ISSUE 3: 2017
now+next YARN WORKS Yarn Works Apartments, a $24.2 million adaptivereuse project in Fitchburg, Mass., transformed a former yarn mill into 96 units of mixed-income housing. The original Nockege River Mill Building, designed by noted industrial architect Frank Sheldon, was constructed on Fitchburg’s Nashua River at the start of the 20th century. Placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2016, the 186,000-squarefoot mill was successfully reimagined into a multifamily community by repurposing many of the building’s original features including 15-foot ceilings, more than 280 8-by-10 foot windows, and exposed original brick and steel beams. Structural renovations included removing and rebuilding the first floor, adding a concrete slab that raises the building above the 100year floodplain, repairing the exterior envelope, and replacing all windows and frames with historically matched replicas. With its transit-oriented, downtown location and deeply rooted past, the conversion plays an important role in Fitchburg’s revitalization.
THE RECONCEIVED ARCHITECTURAL EXPERIENCE PROGRAM I doubt I’d ever get to take the architectural registration exam if I had to go through the qualifying program today. After speaking with some of you who are presently in what was formerly known as NCARB’s Intern Development Program, I doubt I’d have the organizational discipline or patience to get through it. ucky for me, there wasn’t any qualifying program when I was qualifying to take the exam. All I had to do was produce evidence of a professional architectural degree from an accredited institution and letters attesting to three years of full time employment under the aegis of a registered architect. I won’t say how long ago that was except that it was still years before the Milli Vanilli lip synching scandal. The NCARB has been in existence since 1919. In 1976 it conceived the Intern Development Program. Mississippi was the first state to adopt the program in 1978 (not something I would have guessed). Massachusetts didn’t adopt it until the next decade. While the program had the well-intentioned goal of making sure candidates for registration were experienced in all areas of architectural practice, to me, the administrative aspects have always seemed unnecessarily and mind-bogglingly complex. At one time, interns were expected to record experience in 17 different categories of experience. More recently, there were six. Now, in the reconceived Architectural Experience Program (AXP) there are five. That’s a step in the right direction but you still have to wonder about some of the categories. While experience with “Project Development & Documentation” (CD’s) make sense, it’s hard to imagine how an intern in their first
year out of college will get themselves into a position to “Assist client determination of delivery method for construction of project” (the Project Management category). Some architectural firms, particularly large corporate firms, tend to compartmentalize labor in such a way that keeps interns confined to narrow areas of practice. The purpose of the IDP/AXP is to make employers conscious of a professional responsibility to correct that tendency. TAT, which is a large firm operating within a small firm structure, provides a greater degree of exposure because cross-staffing of interns (and the architectural staff in general) to different project teams brings them into contact with a variety of projects and roles simultaneously. Such cross-staffing and the development of a staff of generalists is also helpful to the firm given the fluid pacing of our projects. The development of the Intern Development Program was a collateral project of the NCARB to develop a standardized professional examination, the Architect Registration Examination (ARE). Prior to development of the ARE individual states produced and administered their own examinations. In 1979 the NCARB introduced the prototype ARE, a nine-part examination offered once a year over a four-day period. In the beginning it was an all-or-nothing proposition. Fail any one part and
you’d have to take the whole exam again. Things have improved on that score. Now a candidate can (with some limitations) save sections which have been passed and retake only the ones they have failed. And there are fewer parts to the test. The exam can also be taken at any time during the year at the discretion of the candidate in an actual testing center. One advantage of such a testing center is that they have heat. Mine was held in February in the unheated lobby of an ice hockey arena in Worcester. I’m guessing that for reasons of economy, hockey practice continued unabated during the exam. The sound of pucks hitting the Plexiglas added an unwelcome level of drama to my wet-bulb dew point calculations in the HVAC section. There was a physicality to the exam that is absent today. Maybe that’s a good thing. So, I guess you take the good with the bad. My admiration goes to all of you presently in the AXP qualification program. Your executive functioning skills will serve you well. Of course, if you ever have to do perma-frost design in the tundra, that’s another matter.
Michael E. Liu, AIA, NCARB Vice President, Principal
The Residence at Melrose Station Melrose, MA Situated in the heart of Melrose, The Residence at Melrose Station represents the pinnacle of urban-located assisted living and memory care facilities. Taking inspiration from boutique hotels, the space incorporates many luxurious finishes to create a comfortable and welcoming environment for residents and their guests. Keeping with the urban location, great attention was paid to maintain a sense of contemporary design throughout the entire project, as seen with the selection of large-format porcelain tile, cerused white oak detailing, and sleek decorative light fixtures.
The Residence at Melrose Station Client: LCB Senior Living Photographer: Joel Howe
The Residence at Vinnen Square Swampscott, MA
The Residence at Vinnen Square Client: LCB Senior Living Photographer: Joel Howe
The building vernacular is a traditional New England aesthetic, stylistically in keeping with the coastal location and incorporates many details, such as wide overhanging eaves with decorative bracket supports, batten board, and clapboard articulation. The interior and exterior color schemes take cues from the location through the use of ocean blues and various sand tones, accented with traditional white trim. Once inside, residents and visitors enjoy traditionally-styled spaces accented with warm tones and dark stained wood, with views into connected programmatic areas.
COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION he firm’s passion for historic restoration and rehabilitation is born out of an abiding respect for the past and for what architecture represents to communities. Whether these turn-ofthe-century mills produced machinery, cotton, wool or beer, each one is distinct from the next and presents unique opportunities for imaginative and innovative adaptive reuse. Preserving a historic building’s utility for a new use after its original purpose is considered obsolete recognizes the interrelationship and the interdependency between sustainable development and heritage conservation – these buildings are of too great of importance to our national identity to be considered disposable. This philosophy not only pays homage to the past, but also respects the future, as extending the life of buildings is innately sustainable—a practice that predates modern green building strategies and rating systems such as LEED. The engine that drives these historic restoration projects
are historic tax credits (HTC) – The HTC is not just an engine of reuse and revitalization in our communities. It is a pro-growth investment that works. According to the Annual Report on the Economic Impact of the Federal Historic Tax Credit for 2016, recently released by Rutgers University and the National Park Service, between 1978 and 2016, the HTC has contributed to: • More than 42,000 buildings being restored; • More than $130 billion in private capital being reinvested in our communities; • Nearly 2.5 million jobs being created; and • An average of $1.20 being returned to the Treasury for every dollar invested.
Now is a critical moment in to collectively fight to protect the federal HTC.
Counting House 71
The Residence at Mill 10 Client | All Projects: WinnDevelopment Photographer | All Images: Andy Ryan
Counting House 71, Lowell, MA
Yarn Works
Yarn Works
The Residences at Mill 10, Ludlow, MA
Quarrystone Apartments at Overlook Ridge Malden, MA This successful interior design and rehabilitation transformed an outdated apartment complex into a stylish and contemporary multifamily community, creating inviting and well-appointed amenity spaces. Community areas are conceived for adaptability, flexible functions and multigenerational activities. A neutral palette and finishes were selected, using wood elements to bring texture and warmth into the space. Bold accent colors lend visual interest without distracting from the stone and natural materials. To see TAT’s most recent interior design projects, please visit www.architecturalteam.com/services/interior-design/
Client: WinnDevelopment Photographer: Gregg Shupe
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LONGEVITY = SUCCESS TAT Associate, Jay Szymanski AIA NCARB LEED AP, talks about the unique attributes that set TAT apart from other firms as it relates to projects that take more than a decade to initiate and complete. Staff longevity is an asset that TAT brings to developers that is both uncommon and beneficial for a project that requires consistency, persistence and patience. Our senior team members – not including the partners – have been with the firm on average more than 22 years, median tenure for architects is typically only 6 years. This longevity allows us to retain institutional knowledge about the project and provide reliability that is necessary for long-term project success.
has considerable expertise in varied sectors. We understand the market, and how it has evolved over time, allowing us a unique perspective as it relates to process, communities, design trends, zoning and permitting. We’ve formed successful relationships with the agencies that regulate development and provide funding. They trust our capabilities and know that we are dependable design stewards, with high regard for collaborative success.
The Kensington, Boston, MA Photographer: Peter Vanderwarker
Projects that speak to these qualities can be seen throughout New England, but a few to note are The Baker Chocolate Campus which was developed over the course of 25 years, Battery Wharf which began in 1995 and was completed in 2008, Lovejoy Wharf was a 12 year project from start to finish and The Kensington which was initiated in 1998 and completed in 2013.
Lovejoy Wharf, Boston, MA Photographer: Gustav Hoiland
Additionally, since our design teams consider context first and foremost, our designs stand the test of time because we don’t conceive of them as abstract objects independent of their surroundings. We deliberately embrace and echo the architectural themes of neighboring buildings and structures to fit into the architectural context, creating important synergies. Being thoughtful of historical forms and discreet with design, we are able to restrain from being overly trendy, allowing our projects to be anchored in a broader, holistic approach. Our depth of knowledge is also crucial – our portfolio spans 45+ years, and
TAT GIVES BACK: In the small town of Stow, Massachusetts, a new 4 bedroom, 3 bath home is being built on Lake Boon. It replaces the existing mold ridden structure that was home to 5 year old Ari Schultz and his family. Born with a congenital heart defect, Ari received a heart transplant in March after waiting nearly 211 days at Children’s Hospital. Due to his fragile immune system, he and his family could not return to their old home. Knowing of the family’s hardship, the community came together to begin the process of rebuilding their home. As a resident of Stow myself, I volunteered to design and permit the new residence with TAT’s support, and our longtime partners, WB & A and Waterman Associates provided the construction
Battery Wharf, Boston, MA Photographer: Gustav Hoiland
documents. In conjunction with Dan James, Vice President of Construction at Erland Construction, and a host of many other construction and design professionals eager to help, we broke ground on the project earlier this summer. Unfortunately, Ari battled rejection for several months after his surgery. In July, he passed away due to complications related to his transplant. Despite this terrible loss, I feel honored to have worked so closely with the Schultz family over the last year. Their story has inspired everyone who knows them. The house is anticipated to be completed in May of 2018. In memory of Ari, please visit echoofhope.org. Story by Anthony Vivirito, Senior Project Manager
TALENT TAT welcomes new hires Heather Sawyer, Glenn Mutz, and Scott Daniels to the architectural staff; and Marie Bizzak to the interiors staff. For more recent news and project information, please visit architecturalteam.com
Rendering of the Schultz House, by TAT.
Former Boiler House, Now Community Room at Yarn Works Client: WinnDevelopment Photographer: Andy Ryan The Architectural Team, Inc. 50 Commandant’s Way at Admiral’s Hill Chelsea, MA 02150 architecturalteam.com