AIA New England Conference & Design Awards

The American Institute of Architecture of New England (AIANE) will be hosting its 2012 Annual Conference in Burlington, Vermont. This is an excellent opportunity for architects from all over the region to exchange ideas, learn about current trends, tour beautifully designed buildings and meet other professionals in the field.

Tours will be given of buildings on college campuses, in historic downtown, on the waterfront. There will also be tours of net-zero houses.

Patricia Patkau, from Patkau Architects in Vancouver, British Columbia, will be the keynote speaker. The theme of the conference is "Design of Place". Patkau will present on how design can be responsive to the site, climate, culture and programs.

For more information visit AIA Conference Vermont

A Shaggy Dog Story: The Roland Batten Memorial Lecture 2012

Once again TruexCullins is pleased to be supporting the annual Roland Batten Memorial Lecture on Architecture and Design. This year's event will be held this Wednesday, October 17 at 6:00 pm at 301 Williams Hall on the University of Vermont Campus.  All are welcome to attend.

The guest speaker this year is Architect Louis Mannie Lionni, who will be giving a lecture on the story of our hometown of Burlington, Vermont.  "Heresies: Cultural Criticism in the Context of the Commercialization, Privatization and Militarization of a Small New England City.  A Shaggy Dog Story."

Louis Mannie Lionni is the Editor and Publisher of 05401, a small town magazine that is "committed to promoting an integrative, multidisciplinary dialogue in the public realm."

In Lionni's Own Words:

Architecture can be thought of as a sub-set of the great synthesizing categories: art, science, politics, sociology, philosophy. But architecture, in its built form, ultimately gives material being to all of these, and preserves and expresses their conflicts and contradictions over time.

Architectural criticism attempts to describe the relationship of the built environment to the existential environment. In formal terms ; in functional terms.

The subject of architectural criticism can range from the structure of poetry to the poetry of structure, from graphic design to urban and regional planning.

05401 ostensibly deals with architecture, planning, food and romance in Burlington, Vermont, on the east coast of Lake Champlain. The thing about it is that I often meet friends who tell me how much they enjoyed (liked) the most recent issue and then ask me without a trace of sarcasm what it’s about. I find that puzzling.

In any case, it would be irresponsible to overlook – in this context – the militarization of our environment, its privatization and commercialization, the F35 controversy and PlanBTV.

The lecture and reception are sponsored by the Roland Batten Memorial Fund, TruexCullins Architecture & Interior Design, and The University of Vermont’s Visiting Artists, Art Critics and Art Historian’s Lecture Series. The events are free and open to the public.

For more information call the UVM Art Department, 802-656-2014.

Digital Crayon: Article 1 - Musings on School Design

posted by TruexCullins Architect and Principal David Epstein, AIA, LEED AP

Welcome to the first entry of Digital Crayon, a series on school planning and design. My goal with this series is to share with you some of the insights learned in our Education Studio and throughout my career.

By way of introduction, I am a partner here at TruexCullins and co-lead our Education Studio with fellow partner Richard Deane. Richard's area of expertise is higher education design. My specialty is K-12 school design. I am passionate about the interrelationship between school design and the “new” 21st century learning paradigm. As I often joke with my clients, I know enough about education to be dangerous, but please don’t expect a scholarly discourse – this will be more of a conversation. I welcome your feedback as well. So let’s get started. This is always the hardest part – getting started (with this blog too!).

It helps to have a strategic plan. Ideally a facility project grows out of a long term strategic direction for your school. Often, however, that is not the case. Sometimes projects are the result of growth and a response is needed – no time for a strategic plan.

There are two main kinds of projects: master planning and design. Master Planning projects look at an entire facility and create a roadmap for improvements over a five to ten year period. Once master planning is completed, a school may elect to implement phase I of the master plan. This is the point where the design project begins. Or if you have a specific need – like a new library – you can often proceed directly with a design project. The difference is really how broad a view of your facilities you would like to address. If it is the whole campus, then a master plan makes the most sense.
 

The first thing you need to do is define the project as best you can and hire an architect. Some schools have ongoing relationships with an architect; others issue a Request for Proposals (RFP). In either case, it always best to be as specific as you can be so that the proposal accurately reflect an appropriate scope of work. We have lots of examples of RFPs (good and bad) which we can share, just email me at David Epstein.

The standard process is to invite several qualified architects, review their proposals and create a short list of three to four finalists for interviews. For international projects, the interviews are often done on Skype. Sometimes there is design work requested, sometimes not. As an architect, we always hope that the level of effort requested is commensurate with the opportunity.

