ISSUE 1: 2015
now+next THE SIBLEY BUILDING: Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this landmark 1M square foot building is being transformed into a vibrant, mixed-use urban center including multifamily, commercial, restaurant and retail space. The Sibley Building will feature an array of destinations: art galleries, boutique shops, medical services and a fitness center. At the crossroads of Main and East Streets, Sibley is at the economic center of downtown Rochester and will soon be home to the University of Rochester’s 68,000 square foot, high-tech incubator with 120,000 square-feet of contiguous space.
Game-Changing Developments for Gateway Cities Urban fringes in the U.S. are gaining new economic life. Many commercial and multifamily properties are in gateway cities, the midsize urban centers that anchor regional economies. For these cities, their potential often hinges on effective value-enhancing strategies for new development, whether repositioning older buildings or creating entirely new neighborhoods. An excellent example is Rochester, N.Y., where
amenity offerings, flexible and functional interior
downtown rebirth is in various stages of formation
configurations, and material finishes further boost
and the repositioning of distressed properties is
market value.
essential. This entails a mix of master planning and reconfiguring huge
In many gateway cities, the strategy is to stabilize the property, then focus on
swaths of land mass, in
increasing net operating
addition to unlocking the
income as the measure
potential of older buildings.
of the project and asset
In Rochester, our work has
viability.
focused on the downtown revitalization
any improvements that
and
cut operating costs help
transformation of a former department
store,
The
Sibley Building, into a vibrant, mixed-use urban center. Over the next decade, $200 million will be invested into the million-square-foot icon, turning it into market-rate and affordable housing as well as offices, retail, restaurants and a hightech innovation center. The building’s value is further enhanced by short walks to transit, access to parks, the proximity of entertainment, and other retail options. Creating highly competitive
Michael D. Binette, AIA, NCARB Vice President + Principal mbinette@architecturalteam.com
Accordingly,
contribute the
directly
to
enhanced value. The main takeaway for
uncovering these hidden jewels in the rebirth of our nation’s gateway cities is to analyze the property and repositioning options - keeping a lookout for properties where the asset’s purchase price is below intrinsic value relative to the surrounding neighborhood, target demographic, and the site’s infrastructure. The Sibley Building is one such jewel.
OPEN IDEAS. For the third year in a row, The Architectural Team sponsored an undergraduate design studio competition during the fall semester at the Boston Architectural College (BAC).
“Our goal is to focus the next generation of designers on urban design challenges,” says Bob Verrier, FAIA, co-founder + managing principal, BAC Alumni and former Alumni Board President.
Brookline Senior Center Joshua Butkus, BAC Student
Integrated into the curriculum at the BAC, the “open ideas design competition” invites architecture students to investigate and propose solutions in the housing sector; the most recent competition focused on designing assisted living facilities in an urban environment, a rapidly growing niche in housing and healthcare for seniors. Interior Design | TAT Interiors Client | WinnDevelopment Photography | Walter Colley
Artfully detailed. From the original escalator on the first floor to the clock tower on the roof, many of the iconic art deco details of The Sibley Building have been preserved. Transformation of the 6th floor including a former restaurant and kitchen - the equivalent of 68,000 square feet - will house High Tech Rochester, an incubator for high tech startups. Mahogany panels, modern art and original photography define the clean, bright, welcoming lobby space.
Steps to Health Fernanda Dias Pinto, BAC Student
This year’s course competition, Advancing Years, asked students to challenge the conventional order of the design process in order to develop a new housing concept. “The spirit of
The escalators date back to 1936, and are the first in western New York.
There are a total of 22 elevators in the building.
In its heyday, the delivery room shipped nearly 10,000 packages a day.
the competition is about encouraging interdisciplinary team work that results in visionary ideas for our urban housing future.”
BUILDING BLOCKS OF A COMMUNITY “Good design is good business, working with The Architectural Team on the new teen center proved it. We have filled a critical gap in services for teens while bringing unexpected economic benefits to the community-at-large, none of which could have been accomplished without clear goals, commitment, and robust teamwork.” —Josh Kraft, Nicholas President + CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston
In
an effort to improve the lives of at-risk youth by delivering critical resources for an underserved Boston neighborhood, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston purchased the former decommissioned public Mattapan Library and engaged The Architectural Team to repurpose the space into a contemporary, engaging and technology-rich environment for teens. The $2.6M center will serve hundreds of neighborhood youth annually, and is the first Club with a programmatic design intended exclusively for 13-18 year olds; focusing its programs on academics, leadership and
the performing arts. This marks the fifth facility the firm has designed for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston. “The building was an underutilized asset, and perfect for creating a safe, positive and enriching place for the teens in Mattapan to help them achieve academic success, live healthy lifestyles and become good citizens,” says Josh Kraft, Nicholas President and CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston. The design solution for repurposing the library emphasizes the creation of a vibrant, stimulating atmosphere that promotes engagement, participation,
Photography | Andy Ryan
and a sense of ownership among those it serves. This is achieved largely through transparency: all of the distinct areas adjacent to the main lobby have been made visible through glass windows, doors or partitions - promoting interaction and involvement. Even the soundproof recording room is observable through acoustically rated glass. The design allows for both organized instructional programs and supports opportunities for unstructured recreation.
