

There is nothing this firm isn’t ready to tackle when it comes to using clean design with green elements – like the overhaul of a Philadelphia high school and a dinosaurthemed museum store in Texas.

Excelling particularly in academic projects, Pfeiffer Partners' extensive work on the premiere music school in Los Angeles, The Colburn School for Performing Arts, deserves its own hallelujah chorus.

109 RealArchitecture Ltd.

The joint venture of RealArchitecture Ltd. and UnrealConstruction LLC., brings unique rural-meets-modern, rustic-meets-contemporary designs to the Denver metro area.

118 Hibser Yamauchi Architects, Inc.

This California-based firm hopes to make an impact on the healthcare community with their “wellness first” approach to designing facilities like the Hillcrest Mental Health Center.

122 Scott & Goble Architects

Lowes' go-to architects for 10 years and running, this firm recently completed three Lowe's stores in California, each with a unique identity; the first urban Lowe's in San Francisco was a welcome newcomer to the city.

124 International Design Group

The exquisitely designed custom homes out of International Design Group only have to compete with their equally breathtaking sites, like Big Sur and Pebble Beach along the Californian coastline.

88 Forum Architecture

The rate at which this big name firm churns out multi-family and specialized housing projects is nothing short of prolific – from hotels to upscale student housing, from senior to affordable housing.

94 Ross Design Group

Maintaining a presence in the residential sector is key to the success of this firm. Ross works toward accomplishing everything his clients ask for on their “Dream Sheets.”

ARCHITECTURAL PRODUCTS & SERVICES

62 Collective Design Associates

When CPG Architects designed the new Nestle Waters headquarters, they chose Collective Design Associates for engineering all the internal systems based on their experience and global successes.

editorial

AWA, Architects With Attitude

by Paige L. Hill

WHEN RAPPER ICE CUBE SUDDENLY ANNOUNCES HIS LOYALTY TO RAY & CHARLES EAMES WITH A SHORT FILM DEDICATED TO THEIR WORK, WE’VE GOT TO ASK, “DOES ARCHITECTURE HAVE MORE STREET CRED NOW?”

8 Architecture Leaders Today

The architecture world is abuzz following the recent news that rapper Ice Cube is releasing a short film based on the architects Ray and Charles Eames’ influence on his life entitled “Ice Cube Celebrates Ray & Charles Eames” in conjunction with Pacific Standard Time’s gallery exhibit on the architects’ work.

[Insert record scratch here]. Excuse me, what? The man who once rapped “A bitch iz a bitch” is a fan of the DAT chair? The man who played “Doughboy” in Boyz n The Hood knows what Mathematica is?

Let’s rewind.

When Ice Cube was still being called by his given name, O’Shea Jackson, he attended the Phoenix Institute of Technology and studied architectural drafting. Though he was scooped up by Sir Jinx and Dr. Dre in the late 80’s before he could finish his degree, he maintained that architecture would be his living of choice should his multi-million dollar music career fail.

“When N.W.A. was first about to pop off I wasn’t sure if I was gonna make a living at it... Cussin’ on the radio? I didn’t know if that was gonna bring me any money,” Ice Cube said in a 2007 interview with World Entertainment News Network. “If you want me to draw you up a house I can draw you up a house; I don’t know if it’s gonna be liveable.”

It doesn’t matter who says it, if it’s rapped on an album or announced at a press conference, architecture’s place in our society is changing. Becoming an architect is no longer reserved only for the crowd that can afford Yale. The process of how we design, build and fill out the interior was never so accessible to the public at large. Though architecture remains an art form, it is no longer the unattainable art form reserved for a class, a race or an ethnic group. It is both a high art and a part of our culture. Using Matthew Arnold’s definition of culture from his groundbreaking text Culture and Anarchy, “Culture is a study of perfection… [High art] seeks to do away with classes; to make the best that has been thought and known in the world current everywhere; to make all men live in an atmosphere of sweetness and light.…”

Despite what some architecture bloggers are claiming -- that Ice Cube’s film will kick off a revolution to bring architecture to the masses -- I think that the revolution has already arrived. Ice Cube’s film is simply a symptom of it.

Never before have there been so many television shows, magazines and blogs dedicated to architecture, interior design and the art of elevating one’s environment to a higher level, despite one’s income or location. The term “DIY” has become synonymous with home improvement projects and Etsy’s home product sales have skyrocketed in the last two years (see the number two slot in this issue's Hot Products for our lastest Etsy find). There is an unspoken acknowledgement that living/working/existing in a built environment that was eloquently designed buoys the soul and excites the mind.

“When you stick someone in a box that was manufactured without a thought, it tends to dumb you down, too,” said David Eisen, principal at Abacus Architects + Planners, when speaking to me on the topic of affordable housing in the September/October 2011 issue. “I truly believe that your immediate surroundings have a big impact on how you perceive your place in the world and how you act outwardly. Everyone deserves to live in a thoughtfully designed home and we understand that.”

He may be “straight outta Compton” (a city not known for its architecture), but Ice Cube recognizes the value architecture has on the human spirit; and that’s something we can all get behind.

Visit pacificstandardtime.org for more info on the accompanying exhibit.

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editorial

Healthier Health Care

by Jonathan Hoffschneider AIA, LEED AP BD+C Associate Principal, Perkins+Will

THE NEW LEED FOR HEALTHCARE EVALUATION ENABLES A HEALTHIER DIALOGUE WITH CLIENTS.

This year, the much-anticipated LEED for Health Care (LEED-HC) evaluation and tracking tool became fully operational. This is good news to the architects who have focused on incorporating sustainability into the design of health care facilities. The goal has been to make hospitals, historically one of the most damaging buildings to the environment, healthier. Over the last five years sustainability has achieved such traction in the health care industry, that it could arguably be considered ubiquitous. These days, it is rare to find a hospital client NOT interested in the aspects of “green” design to be incorporated into their new facility.

LEED-HC’s predecessor is the Green Guide for Health Care. Since 2004, the Green Guide has served as the industry standard evaluation tool and distinguished itself from LEED-New Construction (LEED-NC) by tracking criteria relevant to the healing environment in two major categories: 1) improving the healing process for patients, many of which are evidence-based; 2) improving the working environment and operational practices of the caregivers.

The best news is that LEED-HC provides new avenues for designers to engage health care clients about sustainability and the challenges of designing a healthier building. Before LEED-HC, architects tracked health care projects through LEED-NC, -CI or other versions. In order to more thoroughly address sustainable issues specific to health care facilities with our clients, many projects also tracked criteria using the Green Guide for Health Care. Having incorporated many of the unique criteria from GGHC, LEED-HC now allows architects to engage their clients in the LEED certification process in the much more detailed evaluation of their physical facility and their operational strategies.

Several examples of design strategies incorporated into LEED-HC are as follows: 1. An environmental risk assessment is required adding a higher level of scrutiny to the impact the new construction will have on its surroundings.

2. Design to provide increased opportunity to make contact with nature encourages patients and caregivers to step outside their controlled interior environment and take in views and fresh air.

3. Current acoustic control design guidelines are reinforced and exceeded to enhance patient privacy and create a less stressful interior environment.

4. Enhanced control of contaminant emissions ensures that health care facilities are being good neighbors to their local and regional ecosystems.

5. More rigorous criteria for energy and water savings take into account the 24/7 operation of health care facilities.

6. Medical equipment and furnishings, a large proportion of any project cost, are included in the scope of assessment for sustainable content and practices.

7. A reas of respite for patients and staff are provided, allowing for a place to rest and regenerate.

One aspect about LEED-HC does call for caution: several of the new strategies are now “prerequisites.” As opposed to credits, which are optional, the prerequisite criteria must be met or the entire process is void. Some of these, such as an integrative design process, the elimination of mercury and the minimizing of potable water for medical equipment cooling are not yet industry standards, nor are they easy operations for a facility to adopt, even if the facility is fully committed to the process in other ways.

The LEED certification itself remains a strong incentive in the industry, one made sweeter through the added rigor introduced with the new HC criteria. As more health care projects achieve the higher certification levels of Silver, Gold and Platinum each year, the new LEED-HC certification also adds a new level of prestige. In all, the new LEED-HC guidelines support our efforts to bring muchneeded change to the industry by deepening the investment for all stakeholders to create healthier hospitals.

10 Architecture Leaders Today

industry news stories by Paige L. Hill and Joel Cornell

AU School of International Service Achieves LEED Gold THE “SMARTER LIVING EXHIBITION: 2,000 WATT SOCIETY” explores approaches to sustainable archi-

tecture recently opened in the LEED Gold School of International Service Building at American University in Washington, D.C. with the support from the Embassy of Switzerland. The Smarter Living Exhibition uses 18 examples of outstanding architecture to illustrate approaches to sustainable architecture on projects large and small, on both new buildings and conversions. Keynote speaker U.S. Rep. Russ Carnahan (D-Missouri) acknowl12 Architecture Leaders Today

edged the divided Congress’s low public approval ratings, said proposals to invest in infrastructure could win bipartisan support.

“A national commitment to green building has the potential to generate over 2 million American jobs,” Carnahan said, who is also a member of Congress’s High-Performance Buildings Caucus. He also noted that the U.S. building construction industry represents about 15 percent of America’s GDP. Ambassador Manuel Sager of Switzerland noted that buildings account for 40 percent of

energy consumption, both directly and through such “gray energy” costs as the energy required to produce building materials. Lowering energy consumption is the goal of the 2000-Watt Society, a legislative goal of the Zurich city council and part of its legislative code. The goal is to reduce each person’s annual energy use from the current 6,300 watts to 2,000 watts, and to reduce CO2 emissions from 8.5 tons to one ton is by 2150. U.S. energy consumption is 12,000 watts per person.

Octagon House photo by Julian Vu.

Octagon House re-opens to public

has reopened after ongoing renovation since 1996 to restore its original period appearance. The Octagon House, built between 1789 and 1800, was designed by the same architect behind the U.S. Capitol’s iconic silhouette – Dr. William Thornton. First President George Washington suggested to the home’s first owner, Colonel John Tayloe, to hire Thornton. The Octagon House became the home of the AIA on January 1, 1899. Today, the American Architectural Foundation owns the Octagon House and the AIA has moved its headquarters to a larger building located directly behind it. The nation’s oldest museum dedicated to architecture, The Octagon houses the AIA Students, Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture and the National Architectural Accrediting Board.

This three-story brick house, adapted to an irregular-shaped lot, displays a dramatic break with the traditional, late Georgian and early Federal house planning that preceded it. The Octagon achieves a zenith in Federal architecture in the United States, through its brilliant plan which combines a circle, two rectangles and a triangle, and through the elegance and restraint of the interior and exterior decoration. The construction materials, such as bricks, timber, iron and Acquia creek sandstone, were all manufactured locally.

THE AIA’S ORIGINAL WASHINGTON, D.C. HEADQUARTERS, THE OCTAGON HOUSE,

industry news

Industry Events AIA Notes Another Drop for Architecture Billings Index FOLLOWING THE FIRST POSITIVE SCORE IN FOUR MONTHS, the Architecture Billings Index (ABI)

reversed direction again in September. As a leading economic indicator of construction activity, the ABI reflects the approximate nine to 12 month lag time between architecture billings and construction spending. The AIA reported the September ABI score was 46.9, following a score of 51.4 in August. This score reflects a sharp decrease in demand for design services (any score above 50 indicates an increase in billings). The new projects inquiry index was 54.3, down from 56.9 the previous month.

“It appears that the positive conditions seen last month were more of an aberration,” said Kermit Baker, Ph.D., Hon., chief economist at AIA. “The economy is weak enough at present that design activity is bouncing around more than usual; one strong month can be followed by a weak one. The economy needs to be stronger to generate sustained growth in design activity.”

Key September ABI highlights: Regional averages: Midwest (51.0), Northeast (50.8), South (47.3), West (46.7) Sector index breakdown: commercial / industrial (52.4), mixed practice (50.0), institutional (48.0), multi-family residential (46.4) Project inquiries index: 54.3 The regional and sector categories are calculated as a three-month moving average, whereas the index and inquiries are monthly.

The diffusion indexes contained in the full report are derived from a monthly “Workon-the-Boards” survey that is sent to a panel of AIA member-owned firms. Participants are asked whether their billings increased, decreased or stayed the same in the month that just ended as compared to the prior month, and the results are then compiled into the ABI. These monthly results are also seasonally adjusted to allow for comparison to prior months.

ARCHITECTS SHRUGGED? Sponsored by Museum of the City of New York Nov 10 • New York, N.Y. $12 mcny.org Join Anne C. Heller for a discussion of New York architecture in novelist Ayn Rand’s life from the Fountainhead (1943) to Atlas Shrugged (1957).

ARC-US 2011 Sponsored by HKS Nov 17-20 • Boca Raton, Fla. Free arc-us.com Arc-US gives America’s top architects a valuable opportunity to get to know their peers on neutral ground, to acquire an abundance of fresh industry knowledge and to develop relationships with the most innovative and capable suppliers in the region from over 100 pros from the US and Canada.

GOVGREEN Sponsored by Center for Environmental Innovation and Leadership Nov 30- Dec 1 • Washington, D.C. $495 conference; free expo govgreen.org Education is focused on the federal government mandate to "go green" by conserving more, consuming less and recycling everything. Exhibits are focused on facilities, energy, transportation and water/wastewater.

STONE ON STONE Presented by the Society of Architectural Historians Dec 10 • Los Angeles, Calif.

Free www.sahscc.org Architect Hicks Stone, son of Edward Durell Stone, and author of Edward Durell Stone: A Son’s Untold Story of a Legendary Architect (Rizzoli, October 2011) gives a lecture on his father, both celebrated and and scorned, and his best known work like the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi.

ARCHITECTURE CENTER GRAND OPENING Sponsored by AIA DC Nov 4 • Washington, D.C. $50 aiadc.com SUMMIT ON ASSOCIATION EXCELLENCE Sponsored by NAHB Nov 9-11 • Dallas, Texas $99 nahb.com CONVERSATIONS IN CONTEXT Sponsored by The Glass House until Nov 17 • New Canaan, Conn. $150 philipjohnsonglasshouse.org WHAT HAPPENED TO THE ARCHITECTURAL MANIFESTO? Sponsored by Columbia University and University of Navarra, Pamplona Nov 18 • New York, N.Y. Free arch.columbia.edu/event BEST PROJECTS OF 2011 Sponsored by ENR Nov. 8 • New York Nov. 10 • Orlando Nov. 15 • Phoenix Dec. 6 • Chicago Dec. 12 • San Francisco Dec. 14 • Houston Free enr.construction.com FACADES DESIGN & DELIVERY Sponsored by International Quality & Productivity Center Jan 23-25 • New York, N.Y. $800 and up iqpc.com MIAGREEN Jan 26-27 • Miami, Fla. $300 conference; $70 CEU session miagreen.com

November/December 2011 13

industry news

AIA Brings Job Solutions to the Industry INVESTING IN THE DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND RENOVATION OF BUILDINGS is one of the most effective

ways to create jobs, grow economic prosperity and protect the environment. AIA architects have the solutions: common-sense policy proposals to get the economy moving again, technical assistance that helps communities grow, and a network of nearly 80,000 architects and allied professionals at the leading edge of an industry that accounts for nearly one in nine dollars of gross domestic product.

Here are their four solutions:

Naji Mahmoud Wins CityScape Global’s 2011 Young Architect Award FOR HIS RECENT PROJECT DESCRIBED AS A CENTER DEVELOPED THROUGH SYSTEMATIC MORPHOLOGIES, dubbed Rejuvenation Ref-

uge, architect Naji Mahmound was awarded CityScape Global’s 2011 Young Architect Award.

Mahmoud’s research for the project evolved largely from the analysis of mapping and transforming the variables ever-present in architecture. The design itself was derived from a rigorous digital process; physical modelling was incorporated to accurately modulate the shape of space and skin in response to shadowing and lighting effects.

Mahmoud was selected from a large pool of over 3,000 candidates from 79 different countries who had submitted entries of the highest quality from the Gulf States, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America and Asia.

“Winning these awards will encourage me to further improve my abilities and to keep an open mind about my field,” Mahmoud said.

“I consider both these achievements to be a direct result of being part of an outstanding professional design practice like RMJM.” RMJM is an international architectural practice with offices throughout Europe, the Middle East & Africa, Asia-Pacific and The Americas. Their work encompasses architecture, sustainable design, urbanism, master planning, interior design and research and development. Their culturally diverse studios are made up of nearly 800 architects, designers and creative thinkers - comprising 50 nationalities - working on projects in over 20 countries worldwide.

CityScape Global also presented RMJM, as a whole, with their 2011 Project of the Year award for their Capital Gate project located in Abu Dhabi.

14 Architecture Leaders Today

Every $1 million invested in building design and construction yields 28.5 full-time jobs. If you want to create jobs and long-term prosperity, the best infrastructure to invest in is buildings.

Matching Stalled Projects with Investors. The AIA has announced a commitment with the Clinton Global Initiative to match stalled building projects with investors.

Build America Bonds (BABs). A 2011 AIA study shows that BABs have leveraged billions of dollars of design and construction.

Repairing the Private Credit Market. More than two-thirds of AIA members say a lack of financing has held back job-creating projects. Learn how policymakers can improve access to credit.

Financing Green Buildings. A federal tax deduction can help both private and public building owners finance green retrofits.

Reduce Delays in Permitting. Outdated building permitting systems are one of the biggest barriers to job-creating construction.

2. Unlock The Green Building Market

Investing in green buildings gives you a triple return: more jobs, lower energy bills and a cleaner environment. Policies that help owners overcome initial first costs make it possible.

Incentives for Green Buildings. A federal tax deduction can help both private and public building owners finance green retrofits.

How Local Governments Can Take the Lead.

The AIA’s Local Leaders in Sustainability project shows how municipalities can grow green through sustainable buildings.

Local Leaders in Sustainability: Green Building Policy in a Changing Economic Environment Local Leaders: Green Incentives Creating Green Learning Environments.

Green schools have benefits that go far beyond lower energy bills.

Building Codes that Save Lives and Save Money.

Adopting model building codes provides certainly and clarity in the design and construction process.

And green codes help put your community at the vanguard of sustainable design.

3. Help Communities Rebuild And Grow

Working with architects helps ensure that prosperous and sustainable neighborhoods are within your reach.

Communities by Design. For more than four decades, the AIA has worked with communities across the country to design a better future through its award-winning Design Assistance Team (DAT) program. Learn how your community can utilize the expertise and experience of architects, planners and others to move your community forward.

AIA is now accepting applications from communities for its 2012 program.

Promoting Livable Communities. A 2010 AIA report shows how policymakers can reform the tax code to help communities grow green.

Economic Development, Sustainably. The AIA shows how communities can design policies that help both job creation and the environment.

Good Transportation Design Moves Communities Forward. A 2008 AIA-University of Minnesota study shows how well-designed transportation projects makes communities better.

Transit Oriented Development (TOD). A Key to Sustainable Growth.

4. Get The Best Bang For Your Procurement Dollars

Hiring the best qualified architects and engineers for public building projects ensures that the public gets the best value for their tax dollars, and helps government agencies ensure their facilities are safe, cost effective and sustainable.

Rejuvination Refuge image courtesy of CityScape Global. Active house image courtesy of Zagorodny Proekt. AIA report images from Thinkstock.

1. Invest In Good Design

industry news

THE FIRST ACTIVE HOUSE IN RUSSIA THE RUSSIAN ARCHITECTURE FIRM POLYGON

recently announced that the “first active house” in Russia is up and running thanks to their clever design. The components of what the architects define as “active” are akin to what we call a Net Zero house – producing as much energy as it consumes. The wood frame house is layered with heavy gypsum walls to ensure a tight building envelope in a particularly cold part of the world.

Daylighting and solar energy play a large role in the east-west orientation of the home and the strategically placed windows using VELUX Daylight Visualizer 2, a software tool dedicated to daylighting design and analysis. The placement of windows on the roof is meant to both heat the home and tie-in a sense of continuity with the Russian landscape. The homogenous material on the roof and facade is an homage to traditional Russian building methods. The Moscow area project was designed by the Zagorodny Proekt Company in cooperation with the VELUX Group.

AIA Releases Annual Guide for Sustainable Projects THE AIA HAS RELEASED THE Guide for Sustain-

able Projects, including Agreement Amendments and Supplementary Conditions a.k.a. the AIA Document D503-2011. The free Guide was developed to assist users of AIA Contract Documents in understanding contractual considerations unique to sustainable design and construction projects.

“The AIA contract documents program continues to revise existing documents and develop new documents and guides, as necessary, to remain current with trends and changes in the industry and law,” said Ken Cobleigh, managing director and counsel for AIA Contract Documents. “The development of the Guide reflects the shifting landscape in the industry and addresses key issues of interest to all parties involved in these types of projects.”