It is really important to find a consultant that’s a good fit – someone not only with the expertise you need, but someone you have good chemistry with. After all, you may be working with them for quite a while. Good planning sets the table for a successful project and planning and design costs are minor compared with building and operating costs so we recommend focusing on the fit and getting the leadership, creativity and expertise with a firm you will enjoy working with.

Next Digital Crayon - Article 2, The Planning Process

Church Street Storytellers

Those of us who live and work in the Burlington area may take for granted the lively commercial and cultural activity of the downtown Church Street Marketplace, the artistic and economic heart of the city. But have you ever wondered just how this pedestrian–only area of 4 city blocks came to be?

The Marketplace officially opened in 1981. In conjunction with its 30 year anniversary, the Church Street Marketplace Association recently released a series of 4 documentary videos with interviews of the key people who worked to turn this crazy idea into a reality.

At the center of this group of individuals was Bill Truex, Principal Emeritus of TruexCullins and the architect of the initial marketplace design.

Part 1 takes a look at what initially inspired the founders of the Church Street Marketplace. Bill Truex is joined by Pat Robins, the chair of the Church Street Marketplace Commission, U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy, former Burlington mayor Peter Clavelle, Ernie Pomerleau of Pomerleau Real Estate, and many others who were instrumental in developing the initial concepts.

Part 2 describes how the idea for closing the street evolved and the early tests that made it happen. The video features Bill Truex and Pat Robins, the chair of the Church Street Marketplace Commission, who talk about the early experiments with closing the street in the 1970s. Some of the first special events that experimented with closing the street to automobiles included arts and crafts festivals. These events were a big success and were instrumental in paving the way for permanently closing the street a few years later.

Part 3 tells the story of the investment and construction. The construction of the pedestrian marketplace was a major disruption to the downtown businesses at the time, but with perseverance and creative thinking, the merchants and customers made the best of a difficult situation. This is the story of a successfully managed project in the middle of perhaps the busiest commercial block in the state!

And the 4th and final video talks about the role of the Church Street marketplace today. 30 years after its initial construction, this is an area that has become an arts and cultural destination, an economic engine for the city (and the state), and an award-winning example of great urban design, one of the 10 Great Public Spaces in America according to the American Planning Association.

 

You can see more photos of the drawings, models and demonstration projects from the 1970s in this blog post we published last year.

Anglo American School of Sofia nearing completion

Written by Principal David Epstein, AIA, LEED AP

On a recent trip to Bulgaria, Diantha Korzun was able to check in on the construction of one of our current higher-ed projects, the Anglo American School of Sofia.  TruexCullins has been working with the school to develop a master plan, growing the school from 350 to 650 students.

The school serves middle school and high school students and the new facilities include classrooms, sports facilities and a performing arts complex, including a new outdoor amphitheater.  The design allows each section to be built independently, fosters the creation of smaller learning communities within a larger school, and minimizes disruption to ongoing operations.

When working on international projects, we take special care to listen to our clients and design spaces that are appropriate to each locale and culture.  On this project, we have had a wonderful working relationship with the local architecture firm Ivo Petrov Architects.  TruexCullins has been providing Design Guardianship with Ivo Petrov Architects acting as the local architect of record.

The facilities are nearing completion and will officially open for the start of the 2012-2013 school year.

 

TruexCullins wins Design Competition for Brazil School

We are pleased to announce another exciting project has just been awarded to the international practice team of our Education Studio. In competition with 3 international design firms, TruexCullins won the contract for Master Planning for the Escola Americana de Campinas (EAC).  In their decision, the selection team cited TruexCullins' strong green credentials as a significant factor.

Campinas is a city of 1 million people located just north of Sao Paolo, Brazil. The EAC is a K-12 school that currently serves 650 students and is growing rapidly. TruexCullins will be assisting EAC assess their educational, functional and environmental needs as it plans for the future.

The proposed design that TruexCullins submitted for the new EAC green campus center was an environmentally sensitive approach with earth-bermed spaces, shading elements and green roofs.

Here are a few views of the existing facility, located on the site of a former coffee plantation:

4 Currier Place grabs LEED Silver

Another TruexCullins project has achieved LEED status!  This time, it is 4 Currier Place, a 35,000 square foot mixed-use commercial building in Hanover, New Hampshire.  This project, built for Dartmouth College Real Estate, has achieved LEED Silver certification for Core & Shell construction by the USGBC.

4 Currier Place is a three-story core & shell development that was built as the first phase of the Sargent Block redevelopment masterplan in downtown Hanover. Sustainable design goals were established early in the design process so that sensible and cost effective green strategies could be employed. The project is now a model for resource efficient, high performance commercial buildings in the region.

