270 Centre was featured on Radio Boston today on HUD cuts challenging innovative public housing projects

Thinking About Universal Design

Studio G designs projects to be barrier-free, but our real goal is ‘universal design,’ that is, design that takes into account the variety of people’s physical abilities and limitations as we design buildings, interiors, and urban spaces. Why is universal design so important?  Because physical ability is not a static condition.  Over the course of our lives, our ability to maneuver and function in space changes drastically: from a toddling one year old, to a parent pushing a stroller, to a high school athlete on crutches, to a senior whose hearing, or sight, or mobility is deteriorating.  Universal design is based on consideration of the variety of abilities of those who use a place, not solely the specific regulations of accessibility.

I’ve been thinking about universal design because of recent experience. A potential client recently told me that the owner of the building they were moving into had informed them no ramp would be necessary to mitigate a one-step level change at their main entry, because they had a back door with no step.  I had to explain this would not be acceptable under accessibility regulations—a view that was not well-received and may have cost us the project.  The fact is, even if the condition had met the technical requirements of accessibility regulations, it would be bad design practice, and a potential hazard to visitors.   

I know from personal experience.  I attended an event at Greenberg Traurig, an international law firm whose Boston office is in International Place. The event was held in a space called the greenhouse room, a lovely space for public events, with floor to ceiling windows on three walls, opening onto a landscaped roof, with views beyond of the city.  The room has a major problem: there is a single, rather high step into the room at the main doorway to which visitors are directed. At several previous events, a person stood by the door and warned people to watch their step.  On this occasion, as I walked out, nobody issued a warning, I didn’t remember the step down, and I fell off the step and out the door—fracturing a vertebra. In the following weeks lying in bed, and the many months wearing a brace afterwards, I had plenty of time to contemplate how short a time it takes to get injured, how much time it takes to recover.  While we cannot design away all injuries, thoughtful design, code compliance, and attention to the principles of universal design can prevent injuries, as well as improve the functionality of buildings for the broadest spectrum of citizens.  

2011: Year in Review

As 2011 draws to a close, I’ve been thinking about how to characterize this year.  It’s been a good year for Studio G:  we’ve been constantly busy on a variety of projects; we’ve engaged clients in fruitful and enjoyable collaborations; we’ve hired a new staff member who fit seamlessly into our studio; we’ve continued to build our design expertise in sustainability and 21^st century learning environments; and we’ve begun integrating Building Informational Modeling into our projects. 

Diversity rather than specialization

For the past 3 years, we have been in the most competitive period I have experienced in the 20 years since starting my own design studio.  It forces me to reflect on why we win the projects we do, and lose some I think we should have won.  Sometimes it is because another firm has a longer list of a certain type of building.  I could wish we had the longest list of each type of project.  However, from the start, we have resisted being pigeon-holed into a single specialization. 

We have eschewed the notion that we were “child care architects” or “housing architects” preferring instead a practice that is deep in its understanding of people’s spatial needs in a variety of settings, and broad in its portfolio of completed projects. Not only do we bring fresh thinking to each design, and research each new type of building, but we apply to each project what we’ve learned from other, often different types, of buildings. We like to repeat building types, but appreciate that variety in our projects prevents us from getting stale. 

Highlights of our diverse 2011 projects:

·         270 Centre Street residents moved into healthy, sustainable dwelling units, and the new restaurant, laundry and hair salon will all be operating by early 2012 in prime commercial space at the nexus of Hyde and Jackson Squares.

·         MIT Technology Children’s Center at North Court was designed and construction completed 

·         Beverly Housing Authority completed renovations we designed of their offices and the common spaces of Upton Place

·         Ebenezer Baptist Church, an historic landmark in Boston’s South End, finished the renovations we designed of  their social hall, offices and kitchen

·         Somerville Community Corp. completed construction of the new natural play yard we designed for St. Polycarps mixed use development

·         Construction began of the new 400-student Sturgis Public Charter High School in Hyannis

·         We designed a new intergenerational child care center, now under construction, for Jewish Community Centers of the North Shore in Aviv Centers for Living-Woodbridge in Peabody

·         The Town of Rockland selected Studio G to design the new Rockland Senior Center, and secured funding to complete bid documents by spring, 2012

·         We completed studies for DCAM of the Eastern Mass. Women’s Correctional Facility, Shattuck Hospital Personnel Building, and Dukes County Sheriff’s Department