The Guide also addresses:

• Certification systems, codes and legislation affecting sustainable design and construction projects, • Risks and responsibilities faced by owners, contractors and architects on sustainable design and construction projects, and • Recommendations for model language to assist the architect in developing a scope of services and to assist all project participants in appropriately allocating risks and responsibilities.

The Guide discusses the applicability of key concepts to other delivery models such as design-build, construction management and integrated project delivery.

November/December 2011 15

the hot list

THE HOTLIST PRODUCTS, CONCEPTS AND INSPIRATION FOR YOUR NEXT PROJECT Have something for The Hot List? Email submissions@ozworldmedia.com.

en vogue vanity Bisazza Bagno: The Hay贸n Collection by Jaime Hay贸n bisazzabagno.com

Renowned mosaic maker Bisazza has launched its first bath line with Spanish designer Jaime Hay贸n featuring vanity style sinks and mirrors for the most refined of homes. The combination sink and vanity features an elegant metal frame, marble top and attached mirror.

The colors and materials range from dramatic, black ceramic and chrome to the clean, white ceramic and glossy copper. It can also be customized with an attached lamp (pictured here) and a second sink for hisand-hers personal spaces.

16 Architecture Leaders Today

the hot list

illuminating the mind Hyphae Lamp by Nervous System n-e-r-v-o-u-s.com buy on etsy.com

Each of these organic lamps is a one-of-a-kind 3-D print in nylon plastic, lit by eco-friendly LEDs casting dramatic branching shadows on the wall and ceiling. The Hyphae Collection's 3-D printed artifacts are constructed of rhizome-like networks.

Inspired by the vein structures that carry fluids through organisms from the leaves of plants to our own circulatory systems, the designers created a simulation which uses physical growth principles to build sculptural, organic structures. Starting from an initial seed and a surface, Nervous System grows a hierarchical network where nodes constantly branch and merge. The densely interconnected structure is at once airy and strong.

there's an app for that

STAFF PICK!

OrthoGraph Architect for iPad orthograph.net

It should be no surprise that “there’s an app for that” when it comes to an industry that never lagged behind in technology, seamlessly moving from hand drawings to CAD decades earlier. OrthoGraph Architect for iPad is the first professional building survey software for tablets. The app uniquely supports freehand sketching of floor plans, gesture controls and the exact measurement of all distances on-site. The drawings can instantly be uploaded to Dropbox and transferred to your office the moment they were created.

November/December 2011 17

the hot list

city safari African Metropolitan Architecture

by David Adjaye rizzoliusa.com

Architect David Adjaye documents the architecture of an oft-overlooked built environment of the continent of Africa through the lens of his own camera – African Metropolitan Architecture is out Nov. 8th. The Tanzanian Adjaye, though raised and educated in London, presents the area where he has found endless inspiration for his own acclaimed buildings throughout Europe and the U.S. The book is arranged by terrain and region and features 53 cities in all. Adjaye’s photographs are accompanied by urban histories, facts, maps and essays by leading scholars on each area.

traveling man The Chatman Lounge Chair

by Richard Wrightman Design rwrightmandesign.com

Richard Wrightman may not be an army general, but growing up the son of a military great still had its effects on the furniture and interior designer Richard Wrightman.

In an ode to his nomadic upbringing, Wrightman has designed a line of campaign furniture. This easily collapsible traveling furniture first made popular in the British military campaigns of the 18th century.

Wrightman’s wood and leather Chatwin Lounge Chair collapses down to a few small pieces and assembles to a chair fit for the most luxurious bachelor pad.

18 Architecture Leaders Today

the hot list

living in your own walls Living Walls by David Regan regantile.com

Imagine the perfect moment in your own home, in a space carefully designed to be relaxing and serene, yet alive. The perfect ambience needn’t be someplace you find while on vacation just once a year. With art tiles by David Regan, you can create the atmosphere you desire in your own space and enjoy it daily. Beautiful kitchen and bathroom tiles can help create a calm, quiet atmosphere that is also visually and emotionally stimulating. That perfect moment may happen in your own home while enjoying coffee on a sunny morning amidst water patterns in tile the color of the Caribbean. Or you may relax in an evening bath surrounded by a gently flowing pond scene that fuels your imagination with intricate depictions of pond life. The sparkling colors and dynamic artwork of these tiles are engaging, making the kitchen a masterpiece or bathroom walls a strong design element.

Carved ceramic tiles will protect any wall where water may splash but transcend the naked utility and blandness of most commercial tiling.

November/December 2011 19

the hot list

ride the wave The Wave Bench by Henrybuilt henrybuilt.com

Surfers, sailors, fishermen and even land lovers can enjoy The Wave Bench from Henrybuilt, which combines the organic flow of the ocean with expert craftsmanship. The Wave Bench craftfully holds the seated person in one of the dips, or can hold a younger sitter on one of the Wave’s crests, giving them a built-in booster seat. The Wave comes in four lengths, from 50 in. for two, to 113 in. for five. It can also be ordered in many different wood grains and customized with drink holders or even a tic-tac-toe board.

20 Architecture Leaders Today

the hot list

inspiring brilliance Sol OLED Chandelier by WAC Lighting waclighting.com

As WAC Lighting’s Organic LED nanotechnology continues to develop and inspire new lighting designs, the company’s new Sol OLED Chandelier made its commercial debut in 20 lighting galleries across North America in October. Sculpturally representative of ancient symbols for the sun, each eco-friendly chandelier is numbered and signed by hand. Created in WAC Lighting’s zero-landfill manufacturing campus, this sustainable chandelier was crafted with upgraded ORBEOS OLEDs to deliver strong light output (420 lumens). Sol’s seven remarkably thin (2.1 millimeters) OLED panels distribute warm white light with optimal color rendering and a warm color temperature.

color me mine HanStone Quartz

by Hanwha L&C Surfaces hanwhasurfaces.com

You better be ready to move on from the all-white interiors made popular by Architectural Digest in the 90's if you’re going to install the new shades of allpurpose surfaces from Hanwha L&C Surfaces: the HanStone Quartz. Bold shades of lime (limelight), plum (purple haze), pure white (royale blanc) and aquamarine (slice of ice, pictured here). Perfect for countertops, vanities, bars and commercial interiors. But it’s not just for looks – these natural quartz surfaces are made from the most advanced, nature-friendly manufacturing plant in North America.

November/December 2011 21

northeast | regional marketplace

BARD, RAO + ATHANAS CONSULTING ENGINEERS Providing state-of-the-art and integrated engineering, technology systems design and building commissioning since 1975!

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New York | Boston | Philadelphia | Miami | Washington, DC 22 Architecture Leaders Today

NORTHEAST 00 STORY 00 JCJ ARCHITECTURE 24

00 STORY 00 NAROFSKY ARCHITECTS 30 AND WAYS2DESIGN 00 STORY 36 00 00 MITCHELL/GIURGOLA STORY 42 00 00 CROWN STORY DESIGN & CONSULTING 00 THE 46 DESIGN ALLIANCE 00 STORY 48 00 00 IKON.5 STORY ARCHITECTS 54 00 ARCHITECTS 00 CPG STORY 62 00 MARKETPLACE 00 REGIONAL STORY 00 STORY 00 STORY 00 STORY

“A pull quote about this long from the story goes here.”

This is who said this, from This company.

Photo by xxxxx or photo courtesy of xxxxx.

Photo by Jim Herity Photography

northeast | entertainment

24 Architecture Leaders Today

entertainment | northeast

IN THE

SP TLIGHT JCJ Architecture celebrates 75 years in the business with high-profile projects that range from projects that are rich in history to projects that make history.

Text by Paige L. Hill Photos by Elliott Kaufman Photography (Koch Theater & Empire State Building) Photo by Jim Christy Studio (Wild Horse Pass) November/December 2011 25

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W

hen the world famous New York City Ballet and the New York City Opera asks for their performance space to be remodeled, only an architecture firm boasting 75 years of experience could possibly fit the bill – like JCJ Architecture. And that space, the New York State Theater at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, needed more than just a fresh coat of paint. With the eyes of the New York arts community and major donor, David H. Koch, watching, JCJ took on the first renovation of the Philip Johnson Theater since its opening in 1964. At its reopening for the 2009/2010 season, the Manhattan public and arts community alike laid accolades on JCJ for the elaborate renovation; George Steel, general manager and artistic director of the New York Opera, said to The New York Times that it was “the best theater in New York.”

“We knew we were dealing with an iconic New York City landmark and that there would be unique pressures given the two major artistic institutions the theater serves,” James LaPosta, Jr. said, principal and chief architectural officer of JCJ. The Ballet Company asked for an acoustic plan that highlighted the orchestra and downplayed the sound of movement on stage, while the opera company required an acoustic plan that would enhance the vocal performance from the stage over that of the orchestra.

“We were tasked with bringing a mid-century building up to modern standards, maintaining the emblematic image, and making sure the acoustics were right. We embraced this as a unique opportunity,” LaPosta said. “We found a solution that satisfied everyone.

Bringing creative and technical minds together to resolve issues is part of who we are as a firm and as design professionals. We knew that taking on the project would mean a lot of listening, since so many people had so much at stake in the renovation. One of our most important objectives was to make the patron experience more enjoyable and to make sure our work remained nearly invisible.”

But, it wasn’t an option for the firm to modify the theater in a dramatic way. The theater had looked at schemes for renovation over the years; JCJ’s plan was the first that maintained the integrity of the Philip Johnson design but brought the seating up to contemporary standards. In addition to the auditorium, the lobby, dubbed “the promenade,” received a thorough cleaning. The ornate gold ceiling was restored and the granite floors were refurbished; the entire media and broadcast system received modern upgrades.

As for winning the prestigious project, LaPosta credits JCJ’s New York office, opened in 2006. The team, located in the Empire State Building, has an especially strong background in theater and entertainment venues. In researching the project, the architecture team took the Director of the New York City Opera on a tour of historic and modern opera houses throughout Europe.

“This is common in our practice; touring similar facilities provides both the client and our team the opportunity to see how things were done before and what should be avoided,” LaPosta said. The New York team picked up another prominent project when they won the chance to renovate the iconic Empire State Building’s visitor center experience.

Upgrading the patron experience means that JCJ has worked with the building owners and tenants since 2002, doing everything from the renovation of observatory areas on the 102nd, 86th and 80th floors, to the ticketing and welcome area on the second floor.

Today, the New York office is complemented by offices in Hartford, Conn.; Boston, Mass.; Phoenix, Ariz. and San Diego, Calif.

“We wanted a presence on the West Coast for some time, so in the last few years we’ve made growing in that direction a priority,” said Peter Stevens, principal and president of JCJ. The Phoenix and San Diego offices recently completed the four-diamond Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino located on a 90-acre site in the Gila River Indian Community 26 Architecture Leaders Today

entertainment | northeast

PREVIOUS PAGE: David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center. New York, N.Y. OPPOSITE, TOP: Empire State Building.

New York, N.Y. The hallway leading to the queing area.

THIS PAGE: David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center in New York, N.Y. View from stage left.

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ABOVE, FROM TOP TO BOTTOM: Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino, Chandler, Ariz. The impressive view from the mezzanine through to the gaming floor and the center bar beyond.

Peter Stevens, LEED AP, principal and president of JCJ. Jim LaPosta, AIA, LEED AP, principal and chief architectural officer of JCJ. Portraits courtesy of JCJ Architecture

28 Architecture Leaders Today

outside of Phoenix, alongside Interstate 10.

“The community had some very specific design criteria for this development zone, but when we met with the tribal leaders, we were able to discuss the merits of expanding them a bit,” Stevens said. The original standards called for a building no taller than four stories so that it could not be seen from other parts of the reservation; however, the completed casino and hotel stands ten stories tall, with over 400,000 sq. ft. of luxury living and entertainment space. It is lauded as the first “Vegas-style” facility in the state, and has netted numerous awards for its design and operations since its opening in late 2009.

“We found common ground in the idea that it would be better to build vertically and therefore take up less of the natural desert environment,” Stevens said. “We understand the value of being clearly visible from the busy highway and how to use that prominence to forward the Tribe’s vision. We successfully incorporated cultural aspects into the design, while still creating an exciting and high energy environment.”

That $172 million design includes a nightclub and several lounges, a 1,400-seat theater/concert venue, Shula’s steakhouse restaurant, 242 luxury hotel rooms and suites, the 100,000 sq. ft. gaming floor with over 1,000 slot machines, five blackjack pits, 48 table games and a separate 24-table poker room, along with sports bar and lounge on the gaming floor. The two-story lobby welcomes guests with an oversized crystal waterfall chandelier and a sculpture of a rearing stallion, which opens into the casino. The building is painted a deep burnt orange like the color of the desert floor and is accented in metallic trim that mirrors the bright sun overhead; feature elements depict the water of the local Gila River, which is of great significance to the tribe.

“Whether we are designing a project that celebrates cultural history, working on the Empire State Building or designing a new building to fit within an historically sensitive district, we bring a flexible and responsive approach that has allowed us to work with great clients on amazing projects,” Stevens said, who has been with JCJ for 23 years. “I’d like to think that reaching our 75th year is a testimony to our ability to adapt to an ever-changing world.”

The 75th anniversary will be a yearlong celebration for the firm, according to Stevens, but the usual cake and champagne won’t do for a firm with “design that builds community” as its mission. Each office is taking on a local project that will give back to the community – the San Diego and Hartford offices have already teamed with Habitat for Humanity to build housing for low income residents in the area. Giving is nothing new for the firm; for their 70th anniversary, JCJ set up a fund through the Hartford Foundation of Public Giving to give grants to various social and cultural projects in need of support.

“The quality of our design and our technical capabilities have always been there, but only in the past decade or so have we really pushed our boundaries in preparing for the future,” Stevens said. “We are unique in that we have been very successful in balancing the art and business of design. We’re fortunate that we are in the position to grow as a firm while also supporting efforts that will make our global community stronger.” ALT

entertainment | northeast

PENNONI ASSOCIATES pennoni.com

Multi-disciplined engineering and design consulting firm Pennoni Engineering and Surveying of New York provides architects needing MEP services with highly experienced electrical and mechanical engineers and designers, including LEED Accredited Professionals and certified energy managers.

Pennoni begins each project by conducting studies to identify optimal systems to address the client's needs.

“Our goal is to be part of the architect’s success in achieving the client’s vision by building a level of confidence for long-term relationships,” said Fred Lindquist, P.E., vice president at Pennoni, who was excited to team with JCJ Architects for the renovation of the David H. Koch Theater. Pennoni’s responsibilities included mechanical and electrical support for expanding the existing orchestra pit, installing a motorized lift system to raise and lower the orchestra pit in two separate sections, replacing the existing theatrical dimming system, and adding a video production center.

Additionally, Pennoni improved the humidity control for costume storage areas and installed a pre-action sprinkler and chemical fire suppression system for the video production area.

This multi-phase project was designed to allow work to take place outside of the performance window for the Nutcracker.

“We appreciate JCJ’s confidence to engage Pennoni for past and current projects and look forward to extending that relationship in the future,” Lindquist said. In addition to MEP services, Pennoni can assist architects using a single client coordinator to provide a wide range of engineering services including environment, landscape architecture, planning, site design, structure, and surveying. See ad on page 69.

FIGARO SYSTEMS figaro-systems.com Figaro Systems specializes in individual text and content delivery systems developed through superior engineering and robust design for an individualized, in-depth theater experience. Figaro is well known for its innovative Simultext Seatback System, which is the most sophisticated, visionary seatback system available today. A discreet viewing monitor at each individual seat is activated with a single button and text appears in any written language in the world.

Monitors feature a completely black background for optimal viewing and minimum distraction—absolutely no ambient glow.

JCJ Architecture chose to work with Figaro for the David H. Koch Theater at the Lincoln Center in New York, N.Y. They also took advantage of cost savings by integrating the Simultext Seatback System installation simultaneously with the construction of the theater. The team at Figaro delivered a seamless installation of the complex infrastructure during the renovation with minimal disturbance to the auditorium. See ad on page 64.

DIVERSIFIED TECHNOLOGY CONSULTANTS teamDTC.com

Diversified Technology Consultants is a full-service engineering firm with additional specialty services in planning, sustainability, environmental compliance and permitting.

DTC has worked with JCJ for 15 years and together, they have contributed to over $500 million-worth of projects. Over 35 of these projects have been in the education sector, ranging from preschool to post-secondary. Founded in 1979, DTC has since grown to become one of Connecticut’s most innovative engineering firms. See ad on page 64.

TOP, LEFT: The Empire State Building’s second floor ticketing area.

ABOVE: David H. Koch Theater, Control Room. The renovation of the theater also included a revamp of the acoustical and electrical equipment that is used to support both the New York City Ballet and the New York City Opera.

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THIS PAGE, TOP TWO: Waterfront home renovation, Long Island, N.Y. Living room balcony and window. View of the exterior from Oak Neck Creek.

THIS PAGE, BOTTOM: Jennifer Rusch and Stuart Narofsky.

Portrait courtesy Narofsky Architecture OPPOSITE: Waterfront home overlooking Sag Harbor Bay, Long Island, N.Y. Trellis view.

Narofsky Architecture’s innate understanding of space, coupled with Ways2Design’s ability to craft emotional resonance from tactile expression, makes for a collaborative venture that embraces the roots of the industry while taking it to new heights.

A SINGULARITY OF SORTS Text by Joel Cornell Photos by Ber Murphy Photography (Sag Harbor & Hempstead Harbor) Photos by Phillip Ennis (Oak Neck Creek & Manhattan Loft)

30 Architecture Leaders Today

residential | northeast

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THIS PAGE: Waterfront Home overlooking Hempstead Harbor, Long Island, N.Y. View of the roof garden. This project earned an Archi Award from the AIA-Long Island chapter.

OPPOSITE: Waterfront Home: entry path; rear deck facing Hempstead Harbor; view of kitchen; tub room.

A

s architects Stuart Narofsky and Jennifer Rusch progressed in their respective careers, one common thread became quite visible as a shared interest: delivering a comprehensive suite of services with passion, vision and integrity. Throughout the years, Narofsky and Rusch worked tirelessly to establish their own firms to fulfill the dreams of both their clients and themselves. Since the early 2000s, the couple and their respective firms, Narofsky Architecture and Ways2Design, have founded a partnership that has brought success to countless projects, from hospitality, corporate, commercial and retail work to each firm’s current focus on custom residential architecture across the New York tri-state area.

“My initial approach to architecture came from the world of art,” Rusch said. “However, I wanted a profession that would offer me more reliable financial opportunities; so, I soon switched over to architecture. I worked as an architect for many years in Long Island before I moved my geographical focus towards New York City.

I founded Ways2Design in 2001 in order to establish a more defined presence in the region.”

“Meanwhile, I came out of high school right into engineering as opposed to art,” Narofsky said.

“I took my first elective in architecture during my college years and instantly switched my focus. I 32 Architecture Leaders Today

worked for several local architects before finally founding my own firm in 1983.”

In the early 2000s, Narofsky and Rusch realized the possibilities of a joint venture between the two firms. It was then that the core of their current organization was first formed, where Narofsky is focused on the “macro” while Rusch hones in on the “micro.” Initally, the pair sought out a return to the ideals of turn-of-the-century architects like Wright, Sullivan and White.

“We strive to be entirely comprehensive,” Narofsky said. “‘One Stop Shop’ doesn’t even begin to cover it. We seek to provide a truly turnkey service in that we can address the landscape, interior and minute details; moreover, a deeper involvement with one big sustainable umbrella over everything we do. Even in our region, our approach seems to lie in the minority. We take on a bigger role, but it comes with a bigger risk and liability. In my lecturing work about BIM technology, it’s shocking how many people come up to us amazed that we take on such amount of responsibility. In recent history, architects have sought to take on less responsibility out of fear of liability. We jump into projects head first, embracing the entirety of the form. We want to return to the tradition of architects as master builders who can handle everything.”

For one of the recent projects the two firms

collaboratively managed, a midtown Manhattan loft, comprehensive was exactly what the client wanted. Part sworn bachelor, part musician, part pilot and part investment banker, the client sought out Narofsky Architecture and Ways2Design in order to achieve his requirements: black, white and ugly with no maintenance. The penthouse apartment sits atop a five-story apartment building in New York City.

“The floor of the penthouse is a floating level isolated from the structure; same goes for the walls,” Rusch said. “The client wanted as much of the 4,000-sq.-ft. apartment in black as possible. With zero interest in long term guests, the apartment had just one bedroom; it was designed and built with no ‘plus one’ in mind. We even had trouble convincing him to go for a guest bathroom, which was eventually implemented in pure white; a stark contrast with the black in the rest of the apartment.”