From the very beginning of the project, green goals were identified by the owner as a priority for this commercial development.  LEED certification was pursued because this rating system provides a comprehensive checklist for green objectives as well as third party verification that the design is being implemented correctly.

 4 Currier Place achieves a high level of energy efficiency through a number of methods:

• The building features a high-performance exterior envelope to minimize heat transfer and therefore reduce electrical and fuel demand.
• Daylighting and views are maximized while sun control devices are used to control solar gain and glare. Light fixtures are dimmable in response to daylight conditions, and occupancy sensors are used that turn off the lights when the spaces are not in use.
• Innovative mechanical systems are used to minimize energy consumption, including heating, cooling, and ventilation systems.
• Water conservation strategies are employed throughout the building and the surrounding site. Plumbing fixtures are highly efficient to conserve water, and the landscaping incorporates native species that require little or no irrigation.

Other aspects of the design also contributed to its LEED Silver certification:

• The project provides for the health and comfort of its occupants through the use of non-toxic materials and finishes, excellent ventilation, appropriate daylighting and views, and proper acoustical separation of spaces. Indoor climate control provides a comfortable working environment in all seasons, although extreme cooling in summer is not required.
• The project utilizes resource-efficient materials. Not only were durable materials employed, but also materials that require minimal energy to produce and maintain. Many materials were produced locally or regionally, and many have a high-recycled content.
• And what may be the simplest but most important green aspect of 4 Currier Place:  the project is attractive and durable so that it will be around for many generations to come. A well-designed building is a good neighbor to the existing buildings around it and makes a positive contribution to the downtown fabric of Hanover, New Hampshire.

Creating Sustainable Communities

The Vermont AIA is teaming up with the Vermont chapter of the Construction Specifications Institute to present a one-day symposium on the future of the state’s built environment.  “Designed in Vermont: Creating Communities that Flourish in the 21^st Century” is a full-day event that will bring together architects, policy makers, engineers, developers, landscape architects, and allied manufacturers to explore how best to develop sustainable communities in our state.

The day will begin with a keynote presentation by Michael Tavel, AIA, of Michael Tavel Architects in Denver, Colorado.  Tavel is an architect and urban designer specializing in sustainable urban neighborhoods, and his talk, “Sustainable Communities: Paradigms and Paradox,” will be an overview of many of the often competing paradigms of sustainable communities and sustainable land use.  Tavel will present national and international examples that frame the issues facing Vermont within the context of current global practice and discourse on sustainable communities and sustainable land use.

Following the keynote will be 4 additional sessions, each with 2 concurrent workshops exploring various aspects of sustainable building and land use.  One of these will be presented by Rolf Kielman:

Making Good Towns in Norway, Switzerland and Vermont.  Vermont’s varied terrain is similar to that of Norway and Switzerland.  Sloped landscapes; deep, watery cuts in dramatic valleys; and the form of our farmsteads are terrain characteristics that have contributed to the shape of towns and villages in these regions.  This session explores how the land has formed the architecture of buildings and public spaces and how we as architects and planners can advance the art of making good towns.

The full-day symposium takes place at Shelburne Farms, and has been approved for 5.5 AIA learning units.  The fee for the event is $125 for members of AIA-Vermont or CSI-Vermont; $175 for non-members.  More information is available at www.csivermont.org/green.htm, including a full program brochure.  Online registration is open until May 19.

Flashback Friday: the Church Street Marketplace

Today we are opening the archives to share some projects from the very early days of TruexCullins.  For this first ‘Flashback Friday’, we dug out some vintage photos from the making of the Church Street Marketplace.

This summer marks the 40-year anniversary of the first demonstration project on Church Street, when, in 1971, the busy street was temporarily closed to traffic to test the feasibility of a new pedestrian core for Burlington’s downtown.  The project was the brainchild of Bill Truex and a small group of Burlington’s civic leaders, and the success of the event led to the active planning and design of the project over the following decade.

Bill developed the first design concept in 1975.  A two-level scheme was considered in 1978, with open courtyards and bridges connecting two levels of outdoor retail space.

As originally conceived, the Church Street Marketplace was to be a four block pedestrian space anchored at the south end by City Hall and City Hall Park and at the north end by an iconic, early 1800’s Unitarian Church. The four blocks were the heart of commercial Burlington, with a diverse array of shops and second floor offices and apartments. The initial phase closed vehicular traffic for only the center two blocks, but the success of the space ultimately resulted in the closing of the north and south blocks as well. Several new parking structures were planned in conjunction with the Marketplace, and the transit loop provided public transportation to the center of Burlington.

