Epstein Promoted to Managing Partner of TruexCullins

Principal David Epstein, AIA, of Shelburne has been promoted to managing partner of TruexCullins Architecture and Interior Design.

In 1997, Epstein joined TruexCullins. He co-leads the Education Studio, and is an expert in K-12 and international school design. He has 24 years of experience as a registered architect - creating master plans and providing architectural services for schools around the world. His projects are in over 13 countries including: Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Romania, Russia, and Ethiopia. He also presents and writes about 21st Century school design.

Epstein earned his bachelor of Architecture from Virginia Polytechnic and State University College of Architecture, Urban Studies.

Community engagement and making a difference are important to Epstein and the firm. He serves on the Board of Directors for Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility (VBSR), The Vermont Food Bank and the Town of Shelburne Historic Preservation and Design Advisory Committee.

Epstein writes a school-design blog series call the Digital Crayon.

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...

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!