Narofsky and Rusch provided full sound proofing for the apartment, understanding that it would be outfitted with a fully functional stage, including a drum kit, built-in amplifiers, keyboards and a professional lighting rig. Additionally, the project included a unique living area on the roof, complete with a hot tub, sauna, barbecue and a full garden.

Though the two firms are not exclusively

residential | northeast

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partnered, a majority of the work completed by one firm sees heavy collaboration and involvement from the other. This approach further enhances the comprehensive ideals of the firm. In stark contrast to the bachelor penthouse, Narofsky Architecture and Ways2Design again collaborated on a recent waterfront residence on the east side of Long Island. “The home this client moved out of was a 100-year-old period house in the same region,” Narofsky said. “At that point in time, the couple we worked for had teenage children.

For one reason or another, the client bought a property on the North Shore waterfront that already had a home on it. The client brought in the architect who had designed their previous home, but their only answer was to knock down the house and start with something fresh. The client fell in love with the house, however, and wanted a firm that could work with what was there. That’s where we came in.”

The original residence was built in 1969 in stark white, inside and out, save for a terra cotta floor. With only one official bedroom and a housekeeper’s room, the family of five certainly needed more space. Previously, the home was owned by an eccentric art collector. Narofsky and Rusch expanded on the original concepts of the home to a great degree. Narofsky added a sensitivity to the familial context of the project, through expanding and renovating a majority of the structure, while still preserving the pure white, minimalist aesthetic the clients had found so appealing in the first place. Rusch brought 34 Architecture Leaders Today

natural woods into the interiors, which exuded rich color tones to unify the entirety of the new home.

Nearby, Narofsky and Rusch are putting the finishing touches on another waterfront project in Long Island. Overlooking Roslyn Harbor on the North Shore is a former bungalow colony, which began at the turn of the century as workers at the nearby sand and gravel pit became squatters on nearby properties. The pit was the largest in the country at the time, their last project being the concrete for the Empire State Building. What lay on the small property was a shack of a bungalow that couldn’t stand up to a light breeze.

“With one neighboring bungalow 15 feet away, and another just 7 feet away, we didn’t have much space to work,” Narofsky said. “We could only replace the shack with a 1,500 sq. ft. home. We developed a highly efficient method where we worked within a box, slowly subtracting spaces here and there in order to get the interior to flow, to create outdoor spaces, etc. Through Jenn’s work, we used not drywall but an organic plaster made from clay. The end result was a highly sustainable project with a more Northwestern feel.”

In everything they do, both Narofsky Architecture and Ways2Design are trying to form a new model; one that encompasses everything from architectural design to counseling, from a shopping partner to a financial advisor. Through this new form, the partnership is always seeking to do something more, and their endeavors are bringing about a new meaning to what an architect can and should be. ALT

BISSONNET bissonnet.net

Bissonnet offers a wide range of bathroom sinks, vanities and decorative plumbing products that are space-saving, aesthetically pleasing and functional solutions for the modern bathroom. Bissonnet's bathroom fixtures and furniture meet the highest standards of quality and design and fully satisfy the needs of customers, while surpassing the expectations of professionals in the trade. See ad on page 64.

residential | northeast

OPPOSITE, TOP: Manhattan loft.

New York City, N.Y. Bar and lounge.

BOTTOM: Penthouse and garden.

Here, the outdoor environment is drawn inside with the combination of trees, wood flooring and glass.

THIS PAGE: Master bathroom.

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northeast | education

36 Architecture Leaders Today

education | northeast

Three very dierent education projects presented the architects at Mitchell/Giurgola with three very dierent sets of design challenges and opportunities for their creativity to soar and innovation to prevail.

Text by Paige L. Hill Photos by Jeff Goldberg/ESTO

LEARNING CURVES

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northeast | education

PREVIOUS PAGE: Rockefeller University, New York, N.Y. Even from a bird’s eye view, the Collaborative Research Center glows brightly as the center of the research-heavy campus. The CRC combines two older buildings with an innovative design.

TOP RIGHT: The hourglass shaped atrium in the CRC connects all of the levels by way of a staircase clad in a slatted oak scroll wall.

W

hen Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y. selected Mitchell/Giurgola Architects to renovate and transform the nearly 100-year-old Beaux Arts style Stocking Hall into a state-of-the art research building for the Food Science Department, the creation of a revived campus presence for the Department, and the establishment of a new architectural identity for the campus, Mitchell/Giurgola was up to the task.

Located at a main thoroughfare of the campus, Stocking Hall was no longer able to meet the unique programmatic needs of the students and faculty: a factory to pasteurize milk, an enology suite for winemaking, and state-of-the-art research space for food microbiology, chemistry, and engineering.

“We had experience in designing research labs, but our enthusiasm for the special elements of this project is what made us stand out in the end. The current building simply could not accommodate the student projects, such as continuing to run an active dairy, and the university saw that; they wanted to support the students by giving them a space that could,” Jan Keane said, FAIA, a principal on the project.

“Knitting together all of the disparate programmatic functions required gutting the entire building and creating an addition that could accommodate all the end users,” John Doherty said, AIA, another principal on the project.

The addition of both the dairy plant and new laboratory building relate to the Beaux Arts style architecturally through the use of Roman brick, which complements the existing campus brick.

The fenestration of the new building also aligns with the string courses and large-scale piano nobile windows of Old Stocking Hall.

“The use of plentiful glass allows visitors to literally view the Dairy Plant in action, as they are able to see how the milk is transferred from the large tanks into individual bottles,” Steve Goldberg said, FAIA, another principal on the project.

Most importantly, the addition adds much needed space for the Cornell Dairy Bar, where ice cream is sold from the milk produced on campus.

The new lab building for research is set back from the dairy to create a forecourt where students can sit and enjoy their ice cream.

“One of the hallmarks of working in this field 38 Architecture Leaders Today

is embracing these unique and one-off elements,” Doherty said. “We spent a lot of time researching what was appropriate for Cornell and developed specific solutions tailored to their needs.” Construction recently began and is expected to be completed by fall 2014.

Though only laymen were involved in the Collaborative Research Center project at Rockefeller University in New York, N.Y. the many geniuses, Ph.D. candidates and Nobel Prize winners who frequent the center presented their own unique set of design problems to solve.

Founded in 1901 by John D. Rockefeller Sr., Rockefeller University is home to one of the foremost biomedical research centers in the world. In 2005, the university selected Mitchell/Giurgola Architects to design a new research facility to create state-ofthe-art laboratories, to build community and to promote the exchange of ideas among researchers throughout the university.

The resulting Collaborative Research Center (CRC) includes the renovation of two existing laboratory buildings and the addition of a new 60,000-sq.-ft. bridging building along with major additions to the landscaped areas on the northern half of the campus. The CRC returns the north half

of the campus to the vital scientific research hub it was designed to be nearly a century ago.

By completely renovating Flexner Hall built in 1917 and Smith Hall, built in 1930, the University has replaced nearly one third of their existing laboratory space and retained two beloved historic buildings; all were designed to achieve LEED Silver.

“We used renewable resources wherever possible, such as bamboo veneer casework with FSC certified cores, low-e glass, daylight harvesting, and high efficiency air circulation utilizing heat recovery,” Paul Broches said, FAIA, a principal on the project.

The finished project includes 200,000 sq. ft. of renovated laboratory and common space that is unified by a striking seven story atrium building.

The hourglass shaped atrium with its elliptical form connects all of the levels. A slatted oak scroll wall penetrated by an open communicating stair connects all levels vertically and reinforces the atrium edge. The main campus lobby level is served by a café with indoor and outdoor seating. This lobby provides the primary entrance to the CRC as well as to the Smith Annex building to the east. A gently curving stair leads down to the 200-seat auditorium beneath the garden and also up to the main entry level of the Flexner building.

education | northeast

ABOVE: Rockefeller University, New York, N.Y. Another perspective of how the atrium connects all levels of the Collaborative Research Center.

BOTTOM LEFT: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, N.Y. At the new Center of Excellence in Wireless and Information Technology, daylighting and solar direction figure prominently in the design.

URS CORPORATION urscorp.com

Mitchell/Giurgola hired URS Corporatio to manage the construction process for the state-of-art Center of Excellence in Wireless and Information Technology at Stony Brook University. Though the selection process for this project was highly competitive, the working relationship that endured between URS and Mitchell/Giurgola was a result of their similar, efficient working styles and high standards of professionalism. URS offers fullyintegrated engineering, construction and technical services.

“I find Mitchell/Giurgola to be one of the best architectural firms because this firm really understands the role of a construction manager and they bring strong leadership to their projects,” said John Hagedorn, project executive/ principal-in-charge. “They were receptive to our recommendations and trusted our expertise.”

URS commenced their role in the pre-construction phase to estimate the costs and provide constructability review on the energy-efficient, high-tech building. Following their professional approach during pre-construction, URS was tasked with oversight of the actual construction in the field and see the project to completion. The new 100,000 sq. ft. building offers enough classroom, office and research lab space for 70 faculty members, 190 Ph.D. candidates and 180 master’s students.

“It’s a fabulous building in every sense of the word. Functionality, meeting the Research Campus needs and energy efficiency were prevalent in the work done by Mitchell/Giurgola,” Hagedorn said. “The architects there bring a serious portfolio of work to the table and so do we. We’re looking forward to future collaborations with Mitchell/Giurgola.” See ad on page 64.

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THIS PAGE: The conference center at the Center of Excellence in Wireless and Information Technology at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, N.Y. OPPOSITE: Another perspective of the CEWIT shows how glass and metal materials make up the vast exterior.

40 Architecture Leaders Today

“There is increased energy in the space and accidental meeting opportunities; this wasn’t happening before,” Keane said, a principal on this project. The completion of the CRC has succeeded in helping the University enhance its commitment to the critical role that collaboration plays in advanced research. There is little wonder why Mitchell/Giurgola gets so much repeat business with such happy clients, like their recent project at Stony Brook University.

The new Center of Excellence in Wireless and Information Technology (CEWIT) at Stony Brook is a 100,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art facility that will serve as a cutting-edge research center for both the wireless and wired information technology industry.

As the gateway to Stony Brook’s new Research and Development campus, CEWIT is part of a statewide economic strategy to make New York and specifically the Long Island area an innovative and global hub of high-tech industry. The Center anchors the new campus, where private/public partnerships can develop to aid the design and production of new industry-leading products and concepts.

The structure itself contains a mix of flexible open lab space and supporting offices. The labs have been designed to easily expand and contract in size, depending on the needs of each new research initiative.

There are numerous current topics of research: high thru-put computing, utilizing over 2,000 blade servers for complex computational research; wireless network

testbed labs; cyber security system research; applied virtual reality imaging; ultra high-speed computing; and circuit design and fabrication.

Incubator space and labs dedicated to private industry initiatives have been incorporated into CEWIT. Also included in the design is a large, flexible, multipurpose space, which can be used to hold local, national and international conferences on research topics.

“One of the goals of the building is to be the place where the public research functions of the engineering school mix intensively with private industry” Stephen Dietz said, AIA, a partner of the firm who worked on the project. “With this in mind, flexible incubator space was specifically included in the programming of the building, and today most of the incubator space is already filled by local wireless-related companies.”

Sustainability was an important consideration in the design; Steven Goldberg, FAIA, also a partner at the firm, led the effort at CEWIT. “The overall design includes a wide range of energy reduction strategies, including high SRI roofing, bioswales and a landscape of native plantings without irrigation,” Goldberg said. “Furthermore, each façade responds to its solar orientation: vertical fins on the east; horizontal sunshades on the south; three layers of horizontal sunshades on the west; and flush glass on the north. Fritted glass clerestories reduce solar loading while providing daylight deep into the rooms.” ALT

education | northeast

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DELICIOUS

DESIGNS

For the architects and designers at Crown Design in New York City, a dinner out isn’t just about what you taste; it’s about the ambience that you experience at one of their artfully designed restaurants.

Text by Paige L. Hill Photos courtesy of Crown Design 42 Architecture Leaders Today

hospitality | northeast

by

November/December 2011 43

northeast | hospitality

PREVIOUS SPREAD: Rabbit in the Moon, New York, N.Y. The VIP area was one of architect Michael Santora’s favorite side projects with fabric inlaid walls and a hansome table.

THIS SPREAD, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Rabbit in the Moon, New York, N.Y. The English gastropub theme is apparent down to last detail like chairs and artwork.

Built-in library and hand drawn writing on the ceiling.

The facade is a cut stone veneer to complete the authentic look of an old English gastropub.

44 Architecture Leaders Today

R

ead any scathing, obliterating, one-star, review in The New York Times “Dining & Wine” section and you know that the success of a restaurant does not rest on the chef’s expertise alone. The ambience comprised of lighting, design and music plays a large role in the delicate makeor-break world of restaurant management. Michael Santora, president of Crown Design & Consulting, knows that a well-designed restaurant has a firmer foundation (perhaps literally) upon which to grow.

“This began as a trading of services for part ownership in the restaurant,” Santora said of designing his first restaurant, Rabbit in the Moon, in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of Manhattan.

“We know how to design spaces where people want to be and they know how to run them. It was an incredible learning experience that has since led us down this path.”

Rabbit in the Moon, an English gastropub, required Santora and his team to convert two separate spaces on the main level and second floor into a cohesive bar and restaurant for the trendy

downtown crowd.

“The food is trendy and unique, but they wanted it to feel casual and inviting,” Santora said. “So, we focused on giving it warmth and texture. The interior lent itself to the gastropub style.”

Once Santora’s team started digging, they ripped out the 160-year-old ceilings and found dropped wooden beams which were sanded and stained to give the room depth. By ripping up more, they exposed an original brick wall which now gives the restaurant warmth and provides for an upstairs fireplace. An existing masonry dividing wall defined where the kitchen would go on the first floor. Unfortunately, the post-modern storefront on the existing building did not lend itself so easily to the “aged” look.

“The exterior wasn’t too involved but it was necessary to change it. We cut down real stone to make a veneer which fits with that warm and inviting atmosphere inside,” Santora said. He also made use of the balcony by making it a space for more tables in warm weather.

“After being involved with Rabbit in the Moon,

hospitality | northeast

we had a formula that we wanted to repeat in other restaurants. Being a restaurant owner gives you a unique perspective when you are working on someone else’s. I think owners have the tendency to spend money in the wrong places, but we give them insight from our experience,” Santora said.

“You do not scrimp on the air conditioning or the kitchen – period.”

Crown Design’s successful transformation of the space led to their next project, Bar Italia, which would be the younger, more casual sister to the posh, Upper East Side location.

“In some ways the original Bar Italia was poorly designed, though the overall concept was working. We took a lot of elements from the original restaurant they couldn’t quite achieve and adjusted them,” Santora said.

Nearly a 180-degree turn from the gastropub, Bar Italia is modeled after a bright, white hangout that one finds on South Beach in Miami, Fla. “This is a young, fun crowd that needed a clean and sparse design,” Santora said.

While on the Rabbit in the Moon project, Crown Design sought to gut and expose elements of the building. While on the Bar Italia project, they sought to hide all the duct work and the bones of the building. This served to give the building a “flow” that the owners had requested.

The restaurant began as a converted brownstone, and when finished resembled something closer to a hip nightclub.

“We put enamel over the bar to give it extra polish and protection from the heavy Saturday night crowd,” Santora said.

Crown installed a porcelain tile floor to protect the restaurant from the predictable wear and tear.

“When we threw an opening party there were people dancing on the banquets, throwing pillows and dropping glasses. I was very glad then that we had put in a virtually indestructible bar!”

“You can’t be more proud of yourself than when you’ve created what you wanted to create. Design plays so much into the dining experience and the diners seem to be very happy,” Santora said. ALT

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November/December 2011 45

northeast | health care

NAME GAMES

G

TOP: New York Methodist Hospital, New York, N.Y. TDA’s renovation project of the entrance also included rebranding the hospital’s logo with the sleek, new “NYM.” ABOVE: The hospital’s revamped entrance includes an atrium, grand staircase and screen to camoflauge the duct work. The atrium brings in natural light to the lobby.

OPPOSITE: Another perspective of the hospital.

OPPOSITE, INSET: Rendering of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, detailing the custom double helix signage.

46 Architecture Leaders Today

ary Maranga, Howard Fiedler and Gong-Wen Lin are architects by training; however, if you were to judge them off two of their latest projects you might think their work is more along the lines of public relations – working the rebranding of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and revitalizing the New York Methodist Hospital with a new entrance and look. As principals of The Design Alliance, they say that their job descriptions can be somewhat of a moving target.

“We’ve done every type of project and we certainly don’t like limiting ourselves,” Fiedler said, a co-founder of TDA in 2003 with Maranga and Lin. “This is truly a studio style firm, meaning that we have no design limits. We collaborate and bounce ideas off of each other regularly.”

That “no boundaries” approach hasn’t hurt their portfolio in the economic downturn, either.

“Unfortunately, we’ve had many a colleague who hasn’t fared well in this recession, but we’ve always done things a little differently,” Maranga said.

“We’re a lean and mean operation…while we have the capabilities to do large, complex projects, we don’t carry a huge overhead. Our experience shows

in every project as we’re thoroughly ‘hands-on’ and that is much appreciated by our clients.”

When the Albert Einstein College of Medicine approached TDA with an unusual problem, the solution involved both architecture and branding expertise.

“This project began with the dean of the school looking at the campus’ building from across the street in his office and not liking what he saw – the rooftop covered in messy equipment,” Fiedler said. “We were asked to provide an idea that would both conceal this equipment and better brand the school with a distinctive logo that anyone walking by would notice.”

As the college was welcoming a new administration, they were also looking to bring a fresh look to the whole institution. TDA studied a campus-wide survey that found that the previous logo featuring a drawing image of Albert Einstein had fallen out of favor.

“A majority of those surveyed actually thought the image was of Beethoven or someone else entirely, which was clearly a problem,” Maranga said. “The concept developed very organically. We began to explore ideas around DNA models and recognized the DNA strand also resembles the sign for infinity, as well

health care | northeast

The Design Alliance out of New York City has found that staying relevant means constantly updating their look – the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and the New York Methodist Hospital are two recent examples.

Text by Paige L. Hill Photos courtesy of The Design Alliance

an E for Einstein. Though Einstein’s contributions to science actually had little to do with biology, he did create our present understanding of time and space, so by combining the ideas we were able to incorporate the new logo into the design concept.”

And the new project will be hard to miss. The screen wall logo cast in a resin material, which sits atop the 12-story campus building, is roughly the length of a city block. Though architectural projects do not generally start as graphic design or marketing projects, TDA’s background in design and keen eye for aesthetic made them perfect candidates for this project. It didn’t hurt that on an earlier project for the historic New York Methodist Hospital, TDA created a new entrance infill building and institutional identity to go along with it. Though the job was not something new for TDA, it was certainly their first time working with a major healthcare institution’s image.

“Years ago we were invited to present our designs for the reconfiguration of a cardiac care suite, a fairly rudimentary job, but we realized that the opportunity to establish a relationship was greater than the job itself, so we really sunk our teeth into

exhibiting multiple options through an animated presentation. It worked.” Maranga said. “Since then, we’ve completed over 20 projects for NYM throughout various areas of the hospital with the new entrance building being the latest addition.”

This project called for the architects to give the hospital a seamless addition acting as a front door that would also serve as a new entrance and lobby area – something the hospital board hoped would also bring a breath of fresh air to their then aging facility.

“We made a conscious decision to utilize the existing 1920s classical façade on the building to blend into the new entrance,” Maranga said. The design incorporated an existing Neoclassical portico entrance and exterior limestone façade within a transitional space created by a new curtain wall, clerestory windows and stone masonry building.

“We had a very narrow space to work, since we had to work within the framework and the fabric of the neighborhood, so we came up with the idea to use clerestory windows to keep the look transparently there,” Fiedler said. The 24-ft.-high, 200-ft. continuous curtain wall in glazed glass spans two

stories on the front of the hospital, giving passerby a glimpse of the original façade.

“We paid respect to what was done in the past, but at the same time we gave the building this feeling of an interior garden by bringing in natural elements like plants into this naturally lit space,” Fiedler said.

“It doesn’t feel like a big institutional hospital when you walk in; it feels like a park.”

On the upper levels, the various medical staff and patients walking by also have a view of the interior garden. Inside the lobby, the floor is made of river-washed stone and marble. The ceiling, wavelike panels of mesh, both hides the duct work and reflects the serenity of the space. Outside, over the curtain wall, sits a new logo: a large, back-lit NYM designed by Lin. “Within ten minutes of the project’s opening to the public we had a patient come through and give us his opinion,” Maranga said. “ ‘I’m 75 and I was born in this hospital, he said… my mother came through these very same doors with me as a newborn in her arms so I’m grateful you’ve kept some of the past in the new building.” ALT

November/December 2011 47

northeast | education

A NARRATIVE IN BUILT FORM SEEKING TO START A NEW CONVERSATION ABOUT ART, LIFE AND ARCHITECTURE, IKON.5 ARCHITECTS MAKES A BOLD STATEMENT WITH EVERY STROKE OF THEIR PENCILS.

