Fighting Climate Change in Vermont, One Net-Zero House at a Time

We are in the middle of one of the warmest winters in memory, with a noticeable lack of snow. Many are still cleaning up from Tropical Storm Irene, which hit a state not used to dealing with hurricanes and flash floods. As these examples of extreme weather events grow more common, fewer people are doubting that climate change is affecting Vermont in very real, measurable ways.

A new exhibit is now open at the ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center that explores the impact of climate change in New England. Seasons of Change: Global Warming in Your Backyard is an interactive travelling exhibit that will be at ECHO until March 25, 2012.

You may think you know what to expect with global warming, but this exhibit will open your eyes to much more. Developed by members of the New England Science Center Collaborative and Brown University, Seasons of Change looks at how climate change is affecting things in Vermont like invasive species, foliage, maple products, fishing and more.

This is a daunting challenge, but we are rising up to meet it.

This week we will be attending the Better Buildings by Design conference, an annual event hosted by Efficiency Vermont that brings together architects, engineers and builders for 2 full days of interactive learning about building efficiency. Global warming is often thought of as the result of pollution from cars and power plants, but buildings are actually an equal culprit. Nationwide, buildings are responsible for one third of all greenhouse gas emissions, equal to that of transportation and industry.

At Truexcullins, we are working for a better climate future by designing net-zero energy buildings. These buildings produce as much energy as they use. By intelligently managing the energy demands and eliminating the need for fossil fuels, we can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and slow the spread of global warming.

One of our recent green homes will be recognized with an award from Efficiency Vermont at this week's conference. This net-zero energy home in Calais, Vermont will be receiving the award for Best of the Best in Energy-Efficient Residential New Construction. TruexCullins Principal Lee Grutchfield was the architect on the project, with general contractor Hobie Guion and energy consultant Andy Shapiro of Energy Balance, Inc.

 

Congratulations to the entire project team!  We have more of these projects in the works, and we look forward to working with all of our colleagues and consultants to develop net-zero energy buildings that help to solve our climate challenges. 

Fire and Ice at Hotel Vermont

You may have seen our magazine ads, or perhaps you've heard us mentioned on the radio. But this weekend, we tried out a new marketing approach. We are advertising in ice:

This is actually one of the ice sculptures from this weekend's Hotel Vermont Ice Bar, which was held at the future site of Burlington's most anticipated new hotel.

TruexCullins was one of the sponsors of the event, which entitled us to our own piece of frozen art. The theme for our modest sculpture was "fire and ice", a reference to the future bar and lounge space in the new Hotel Vermont. You see, once the hotel is open, you will be able to enjoy your own Vermont-crafted cocktail – on ice – while you cozy up to a wood-burning fireplace. Our Interior Design team is busy working out the details, selecting Vermont materials and products to finish off the space.

But this weekend was a time to celebrate winter in Vermont. You can find more photos from the Ice Bar event on the Hotel Vermont facebook page.

Diantha Korzun named 2012 AIA VT President

Diantha Korzun, an architect here at TruexCullins, has recently accepted the position of President of the Vermont Chapter of the American Institute of Architects.

Diantha will serve as President of the Vermont AIA for a one-year term, sitting alongside her colleagues on the Board of Directors. These are all volunteer positions, and we very much appreciate the time they all give to support the architectural profession in our state!

Diantha is a key member of the TruexCullins Education Studio with a strong focus on sustainable design. She has successfully managed many educational projects throughout her career, including several international school projects with TruexCullins. She has expertise with the LEED Green Building Rating System, and has served as coordinator for the certification process on workplace and education projects. Diantha is currently managing the expansion of the King Arthur Flour campus in Norwich, and the addition to the Anglo American School of Sofia in Bulgaria, which is pursuing LEED Silver certification.

The biggest event for AIA Vermont this year will be the AIA New England conference and design awards, to be held October 17-19 at the Hilton Hotel in Burlington. This annual conference rotates among the six New England states (7 AIA components since Boston and Western Mass are separate), and 2012 is the year that it will be coming to Vermont. The conference will feature educational workshops, guest speakers, and some insightful tours of area architectural gems. The theme for this year's AIANE conference is "Design for Place," a place-oriented design response to the site, climate, culture and program. The keynote speaker will be Patricia Patkau of Patkau Architects in Vancouver, British Columbia. (see www.patkau.ca/). Likewise, the jury for the AIA New England design awards will be comprised of Vancouver architects, led by Patricia Patkau.

Check back here for more info about the AIANE conference as it gets closer to the date. In the meantime, it looks like it will be an exciting year for AIA Vermont, and we send our congratulations (and appreciation!) to Diantha for stepping up to serve!