Substantial completion of the marketplace occurred in 1981.  Today, 30 years later, the Marketplace continues as the civic and commercial center of Burlington. 

It is not without some irony that today we also celebrate the 41^st annual Earth Day.  While not explicitly an “environmental” project, the Marketplace is in actuality a fine example of environmentally sound design practices.  The space has effectively reinforced the public realm of the city and functions as an extremely active space day and night, throughout the year. Pedestrian traffic and amenities have been established, encouraging citizens, students and visitors to forgo their vehicles and move about on foot and by bicycle. The space is accessible to those in wheelchairs and children are free to roam and play amongst the rocks and seating areas.

In 1997, the National Trust for Historic Preservation granted its Great American Main Street Award to the Church Street Marketplace, and in 2008, the Marketplace was honored by the American Planning Association as one of the 10 Great Public Spaces in America.  Bill Truex’s vision for the project lives on, with its positive impact on the environment of our city.

A Terrific Article About the Vermont Foodbank's Kingsbury Farm

Please take a moment ot read this wonderful article about Kingsbury Farm in a recent issue of Seven Days.  You may recall two blog posts from last year written by David Epstein, who is on the Board of the Vermont Foodbank http://truexcullins.blogspot.com/2009/10/vermont-foodbanks-kingsbury-farm-part-i.html and http://truexcullins.blogspot.com/2009/10/vermont-foodbanks-kingsbury-farm-part.html.  David has been involved with the Kingsbury Farm project providing master planning and architectural design services.

Banking on Fresh

A pioneering partnership brings local produce to Mad River Valley food banks
By Lauren Ober 10.06.10, Photo: Jeb Wallace-Brodeur of Nancy Smith

 

Wednesdays this summer and fall have been like Christmas at the Kingsbury Market Garden in Warren. That’s when volunteers from area food shelves come to pick up their cases of fresh produce. The bounty can sometimes be overwhelming — on a recent Wednesday, for instance, when the selection makes Ruth Haskins of the Duxbury Elf’s Shelf squeal.

 

“What do we have today?” she asks farmer Aaron Locker as he carries bins of vegetables to her car.  Locker ticks off a list of produce: russet potatoes, carrots, cauliflower, broccoli, onions.  “Oooh, yes!” Haskins says, her face lighting up.

 

The 178 families her food shelf serves will be thrilled — Locker’s broccoli has been a huge hit with Haskins’ clients. They can’t get enough of it, she says.

 

If it seems unusual for food-shelf staff to be picking up produce from a local farm much as CSA members collect their weekly allotments, that’s because it is. Most food shelves get their food from federal commodities programs and donations from individuals and businesses. When they offer fresh produce, it often comes from gleaning — collecting leftover crops from farmers’ fields.

 

The Kingsbury Farm and the 10 food shelves and meal sites of the Mad River Valley have forged a unique partnership in its inaugural year. They’ve teamed up to give families who are at risk for hunger or experiencing it access to fresh produce every week during the growing season. Their link: the Vermont Foodbank.

 

Read more...

VSAC Building Earns ENERGY STAR®

The Vermont Student Assistance Corporation (VSAC) recently earned the EnergyStar Rating for its facility designed by TruexCullins. 

The following is from the VSAC newsline:

"WINOOSKI — The Vermont Student Assistance Corporation office building, completed in 2005 as a key element of Winooski’s downtown revitalization, has earned the prestigious ENERGY STAR given to facilities ranking in the top 25 percent nationally for energy efficiency.

The VSAC building uses sensors to measure natural light and minimize use of electrical lighting; high-efficiency heating, cooling, and ventilating systems; and equipment and appliance shutdown policies that limit energy use during non-business hours. VSAC was assisted in its efforts by the staff of Hallam-ICS of South Burlington and Efficiency Vermont.

The ENERGY STAR rating is conferred by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Buildings earning the rating use an average of 35 percent less energy, and release 35 percent less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, than typical buildings."

Completed in 2005, TruexCullins' Workplace Studio designed this new office building for VSAC in the historic downtown center of Winooski, Vermont.  Green design features were incorporated to maximize comfort and reduce energy costs.

 

This project was a key part of the first phase of construction of the ambitious downtown revitalization project spearheaded by the Winooski Community Development Corporation, and master planned by TruexCullins in collaboration with landscape architect H. Keith Wagner Partnership.

 

Photos by: Jim Westphalen

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!