Text by Joel Cornell Photos by Peter Mauss/ESTO (SUNY-New Paltz) Photos by James D'Addio, Photographer (Kirkwood Public Library)

48 Architecture Leaders Today

education | northeast

November/December 2011 49

northeast | education

A PREVIOUS AND THIS PAGE: Kirkwood Public Library. New Castle County, Del. Nighttime view of entrance with ample park benches and bike racks.

Abundant daylighting floods the reading areas.

Exterior views.

OPPOSITE PAGE: Student Union Building. State University of New York. New Paltz, N.Y. Study area.

Front entrance.

A welcoming environment of bright colors and open spaces.

50 Architecture Leaders Today

fter 18 years spent working together heading up the education practice at a large national firm, Charles Maira, Joseph Tattoni and Arvind Tikku began a discussion about the best way to do business; each of them wanted something new. The end result of that discussion was a new firm, started by the principals in 2003: ikon.5.

“We eventually decided to open our own practice primarily because of the way that we like to service clients,” Tattoni said. “In a very large, nationally-oriented firm it can become rather difficult to service our client base directly as principals, particularly in the educational and institutional sectors. The clients all like to be heavily involved. They like to know that it’s going to be you who picks up the phone, it’s you who does the work, it’s you who knows everything about their world, and it’s you who will solve their problems. In order to do that, we needed a smaller firm, intensely focused on those close client relationships.”

Today, over 70 percent of ikon.5’s portfolio is in designing for the educational sector. Using their experience in educational architecture as a springboard, the firm has been able to grow by leaps and bounds in the corporate market. The firm caters specifically to boutique clients whose design needs are intensive, vital and varied. These aren’t just new office spaces for a client’s upcoming expansion, but defining changes for a small corporation which will impact the sociological aspects of the company and office culture as a whole.

Further, ikon.5 has maintained a heavy hand in projects closely related to education. From public institutions like learning centers and libraries to museums and universities, the firm has consistently maintained a significant presence that at once indicates vision, talent and commitment. The firm also performs a small amount of work for developers across the country.

“Our strength is that, no matter how small or large a project may be, we can bring to the client

education | northeast

something that is pure, something that will be loved and will direct the lives of the clients for years to come,” Tattoni said. “With the Kirkwood Public Library that we designed for the municipality of New Castle County Delaware, the client wanted to make a specific statement, a new cultural center for the community that would inspire those who would live, work, learn and play in the library.

“Oftentimes in architecture, professionals do not see design opportunities in this light. Many clients come to us with less than generous budgets. What is important is that they have a desire to make the project fantastic, even with a small budget. Some of our most acclaimed projects have been subject to relatively poor funding, but we simply took what was available and made it into something fantastic.”

For the Kirkwood Public Library, ikon.5 was given a budget of just $6 million, which was not terribly generous, given the project’s parameters. Both the client and the firm’s principals realized that the project wasn’t going to be clad in marble; but, it could have an important impact on the New Castle County community.

At 23,000 sq. ft., the library site is on a regularly used public highway, surrounded by strip malls.

Behind the McDonalds, PepBoys, Costco, Wal-Mart and other generic blocks was a real neighborhood in real need of a new library. The old library was far too small, and with the county owned land, ikon.5 was given a chance to break up this strip of corporate chains with something true and outstanding.

“We aimed for something that was eye-catching, which developed from our considerations on how to make the library a civic monument visible by motorists travelling by at 30-40 mph down the American fast food landscape,” Tattoni said. “We thought about the building as a series of books stacked together as seen from the outside. Then, when patrons enter the parking lot from the rear, the glass walls let them see the world inside.”

In a similar attempt to make an impact on an academic community, ikon.5 was brought on by the

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November/December 2011 51

northeast | education

CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP LEFT: Student Union Building. State University of New York. New Paltz, N.Y. Welcome and information center.

Kirkwood Public Library. New Castle County, Del. Through the window glass.

Writing, working and learning space is readily available.

52 Architecture Leaders Today

State University of New York in New Paltz, N.Y. The firm sought to give the students exactly what they needed with the 10,000-sq.-ft. addition and 13,000-sq.-ft. renovation. The renovation and addition would completely transform the existing student union building experience. After doing some serious homework alongside student and university committees, ikon.5 saw that there wasn’t really a place for students to spend their free time, unless it was in a dorm or on a bench.

While the existing student union building had plenty of office space, there were no large gathering spaces for such technologically-minded students. The project was also born out of a need to give the campus its identity. Set in the Catskill Mountains, the palisades and ridges of the regional landscape can be seen from the campus. In creating a new identity for the campus, ikon.5 decided to use this dramatic, internationally renowned landscape as inspiration for an abstract influence on the new design.

“First and foremost in the minds of the students, not surprisingly, was the integration of green design into the building,” Tattoni said. “Second, the students and the university both wanted a high level of technology integration at every opportunity. What was envisioned on campus was a place to see and be seen, to visit, to walk past and through; simply a place for students to gather and socialize.”

In the minds of the architects behind ikon.5, too few individuals really promote the arts. Their projects aim to make statements, at their clients behest, about art and architecture in the context of our American culture. It doesn’t matter if you’re rich or poor or somewhere in between: an appreciation for the arts cuts through everything. Both of these projects began as a dialogue between architect and client, based on individuals’ appreciations. By their very nature, these buildings now stand as catalysts for new conversations about the narrative of architecture. ALT

northeast | corporate

WORK TO LIVE or LIVE TO WORK

CPG Architects out of Stamford, Conn. seeks to create the kind of work spaces where employees look forward to Mondays.

Text by Paige L. Hill Photos by ESTO (Lime Rock Partners & Nestle Waters) Photos by Jim Herity Photography (MOAB Oil) 54 Architecture Leaders Today

corporate | northeast

November/December 2011 55

northeast | corporate

M

ost Americans spend more time at work than they do at home – an average 40 percent of their waking hours are passed at the office, according to a study by the Center for Work Life Policy. So, why don’t we treat the workplace as as we do our homes with respect to design, function, and comfort? Gary Unger, founder and president of CPG Architects, has been working to change that. For 30 years CPG’s mission has always been to design work environments where their clients’ employees love to work. As each client differs with their own specific goals and objectives, so are CPG’s design solutions. CPG purposely does not have a “company design style,” but rather tries to bring out the cusomized requirements of each client.

“There have been significant changes in the last few years in how offices operate,” Unger said. “There is an idea that an office design can be a ‘one size fits all’ solution, when in reality each office operates so differently that our designs are almost completely unique in relation to each other.”

Two of CPG’s latest projects illustrate this concept perfectly. Herein, both companies are of similar size, headquartered in Connecticut, a few miles from each other, and both are leaders in energy investment and oil trading; however, each is very different in their definitions of company image and design objectives.

Lime Rock Partners, in Westport, Conn., retained CPG to design their new “suburban” space in an “urban sophisticated” language. The design challenge was to create an open, expansive feeling in a traditional plan where perimeter private offices prevailed. The full-height special patterned glass for the office fronts balanced the admission of light and view to the interior while screening the occupants from full exposure. The space features river views, open foyer and reception, a large open community dining space, boardroom and fitness center. The color palette consists of neurtral tones, creating a backdrop for an extensive art collection and a “Ferrari” red accent on the building core for the car enthusiasts that work there. The team of thirty now has a family-like atmosphere with a variety of spaces offering the opportunity to learn, collaborate and socialize. The large conference room is fitted out with sophisticated audiovisual systems to provide for communication among their offices.

MOAB Oil, on the other hand, chose a renovated industrial building in South Norwalk for their headquarters. For the employees at MOAB Oil, socializing and entertaining is the way they do business so creating an environment that reflected that was paramount to the design. When CPG met with MOAB over a few dinner meetings, the 56 Architecture Leaders Today

architects discovered that they would really like something akin to a clubhouse for an office; CPG delivered just that. Their extremely informal “frat house” culture inspired CPG to incorporate a list of features that would be a young man’s dream come true. The team’s 30 trading positions are surrounded by video monitors and supported by a sports bar, pool and dart room, video gaming center, and a full kitchen and bar. It was designed with an open, collaborative layout. There are no assigned private offices. The six-person trading pods were oriented so that sightlines and views were maximized for good communications and the shared common rooms surround the trading area.

“It’s interesting that the two companies are running very similar businesses with very similar objectives, but operate incredibly differently,” Unger said. However, for most of CPG’s clients this is the norm – today there are no rules – companies are exploring new ways of working to support their brand.

“It is a very exciting time for our designers,” Unger said.

Their happy clients may be part of the reason why 70-80 percent of CPG’s business is from repeat clientele, like designing the new headquarters for Nestle Waters North America,with whom the firm has been working since the mid 1980s. When the largest producers of bottled water products in the world decided they would move from the facility they occupied for over thirty years, they turned to CPG to help them through the planning, design and relocation phases.

The management at Nestle viewed their move to a new headquarters as a rare opportunity to reinvent their work style and culture. They wanted a more open collaborative type facility. Fortunately, CPG senior management remained thoroughly involved in the process. CPG and Nestle management reviewed every facility for miles around that could provide about 175,000 sq. ft. and the exhaustive process

corporate | northeast

PREVIOUS SPREAD: Lime Rock Partners, in Westport, Conn.

The color palette is neutral with a “Ferrari” red accent on the building core, for the many car enthusiasts who work at the energy investment and oil trading firm.

THIS SPREAD, AT LEFT: Lime Rock Partners. At left, how CPG created an openness where perimeter private offices prevailed.

BELOW, RIGHT: Lime Rock Partners. The custom glass features a raindrop-like pattern to diffuse the natural light.

BELOW, LEFT: Lime Rock Partners. The reception area embodies the “urban sophisticated” design the partners asked for.

November/December 2011 57

northeast | corporate

CLOCKWISE FROM RIGHT: MOAB Oil. South Norwalk, Conn.

The office space matches their laidback style of doing business, where socializingis prominent and the partners often work odd hours.

The kitchen/bar area feels more like a hip restaurant than an office.

The reception area boasts large leather armcahirs and an up-todate stock market feed.

The reception area includes an aquarium and vintage gas pump.

58 Architecture Leaders Today

corporate | northeast

took a few years to find the right space. A Nestle relocation team was organized and from the outset the phrase they felt best described their design goal with was “Nestle at home.” Throughout the design process, words that were used to support the tagline were natural, comfortable, elegant, collaborative and fluid.

“Nestle wanted their headquarters to reflect who they really are – which they knew was not a sleek, cold, modern office; but rather a warm, comfortable office with a lot of natural materials,” Unger said.

“They wanted something clean, neat and elegant, but also a workplace where their family and friends would feel comfortable stopping by.”

“We started the design process with a phase we call visioning; first understanding the CEO’s point of view, moving through to the management team and then to the rest of the employees,” Unger said.

“We began with their tagline and then made sure that we understood what everyone thought that meant. Listening is the most important thing we do as architects.”

CPG’s visioning sessions began with senior management throwing around brand, planning, design and workplace standards ideas and ended by inviting the rest of the employees to participate in what Unger calls a “snow card” session – where employees write one idea about any subject on their mind on a white 5x7 index card. Cards are then organized by subject and pinned on the walls.

Subjects often include employees’ ideas about their environment, lighting and air quality and control, furniture design, acoustics, colors and materials.

When all the cards are pinned up on the walls, the room looks like snow falling.

“I’ve never seen an employee ask for something impossible in one of these sessions,” Unger said.

“I think that senior management should never be worried about involving everyone in this discussion. There is only an upside to the process, never a downside. The goal is to make everyone happy to work in the space, so why not ask everyone? With 90 percent of most companies’ expenses being related to salary , it’s a no-brainer to involve the staff.”

Unger himself eschews an isolated office at CPG in favor of a desk among the team.

“I like to be a part of the action. I found that when I worked alone in a ‘private office’ that no one came by to talk to me or involve me in the discussion,” Unger said. The Nestle Headquarters also boasts plenty of collaborative space – 100 percent of open office space.

“The former Nestle headquarters were about 80 percent offices and 20 percent open workstations and we played with the idea of inverting that in the new space; we eventually ended up with 100 percent of fluid, collaborative spaces that moves easily into each other,” Unger said. The headquarters boasts a spacious cafeteria with comfortable seating, a 125-seat auditorium with all the technical November/December 2011 59

northeast | corporate

capabilities for large-scale presentations. Walking trails on the campus surround the office for some impromptu exercise.

Nestle also uses CPG’s facility management system software to manage day-to-day change. The system coordinates information from the many databases where an employee’s name is kept: human resources, administration, benefits, payroll and more, to simplify the reporting process to all departments when new staff joins or leaves the company or moves internally. Unger says it is indispensable to have an up-to-date account that shows all staff names and where there are vacant spaces.

“We call it ‘life after open house’ which means that we don’t pack up and leave after an office hosts an open house party to celebrate the new office,” Under said. Prior to starting CPG, Unger was a director of planning and design for American Express from 1974 to 1980. From that position, he learned that the difficult part of the architectural process was not getting a building or space built; rather, it was managing day-to-day change and keeping management updated with facility metrics.

“There was such a lack of efficiency and so much time wasted running around asking ‘Who sits here?’ and ‘How many vacant seats do we have?’,” Unger said. When he founded CPG in 1979, he knew he wanted to develop this type of software. When the technology became available in 1990, he started Link Systems to design, market and implement facility management systems. Since then, Link Systems has added lease administration software for corporations to track their owned and leased properties as well as portfolio management software for building owners to track tenant spaces in their office buildings.

“We just keep pushing ourselves to improve the design process and operate with greater openness to gain happy clients,” Unger said. He credits his three principals Karen Lika, Jenny Paik and Carl Mirbach for creating a challenging design environment that keeps him on his toes. “We want the process to be as painless as possible; in fact, for most clients it becomes loads fun.” ALT

60 Architecture Leaders Today

corporate | northeast

THIS SPREAD: Nestle Waters North America Headquarters, Stamford, Conn. CPG created the “Nestle at home” interior they envisioned.

BOTTOM, LEFT TO RIGHT: One of their board rooms is decorated with their products.

The completely open, collaborative workspace.

One of their social spaces is warm and inviting.

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Legere Group has worked with CPG Architects for 20 years on over 140 jobs nationwide. Among their clients are high-profile firms such as Bridgewater Associates, MOAB Oil, Nestle Waters, Sun Products, Lime Rock Partners, IMS, US Tobacco and GE. Legere’s millwork for CPG alone has accumulated an estim­ated value in excess of $15 million. As an AWI-QCP Certified manufacturer, Legere maintains the highest commitment to delivering long-lasting quality. Legere is capable of handling jobs of all sizes from small jobs like interior trim on a luxury yacht to large installations for corporate offices and public spaces. See ad on page 66.

November/December 2011 61

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green building | northeast

ENGINEERING STANDARDS:

COLLECTIVE DESIGN ASSOCIATES

AS A LEADER IN ENGINEERING ACROSS ALL MARKET SECTORS AROUND GLOBE, THIS FIRM HAS WORKED TIRELESSLY TO BRING ABOUT A NEW AND HIGHER SET OF INDUSTRY STANDARDS.

by Joel Cornell

“W

hat really sets us apart as an engineering firm is the way we’ve built ourselves up,” said Bruce Tourigny, president of Collective Design Associates. “We began Collective Design Associates as a sort of mom and pop engineering firm. Originally, we started out with a focus on smaller projects. But as we’ve grown, we’ve kept the mom and pop feel, largely due to how tightly knit our staff has become. Now, we’re doing major hotels, operating and commercial facilities and high-rise buildings instead.”

Since the firm’s inception in 1989, Collective Design Associates has been dedicated to exceptional performance as well as designing and engineering mechanical, electrical and plumbing system for new construction, renovations and expansion projects. As a full service, multi-disciplined consulting engineering firm, Collective Design Associates has cemented their reputation through their successes around the globe, from New Hampshire to Brazil, and from St. Johns to Saudi Arabia.

“Throughout the entire scope of our work, our goal is to get much deeper into the field of energy-conscious construction,” Tourigny said. “As more and more alternative energy sources come into the mainstream, we begin enjoying more and more options that will get us away from the high costs of oil, coal and the like. Right now, we’ve been doing a lot of work with firms like Solar Change.

They’ll take the standard scope of solar panels and hot water systems, and convert them for use in pools, air conditioning and for utility purposes. This is the kind of innovation, experimentation and excellence in design that we foster. As oil prices continue to rise, so will the demand for innovative, sustainable technology.”

Recently, Collective Design Associates had the chance to pull out all the stops in terms of sustainable, energy efficient design work. Working alongside CPG, Collective Design Associates helped the new Nestle Waters building in

Stamford, Conn. become a reality. As a renovation project, the firm began with an in-depth investigation into the possibilities available in the 165,000 sq. ft., four-story building.

“We’ve been working with CPG quite frequently over the past decade at least,” Tourigny said. “Above all, the level of talent we see from them, time and time again, is simply astounding. A majority of the work we’ve done with them has been in the commercial sectors, as is this Nestle Waters project. When we found out that this renovation project was seeking LEED Gold, we knew we had our work cut out for us. With lots of hard work from our team, alongside CPG, we were able to not only meet but also exceed LEED Gold.”

In the scope of their undertaking, Collective Design Associates managed the entire commission of the energy efficient systems for the Nestle Waters project.

Further, the firm also handled large portions of the design and engineering work, all across the renovated building, including all of the paperwork required for obtaining the LEED Gold.

Having worked across the country, on a wide variety of projects in all conceivable market sectors, Collective Design Associates has maintained an astounding portfolio. The firm can serve in any capacity, on any project of any size: airports, banks, server rooms and data processing centers, educational instutitions and energy projects, fire and police stations, retail franchises, hospitality, hospital and medical facilities, telecommunication projects and port facility projects.

Collective Design Associates is licensed in 24 states and is a member of the National Society of Professional Engineers, the Building Officials and Code Administrators and the United States Green Building Council.

November/December 2011 63

northeast | regional marketplace

Space Saving Solutions for

The Modern Bathoom

DISCOVERING WHAT ALL THE NOISE IS ABOUT Have you ever attended a performance in a foreign language? You watch carefully trying to follow the performance yet quickly become lost and frustrated: you cannot follow the story.

Figaro Systems’ Simultext® captioning provides an elegant solution, a compact display screen at every seat in the auditorium. The single touch of a button cycles through available translations, the screen then presents translated text an instant before the words are spoken or sung. The text registers on the viewer’s peripheral vision, glancing down, they read the text then look back to the stage. The whole process occurs in a fraction of a second yet gives a complete understanding of the performance. The action is quick, comfortable and automatic- like checking your speedometer while driving.

BISSONNET offers a wide range of bathroom sinks, vanities and decorative plumbing products that are aesthetically pleasing and functionally relevant to today’s life style. Our objective is to provide bathroom fixtures and furniture that meet the highest standards of quality and design and fully

64 Architecture Leaders Today

Great care is taken to optimally place screens and special optical filters limit viewing so adjacent persons are not distracted. The system provides instant response and nimbleness to effortlessly comply with the demanding timing needs of live performance.

satisfy the needs of customers, while surpassing the expectations of professionals in the trade.

The end result allows the viewer to follow the performance with the same comfort and understanding as a natural speaker of the language presented on stage.

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regional marketplace | northeast

SONOMA FORGE

DISTINCTIVE FAUCETRY

Serving luxury homes throughout the northeastern U.S, for over 15 years, Long Island, NY-based North Shore Window & Door is the east coast servicing Dealer and Factory-Certified installer of Fleetwood Aluminum(USA) high-end windows and doors. Fleetwood has committed its resources to manufacturing high quality, custom products specifically for those concerned with Green sustainable development.

Architect Stuart Narofsky has recently utilized Fleetwood’s “Minimalist” modern innovations in projects under the technical sales and installation services of North Shore Window & Door. Stuart’s incomparable attention to details has facilitated North Shore’s job as his window and door supplier. North Shore Window & Door appreciates the opportunity to partake in Stuart Narofsky’s designs, and to continuing their relationship for many years to come.

An exclusive line of premium and hand-forged faucets, exposed and concealed shower systems along with matching accessories to complement each collection. www.sonomaforge.com

Visit any of North Shore’s three showrooms that showcase top of the line brands such as MQ Windows, Loewen, Kolbe & Kolbe, Marvin and Fleetwood Aluminum. For more information visit their website, northshorewindow.com, or call 631-285-7333 for consultation with one of North Shore’s industry-leading experienced professionals.

