The (funky) Office of the Future

posted by Matthew Bushey

There’s an interesting article in yesterday's New York Post about the trend in office design to "reinvent" the workplace and of the renewed focus on creating spaces that are funky and captivating. More companies are looking for vibrant offices that are not just comfortable, but are also engaging and promote collaboration and creative thinking. Gone are the days of dull cubicles and "hepatitis-yellow lights".

The Post article features a photo of the slide in Google’s New York headquarters, with the caption “Laptoppers leave their desks behind”. It’s an extremely effective image: in instant icon of the playfulness that defines the corporate identity. While engaging in the mundane task of going from one place to another, why not have a little fun at the same time? And in fact, you get to your destination even quicker.

This reminds me of our work with Ben & Jerry's, another openly offbeat company right in our backyard. When we renovated their corporate headquarters in 2006, we added a curved slide that connects the conference room above to the main floor below. After sitting through a tedious staff meeting, you can pop into the "escape hatch" and go on with your day, leaving the world of powerpoint behind you.

These companies recognize that this is about more than just making their employees happy. The image of their workplace reinforces their company brand. In the case of Google and Ben & Jerry's, these elements of whimsy fit right in to their corporate philosophy.

We are currently working with the Sabra Dipping Company, makers of hummus and other middleeastern foods. At their new factory and office building in Richmond, Virginia, we're introducing some other unique features that promote the company brand. Their message is more about global cultural awareness and the pleasures of sharing international foods. While there will be no slide in their corporate offices, you can expect some equally clever moves that celebrate the spirit of the place.

Keeping it Local with Sam Norris Furniture

posted by Susan Weeks

Check out these beautiful chairs made by local furniture maker Sam Norris.  We collaborate with Sam here at TruexCullins and always love to see what he's working on.  Here's a description of the Empress Chairs from Sam.

"When I took a break from furniture making several years ago to work on the restoration of a classic wooden boat I lightheartedly swore that I’d never again design a piece of furniture with curves in it.  Seldom in boatbuilding did I find a straight line, and the work grew from challenging and fascinating to painstakingly slow.  Predictably, every piece of furniture I have designed since is full of curves; the graceful lines and sparse structure of the racing sloop had sunk in.  The Empress Chairs are no exception.

Originally designed to complement a desk I built for the 2008 New Hampshire Furniture Masters’ Association auction, these chairs take their original design concept from two classic Chinese chairs—one a straight-backed, rigid appearing piece with ornamentation on nearly every component, the other a fluid design with hardly a straight line to be found.  I worked toward a contemporary look that combined the strongest elements of each chair and did away with the involved pierced carvings and other ornament.

The result leaves no question as to the historical referent of the chair but gives a more inviting feel.  The subtle curves of each component, the doming of the faces on each leg and the soft, rounded surfaces of the arms and the laminated lumbar support of the back splat all have comfort in mind. The hand-woven cane seat is another alteration from the original.  The Carolina close weave and the wrap around the split seat rail is a nod to Danish chairs, meant to give these chairs a more contemporary feel.

The Chinese originals were imposing pieces, meant to accommodate the robes or stature of their owners who were certainly members of the ruling class.  My intent with the Empress Chairs was to scale back the originals, softening their appearance, while maintaining their strong presence."

Turns out, Sam sold these chairs to Governor Sununu and his wife, Nancy, through the New Hampshire Furniture Masters' annual auction.  Check out his website samnorrisfurniture.com.

10th Annual Roland Batten Lecture

posted by Susan Weeks

Check out this upcoming lecture at UVM on sustainable planning and design.  Will Fleissig will  speak on Wednesday October 28th at 6pm, at 301 Williams Hall on the UVM Campus.  His talk, "Sanity Scenario," will challenge us all to consider the question "Can Burlington and its design community help to shape a more sustainable future?"  This intriguing talk is the 10th Annual Roland Batten Lecture, a series created in honor of our friend and colleague, architect Roland Batten who passed away in 1999.  This  event is sponsored by the Roland Batten Memorial Fund, TruexCullins, and the University of Vermont's Visiting Artists, Art Critics and Art Historians Lecture Series.  Hope to see you there! 

Energy Use in a Net Zero Home

posted by Lee Grutchfield, AIA

When I am talking to people about the idea of a “net-zero” home, I will sometimes say that we are now able to build houses that use no energy.  In reality, it is more appropriate to say that the houses create as much energy as they use over the course of the year. This is done by harvesting the sun’s energy, through the use of photovoltaic and solar hot water systems, as well as passive solar heat gained through south facing glass.  Often the next question will be, “How much energy can I use, and still have a net zero house?”

While there is no set answer to that question, I thought I would share a case study from a recently completed home in the South Farms development in Hinesburg, Vermont.  The house has approximately 1,800 square feet of heated living space, and utilizes a geothermal well for primary heat, with wood stove back up.

Energy use projection in kWhrs/yr: 

Refridgerator 383
Dishwasher 82

Microwave 50
Clothes Washer 153
Clothes Dryer 104
TV 50
Computer 20
Stereo 20
Lights 250
Garage Door Opener 50
Water Well Pump 100
Heat Recovery Ventilation 220
Central Vac 60
Domestic Hot Water 400
Phantom loads 100
Heat Pump 1,800

Total Load 3,842 kWhrs/yr

Energy production from PV panels generate 4,352 watts, which will give a total gain of 4,787 kWhrs/yr.

In this scenario the local power company will owe the owner $179.00 at the end of the year for excess power that is fed into the utility grid.

Vermont Foodbank's Kingsbury Farm – Part II

posted by David Epstein, AIA, LEED AP

As mentioned in the last post, Phase I of the Kingsbury Farm project is the renovation of the garage into the center of agricultural operations. Due to a generous grant from Jane's Trust, that work is underway and should be complete this October.  The next phase includes the renovation of the house into office space, reception area and farm residence. Guided by the master plan, Yestermorrow is assisting the Vermont Foodbank, using the smaller scale house renovation needs for their design-build class projects.

The final phase involves the transformation of the historic gambrel barn into a community education center. The center will include an exhibit space, gathering space and community kitchen, all open to the exposed structure of the barn.  The focus of the center will be on education about hunger, food and agricultural issues.  The Foodbank envisions the barn project as a community resource, planned and funded with the strong coalition of community groups that initially joined forces to save the farm. 
The priority now is to make the farm operational and to produce food for needy Vermonters.  The education center is a longer term project, the success of  which will depend on the support of local community organizations, foundations and generous Vermonters. 

Vermont Foodbank's Kingsbury Farm - Part I

posted by David Epstein, AIA, LEED AP

As a board member of the Vermont Foodbank (VFB), I have been continually impressed with the innovative approaches taken by VFB to solve the hunger problem.  It's not just about gathering and sharing food anymore, and part of the Foodbank’s approach is to nurture partnerships that promote positive change and education about hunger issues.
It was in this spirit that VFB acquired the Kingsbury Farm in Warren, Vermont. The Vermont Land Trust, working with a group of local community organizations, bought the farm with the goal of preserving the agricultural land and historic structures for community use and protecting the river while providing public access. They found the perfect buyer.  The Vermont Foodbank stepped forward to purchase the farm to grow fresh produce for its network partners and as a community resource to educate the public about hunger issues in Vermont,
the value of nutrition, and local sustainable agriculture.

TruexCullins has been privileged to help VFB with master planning services for the Kingsbury Farm, helping the Foodbank and its partners define a vision for the farm as it evolves. Phase I includes the renovation of the garage into the center of agricultural operations for the farm. Phase II and III (blog post) coming soon!