·         We developed a master plan for Innovation Academy Charter School’s 200-acre site in Tyngsborough

·         BLS Youth CAN; Jim Hunt, Boston’s Chief of Environment and Energy; and I presented at the annual Les Respirations Conference outside Paris:  Jim on the city’s sustainability efforts, Youth CAN on their organizing work; and I on the design of The Shared Green Roof @ BLS

Design for the public good
An annual reflection demands a look at the broader context, which is not nearly so positive. The design and construction industry remains deflated, despite obvious need for design and construction services for the public good:

·         1300 households applying for 30 affordable housing units at our 270 Centre Street project is just one indication of the demand for affordable housing, yet little is being built for lack of funding

·         Every public school I visit needs renovation, if not replacement; there is widespread agreement that education is key to a prosperous future, yet funding is unavailable to address the facility needs

·         Our urban and regional infrastructure is in desperate need of maintenance, and public transit in need of expansion, but funding is not available

The list of needs goes on, and the explanation of why they are unmet is always the same:  lack of money. Yet there is plenty of money in the economy; it just isn’t directed to meet these needs.  Starving the public sector of funds, popular among conservatives, is a short-sighted and ill-conceived strategy: it affects poor people first and hardest, but ultimately short-changes us all. 

We can only hope that 2012 will bring a longer perspective and more progressive approach to meeting the needs of our communities in the 21^st century.

Groundbreaking Ceremony kicks off Construction of new Sturgis Charter Public School in Hyannis, MA

A groundbreaking ceremony was held on Friday, December 16 marking the beginning of construction of a new West Main Street campus for Sturgis Charter Public School in Hyannis, MA.   Studio G Architects, General Contractor, J.K. Scanlan Company, along with members of the Board of Trustees, school leaders and Sturgis West students were all in attendance.  

The new 42,000 square foot, two story,  $10.5 million school is located on a 6 acre site behind the new Stop & Shop gas station on West Main Street.   The new school will serve approximately 400 students in grades nine through 12, according to Executive Director  Eric Hieser.   Mr. Hieser stated the addition of the new Sturgis West campus along will the existing Sturgis East Campus will increase the opportunity for placement for students who apply through the school's existing lottery system.   The project is scheduled to be complete by the end of July, 2012.

Studio G designs MIT’s newest child care classroom

This week, MIT opened a new child care space designed by Studio G Architects in Building 68 (the Biology Building). The design provides a daylit space with healthy, low VOC finishes and materials. Lively colors create an active, engaging environment for infants and toddlers.
For photos of the space, see http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2011/tcc-classroom-slideshow.html

Renovations complete for BHA's new office

Funded by DHCD and HUD, Studio G Architects has completed interior renovations to the offices of Beverly Housing Authority and common spaces in Upton Place Senior Housing. Revisions include the office entrance and layout, replacement of mechanical systems, and new furnishes and lighting. Green elements include: low VOC finishes, rapidly renewable materials, non-ozone depleting refrigerate in the air conditioning system, heat recovery units on air ventilation and cooling systems, pollutant source control measures, recycled content materials, occupancy sensors, Energy Star products, water efficient fixtures, and all offices and meeting rooms have view outdoors and access to daylight and fresh air through operable windows. 

Studio G & BLS YouthCAN goes to France

I never had a fieldtrip like this when I was in high school!  

I am part of a  delegation representing Studio G and Youth CAN, invited to present the Boston Latin School Sustainable Roofscape Community Learning Center at Respirations2011, a conference at Enghiens Les-Bains, France this week.  The annual conference began with a focus on climate change, but I understand it has expanded to encompass sustainability more broadly.  Three high school seniors; their faculty advisor; Jim Hunt, Boston's Environment and Energy chief; and I are all presenting on Friday.  Our week in Paris includes a number of other events, as well as a chance to see the city, and some of its best green architecture.  We're on our way.  More to come. 

Gail Sullivan, Principal, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP

City, state and federal officials join development team and residents in celebrating 270 Centre Street's opening

Jamaica Plain - Last week, HUD Regional Director Barbara Fields, Boston Neighborhood Development Director Evelyn Friedman, State Representative Jeff Sanchez, and City Councilor Matt O'Malley joined residents, business leaders, and Studio G in celebrating the formal opening of 270 Centre Street. Click to read more >>>