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BloomďŹ eld Architects
FROM BLACK BOX TO BROADCAST This Philadelphia-based firm found its niche in the broadcast media market, helping radio and television stations redesign their facilities with a unique understanding of industry needs.
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Bloomfield & Associates
Philadelphia architects Bloomfield & Associates stumbled upon their first broadcast media project through “dumb luck,” said founder Peter Bloomfield. Since then, it has become an area of expertise for the firm, and it’s now opening doors for them in other markets, where they can put their design and planning skills to good use. “The skill sets we are gaining from the broadcast work has allowed us to develop and branch out into other markets,” said principal Mark Motl. “We’re taking that technology into theaters, libraries, classrooms, universities and educational spaces.” Bloomfield & Associates was founded in 1982, and today they stay busy with projects throughout the US, from Honolulu to Boston. Radio, television and other media outlets know that they can rely on Bloomfield to give them what they need when building or upgrading their facilities, with a unique understanding of the issues facing the industry. “There’s a lot to consider when designing a space; everything from making sure that the technology is located in a part of the city that can handle it, as well as making sure that its image is correct in the community, and that it provides an organized workplace for the participants,” Bloomfield said. The broadcast industry has shifted over the years in response to rapid changes in technology, and so has Bloomfield & Associates. Their technical expertise gives Bloomfield & Associates Architects an advantage in other sectors, particularly education and new media. They are excited about current and future projects in which they integrate their knowledge of workplace design and new technology. “Right now we’re working on a project that is merging audio, video and print format into one building for Cox Media Group in Ohio,” said Motl. “So that is a real opportunity for everyone media to get on board to produce stuff for a webpage, or a video or audio feed, or for print, and cross reference each other.” Adds Bloomfield: “It’s the first facility in America that will consolidate these often seen as competing media groups.” Other current projects include consulting to National Public Radio on their new facility in Washington DC and the Wisconsin State Library. The architects treat each client as an individual and take into account their project’s scale, budget and context. Though they build all over the country, each project has a unique local flavor. Though “green” building has become a marketing buzzword in recent years, Bloomfield said, his firm has been incorporating sustainable practices into their designs for all of its 28 years. Basic organization and planning is a start at making building more environmentally friendly, Bloomfield said. “The simplest thing is just understanding our clients’ needs and designing in a way that builds less,” he said. “It starts with understanding local weather patterns- where does the winter wind come from, the summer breezes, 4 Architecture Leaders Today
Blossoming in the area of broadcast and media by Rachel Goldberg
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the orientation on the site. These are all simple things that every architect ought to take into account.” Another way that Bloomfield stays sustainable is by reusing existing facilities as much as possible. “We’re very proud of a small theater we just did at Montgomery County Community College, where we literally carved space out of an existing building and created a black box theater that is the core of the theater program,” said Bloomfield. Though they have carved a comfortable niche for themselves in the architecture industry, Bloomfield said the firm plans to continue to diversify and keep things interesting: “As an architect, the one you’re happiest with is the next one.” ALT
1. Montgomery County Community College Black Box Theater Rendering, Philadelphia, Pen. Rendering courtesy of Bloomfield & Associates. 2. Wisconsin State Library, Madison, Wis. The Rare Book Room at the Wisconsin State Library consists of a collection that can trace some of its bindery back to Thomas Jefferson’s Library. Photo courtesy of Bloomfield & Associates. 3. CBS facility in Baltimore, Md. Collaboration for the CBS facility in Baltimore in the Sales Department is encouraged by a series of open conference areas. Photo courtesy of Bloomfield & Associates.
Z & F CONSULTING Nearly every modern convenience in a building is intertwined by its energy usage. Basic changes in lighting and occupancy produces both a direct and indirect impact on the amount of energy used and ultimately the cost of operating the facility. This correlation can spider web out into every facet of a building’s components affecting even the HVAC loads that serve the space. As an MEP Engineering firm responsible for the design and specification of many building components, this interrelationship has driven Z&F Consulting into focusing on Energy Analysis, Energy Modeling, Central Plants, and cogeneration. Saving operational dollars will continue to pay dividends each year, for the life of the building. As energy prices fluctuated dramatically over the past decade, Z&F has concentrated on becoming the Industry Leader in cogeneration and energy analysis in many facets. Z&F Engineers have a complete grasp on energy production, recovery and the wholesale/retail electricity marketplace. Z&F has taken its expertise in energy production/ cogeneration and combined it with the comprehensive understanding of the energy marketplace and completely changed the paradigm of cogeneration from an energy savings program to a revenue generating center in its clients facilities!
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