The new 7,200 square foot facility includes a multipurpose, 80-seat performance center equipped with movable chairs and stage platform, a music studio with a performance/rehearsal room and an acoustically isolated recording booth. A kitchen, culinary learning center, computer lab and education room are also featured.
TAT HAS DESIGNED FIVE BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF BOSTON 1. GERALD & DARLENE JORDAN CLUB 2. CHARLESTOWN CLUB 3. YAWKEY CLUB 4. BLUE HILLS CLUB 5. MATTAPAN TEEN CENTER
Inviting + Inspired Spaces The number of aging Americans in need of supportive housing will rapidly increase in the near future. This market sector is also experiencing new expectations of service, quality of environment, sustainability, and holistic approaches to aging in place. For LCB Senior Living we developed interior designs that are simultaneously suitable for an aging population and supportive of a lifestyle that exudes elegance and luxury, reflecting the unique character of the local community. Our team takes a resident-centric approach to interior design, ensuring that we are cognizant of the specific needs of the population. We then look to emerging products, research, colors and materials to help us develop thoughtful solutions that enhance environments and create comfortable spaces for living well. To keep residents active and engaged, open and semiopen plans enable visual connections between the various program elements. This innovative approach provides sequenced destinations to encourage movement and creates a richer interior architecture experience.
Residences at Riverbend, Ipswhich, MA Photography | Warren Jagger
PRESS ULX: 10 Next-Wave Mixed Income Housing Programs Urban Land February 23, 2015 TAT’S masterplan design of Arlington 360 in Arlington, MA ranks #1. Dwellings from discards Sarah Tanksalvala, HSBC February, 2013 Bob Verrier, FAIA, NCARB, co-founder/managing principal discusses the positive impact of recycling historic buildings. To read full articles and other recent firm news, please visit: www.architecturalteam.com
EVENTS
+next
Rendering of the new mixed-use, transit-oriented development to be built on the current site of the Ashmont Tire property in Dorchester, MA.
N E W S U P D AT E S O N S E L E C T TAT P R O J E C T S
Ashmont Tire
Dorchester, MA Client: Trinity Financial | Contractor: TBD
Designed to achieve LEED Silver, the new construction of this six story mixed-use transit-oriented development will be comprised of 48 affordable rental units and 39 market rate condominiums - of which 17 are loft style. Located adjacent to the Ashmont Peabody Square Transit Center, the development will include underground and surface level parking, and incorporates 4,000 square feet of neighborhood retail and commercial space. The combination of new housing and new retail businesses will play an important role in the continued revitalization of the Ashmont neighborhood, just as The Carruth did - also designed by the firm.
Loft Five50 @ Malden Mills - Phase II
Lawrence, MA Client: WinnDevelopment | Contractor: Keith Construction
Loft Five50 Phase II is a 130,000 square foot, 62 unit low income apartment complex in Lawrence, MA, located on the former Malden Mills manufacturing site. Assembled from four historic mill buildings to make two, phase I and phase II are indistinguishable from the outside. Connected via a firewall, the residents share ample amenities: fitness center, theater room, lounge space and play room. Phase II has a mix of 1-4 bedroom layouts intended for families, and includes a business center, resident activity room, and an expansion of the central landscaped courtyard and patio space.
Island Creek
Duxbury, MA Client: Beacon Communities Development | Contractor: Keith Construction
Located in the seaside town of Duxbury, MA, this multi-phase design will provide 214 units of housing. Phase I will include a four story age-restricted building comprised of 94 units, along with a maintenance and waste water treatment building. Phase II will be comprised of three 36 unit multifamily buildings, twelve town home units and a community building.
TAT’s recently completed developments include: Counting House Lofts, Lowell, MA— the adaptive reuse of the historic former Counting House building at Hamilton Mills into 52 units of affordable housing; Residence at Watertown, Watertown, MA & Residence at Riverbend, Ipswich, MA— architecture and interior design of two senior living communities with independent, assisted, and memory care units, along with integrated amenity space; Harrison Court, Boston, MA— interior renovations to a 71 unit historic apartment building with resident amenity space. Northampton Tower, Boston, MA— moderate rehabilitation of a 29-story building providing 245 mixed-income units.
TEAM TAT welcomes new hires to the architectural staff: Emily Pappas, Ginie Kwan, Meghan Bell, and Venket Holi, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP. Meghan Bell & Reed Harmon have completed their Masters in Arch program at BAC, graduating officially in May.
For more information, please contact Jess Ruhlin, Marketing Coordinator, at 617.889.4402. To subscribe to an electronic version of tat|now+next, please visit www.architecturalteam.com and click on the News section. Copyright ©2015. 50 Commandant’s Way at Admiral’s Hill Chelsea MA 02150 T 617.889.4402 F 617.884.4329 www.architecturalteam.com
+fyi The Sibley Building has more than 23 acres of floor space. Over the course of restoration, some 2,000 windows will be replaced. By 1939 Sibley’s was the largest department store between New York City and Chicago.