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November/December 2011 65

northeast | regional marketplace

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LJS provides full complement of services professional LJS provides a fullacomplement of professional services civil engineering, surveying, including including civil engineering, land surveying, land and construction and construction inspection, meeting commercial, the needs of inspection, meeting the needs of municipal, municipal, commercial, industrial private industrial and private development projects ofand varying sizes development and complexity. projects of varying sizes and complexity.

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66 Architecture Leaders Today

OneEdgewater Edgewater Plaza, Plaza,Ste Ste 205 205 One StatenIsLand, Island, NY Staten NY 10305 10305 718.420.9693 p.p.718.420.9693 718.420.9673 f.f.718.420.9673

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Long Island Staten Island Florida Qatar

Long Island Staten Island Florida Qatar We have the privilege of working with Mitchell Giurgola Architects, we Congratulate them their Success!

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regional marketplace | northeast

Ysrael A. Seinuk, PC Structural and Civil Design • Transportation Engineering

Ysrael A. Seinuk, P.C. is proud to have collaborated with Mitchell Giurgola on many exceptional buildings.

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Since 1946 Kleet Lumber has been supplying developers, custom builders, remodeling contractors and homeowners with lumber, millwork, roofing and siding and a full line of building products.

We carry the top brands and our custom mill shop offers customers the advantage of custom specialty millwork.

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Congratulations to Narofsky Architecture & ways2design on their continued success.

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Or call Peter Visconti 631-831-5209 November/December 2011 67

northeast | regional marketplace

Construction Specifications, Inc. Architects • Specifiers • Specialty Consultants

Construction Specifications, Inc. is a consulting organization devoted to researching materials and preparing construction specifications.

For more information on how we can help you in achieving a successful project, contact us today.

We are proud to work with Mitchell Giurgola Architects and congratulate them on their success.

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Narofsky Architects & ways2design WE CONGRATULATE THEM ON THEIR SUCCESS.

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68 Architecture Leaders Today

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regional marketplace | northeast

Architectural Leader -vertical_Layout 1 5/5/2011 4:02 PM Page 1

David H. Koch Koch Theater Theater at at Lincoln Lincoln Center, Center, NY NY © Elliot Kaufman Kaufman Photography Photography

Full-service HVAC contractor

Trystate Mechanical is proud to work with the Design Alliance, providing full-service HVAC contracting and installing air conditioning and heating systems for several of their projects. We congratulate them on their success, and look forward to working with them throughout the future.

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November/December 2011 69

northeast | regional marketplace

SOURCE INTERNATIONAL

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Congratulations to MITCHELL | GIURGOLA ARCHITECTS

Galina Design Group is proud to collaborate with ikon.5 architects on many projects and congratulate them on their success.

Functional Style. Distinctive Elements. Brilliant Design.

Space Planning • Interior Design Galina Design Group is a multi-faceted Interior Design Firm specializing in a diversity of projects including higher education facilities, corporate, healthcare, hospitality and hi-end residential spaces.

We bring the best design quality to our clients creating interior environments that fulfill functional and aesthetic goals. We work in teams with Architects and Construction Companies creating design solutions that are practical and cost efficient, yet achieve aesthetic impact.

Galina Ubogiy is a principal of Galina Design Group, professionally trained, conceptual and innovative Interior Designer, NJ State Certified, LEED Green Associate, professional member of IIDA and a chapter member of USGBC. 3430 Sunset Avenue, Suite 2, Ocean, New Jersey 07712 Tel. 732-918-0813 • Fax 732-918-0713 • www.GalinaDesignGroup.com Science Center Courtyard, Keene State College

70 Architecture Leaders Today

©Bordwin

regional marketplace | northeast

Pavarini Construction aided CPG Architects in fast-tracking the construction of the 164,000 sq. ft. Nestle Waters office facility in Stamford, Conn. Pavarini helped achieve LEED Gold certification while constructing a quality-built structure at a fast-track pace.

our adivce, your advantage

Project management is one of the most dynamic professions of the 21st century and as part of Faithful+Gould’s project management services we: • Provide owner representation • Ensure focus on project objectives • Offer independent guidance on budget, schedule, performance and quality.

Material waste was diverted from landfills and recycled where possible. Pavarani installed low-flow plumbing fixtures, energyrated appliances and movement-triggered, power-saving light systems. Throughout the building recycled wood is used on the millwork and all paint, carpet and sealant was low-VOC. To keep on schedule, Pavarini worked closely with subcontractors to ensure that materials arrived one month before occupancy – like the state-of-the-art, data and audio/visual equipment for the 1,700 sq. ft. data center.

In addition to the interior fit-out, Pavarini also provided CM Services for the exterior of the building; painting the façade and refurbishing the parking garage with new lighting, stripping, curbs, paving and installing ADA compliant ramps.

Faithful+Gould congratulates Gary Unger and CPG Architects on their continued success.

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203.327.0100 | www.pavarini.com

November/December 2011 71

south | regional marketplace

72 Architecture Leaders Today

SOUTH 74 SORG ARCHITECTURE

82 STUDIO AGOOS LOVERA 88 FORUM

94 ROSS DESIGN 100 REGIONAL MARKETPLACE

Photo by Everett & Soule Photography

south | civic

74 Architecture Leaders Today

civic | south

Design Globally, Excel Locally From D.C. to Delhi, Sorg Architects has been working to bring up a new generation of architects alongside a unique brilliance in the world of design.

Text by Joel Cornell Photos by Richard Felber (U.S. Embassy) Photos courtesy of Sorg Architects (Cresthaven Elementary & Sector 58) November/December 2011 75

south | civic

A

s a young girl living in New Delhi, India, Suman Sorg didn’t have one particular preference for her future career. Influenced by interactions with the architect Louis Kahn, Sorg’s father suggested a career in architecture. Turn the clock forward a few decades and we find Sorg Architects, one of today’s most successful and renowned woman-owned architectural firms.

“When I was younger, I didn’t really know much about architecture at all,” Sorg said. “But now, I’m so glad I chose this profession because I can’t imagine doing anything else. After earning my degree from Howard University, I worked for several different architecture firms here in the Washington, D.C. area, including Harry Weese and Associates, a Chicago-based firm that handled the design for the D.C. metro system. Still, I felt that having my own practice was the best fit, though I didn’t necessarily pick the best time to do so.”

In the midst of several widespread economic recessions in the U.S., Sorg Architects was first established in 1986. While several of Sorg’s colleagues who invested in their own firms have since gone out of business, Sorg Architects works extensively in the residential, commercial, educational, institutional and civic sectors in over 30 countries around the planet. The firm has garnered significant recognition in their 25 years, including 23 awards from the AIA. Sorg, meanwhile, is a board member for the D.C. Building Industry Association and serves as a Peer Reviewer for the General Services Administration Design Excellence Program.

One of Sorg Architects’ very first and now most frequent client is the U.S. Department of State.

Over the course of 20-plus years, the firm has designed projects at both ends of the scale, ranging from small projects to embassies with a budget of anywhere between $80 million and $500 million. The firm does additional work with other government agencies, such as the Department of Defense and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Most recently, Sorg Architects completed a new U.S. Embassy located in Bridgetown, the capital of Barbados. The largest U.S. Embassy in the Caribbean, this projects stands at approximately 85,000 sq. ft. and features gorgeous vistas of the sunny Caribbean. In a country where space is found at an absolute premium, the L-shaped layout of the embassy might seem inefficent. However, Sorg’s masterful hand provided a unique planning structure that fit everything an embassy would need and more.

The main entrance to the building lies in the crook of the L. As an embassy traditionally serves both the American public travelling abroad and locally based diplomats, dignitaries, ambassadors, and other government agents, Sorg needed to bring a design that met the needs of not just the client or one specific user, but absolutely everyone involved. Past the entrance, the intended usability splits, 76 Architecture Leaders Today

civic | south

PREVIOUS SPREAD: U.S. Embassy. Bridgetown, Barbados.

Stately, imposing and elegant, this U.S. Embassy reflects the architect’s attempt to export American ideals.

OPPOSITE PAGE: The front entrance to the embassy in Barbados serves all aesthetic, security and official needs.

THIS SPREAD: Wider view of the front entrance.

November/December 2011 77

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78 Architecture Leaders Today

civic | south

with official state employees being directed to the left side of the building, while the general public is directed towards the right.

The design of the exterior features traditional Caribbean design elements, including a pinched roof, locally quarried coral stone as a decorative facade and a unique overall layout known locally as the cattle house design. Despite having to use smaller windows and other materials in order to let the structure withstand any strength of hurricane force winds, the project still managed to attain LEED Silver.

Closer to home, Sorg Architects has recently finished a complete overhaul and renovation of Cresthaven Elementary School, located in Montgomery County, Md. After the complete demolition of the decrepit, aging edifice that stood on the school grounds, Sorg Architects breathed new life into the naturally wooded site. Sorg utilized the tree-rich areas, providing lots of shade in necessary areas at key times for the students and faculty alike.

In her standard approach, Sorg designed the school with every user in mind; not just the teachers and students, but also new visitors, parents and maintenance staff. The firm used standard sets for the lighting, locks and other facets of the building in order to lessen maintenance costs and time. Outside of the many new features for the students, Sorg’s approach to the design of the building itself kept the education of the youngsters in mind. Using simple forms and uncomplicated blocks, Sorg created a design that would demonstrate for the students how buildings work.

Halfway around the globe, in New Delhi, India, outsourcing firms are booming. As such, new “cyber cities,� as Sorg puts it, are popping up all across India and much of Asia. With this increase in the workforce has come a rise in demands for housing. Nearby, a new project by Sorg Architects, dubbed The Grand Arch, seeks to meet these demands.

THIS SPREAD: Cresthaven Elementary School.

Montogmery County, Md. Front entrance.

Stairwells and hallways focus is on ease of access and safety.

Classrooms are built to foster an environment of inspiration and enlightenment.

November/December 2011 79

south | civic

OEHME VAN SWEDEN ovsla.com

Internationally acclaimed landscape architecture firm Oehme, van Sweden & Associates boasts over 175 years of professional experience in crafting landscapes around the world with their lean team of 15 landscape architects and two technical support personnel.

Based in Washington, D.C., OvS works internationally on private gardens, corporate and academic campuses, public parks, botanic gardens, embassies and federal government installations.

Following the lead established by Wolfgang Oehme and James van Sweden, who founded the firm in 1977, OvS encompasses an astounding amount of insight and understanding of the core essence of landscape architecture. The firm also stands as the vanguard for their unique architectural style recognized by the industry as the New American Garden style.

Today, OvS’ New American Garden style stands as a metaphor for the American meadow. It reflects the year-round beauty of the natural landscape. It frees plants from forced artificial forms and allows them to seek a natural course as they weave a tapestry across the entire garden plane.

It results in layered masses of foliage that boldly celebrate the ephemeral though mystery, intrigue and discovery.

“We truly strive to embrace horticulture as our profession,” said Eric D. Groft, principal.

“Many landscape architects like to focus on the architecture of their work, frequently expressing an overbearing approach to architecture while leaving the landscape out of the equation. We enjoy placing our focus equally on both landscaping and architecture, understanding that not one nor the other should be lessened. Instead, they need to be seen as a singular endeavor to be articulated as an integration of indoors and out.”

“Our office is just eight blocks from the U.S. Capitol,” Groft said. “Our work on embassies with firms like Sorg Architects has created a new sort of vocabulary for us.

Our understanding that what we do is a part of national security has been enlightening to say the least, certainly more so in these modern times.

“We’ve worked on the campus for the Federal Reserve, and with Sorg Architects on the U.S. Embassy in Barbados – places where security is paramount. Suman Sorg has been a great friend to us throughout the years; we were even lucky enough to work with her on her own weekend house.” See ad on page 101.

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civic | south

OPPOSITE, TOP: Sector 58. The Grand Arch. New Delhi, India.

Close-up of apartments.

OTHERS: Various views of exterior from surrounding environment.

In traditional Indian architecture, a singular arc surrounded by four corner towers is a frequently used and higly regarded building form. To some, even the Taj Mahal can be perceived as such a building type. Sorg’s client has assembled a grand master plan on 300 acres near the airport. Using just 30 acres of the total 300, the client seeks to develop a fully sustainable “cyber city” with these new residential towers as the initial foundation.

With over 800 units across the five towers, each unit stands somewhere between 2,000 and 4,000 sq. ft. and is ideally suited to traditional Indian living. Unlike the standard American perceptions of apartment living, the 25 to 30 story towers feature apartments that house not only a nuclear family, but also make room for grandparents, nephews and nieces, in-laws and more. As having live-in help is not terribly rare in Indian apartments, some space within most apartments is also designated for the family’s maids, cooks, butlers, etc.

“With each project, whether in Saudi Arabia,Haiti, Latvia or Indonesia, our focus is always on the total scope of what the client wants to see come to fruition,” Sorg said. “Many times, even when an architect constantly communicates with his or her client, they have already designed the building in their mind. They’ll either get that or a cookie cutter version of the last project the firm did.

“We try to see how each project has a unique micro environment, including context, geography, climate, user, maintenance, client; the list goes on. On top of all that, we strive to be a source of excellence in the industry, both in terms of quality work and also in developing a new generation of architects. My daughter has just joined the firm, while some people have been with me for over 20 years. Throughout all that, our common focus is on excellence.” ALT November/December 2011 81

south | education

THIS SPREAD: Strath Haven Middle School, Wallingford, Pa.The addition features a glazed building envelope with sun shades (seen opposite); daylighting through atriums and timed LED lighting; a geothermal heating and cooling system and rubber flooring.

82 Architecture Leaders Today

education | south

Chameleons Studio Agoos Lovera is all about fitting in with the built environment from the urban Philadelphia environment to the dinosaur stomping grounds farther west.

Text by Paige L. Hill Photos by Bauer Photographies, Inc. (Shop Too!) Photos by Studio Agoos Lovera (Strath Haven & Abraham Lincoln)

Like the buildings Eric Delss now designs with Studio Agoos Lovera out of Philadelphia, Pa., problems are solved through good design.

“I’ve always been fascinated with how buildings come together and how they fit in a larger context,” Delss said, who got his master’s in urban design from Harvard University. “My education really gave me an affinity for designing in the urban environment and how a building is connected to the greater fabric of the city.

“At Studio Agoos Lovera, we strive to look at the economic, social and environmental sides of design in a variety of contexts ranging from dense urban centers to naturalized settings. We each bring unique and varied experiences to the table that allow for an intense dialogue. In our office, each of us is involved in almost every aspect of a project. Much of the decision making happens as a team, which allows us to look at projects from a variety of perspectives ; this way, our work reflects a better understanding of how each component relates to the whole.

We have a collective identity that is less about individual personalities and more about the firm’s team members and catalogue of work and experience.”

Studio Agoos Lovera began when founding partners Jorge Lovera and Ted Agoos established Agoos/Lovera Architects in 1983. Dave Franke and Jim Rowe became principals in 1999; and, with the retirement of Lovera, Delss was named principal of the newly renamed Studio Agoos Lovera, now with a staff of 20. Delss said his attraction to the firm was their holistic approach to design and the collaborative working environment.

“I think that is something I have in common with everyone else in this firm,” Delss said.

“That’s why we stress that this is a studio because everyone from a partner to any member of the November/December 2011 83

south | education

ABOVE: Ft. Worth Museum of Science and History. Ft. Worth, Texas.

The “Shop Too!” boutique's sophisticated color palette is forward-thinking and approachable for all ages.

OPPOSITE, FROM TOP TO BOTTOM: “Shop Too!” exterior.

The shop features textured walls and interesting lighting to continue the museum experience.

The fun and interactive stegosaurus is made out of recycled parts by Roto Studio.

84 Architecture Leaders Today

staff feels comfortable voicing their ideas. We truly are all part of the dialogue.”

It certainly took a collaborative approach and a team effort to design the new 265,000 sq. ft. Abraham Lincoln High School in northeast Philadelphia – next to the existing high school while school was in session. Studio Agoos Lovera coordinated sessions with representatives from student groups, parents, faculty and the surrounding neighborhoods to create the best plan of action.

“Our biggest concern was safety, noise and creating enough entrances for the many people that need to be in and out of the buildings on a daily basis. With the two buildings just 50 to 100 feet away from each other there was very little swing space,” Delss said. “From a design perspective, the problem was clear when we walked through the existing 1950s building – it was just a labyrinth! People got lost easily and there was no clear sense of order and flow.”

By using the function of a courtyard, they

began to map out a new flow for the high school.

The large campus-like setting afforded the architects the space to create a composition of six interrelated academies with three courtyards in between which natural light permeates the spaces. This also included a state-of-the-art instructional media center, cafeteria with food court, an extensive athletic/auditorium wing and a day care center. The public spaces are situated with easy access to the community for evening performances or sports games.

“We weren’t just looking to reorganize the student spaces; we wanted to create a place with green space and a performance space that the neighborhood would enjoy using,” Delss said. The performance space is unlike many traditional school auditoriums because there is a strong emphasis on every audience member getting an equally good view at the stage by making the seating wider than it is longer. The high school was a first for the firm that had built many elementary schools, projects on college

education | south

ALLEGHENY TRICO allstorefix.com

Pennsylvania-based woodworking firm Allegheny Trico is a woman-owned entity specializing in high-quality custom interior millwork and retail fixtures. The firm has successfully combined hand craftsmanship and high-tech machining to bring its clients a diverse range of laminated, veneered and lacquered wood products.

Working with Studio Agoos Lovera, Allegheny Trico provided interior perimeter and floor fixtures for the retail space, “Shop, Too!” at the Fort Worth Museum of Science & History (pictured right).

Founded in 1994 as Allegheny Store Fixtures, the company quickly became a leading supplier.

Allegheny Trico is proud to be named one of the “Industry’s Leading Fixture Companies of 2011” by Commercial Construction & Renovation magazine and one of the “Fastest Growing Wood Products Companies in North America” by Wood & Wood Products magazine. Following a merger with Trico Interiors, the new entity was certified by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council.

See ad on page 101.

November/December 2011 85

south | education

THIS PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Abraham Lincoln High School. Philadelphia, Pa. It took a team effort to design the new 265,000 sq. ft. school next to the existing high school while class was in session.

The exterior includes brick, tiles, glass and metal.

Another perspective of the front entrance and how artfully Studio Agoos Lovera crafted ways for natural light to permeate the interior through the entry atrium.

86 Architecture Leaders Today

By using three major courtyards, Studio Agoos Lovera was able to reconfigure the layout of the school’s hallways and make for much more easily navigated routes around campus.

OPPOSITE: The performance space is unlike many traditional school auditoriums with an emphasis on every audience member getting an equally good view at the stage by making the seating wider than it is longer.

education | south

campuses and middle schools, like the recently completed 90,000 sq. ft. addition to Strath Haven Middle School in Wallingford, Pa. “This was another example of building a school while it was in session – we built the addition, moved the kids in and then renovated the existing building,” Delss said. For the growing student population, the design included lab spaces, more classrooms, a reading center and library. For the school’s commitment to “go green,” Studio Agoos Lovera designed a glazed building envelope with sun shades; daylighting and timed LED lighting; geothermal heating and rubber flooring; and have designed a green roof that the school can add later.

“One interesting aspect of the school’s design

is the geothermal heating and cooling element, and its potential as a teaching opportunity for the students,” Delss said. “Trying to integrate design elements that support the mission of the people that use the buildings are critical aspects to nearly every design in our office.”

Learning was the inspiration behind the “Shop, Too!” boutique that Studio Agoos Lovera designed for the Ft. Worth Museum of Science and History, complete with a life size stegosaurus slide made out of recycled parts and designed

by Roto Studio in Ohio.

“They asked us to be imaginative and playful in our design, yet sophisticated enough that it could be a destination for adult museum goers as well, and we straddled that line,” Delss said. With

a sophisticated color palette of neutrals and dark red and textured elements, the museum shop is both forward-thinking and approachable…that is, until someone goes down the slide.

“When someone goes down the slide the dinosaur roars and the lights flash,” Delss said.

Though the store’s main reptile was not a part of the initial drafts for the space, when the museum asked for some fun “tweaks” to the project, Studio Agoos Lovera found a company that fulfill their request.

“What we try to really do is work closely with the contractors and make sure that we don’t just sit back and relax when the initial design work is done,” Delss said. “Design doesn’t just stop when construction begins.” ALT November/December 2011 87

south | housing

Built to Live

88 Architecture Leaders Today

housing | south

THIS SPREAD, CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Denton Station, Denton, Texas. The clubhouse includes an array of games.

The exterior uses local stone and a regional lodge style.

The media room is a good place for hitting the books.

The outdoor fireplace for cool desert nights.

OPPOSITE: Denton Station’s pool and deck is the place to “see and be seen.”