TruexCullins awarded International Planning Project

We are proud to announce that the TruexCullins Education Studio has been awarded the contract for Master Planning at the St. John's International School in Waterloo, Belgium. Competing against top firms from around the world, the TruexCullins team was selected for their expertise in sustainable solutions in school design.

Since 2006, the international practice team at TruexCullins has been working with international schools all over the world, including Russia, Ethiopia and Brazil. At the Anglo-American School of Sofia, Bulgaria, an 80,000 square foot addition designed by TruexCullins is slated to receive LEED Green Building Rating System silver certification in August 2012.

Join us at the Hotel Vermont Ice Bar

Now that winter has arrived in full force, we are getting ready for the biggest event of the season here in our hometown: the Burlington Winter Festival, coming up on Saturday February 4th. Highlights include a snow-carving competition, the family expo at the ECHO center, and the adrenaline-pumping Penguin Plunge.

But the newest event this year at the Winter Festival is being hosted by our friends at the Hotel Vermont (one of our current projects). This would be the Hotel Vermont ICE BAR. Held outside the Courtyard Marriott at 25 Cherry Street, site of the future Hotel Vermont, the Ice Bar is a unique experience with impressive ice sculptures, great food, and Vermont crafted cocktails.

The Ice Bar will be open for two nights, February 3rd and 4th, from 6 to 9pm. Tickets are needed in advance and cost $20 per person. You know you want to go, so head over to this site and buy your tickets now.

This will be a new experience for Burlington, but there have been plenty of successful Ice Bar events in some of our neighboring cities. Last year the event was held at another TruexCullins project: the Portland Harbor Hotel in Portland, Maine. Check out the scene at the Portland Ice Bar from 2010:

Grutchfield and Nelson Rise to New Leadership Positions

We are pleased to announce our newest staff promotions.

Lee Grutchfield, AIA, of Marshfield has been named the newest Principal at TruexCullins. Lee joined TruexCullins in 2000 and now leads the firm’s Home Studio. He has over 30 years of experience working on a wide range of projects in Vermont and San Francisco. After first working for 14 years as a builder, Lee has continued to pursue his passion for building design and construction as an award-winning architect. Lee’s recent projects include South Farm Homes, a development of six net-zero energy homes located in Hinesburg, Vermont, and six other net-zero and low-energy homes located throughout Vermont and New York.

Keith Nelson, LEED AP, of Underhill Center has also been named an Associate in the firm. Keith joined TruexCullins in 2002 and has over 15 years of experience in commercial and residential architecture, as well as in interior architectural design. As project manager and designer at TruexCullins, Keith’s noted work includes 4 Currier Place, a LEED Silver certified building, and the La Bella Vita Restaurant and Spa at the Samoset Resort in Rockport, Maine. Current projects include the West Street Hotel in Bar Harbor, Maine and a new guest wing at the Topnotch Resort in Stowe, Vermont.

Lee and Keith are joining Principals Rolf Kielman, David Epstein, Richard Deane, Kim Deetjen, Robert “Sparky” Millikin and associate, Matthew Bushey, as the leadership team at TruexCullins. Congratulations to Lee and Keith!

Sarah Cullins at First Night 2012

TruexCullins is proud once again to be a sponsor of First Night Burlington.  This year, we are sponsoring a performance by soloist Sarah Cullins, daughter of TruexCullins Principal Emeritus Tom Cullins.

From the First Night program:

Burlington-native soprano Sarah Cullins is joined by Colombian guitarist Daniel Gaviria and Dutch pianist Annemieke Spoelstra for a program of songs by Colombian composer Jaime León. León’s songs combine Broadway-style melodies, virtuosic accompaniment and Colombian folkloric rhythms, and in this concert audiences of all ages will enjoy spirited songs written for children and arranged for voice and guitar, as well as beautiful works for voice and piano frequently performed in concert halls throughout Latin America.

After graduating from New England Conservatory of Music and doing post-graduate work at Mannes College of Music, Sarah Cullins moved to Bogotá, Colombia where she designed and currently heads the voice department at the Universidad Central. She is a frequent soloist with the Colombian National Symphony Orchestra as well as the Bogotá and Medellín Philharmonic Orchestras.

Daniel Gaviria is an up-an-coming classical and latin guitarist who has won several important competitions in Colombia and has participated in the Mannes Guitar Festival. He is also a member of the Vitart Guitar Trio. Pianist Annemieke Spoelstra is well-known to Vermont audiences for her many solo and chamber music concerts (more information about Annemieke can be found in her solo First Night concert listing).

 

Sarah will be performing at 6:00 at the First Baptist Church, site #10 on your First Night map.  Be sure to check out this and many of the other performances during First Night, a festival of wonderful arts events for all ages.  Happy New Year!