A

rchitecture firms in this economy are many things. They are flexible and adaptable; they are customer-oriented with boutique service; but, few are growing and prolific like Forum Architecture & Interior Design, Inc. has been in the last two years. The architecture and design firm out of Altamonte Springs, Fla. has boasted back-to-back and concurrent projects in multi-family and student housing despite, the staggering real estate market – the firm credits their work ethic, expertise, and ability to stick to commitments as the explanation. These qualities certainly aided them when they designed The Forum at Denton Station for Parkland Development, which won the Student Housing Business Innovator Award.

From opulent student housing in Texas to premiere senior apartments in Florida, Forum Architecture and Interior Design, Inc. design residences tailored to the end user’s wishes, first and foremost.

Text by Paige L. Hill Photos courtesy of Forum Architecture

bP

November/December 2011 89

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AT RIGHT: The Booker Creek apartments, St. Petersburg, Fla. The community area is comfortably designed for families.

OPPOSITE, TOP: The craftsman style of architecture underplays the 200,000 sq. ft. building.

BOTTOM: The high-end finishes and care taken in the design belies the affordable cost of living at Booker Creek.

“This was Parkland’s first adventure into purpose-built student housing, but with the multiple universities and colleges nearby it was definitely something needed in the area,” said Andrew Roark, project manager. As opposed to market apartments, Denton Station was built with the student lifestyle and the student budget specifically in mind; but, the apartments are far from dormitory-like. All of the units have individual bathrooms for the individual residents and a common space for studying and socializing. The 348 units range from one to four bedrooms over three stories of 468,357 sq. ft.

“The design is regionally driven, something we like to incorporate when we can on a project,” Roark said. “There are a lot of stone and heavy wood elements which is true to the Texas heritage – it has a lodge feeling to it. We used Austin stone and other local materials where we could.”

Of course, unless the students are studying architecture, art or history, design will likely not drive their decision to live at Denton Station; but rather, the oversized clubhouse and the “see and be seen” extensive swimming pool and deck.

“The amenities were certainly built to target students. The pool atmosphere is very important and is definitely the place to be seen which is why it really has the feel of a country club with the expansive deck area and lounge chairs.”

The Forum at Denton Station also includes a game room, media room, study room, cyber café, outside veranda and bar, basketball court and exercise facilities. Safety, management and social activities also target a student 90 Architecture Leaders Today

lifestyle, making Denton Station a place that parents can also get behind.

“This is the total package, the place to live for these students,” Roark said. For the somewhat older crowd, but still young at heart, the Pineberry Seniors Apartments is the place to live in Clearwater, Fla. with community room, fitness center, library and computer room, pool, deck and balconies for soaking up plenty of rays in the Sunshine State.

“For this project we really did our research as to what would be ideal for this age group which is why we grouped the library and computer room together,” said Alan Vandevender, project manager. “Not everyone living here has their own laptop or the latest technology so by providing it on-site, it’s very appealing to the resident. The pool and fitness center with all of their classes and programs was also important to this community.”

The wood frame building, painted in a buttery yellow with bright white trim, echoes Charleston style residences with a white metal roof.

The large porte-cochere welcomes residences and guests with a grand entrance flanked by palm trees. Forum was hired to also do the interior design which features warm, comfortable furnishings in complimentary colors and high-end finishes and materials in each unit. The units are oneto two-bedroom, split evenly on the property.

“Though Pineberry is situated in a fairly commercial area, we wanted it to have that all-inclusive community feeling, which is where all those extras come in like the landscaping and the interior design,” Vandevender said. Not far from Pineberry sits another of Forum’s successful projects in St. Petersburg, Fla. – the market rate and affordable apartments at Booker

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THIS SPREAD: The Residence Inn, Florence, Ala. Completed in February 2010, the hotel was at 100 percent occupancy within two weeks of opening.

OPPOSITE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: The sleek lobby and bar are blended at this modern take on a hotel.

The exterior is brightly colored so that it doesn’t blend in with the highway humdrum.

Another perspective of the opulent lobby/bar.

92 Architecture Leaders Today

housing | south

FIRST FLORIDA BUILDING CORPORATION firstflorida.com

Creek. The three-story 200,000 sq. ft. craftsman style apartment building is set in a garden adjacent to walking park the city recently opened.

“It can be difficult to convey that craftsman style when the building is 200,000 sq. ft., but we achieved the style with the classic fish scale siding, gabled elements and decorative shingles,” said Jeffrey Chue, project manager. “The developer, The Richmond Group of Florida, Inc. added some fantastic upgrades as well to the project like low-impact glass windows and balconies.”

The 36 two to three bedroom units are a mix of 60 percent market rate and 40 percent affordable targeted for middle to lower income families.

The units include all the necessary appliances for a family, walk-in cherry closets, faux granite countertops, ceramic tile floors, laundry hook-ups and laundry on-site. The neighborhood is nearly all residential with a small commercial are just blocks away.

“It was interesting figuring out how to fit all the required units onto the property, so we ended up developing three breezeways to connect the various areas and maintain that ‘garden’ setting that feels sheltered and tucked away,” Chue said. With parking in the back, a clubhouse, a resort style pool and kiddie pool, Booker Creek is an ideal family spot. ALT

Since it's founding in Miami in 1963, First Florida has become a premier builder of multi-family housing throughout Florida. Over the past 10 years, First Florida has built more than 10,000 rental apartments in 15 of Florida’s largest counties. Because they understand the financial demands on their clients, First Florida’s corporate culture is built around a commitment to control operating costs. The lack of excessive management layers at First Florida means that issues in need of solutions go straight to the top with no frustrating bureaucracy getting in the way. First Florida maintains a scale of operations that enables principals to be involved in all aspects of client relationships. In the last five years, First Florida has built 6 million sq. ft. of apartments with an office staffed by only 12.

Forum Architecture began selecting First Florida as their general contractor in 2002. Since then, they have worked on over 25 projects together.

“The people at Forum make great team members. They solve problems quickly and provide some of the best documentation in the business, which results in a streamlined building process” said Bob Miller, president of First Florida.

Both Forum Architecture and First Florida maintain a high commitment not only to building green, but bringing green technology to all demographics. Building green often requires a higher initial investment, which can be cost-prohibitive to many clients. One of First Florida's highest accolades is building the first LEED affordable housing project in MiamiDade County. First Florida has found affordable and adaptive solutions that make building green possible for all parties involved. First Florida stands by their commitment to building green, and is ready to work with you. See ad on page 144.

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Building Relationships Ross Design Group’s focus in residential architecture has fostered in the small family firm a design process that turns clients into friends and partners.

Text by Joel Cornell Photos by Everett & Soule Photography (Tuscan di Amore & Verano Lago) Photos by Steve Allen Photography (Villa Laguna) 94 Architecture Leaders Today

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F

rom a young age, designer Jim Ross sought to follow in the footsteps of his elders.

Ross’ mother, grandmother and great grandmother have all been artists of one sort or another. Building upon this lineage of vision and creativity, Ross has always seen something more ineffable in the craft of construction. More than just bricks on steel that forms an enclosed space, the designer pursues a redefinition of space based on passion, spirit and artistry.

In Ross’ words, he began his firm and his journey into the soul of architecture before he really knew any better. Just a few years out of the University of Florida where Ross studied architecture and design, he founded Ross Design Group in Orlando, Fla. in 1988. In keeping with his artistic roots, Ross sought to build a firm that would bring to life the dreams of his clients through a deep, personal connection between designer and client. After all, one would not paint a portrait without knowledge of the subject’s facial features.

“Throughout the early 1990s, we made a big hit with our modern design,” Ross said. “We were labeled as such in terms of our design early on, but we branch out to a number of styles,

from Victorian to bungalows to international modernist styles. We’ve done Mediterranean and Spanish flavored residences; recently we’ve been working a lot more in an Italian villa style of design. The common thread for us, our key to success, has been diversity. Any client can come to us with any style in mind and trust us to bring it to fruition through our intentionally in-depth and highly personal design process.”

As opposed to industrial or commercial architecture, which might focus on form and function over spirit and aesthetic, Ross Design Group maintains a wide presence in residential work. As such, Ross takes his work much more personally.

Although Ross has worked around the globe, from Kuwait to the British Virgin Islands, more than 95 percent of his work thrives in the Central Florida region.

This is largely due to Ross’ insistence on a more personal approach to each project. The small size of the firm has also helped to foster the deep connection the designer seeks to build with every client.

“As with many larger firms, the actual principals may not ever wind up being involved with

PREVIOUS SPREAD, LEFT: Villa Laguna. Orlando, Fla. Designed for nationally acclaimed interior designers Troy Beasley and Stephanie Henley, this 7,000-sq.-ft. 1920s Mediterranean Revival-style home was transformed from what was originally a 3,000 sq. ft.

1950s farmhouse.

RIGHT: Verano Lago. Windermere, Fla. Ross’s personal residence, the original structure of Verano Lago was built over a century ago. This authentic Spanish Revival home is nestled beneath Live Oaks on the western shore of Lake Butler. The courtyard faces the lakeside and the lower loggia and pool establish a central entertaining area.

The courtyard can be accessed through a breezeway from the front driveway, avoiding guest traffic through or arround the home.

OPPOSITE PAGE: Tuscan di Amore. Orlando, Fla. Even with such high ceilings, the central sitting room exudes a warmth and coziness that perfectly suits the Tuscan Villa style.

ABOVE: Verano Lago. Windermere, Fla. The back porch offers views of the beach and lake just beyond the ancient oaks that were perfectly integrated into the design. The kitchen’s airy, comfortable design maintains the classical style; no modern lighting fixtures were used.

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the project at all,” Ross said. “With that approach, the creativity, content and experience that the client sought in the first place may not necessarily be there. My clients seek out the Ross Design Group because a the firm acts as a singular unit.

The team that designed our entire portfolio will be the same team that designs the client’s home.”

Developed as a co-creative process that works to achieve the maximum amount of involvement from the client, Ross Design Group’s unique design process sees Ross himself work closely with the client from the pre-design stages to long after the 98 Architecture Leaders Today

home is occupied. The process begins in the bubble sketch phase. Ross himself spends time with the client developing thumbnail sketches of all sorts that communicate the client’s wishes in something like a “pre-pre-” design phase.

Ross has his clients fill out what he calls his “Dream Sheet.” This comprehensive survey is individually tailored beforehand to address the unique situation of each client, based on whether the clients enjoys the outdoors, has pets and what kind of pets, has children and of what age and so on. Seeking more than advice on where they want

their bathroom, the questionnaire addresses topics ranging from what impact the foyer should have on both resident and guest to which side of the washing machine the dryer should be placed. This questionnaire allows both designer and client alike to explore more than just the style and layout of the house, but the spirit and the soul of it as well.

Exemplifying Ross’ personal approach to design is that fact that the only distinction between his work for his clients and his work on his own home was that he didn’t charge himself any design fees.

His current residence, being the third Ross has

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designed and built himself, is set on a unique site that slopes 12 ft. towards the back of the property.

Ross salvaged a portion of the much older home on the property, in lieu of tearing everything down and starting from scratch.

“My personal preferences made sure that we reused as much as we could,” Ross said. “I’ve always been conscious of using sustainable materials like bamboo and recycled materials in order to make great strides towards a fully sustainable residence. There’s been a major trend across the nation toward renewable resources and sustainable

building practices, both in commercial properties and in residential.

“Unfortunately, sustainability is still secondary to the actual design of the house sometimes.

Our clients’ number one priority is to achieve a design that suits their needs and lifestyle.

Sustainable features are now more of a bonus to some clients. But, because for me personally it’s much more than a bonus, I am able to utilize a broad range of highly sustainable products, techniques and systems that left us with an incredibly efficient residence.” ALT

LEFT AND TOP RIGHT: Tuscan di Amore.

Orlando, Fla. The client wanted the pool on ground level, so Ross Design Group elevated it to be above the basement.

Classical aesthetics remain throughout the house, even in the entertainment areas.

BOTTOM RIGHT: Verano Lago. Windermere, Fla. The external garage area is pleasantly blended with the natural environment, with accents including Old Chicago brick and wrought iron fixtures.

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west | education

A

fter two decades practicing in New York City, architect Norman Pfeiffer found himself lured back to the West Coast by a couple of noteworthy projects: the landmark Los Angeles Central Public Library expansion and the design of the Robert O. Anderson wing at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. “I’m a product of the Pacific Northwest and when I had the chance to shape some of the built environment on the West Coast, I was on a plane in a heartbeat,” Pfeiffer said. During the 25 years since relocating to Los Angeles, Pfeiffer’s practice has gained a steady following in the academic world, both nationally and internationally.

Having transitioned the firm in 2004 from Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer Associates, which he cofounded in 1967, to Pfeiffer Partners Architects, he now shares a collaborative practice in both Los Angeles and New York City with nine principals and eight associates. Together, they’ve completed academic buildings not only throughout the U.S. but also in Dunedin, New Zealand; Vancouver, British Columbia; and Cairo, Egypt. There are two projects currently underway in Calgary, Alberta, and a new liberal arts college in design for Yale University and the National University of Singapore in Singapore.

While each project offers its own set of opportunities and design challenges, those of particular interest to the firm focus on creating collaborative environments – allowing people to interact in new ways.

One project in particular, Seattle University’s Lemieux Learning Commons and McGoldrick Learning Commons, not only provided this opportunity but was also Pfeiffer’s son’s alma mater.

“The University’s objective, after having built a series of individual facilities over the past decade, was to knit together the fabric of the campus at its southwest corner by not only expanding their 1966 Lemieux Library,” Pfeiffer said, “but also to

Pfeiffer Partners is uniquely suited to academic projects like the recently completed ones in Seattle, Wash. and Los Angeles, Calif.

by Paige L. Hill 104 Architecture Leaders Today

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PREVIOUS SPREAD: Seattle University Lemieux Library & McGoldrick Learning Commons.

Photo by Doug Scott THIS PAGE: Abundant use of daylighting in the east entrance to the Lemieux Library, is one of the sustainability elements that garnered the building LEED Gold.

Photo by Eric Staudenmaier OPPOSITE PAGE, TOP: Colburn School of Performing Arts and Music Conservatory, Los Angeles, Calif. Pfeiffer Partners’ expansion met the needs of the school’s fouryear degree students with three residential towers, performance and rehearsal spaces, and instructional studios. Photos by Tim Griffith (left) and Eric Staudenmaier (right) OPPOSITE PAGE, BOTTOM: As part of the transformation of UCLA’s Northwest campus, the firm designed new residence halls (left), adding 3,500 beds, indoor/outdoor dining, and other student amenities.

Photo by Michael Moran.

create a student life precinct that would combine the recently renovated student center with new learning commons and public spaces.”

“The university sought to re-imagine the campus as a hub of academic, research and social activities by transforming an outdated library into a technologically advanced center for collaboration and study,” Pfeiffer said.

The expanded facility accommodates more than 1,000 movable seats and innovative collaborative spaces, which provide for new instructional delivery methods, multimedia development, technology training, 24/7 study areas, interactive smart classrooms and a café. The design of the new facility and its exterior space is a testimony to the university’s commitment to sustainability.

“Our ability to achieve LEED Gold was fostered by the campus’ goals and the students’ strongly expressed desire to build and operate facilities with low impact on the environment,” Pfeiffer said. Because of the heavy annual rainfall Seattle 106 Architecture Leaders Today

receives, the Pfeiffer team, which included principal William Murray and Gili Meerovitch, principal, interiors, focused on the use of recycled materials, stormwater management strategies and harvesting daylight. The stormwater management process is mitigated through two sculptural forms beginning in a landscaped pond and running down cleansing walls of reclaimed granite – making the process visible and accomplishing the goal.

“To capture what sunlight Seattle does enjoy, we used as much fritted glass and daylighting as possible to permeate the building while reducing heat gain,” Pfeiffer said. The Lemieux Building opened to students last year; meanwhile, academic projects south of Seattle have kept Pfeiffer’s firm busy.

A decade earlier, in late 1990s, Pfeiffer Partners was commissioned to design and revitalize the Colburn School of Performing Arts, one of the last pieces in fulfilling the city of Los Angeles’ vision for the redevelopment of downtown Bunker Hill, in close proximity to the Los Angeles Music

Center, the Museum of Contemporary Art and, now, Walt Disney Concert Hall.

“When I first saw the plans for the Disney Concert Hall, I knew that the appropriate design response would be to create a somewhat understated building, recognizing that the size of the Colburn School could never compete architecturally with the Concert Hall. Instead it should provide a sense of calm,” Pfeiffer said.

The first phase of the project created a 55,000-sq.-ft. building for students ranging from early childhood to adult for instruction in music, dance or drama. It incorporates a mix of teaching and practice spaces, the refurbished original studio of violinist Jascha Heifetz, a dance studio, and the 420-seat Zipper Concert Hall, which is becoming a community asset, used by the LA Philharmonic and others.

With the success of the first phase academically and architecturally, Pfeiffer Partners was brought back to design phase two, the expansion of the

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school into a full music conservatory for students seeking a college degree. To compete with other music schools, Colburn sought an urban campus with all the amenities: cafeteria, game room, lounge and exercise/spa facility, all typical of other four-year college level conservatories.

The new 326,000-sq.-ft. facility is a mixed-use structure with three residential towers, a recording studio, teaching spaces, a 200-seat recital hall, a 3,500-sq.-ft. rehearsal hall, 50 practice rooms and a variety of instructional studios.

“Since this is downtown Los Angeles, we felt it was important to preserve a somewhat private space for students to hang out,” Pfeiffer said. “We used a lot of glass, creating as much transparency as possible so that the energy and vitality within could be transmitted to its surroundings, especially in the evening hours when the building appears to come alive.”

Currently, Pfeiffer Partners is engaged in the transformation of the Northwest campus

of the University of California, Los Angeles, home to the Bruins. This is an undertaking that dates back to 2001, when the firm completed the University’s Northwest campus master plan, envisioning a new public realm with integrated indoor and outdoor spaces.

“This campus has historically been one where students live off campus and UCLA has been building prolifically to bring more students on campus,” Pfeiffer said. While working with Jean Gath, the firm’s principal planner/programmer, Pfeiffer saw the completion in 2006 of 541,000 sq. ft. of new dining and recreational space, along with 2,000 beds of student housing. The firm, in association with the Philadelphia architectural firm KieranTimberlake, is currently adding four new residence halls (1,500 beds), a 650-seat dining commons, a fitness center and a meeting facility in a complex infill project totaling 505,000 sq. ft. that is now under construction. ALT

AUERBACH POLLOCK FRIEDLANDER auerbachconsultants.com

The team of planners and designers of performing arts and media facilities at Auerbach Pollock Friedlander worked with Pfeiffer Partners on the Colburn Conservatory and is currently involved with the Mount Royal University Conservatory of Music project. The portfolio of Auerbach Pollock Friedlander includes theatres, opera houses, concert halls, broadcast centers, screening rooms, corporate auditoriums, museums and popular entertainment facilities worldwide.

See ad on page 141.

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DIVERSE DENVER Joint contractors, RealArchitecture Ltd. and UnrealConstruction LLC., bring rustic and contemporary, in-demand designs to their rural and modern Denver metro region.

Text by Chelsea Muth Photos by Todd Kerkhoff

108 Architecture Leaders Today

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A

s an international and urban hub, Denver’s metropolis is a mix of industrial development and natural tranquility.

RealArchitecture Ltd., along with its sister company, UnrealConstruction LLC, makes use of Denver’s dichotomy, offering a contemporary yet rustic blend of design/build architecture and construction services. David Berton, president and founder of RealArchitecture, prides himself on the two firms’ full-service architecture and contracting offerings. Berton said clients rely on RealArchitecture’s “highly constructible” designs and the contractors’ large customer base is a testament to their quality work.

“Builders will bring clients to us and we’ll design their projects. They come to us because we produce highly constructible plans,” said Berton, who started his companies in 1995 with his best friend, UnrealConstruction’s manager Ken Goldman.

“We don’t do a lot of unbuilt architecture – 95 percent of our projects are constructed.”

Offering architecture, landscape, structural engineering and electrical design, RealArchitecture is a local, eight-person operation. The firms' architects and contractors create designs for their Denver clientele, many within turn-of-the century neighborhoods. Totalling 25 projects per year on average, the companies focus on residential designs, with a quarter of commissions in the commercial sector. The firms have grown largely via word-ofmouth and repeat clients. Their aesthetic, buildable and bold designs are prominently displayed throughout the metro region.

The Blue Creek project, a commercial tenant facility in the Stapleton business district, is a fitting

110 Architecture Leaders Today

example of the firms’ distinct work. This massage therapy and acupuncture clinic is in a redevelopeded airport neighborhood on the corner of Stapleton’s thriving 29th Avenue Town Center. Situated in an urban hub, the holistic and nature-loving style of the clinic, once again displays RealArchitecture’s blended approach to design.

“Since our client was an acupuncturist, we had free reign to work with natural materials, which accorded with the rustic, contemporary style we’ve been establishing for a few years,” Berton said. Inside the clinic, Berton and his team blended natural and industrial elements. In creating the entry and reception rooms, they juxtaposed exposed systems and stained concrete floors with natural Aspen trees.

The contractors also installed an internal sliding barn door, made of 120-year-old recycled tongue and grooved wood.

“Our client fell in love with the grey, antique-y wood. It was a great contrast with the shiny contemporary materials and stained concrete floors,” Berton said. “It can be hard to find a balance between too old and too new.”

Given the time acupuncture clients spend lying down and staring upward, RealArchitecture was particularly cognizant of Blue Creek’s ceiling design. Avoiding direct lighting, the firms designed a dark ceiling which incorporates light from peripheral fixtures.

Within the residential sector, the Osceola Residence showcases RealArchitecture’s aptitude for creating distinctive homes, fully utilizing Denver’s scenic scope. Situated in the Sloans Lake area of Denver’s Highlands neighborhood, Osceola is a waterside gem, which captures rare Denver lake

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TOP: Umatilla Residence. Denver, Colo.

Contrasting colors play a starring role in the front entrance with lime green, muted gray and natural wood on the palette.

BOTTOM, LEFT: Rear entrance in the afternoon. Proper daylighting techniques, matched with a wide array of design elements have drastically lowered the amount of artificial light required.

BOTTOM, CENTER: At once, this project exudes color, demonstrates restraint and exemplifies the owner’s dreams come true.

BOTTOM, RIGHT: Side view of the front stairway and entrance. The diversity of lines and shapes make for an interesting silhouette on the skyline.

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views, along with expansive mountain ranges and cityscapes. The three-story structure is a tall, stand-out family home designed and built between 2009 and 2010.

Like many Denver neighborhoods, Osceola’s surrounding residencies were built between the 1890s and 1950s, which proved to be an asset and challenge to the RealArchitecture project.

“Since Denver was established in the 1800s, and most of the downtown housing was built between 1890 and 1925, ‘fitting in’ definitely has a style,” Berton said.

Within Sloans Lake’s range of antiquated homes, the Osceola project presented a creative exercise in building one of the neighborhoods first contemporary homes. Moreover, RealArchitecture faced overcoming an extremely narrow project lot.

“The whole home is about 22 feet wide. We really had to strategize to work between the two preexisting homes,” Berton said. As word spread in the community of the physical limitations, Osceola became a source of controversy among neighboring residents.

“We met all the zoning requirements for that project,” Berton said, “But, Osceola actually triggered a group of locals to start and successfully change the zoning to eliminate tall, skinny structures.”

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As Osceola developed and pushed the limits on the lot’s tight space, height and bulk plane, RealArchitecture’s reputation grew.

In the design’s interior open floor plan, RealArchitecture created an angled main building wall oriented to the southwest, over the lake. The first floor’s front patio, second floor’s master bedroom, and third floor’s deck also face the unbeatable lakeside views. A bright interior comprised of red, green and orange tile and stone contrast with rustic natural exterior materials of wood, sandstone and stucco.

“Sometimes you get nervous looking at the plans and the interior designer’s material and color selections, but this residence turned out great,” Berton said.

Featured in the April 2011 design issue of Denver’s 303 Magazine, the Umatilla Residence sits on a high bluff in the Stoneman’s Row historic district where the home is highly visible from the interstate highway and downtown Denver. In fact, RealArchitecture will host the publication’s release party at the soon-to-be-completed project.

“Umatilla is now, and definitely will be in the future, a landmark,” Berton said of the four-bedroom, eight-bathroom family home.

At approximately 7,800-sq.-ft., Umatilla is part

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Their five-star warranty and service team, headed by Craig Fischer, fulfills all regular, warranty and emergency service requests and manages facility service agreements. To ensure that C&F Enterprises keeps every promise to every client, team members stay with the customer from the concept phase to the project close and beyond. See ad on page 119.

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TOP, LEFT: Osceola Residence; Denver, Colo.

Front entrance. The wide open design of this residential project duly reflects the open ranges of this region.

TOP, RIGHT: Kitchen.

Sleek, chic, and exactly what the client sought.

BOTTOM, LEFT: Bathroom. Humbly fusing cool green colors with natural light.

BOTTOM, RIGHT: Living Room. With a unique brightness that’s subtle and warm, this project demonstrates the caring hand RealArchitecture brings to every project.

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SALT ELECTRIC saltelectric.com

SALT Electric is a full-service electrical contractor serving the solar PV and electric contracting needs of the metro Denver-area, having completed over 400 projects. SALT has worked with RealArchitecture/Unreal Construction on many commercial and residential projects.

“We have a relationship built on trust and integrity, and we’re glad to have the opportunity to work with them,” said Matthew Caryofilles, SALT Electric owner.

Other notable solar installations by the firm are the Colorado Convention Center, the Denver Museum of Nature & Science and the Pepsi Center. See ad on page 140.

ACADEMY ROOFING academyoofinginc.com

Academy Roofing has been serving Colorado since 1980, often partnering with RealArchitecture on signature projects.

Academy Roofing understands the importance of selecting the right materials, assembling a crew of professional craftsmen and successfully coordinating with other trades to complete projects on time and within budget. See ad on page 140.

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WoodWorking Wonders is a locally owned company that has been selling and installing cabinets for over a decade. The firm takes pride in their creations for durable kitchen and bath cabinetry and can serve a range of budgets. See ad on page 138.

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of a neighborhood erected in the 1880s, founded by stonemasons whose distinct structures preserve their historical handiwork.

“The homes to the north have really interesting features. Like, if the stonemasons built a column for a downtown building, and the detail was wrong, they took it and placed it in their own home,” Berton said. Structural characteristics of Stonemen’s Row homes include front porches applied to the façade, instead of recessed, punched openings on second floor facades and large picture windows on the first floor.

The architects focused on these main concepts when designing Umatilla. Saluting adjacent homes, the firms built similar punched openings on the second floor façade, and a large opening on the first floor façade. In addition, RealArchitecture took the concept of the applied front porch, using raw concrete instead of stone.

Contemporary designs update Umatilla’s more antiquated elements. A four-story, steel, monostringer, walnut-plank, floating staircase climbs from the basement to the roof deck - an alternative to the home’s elevator. The 1,500 -sq.-ft. roof deck includes an eight by 12 ft. spa. Most impressively, a

two-story, 22-foot curved glass wall extends along the building side from ground floor to roof deck, exposing a horizon of downtown and mountain range views.

“We actually extended the glass from hardwood floors to the drywall ceilings in both the main and upper level, installing the beams above,” Berton said, describing the wall, which borders the first-floor kitchen, family and dining room, and second-floor master bedroom. RealArchitecture continued the glass motif by designing a glass garage door to separate the study from the living room. Windows imported from Germany cut through to Umatilla’s bold exterior which is made up of black brick and grey and green stucco. Blue Creek, Osceola, and Umatilla showcase the adept range of RealArchitecture’s skill. The firm's ability to synthesize polarized elements - from Denver’s urban development and mountain ranges, to clients’ natural and stylistic tastes - illustrates expertise in adaptability.

“I enjoy not only a diversity of architecture types, but truly a diversity of styles,” Berton said.

“My style as an architect is continuously changing and evolving. That’s what I think of as the art of architecture.” ALT

PREVIOUS SPREAD: Blue Creek. Denver, Colo. The front desk and reception area create a warm and welcoming entrance for clients and employees.

OPPOSITE: The seating area reflects the singular fusion build and natural elements so present in the Colorado landscape.

ABOVE: The entrance was customized for the project, allowing easy access to passers-by.

MASTERPIECE STAIR masterpiecestair.net

For more than two decades, Masterpiece Stair, Inc. has serviced the Denver area with high-quality custom staircases. This family-operated company, owned by Dave Van Eps, is dedicated to providing customers the personal attention they deserve.

Featuring a vast range of services and products, the staff at Masterpiece Stair, Inc. holds their work to a higher standard. From hardwood, curved and custom staircases to carpet-grade, steel and exterior staircases, they provide quality craftsmanship to last for years to come.

Masterpiece Stair, Inc.’s artisan craftsmen have decades of experience, lending consistent quality on every product that leaves their workshop. From durable, inexpensive industrial staircases to ornate, custom wood staircases for private homes, Masterpiece Stair, Inc. maintains the level of service and quality needed to please clients time after time. See ad on page 142.

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SERVICE AND A HALF For Hibser Yamauchi Architects, Inc., it’s not enough that they should bring spectacular projects to their clients without fail. Their prerogative is to listen closely to the heart of the project, to the needs of the client and the possibilities within, and move from there to bring them exactly what they sought in the first place.

Text by Joel Cornell Photos courtesy of Hibser Yamauchi

118 Architecture Leaders Today

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“W

e call ourselves a full service firm, but not solely due to the wide range of our services,” said Marcus Hibser, principal and CEO of Hibser Yamauchi Architects, Inc. “We are strictly an architectural services firm, but our focus is on the client above all else. Our aim is to serve the client continually throughout our lifetime and theirs. Our focus on our services comes after our focus on our clients. Fortunately, our clients demand stellar design services that are one-of-a-kind, and we give them exactly that.”

Based out of Oakland, Calif., with additional offices is Davis and Los Angeles, Hibser Yamauchi Architects, Inc. defines the quality of their service by their clients’ standards. If their client needs a small renovation in a hospital today, and a new office building tomorrow, it’s done. Whatever the client needs is what the firm will provide. The hallmark of their success is the longevity of the partnerships they enjoy with their clients. Kaiser Permanente, for instance, has

been a Hibser Yamauchi Architects, Inc. client steadily since 1978.

Although their portfolio is vast and diverse, the firm has come to specialize in health care and hospital work, particularly in renovations. A rather complicated animal, the firm deals frequently with older medical facilities using complex systems via expensive and intense operations, all of which sees constant use around the clock. Thus, it requires a specialty firm to truly understand how one would work in such a facility. Additionally, regulatory restrictions are plentiful and the planning can vary per the very specific uses intended for the facility.

For the Hillcrest Mental Health Clinic, Hibser Yamauchi Architects, Inc. created a center that would service the physical and mental health needs of their end users, both in a group and individual setting. While there were certainly many medical elements to the project, it was less of a medical facility and more of a welcoming, comfortable space that would give the patients the room they November/December 2011 119

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health care | west

PREVIOUS SPREAD: North East Medical Services Clinic. San Francisco, Calif.

Waiting room and conference rooms.

OPPOSITE PAGE: The waiting area provides cleanliness, comfort and, most importantly, ease of access.

THIS PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Administrative spaces are built for function which never preempts elegance and color.

Pharmacy, providing easy access to what’s needed most.

Health Education Center fosters a common sense of care and understanding between the staff and the patients.

Reception areas are kept open, allowing the even flow of traffic throughout.

need to heal, to recuperate, to learn how to cope and to open discussions regarding the issues that plagued them.

“Relatively speaking, it’s easy to fix a broken arm,” Hibser said. “It’s a bit more complex to heal a broken mind. As such, we work very closely with our clients to make sure that the most important element of the project, the patient, is fully taken care of. During the planning process for the Hillcrest facility, we worked with the client to determine that we needed a lesser number of rooms.

“Again, without fail, the needs of our clients come absolutely first. We will easily talk ourselves out of a job if the program doesn’t fit the client’s needs. If their project doesn’t make financial, physical or programmatic sense, we’ll let them know and proceed from there.”

For the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, Hibser Yamauchi Architects, Inc. renovated a facility in nearby Menlo Park. This facility catered to older veterans with mental instability issues requiring long term or even permanent stays. The 120 patient beds are spread across six open pods, each forming its own little community of sorts.

Over the years, the VA has garnered a negative reputation for the treatment of veterans. In working with Hibser Yamauchi Architects, Inc., they seek to change that by giving each and every veteran state-of-the-art care. The firm’s

design provides patients with great access to the outdoors, and does away entirely with the sterile environment common in so many hospitals. Instead, the facility benefits from the unique Northern California weather along with cutting edge treatment facilities that foster and environment of healing and stability.

At the smaller North East Medical Services clinic, Hibser Yamauchi Architects, Inc. designed a facility uniquely built to cater to the large Chinese population in the city. However, the firm was faced with a particular challenge in renovating the entire first floor of the building, while keeping the five floors above active, accessible and operational. However, in working closely with the clients above and within, the firm was easily able to provide a succinct program that neatly fit their needs.

In rising to meet these challenges, Hibser Yamauchi Architects, Inc. provided a program consisting of a small testing lab, a health education center, a pharmacy and a members services facility.

“In general, we tend to look at our clients before we look at the projects we would do for them,” Hibser said. “People often ask us how many award winning projects we have. Honestly, that’s not a concern for us. It only matters when the programming accomplishes just what the client needs; no more and no less.” ALT November/December 2011 121

west | commercial

IMPROVING ON THE BEST N Celebrating their tenth anniversary, the partnership between Scott&Goble Architects and Lowe’s Home Improvement is as solid as the 170 stores the firm has designed for the growing company.

Text by Paige L. Hill Photos courtesy of Lowe's

122 Architecture Leaders Today

ews of the stock market and where the Dow stands has hardly been a source of joy for most Americans these days – that is, except for the home improvement industry where Lowe’s Companies, Inc. reigns supreme. The Financial News Network reported an earnings yield of 7.8 percent in October, outperforming both the Dow and the S&P 500 easily. It might be safe to say that those bold blue Lowe’s signs will continue to pop up across the country; and, that the company’s go-to architects at Scott&Goble Architects in Tulsa, Okla. will be behind their design.

“They are doing something right and clearly we must be doing something right as well, since they keep hiring us,” Mitch Garrett said, principal-incharge at Scott&Goble. “Lowe’s as a client came to us in an atypical way for the industry, but not for our firm. A civil engineer who had worked with us recommended SGA to Lowe’s and our relationship grew from there.”

Scott&Goble completed their first store with Lowe’s in March of 2001, and have added nearly 170 to that list since then. This year marks their

partnership’s tenth anniversary.

“One of our main objectives is highlighting that ‘brand icon’ their blue sign and the pitched roof that helps make the building immediately recognizable,” Chris Goble said, president and CEO of Scott&Goble“The buildings may vary, but if you are driving down the street past a Lowe’s, the objective is from our perspective that you won’t miss it,” Goble said. “We understood this from the start that Lowe’s wanted this and we have had a good track record of getting things right the first time in working with them.”

Most recently, the firm completed three Lowe’s stores in Californian locales: Concord, San Jose and the first ever in San Francisco.

“San Francisco had all the criteria for a Lowe’s store and the need for it, but finding a place to build a large store in the dense urban environment of that city versus in a place like Tulsa was certainly a test for their real estate department,” Garrett said. But they did find an urban site just south of the city’s bustling downtown with enough room to build an attached parking structure; but first, they began

commercial | west

PAGE INTERWORKS pageinterworks.com

After nearly two decades of work in 49 states for highly recognizable retail giants, Page Interworks is the engineering and consulting firm with the experience, commitment and staff that can surpass expectations at every step. Since 1994, the firm has grown steadily to offer mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineering services.

In retail alone, the firm has completed projects for Lowe’s, The Fresh Market, Best Buy, Golfsmith, Pep Boys, Pier 1 Imports, Food Lion, Toys R Us and Petsmart.

Alongside Scott & Goble, Page Interworks assured that every job received customized solutions. Within the firm, projects are all assigned based on the best fit for the client with regards to the specific needs of each particular project.

In maintaining such a wide range of talent, Page Interworks has brought a master touch into different industries and sectors such as hospitality, fueling, aviation, institutional, food service and industrial. Page Interworks’ background in many diverse market sectors allows the firm to adapt and incorporate appropriate technologies to meet the client’s needs.

The engineers and designers at Page Interworks approach each project with a team mentality, enabling a structure that ensures the best possible service and engineering design for each client.

Committed to exceeding these needs as well, the firm designs their projects on time, every time, with integrity, imagination, precision and enthusiasm.

working on the lengthy paperwork to get the city’s approval. In fact, the site had been abandoned for years because of the hefty paperwork and that the existing soil conditions required one to drive the piles to support a new structure, but SGA was not deterred.

“We created a new urban format for the San Francisco store to redefine how customers would get in and out of the store, how they find their products – basically a new design for how a big box store functions in a big city,” Garrett said. Though the site was perhaps one of the more extreme in terms of size, the new format was successful for the urban site. In nearby Concord, Calif., Scott&Goble got to work on an easier site, but were challenged bringing out the history of the area in their design.

“This was a case of tailoring the store to the environment, and the mission style is very unique to this area,” Garrett said. “The layout of the store and the footprint does not change often or store to store, but the exterior vernacular is unique to the site.”

The historic missions that dot the California landscape were built between 1769 and the mid-

1800s by Franciscan monks from Spain. Their thick, light-colored, adobe style walls and terra cotta, curved tiled roofs define the mission style of architecture. The Concord store’s tiled roof makes a historical reference to the area past. The store SGA designed in San Jose, on the other hand, makes a reference to the community’s more recent past with the unique property Lowe’s selected for the store.

“We built the store where one of the first warehouses in San Jose stood, an R & D facility for IBM, but it burned down before we started construction; so, we made sure that our design specifically made a reference to the existing building and paid tribute,” Garrett said. The Preservation Action Council of San Jose helped Scott&Goble retrieve materials from the original site that had not been destroyed in the fire to serve as part of a repurposed statue.

“When we started gathering all of these photos, artifacts and memorabilia we realized we had enough to put together a historical exhibit in the store about San Jose and the site,” Goble said. They designed a separate pavillion to pay tribute to the warehouse and the employees with the sculpture

as the centerpiece.

“We are proud of our long-standing relationship with Lowe’s and it has taken our firm across the country, both coasts and the Midwest, to meet and work with so many great engineers and subcontractors – it has truly been a one-of-a-kind experience,” Goble said. “More importantly, we think that they are doing design and construction the right way and we are excited that we can help them realize their corporate goals the right way.”

Goble, an architect for 25 years, began working in designing Walmart stores before forming his own firm in 1995 with Taylor Scott. The firm was founded with the intent to support big box store programs like Sears, Firestone and, of course, Lowe’s. As the Scott and Goble continued to “make payroll” and develop relationships through the 1990s, they added 31 licensed architects here, 21 LEED APs there, an intern program, 13 employees in 2011 alone.

“When you find people that do good quality work and are responsive to your ideas and problemsolving, you’ve got something good,” Goble said of his current 102 employees. “We’ve got that.” ALT November/December 2011 123

west | residential

ON THE EDGE OF THE WORLD The impressive and impressively located residential designs out of International Design Group are like something out of a fairytale book – otherworldly and beautiful.

Text by Paige L. Hill Photos by Richard Pharaoh Photography

124 Architecture Leaders Today

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THIS SPREAD: Hawk’s Nest Residence, Big Sur, Calif. The highly protected region along Highway One where the Pacific Ocean meets the Santa Lucia Mountains is not one where architects often get to design homes. The architect used natural materials, like Carmel stone, so as not to deter from the natural beauty.

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THIS PAGE: Hawk’s Nest. Though not as big as the nearby world renowned golf courses in Pebble Beach, the view from this putting green can certainly compete. In fact, the house doesn’t have a bad view from any angle with the lush, green mountains on one and the dramatic Pacific Ocean blue on the other. Architect Jun Sillano said that he worked so closely with the clients that the home ended up being more of a collaboration than a singular vision.

126 Architecture Leaders Today

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THIS PAGE: Hawk’s Nest. The dining room illustrates how the design’s emphasis on blending the interior with the exterior’s natural beauty is in the hands of the architect. The glass corners of the home create the illusion that there is nothing separating the viewer from the Pacific Ocean just beyond.

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THE CABINET SHOP thecabinetshop.net

The Cabinet Shop Inc. is owned and operated by Jeff Bell and Glenn Grimes.

Located near Monterey in Castroville, Calif., the Cabinet Shop serves the Carmel, Pebble Beach and Silicon Valley areas. The Cabinet Shop designs, fabricates, finishes, produces and installs custom cabinetry, making them a rare one-stop-shop. The Cabinet Shop specializes in all styles, from contemporary to Old World.

STIEGLER METAL DESIGNS stieglermetaldesign.com

Master blacksmith Dorothy Stiegler did not have any grandiose plans in mind when she joined the newly founded Artist Blacksmith Association of North America in 1974. She was following an answer to prayer. She didn’t realize ahead of time that she would be the first woman in the U.S. to achieve the rank of artisan blacksmith. She simply and tirelessly pursued her passion and her gift for one of a kind metalwork.

For nearly half a century, Stiegler has used her inspired gift for crafting on a vast array of different projects, all around the world. Her ability to create beauty and art in any form of metal is truly a gift.

Despite the fact that Stiegler has relocated time and time again at her leisure, clients such as the International Design Group have followed her world renowned talents every step of the way. With her shop located in the heart of the Sierra Foothills, Stiegler has a genuine love for the art of metalworking, making her a master of the craft over decades of experience. See ad on page 137.

A

s a child growing up in the Philippines, Jun A. Sillano, AIA often spent Catholic mass staring at the ceiling of the Spanishinfluenced church where his family attended – his eyes followed the lines of the beams and the intersecting shapes the sections made.

“My love of architecture began with a fascination of it,” Sillano said. “As I got older and traveled and got to understand the history behind all of these designs I had admired, I even more wanted to contribute to the history in some way.”

Today, Sillano contributes to architectural all over the world with the designs coming out of International Design Group where he serves as President, CEO and architect along with principal John E. Matthams. Though Sillano’s work has taken him to the Far East, Europe, North America, Middle East and back to the Philippines, but two of his more recent residential projects are located not far from IDG’s headquarters since the mid-1980s 128 Architecture Leaders Today

in Pacific Grove, Calif.

“Working on the coast of California is a gift to an architect – the ocean, the mountains, the views.

There is so much natural beauty,” Sillano said. Real estate agents and developers would confirm that the natural beauty is limited in California when it comes to finding property bordering on the Pacific Ocean, especially in the sparsely populated Big Sur area where the Santa Lucia Mountains rise abruptly from the ocean. The highly protected region along Highway One that is the backdrop for many car commercials, is mostly made up of state and national parks; moreover, most of the residents are descendants from original settlers. So when Sillano got the coveted chance to design a residence on the Big Sur coast, he didn’t think twice.

“This location provides panoramic ocean views, so the main task was how to take that all in and orient the house to get the most out of it,” Sillano said. Aptly named the Hawk’s Nest, the home is

ABOVE, LEFT: Hawk’s Nest. The unorthodox entrance to the residence boasts a big wooden door surrounded entirely by glass.

OPPOSITE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Another perspective of the kitchen and dining area at Hawk’s Nest shows off the dramatic wood-paneled ceilings and clean finishes.

The main hallway houses the couple’s art collection so as not to compete with the incredible views just outside. A vaulted skylight above draws in natural light into the interior space.

One of architect Jun Sillano’s favorite projects on the Hawk’s Nest was designing the window over the master bathroom’s sink with inset mirrors.

The walk-in closet which adjoins the master bedroom features custom cabinets and mirrors.

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THIS SPREAD: The Sea Loft Residence, Pebble Beach, Calif. One of only a handful of homes along the famous 17 Mile Drive that can boast an ocean view, the Sea Loft was once home to architect Robert Stanton in the 1920s. The design is, as architect Jun Sillano describes it, as authentic to the Mediterranean style without turning into Disneyland.

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THIS SPREAD: Sea Loft, Pebble Beach, Calif.

When the family bought the residence it was a hodge podge of past residents’ attempts to renovate the nearly 90-year-old home. The architect’s challenge was to unify the styles in a cohesive way. The courtyard is great for entertaining or relaxing with the family with the custom fountain and outdoor fireplace.

JAN DE LUZ jandeluz.com

Luxury home building often demands materials and accessories with a heavy lean toward aesthetics. Hunting for antiques is an all-too-common practice among designers and homebuilders, and sometimes finding the perfect piece can be both costly and timeconsuming. The selection of antiques available to the American market is also limited by geography as there are many treasures hiding in Europe, especially throughout France. It is for this reason that Jan de Luz of Carmel, Calif. is highly sought after for his ability to source gorgeous French antiques for home building.

Among the many types of antiques that Jan de Luz supplies are items for architectural interiors and exteriors including columns, pillars, antique doors, garden ornaments, gates, pots and planters, statues, urns, vases, wishing wells, andirons, chandeliers, clocks, lamps, paintings, tapestry and much more.

All items sourced by Jan de Luz are handpicked from a network of antique specialists and dealers in France not only for magnificent looks, but also the extremely high quality of material as well.

In the case of International Design Group, principal Jun Sillano and Jan de Luz have formed an extremely strong working relationship over the past 16 years. Sillano first came to Jan de Luz with a specific design element in mind. Through his vast network of antique sources, Jan de Luz was able to meet Sillano’s request. This was the start of a close relationship where both Sillano and Jan de Luz consult with one another for ideas on sourcing the finest antiques for high-end architectural purposes. Jan de Luz is also a proponent of what he calls "the French touch,"an expert design philosophy in which style is affected by historical and cultural transformations that ultimately affect beauty, quality, culture and individuality. See ad on page 103.

November/December 2011 133

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EDELWEISS STONES edelweiss-stones.com

Jean-Luc Preti founded his company Edelweiss Stones, Inc. in 2005 after having worked in California since 1998. Jean-Luc Preti started as a stone carver’s apprentice in France, where he was born and raised. During his 26 years of experience, Jean-Luc Preti learned to combine ancient 12th to 13th century techniques with modern technology and personal artistic expression. He has worked on many churches, cathedrals, castles, and abbeys in France, Italy and Germany such as the Loire Valley Castles, the Cologne Cathedral and the Royal Abbey of Fontevreau. Jean-Luc Preti works primarily with American and European limestone and marble. Edelweiss Stone and International Design group have partnered on several Pebble Beach residences where Jean-Luc was required to carve several fireplaces, fountains and other architectural stone elements based on the designs and drawings of Jun Sillano. Currently, International Design Group has commissioned Edelweiss Stones to work on a 12 ft. by 18 ft. fireplace consisting of 14,000 pounds of stone.

See ad on page 137.

134 Architecture Leaders Today

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ABOVE: Sea Loft, Pebble Beach, Calif. The cozy living room is perfect for chilly nights in the coastal California town. The dropped beams were added to bring warmth and a historical context to the home.

CLOCKWISE FROM FAR LEFT: The kitchen’s oversized center island is perfect for cooking projects on one side and hungry visitors on the other for the upholstered bar stools. The expansive kitchen is necessary for the residents who often entertain for their various philanthropic causes.

The dropped beams make a splash in the warm entryway with the staircase just off center.

The wood paneled vaulted ceilings in the dining room echo the curved arches over which separates the rooms throughout the house.

When architect Jun Sillano found an unusual multileveled space that was unused, he designed a custom wine cellar using the same stone as on the exterior of the home with a barrel-curved ceiling. No home in northern California is complete without some place to collect wine.

OPPOSITE PAGE: For the younger members of the household, Sillano designed a custom tree house in a Cotswald style cottage aesthetic. When Sillano came across a lamppost that looked right out of foggy London, he was inspired to design the cottage with C.S. Lewis’ book The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe in mind.

perched on the edge of a mountain overlooking the Pacific and naturally jagged coastline.

“The owners have been sojourning to Big Sur for years and when they got the chance to buy property here he asked me to create a retreat where they could get away from the world,” Sillano said. “The owner knew what they wanted and described it so well, it was really more of a collaboration between us.”

The contemporary and clean design of the residence was Sillano’s way of complementing the natural surroundings without clashing. The home’s cliff-like location also presented a challenge in how to maximize the space without tempting more of California’s infamous coastal erosion.

“I’ve been doing this for a long time so I know what I’m doing when it comes to erosion. We used pier and cantilevered beams on the home and built out as much as we could,” Sillano said. The ample deck area stretches out into the ocean mist, giving the illusion that it is endless.

“The idea here is that you are sitting on the bow of a ship right on the ocean.”

The house is largely made up of locally sourced Carmel stone, granite slab, teak wood and plenty of glass surfaces to highlight the views.

One extraordinary use of the translucent glass is the window wall over the master room’s sink, which opens to the forest just beyond with a mirror embedded in the glass wall which reflects the ocean views behind. One can look at both of the natural environments the property has to offer. Another surprising use of glass is in the kitchen nook area where Sillano used glass corners to relay an idea of seamlessness with the outside. The living room is actually glass on three sides.

The home is connected to Highway One by way of a very steep private road where only a handful of residences are hidden. Overall, the client was so pleased with the home that he hired IDG on the interior design, as well.

“We always try to make great relationships with

our clients and this was a good one,” Sillano said.

This was also the case when Sillano designed the Sea Loft residence along 17 Mile Drive, a popular tourist spot in nearby Pebble Beach.

“This home has an interesting history because it began as the famous architect Robert Stanton’s home in the 1920s and has since exchanged ownership so many times since then that it was a hodgepodge of styles when the owners bought it,” Sillano said.

“The owners came to me and said that they wanted to do a legacy home.”

The renovation and additions made to the house synched the styles into a Mediterranean style estate with extensive stonework, bronze accents, and reclaimed white oak beams on the interior to complete the look.

“We decided to really capitalize on the purity of architecture history and make it as authentic as possible to an old world style without it turning into Disneyland,” Sillano. The family is involved in philanthropic causes and use the house for entertaining. For the young and growing family that the home supports, the many amenities the home boasts became the focus of the project, like the custom wine cellar. Sillano found an unused multi-leveled space and designed a wine cellar using the same stone as on the exterior of the home with a barrel-curved ceiling out of brick.

For the younger members of the household, Sillano designed a custom tree house in a “Cotswald style” cottage aesthetic.

“The tree house came together organically,” Sillano said. “I saw this lamppost that reminded me of the C.S. Lewis book The Lion, the Witch and The Wardrobe and everyone liked the idea. With the pine trees surrounding the home and how it is kind of hidden, it was just perfect.”

The finished product was certainly something out of a book, just like many of Sillano’s other projects: an inspired design, a fairytale location and history to go along with it all. ALT November/December 2011 135

west | regional marketplace

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Architecture Leaders Today 137

west | regional marketplace

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K Kanwar & Associates Consulting Electrical Engineers Ravi S. Kanwar, P.E. 5855 Green Valley Circle, Suite 301 Culver City, CA 90230

TEL. (310) 645-9792 FAX. (310) 645-9794

General Contracting Government Construction Management & Consulting Preconstruction BIM/VD&C Sustainable Construction/LEED Corporate Services Renewable Energy Swinerton Builders is proud to work with Pfeifer Partners and we congratulate them on their success.

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I N D E X O F A D V E RT I S E R S A N D F E AT U R E D A R C H I T E C T S Architecture Leaders Today and oZ World Media are not responsible for errors or omissions in this courtesy index.

Academy Roofing Erika Boyd 1610 Jasper St Aurora, CO 80011 303-360-0708 academyroofinginc.com

Collective Design Associates Trisha Tourigny 46 Riverside Ave Westport, CT 68800 203-299-0250 cdallc.com

Galina Design Group Galina Ubogiy 3430 Sunset Ave Ste 2 Ocean, NJ 77120 732-918-0813 galinadesigngroup.com

Kim Engineering Sunny Kim 11127 New Hampshire Ave Silver Spring, MD 20904 301-754-2882 kimengineering.com

Allegheny Trico 57 Holley Ave Bradford, PA 16701 814-362-6805 allstorefix.com

Construction Specifications, Inc. Aaron Pine 22 Tennent Rd PO Box 488 Morganville, NJ 77510 732-970-0700 constructionspex.com

Garrett Leather Roberta Sand 1360 Niagara St Buffalo, NY 14213 716-882-9301 garrettleather.com

Kleet Lumber Co Peter Visconti 777 Park Ave. Huntington, NY 11743 631-427-7060 kleet.com

CPG Architects Gary Unger (203) 967-3456 cpgarch.com

Get Back Inc. Nancie Barnes 27 Main St Watertown, CT 67950 860-274-9991 getbackinc.com

KRG Enterprises John De Santo 8701 Torresdale Ave Philadelphis, PA 19136 215-708-2811 krgenterprises.com

Hayward Lumber Steve Kahlenberg 2004 Sunset Dr Pacific Grove, CA 93950 831-644-7605 haywardlumber.com

Legere Group Steve Nagle 80 Darling Dr Avon, CT 60010 860-674-0392 legeregroup.com

Hearth Shop/Warner Const.

Vicki Warner 486 Del Monte Cntr Monterey, CA 93940 831-375-1252 thehearthshop.com

Leonard J. Strandberg & Assoc.

Neil Strandberg 32 Smith St Freeport, NY 11520 516-378-2064 ljspc.com

Hibser Yamauchi Architects Carolyn Kenney (510) 446-2222 hy-arch.com

Masaoka Glass Alan Masaoka 13766 Center St Ste G2 Carmel Valley, CA 93924 831-659-4953 mbay.net

Andron Construction David Schunter 21 ANderson Ln Golden Bridge, NY 10526 914-232-7531 androncc.com Architectural Systems, Inc. Larissa Nahari 150 West 25th St New York, NY 10001 646-460-8226 archsystems.com Auerbach Pollock Friedlander Tisha Renner 225 Green St San Francisco, CA 94111 415-392-7528 auerbachconsultants.com BRA Consulting Engineers Donna Tardy 311 Arsenal St Watertown, MA 2472 617-254-0016 brplusa.com Bissonnet Ned William 1088 Chelsea Way Collegeville, PA 19426 610-454-1295 bissonnet.net C&F Enterprises Thomas Wood 57 Snowmass Dr Livermore, CO 80536 970-372-7438 hotmail.com Carmel Stone Imports Robbie Robinson 1725 Contra Costa St Sand City, CA 93955 831-583-1011 carmelimports.com Ceiger Gloria Cetra 152 W 57th St, 3rd FL New York, NY 10019 914-645-6617 geigerintl.com CF Jordan Construction Stephanie Quiroz 9639 Greenville Ave Dallas, TX 75243 915-532-5004 montoyapr.com Charles Cosler Theatre Design Charles Cosler 555 8th Ave Ste 1810 New York, NY 10018 212-695-4040 cosler.com Charles M Salter Associates David Schwind 130 Sutter St Ste 500 Sasn Francisco, CA 94104 415-397-0442 cmsalter.com Chaves-Grieves Steve Vasquez 505344-4080 cg-engrs.com

Crown Design and Consulting Michael Santora designsbycrown.com Dirtworks Deanna Medina 200 Park Ave S New York, NY 10003 212-529-2263 dirtworks.us Diversified Technology Consultants Graham Curtis 2321 Whitney Ave Ste 301 Hamden, CT 6518 203-239-4200 teamdtc.com Ebenisterie St-Patrick ESP Ronald Amyotte 2037 Frances-Hughes Laval, QC H7S 1N7 450-669-3002 st-patrick.gc.ca Edelweiss Stones Isabell Preti 946 Harrison St Monterey, CA 93940 831-776-8151 European Home Holly Markham 376 Washington St Ste 203 Malden, MA 21480 781-324-8383 europeanhome.com Faithful & Gould Yvonne Connolly 11 E 26th St, Fl 18 New York, NY 10010 212-252-7070 fgould.com Figaro Systems, Inc Bryan Hollar 505-471-8364 figaro-systems.com First Florida Robert Miller 1533 Sunset Dr Miami, FL 33143 305-665-1146 firstflorida.com First, Last, Always Deven Gadula 1311 22nd St San Francisco, CA 94107 415-541-7978 first-last-always.com Flack + Kurtz, Inc. Michelle Galindez 475 5th Ave Rm 506 New York, NY 10017 212-532-9600 wspfk.com Forum Architecture Renatta Bruder (407) 830-1400 forumarchitecture.com

Hillen Construction Michael Hillen PO Box 831 Monterrey, CA 93942 831-394-5510 Honig Conte Porrino Howard Honig 129 W 27th St, 6th Fl New York, NY 10001 212-777-7113 honigconte.com ikon.5 architects Joe Tattoni (609) 919-0099 ikon5architects.com International Design Group Evelyn Lambdin (831) 646-1261 jemidg.com Jacobs Consultancy Judith Mullen 303 S. Broadway, Ste G20 Tarrytown, NY 10591 914-333-1110 jacobs.com Jan de Luz 1 E Carmel Valley Rd Carmel Valley, CA 93924 831-659-7966 jandeluz.com JCJ Architecture Peter Stevens 860) 247-9226 jcj.com Kam Yan Associates Kam Yan 433 Hegenberger Rd. #204 Oakland, CA 94621 510-562-0581 kyase.com Kanwar & Associates Ravindra Kanwar 5855 Green Valley Cir Culver City, CA 90230 310-645-9792

Masterpiece Stair DJ Van Epp 2250 S. Jason St Denver, CO 80224 303922-5700 McLaren Engineering William McCarthy 100 Snake Hill Rd West Nyack, NY 10094 407-354-5411 mgmclaren.com

Nick’s Woodcraft Industries Guy Lobello 104 Skyline Cres NE Calgary, AB T2K 5X2 403-275-6432 NJ Martin & Son Robert Martin 18 Inlet View Path East Moriches, NY 11940 631-874-3097 North Shore Window & Door Ed Hine 631-285-7333 northshorewindow.com Oehme van Sweden Lisa Delpace 800 G St SE Washington, DC 20003 202-546-7575 ovsla.com Page Interworks, P.A. Carl Page 923 Main St N Wilkesboro, NC 28659 336-667-4225 pageinterworks.com Pavarini Mike Melanophy 1111 Summer St Stamford, CT 69050 203-327-0100 pavarini.com

Source International Dave McGlynn 545 Hartford Tpke Shrewsburh, MA 15450 845-216-3938 sourceseating.com Stiegler Metal Designs Dorothy Steigler PO Box 265 Volcano, CA 95689 209-296-6471 jps.net Stone Brokers Susan Cimoli 228 The Crossroads Carmel, CA 93923 831-622-7000 comcast.net Studio Agoos Lovera Eric Delss (215) 735-0100 agooslovera.com Superior Enterprises Kim Brunton 871 Thornton Pkwy Ste 184 Thornton, CO 80229 303-472-7749 superiorenterprises.biz

Pfeiffer Partners Architects Pam Mosher (213) 624-2775 pfeifferpartners.com

The Cabinet Shop Jeff Bell 11245 Commercial Pkwy Castroville, CA 95012 831-633-2600 thecabinetshop.net

Real Architecture David Berton (303) 477-5550 realarchitecture.com Replik Patrice Lapointe 3737 Boul. Du Tricentenaire Montreal, QC H1B 5X4 514-644-6410 replik-art.ca

Mission Landscaping Patrick Wilson PO Box 875 Pacific Grove, CA 93950 831-373-8293

Ross Design Group Jim Ross (407) 843-7677 rossdesign.com

Mitchell Giurgola Delphine Daniels (212) 663-4000 mitchellgiurgola.com

Salt Electric Matt Caryofilles 6401 N Broadway #M Denver, CO 80221 303-257-7212 saltelectric.com

Morning Star Elevator Richard Markow 11641 Ridgeline Dr Colorado Springs, CO 80921 719-635-7960 mselevator.com

Scott & Goble Architects Chris Goble (918) 587-8600 scottgoble.com

Narofsky Architecture Jennifer Rusch (212) 675-2374 narofsky.com

Sorg Architects Suman & Nicki Sorg (202) 393-6445 sorgarchitects.com

Penonni Fred Lindquist 29 W 35th St 8th Fl New York, NY 10001 212-239-7600 pennoni.com

Mercor Lighting Group Eric Tordjman 71 Ortona Ct Concord, ON L4K 3M2 800-332-7032 mercurylighting.com

MPW Engineering Scott Webb 110 W 7th St Ste 600 Tulsa, OK 74119 918-582-4088 mpwengineering.com

Sonoma Forge Erik Ambjor 133 Copeland St Petaluma, CA 94952 707-789-9030 sonomaforge.com

Severud Associates Louis Occhiocne 469 6th Ave, 9th Fl New York, NY 10018 212-9896-3700 severud.com SOF Mary Kay Powers 328 Selleck St Stanford, CT 69020 203-348-2657 sof328.com

The Design Alliance Gary Maranga (718) 797-2000 tdaarchitect.com Trystate Mechanical Corp Michael Liberta 718-819-8844 trystatemech.com Uni Chairs Julie Hamilton 4600 Steeles Ave West Woodbridge, ON L4L 7H2 905-851-8838 unitedchairs.com URS Corp Gill Mosseri 5 Penn Plaza, 15th Fl New York, NY 10001 212-946-0389 urscorp.com WoodWorking Wonders Win Ewbanks 5250 Raleigh St Denver, CO 80212 720-300-9400 Ysrael A. Seinuk Ysrael Seinuk 228 E 45th St, 2nd Fl New York, NY 10017 212-687-2233 yaseinuk.com

Leaders in Building Multi-Family Housing

As Florida’s leading General Contractor in multifamily housing, we have the experience, the people and the track record of success in affordable housing and market-rate housing markets to consistently outperform our competitors. We provide competitively priced commercial construction for discerning developers of multi-family housing.

We bring projects in on budget and on time.

We are proud to have teamed with Forum Architecture for the creation of Sunrise Commons and Booker Creek Apartments.

1533 Sunset Drive, Suite 150 Miami, Florida 33143 Tel. 305.665.1146 www.firstflorida.com