now + next | Issue 1 | 2014

ISSUE 1: 2014

now+next The return of the high rise Located at the confluence of Chinatown, the Financial District, and Downtown Crossing, The Kensington—the newest luxury highrise addition to the Boston skyline— officially opened in August 2013 after 12 years of planning. Today, the LEED Gold Certified tower stands as a testament that high-quality design, collaboration, and patience will deliver extraordinary results.

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Effective management of historic assets through creative reuse contributes to the economic well being of communities

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in real and meaningful ways.

Responsible for the award-winning adaptive reuse of 250+ historic properties throughout the northeast, The Architectural Team has partnered with clients to strategically and creatively convert a myriad of building types—from abandoned factories and trolley car barns to joinery shops and power plants—into new uses, such as multifamily, commercial space and biomedical labs. The firm believes that true sustainability begins with preservation. When derelict properties are re-envisioned and transformed, they become a springboard for economic development and financial vitality. Additionally, the social value of preservation builds stronger communities and creates a sense of place. Yesterday’s buildings solved yesterday’s problems. Given the opportunity, they can help solve many of today’s challenges by conserving resources, rebuilding the local tax base, and revitalizing entire neighborhoods.

Letter from Rochester: Attempting a Reboot. Mike Binette, AIA, Principal, speaks to Architectural Record about the adaptive reuse of The Sibley Building, a one-million square foot historic department store in Rochester, New York.

[Excerpt from article] Continuing efforts to revive Rochester, New York, after decades of decline, The Architectural Team (TAT) has embarked on a plan to transform a former department store into a mixed-use complex offering apartments, offices, and a rooftop garden. The $200 million plan, which is in partnership with the WinnCompanies, focuses on Sibley’s (Sibley, Lindsay & Curr Company), which was a much-loved retail fixture in the upstate city from around the Civil War until 1990. It’s a hopeful project for a city whose overall population dipped four percent from 2000 to 2010, according to city officials.

The Eastman Kodak film company, an influential Rochester corporation, declared bankruptcy in 2012, adding to Rochester’s woes.

Sibley’s, which is topped by a clock tower and has tawny Roman-style-brick walls, takes up a full block in the downtown area and sweeps across more than one million square feet. Under TAT’s design plan, which would play out incrementally over a decade, the historic structure would gain several hundred thousand square feet of office space and nearly 200 apartments.

To read the full interview, please visit www.architecturalteam.com/news.

Michael D. Binette, AIA, NCARB, Vice President & Principal mbinette@architecturalteam.com

RECOGNITION For the second year, the firm sponsored a design studio at the Boston Architectural College (BAC), and invited students to envision the future of Boston through an open ideas competition. The 2013 studio, “Soft Living”, focused on approaches to enhance the vitality and impact of social, affordable, and adaptable housing prototypes needed for the future in downtown Boston.

The interiors were a design collaboration between TAT, Jess Schuster and Studio Six Five. Above - the main entrance connects resident to amenities directed from a central rotunda. Below (left) resident dining room and (right) model 1-BR unit.

Client: Wingate Healthcare | Contractor: Callahan Construction

Photography: Warren Jagger

Living well in Needham Combining an innovative living environment with optimal functionality, the new Residences at Wingate in Needham, Mass., is an upscale community incorporating hospitality design concepts in planning, programming and interior design for the senior population.

“Our design approach is inspired by the philosophy and vision of the client,” says principal-in-charge, Bob Verrier, FAIA, NCARB, co-founder/managing principal. “For the Residences at Wingate, our aim was to promote maximum independence and evoke peacefulness within a comfortable, elegant, and safe environment that provides residents with ample amenities and encourages social engagement.” The inspired complex is comprised of 91 independent, assisted living and memory care units, providing a full range of care/service options and expanding individual choice via a bistro, fitness room, courtyards, library, and patio replete with a

“We’re really excited that The Architectural Team committed to sponsor the course again,” remarked Kyle Sturgeon, BAC’s Director of Advanced Architecture Studios & Technology Management. “The firm’s leadership has demonstrated a commitment to educating emerging generations of creative and socially committed designers.” In addition, the firm’s senior project managers, Gary Kane, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP, and Andrew Stebbins, LEED AP, participated in the program throughout the semester in several student design reviews.

In January, an independent jury selected four student winners who were each awarded cash prizes donated by TAT. First place: Ekaterina Emelyanova (shown below); second place: Alisan Esteves; third place: Brandon Haschig; and fourth place: Chris Prud’homme.

barbecue, fire pit and water feature that abuts a serene, wooded area.

Well-appointed residential units enjoy plentiful daylight and are available in two plan types: a traditional one-bedroom layout, and a contemporary design with pocket doors to create a more open feel, connecting the bedroom and living and kitchen area. The memory care wing, offering 37 units, is specifically designed as a looping plan through a projection of living space to the outside and connected back to the building by way of an enclosed porch, allowing for memory stimulation, reduced confusion and to prevent “elopement”.

Residences at Wingate is conceived of part of a continuing care campus in Needham, created to provide an aging-in-place residential resource for the town. This is the second development on the site, which includes Wingate at Needham—a skilled nursing facility, also designed by the firm.

TAT is grateful to course instructors Juliet Chun, a designer with Leers Weinzapfel Associates, and Jared Ramsdell, LEED AP, associate at Touloukian Touloukian, Inc. and an assistant instructor at Harvard Graduate School of Design.

The return of the high Boston is witnessing a real estate rebound after nearly a decade of dormancy—creating a very competitive residential rental market. Driving this resurgence, in part, is the trending popularity of higher density urban living, which arguably accounts for thousands of new rental units being added to Boston’s inventory resulting in a five-year low vacancy rate.

Client: Kensington Investment Company and National Development Contractor: Suffolk Construction, Inc. Interior Design: RD Jones & Associates Landscape Architect: Copley Wolff Design Group Photography: Peter Vanderwarker

Michael E. Liu, AIA, NCARB, Principal at The Architectural Team, discusses the firm’s design approach for The Kensington.

What was the design intent of the building, given its context to the neighborhood?

the same area. The most desirable asset is the view.

The exterior of the building fits its neighborhood, with a lower portion in scale with the historic Hayden building on the south side and a higher portion on the northern face to complement the taller China Trade Center, which the firm also designed.

What are the unique features that were incorporated to attract a young professional market?

The client responded to the market demand of renters, who prefer an economy of living space in exchange for more robust amenity offerings within the same building. The sixth floor offers an outdoor pool and patio with fireplace and TV, a solarium, fitness room, resident lounge with billards and kitchen, and a library; in addition to other concierge amenities such as dog walking.

How did you seek to differentiate it?

We selected eye-catching materials that would also make a high-efficiency envelope: metal panels, precast concrete, and large windows.

Our design created an airier, lighter feeling than many other area buildings. Further, we designed a two-story glass curtainwall to create a look of seamlessness between the lobby and street to encourage passersby to come into the building.

What do you think is driving the appeal of the highrise?

Most high rises are located in urban centers and people choosing to live there are primarily driven by lifestyle choices. The benefit of immediate access to cultural activities, entertainment, restaurants, and public transportation is alluring. They want to live, work and play in

What sustainable features helped to achieve LEED Gold Certification?

We always strive to achieve an optimum balance between sustainability and high-quality design. Some key attributes that resulted in certification include: location of the building on a transit-oriented site; use of locally-sourced materials and components; proportion of windows to solid surfaces to avoid excessive energy loss; individual apartment temperature controls; smoke-free quarters; and reduced onsite parking to encourage walking and bicycling.

Designed to reflect a country-like setting, the two-story lobby provides a welcoming entrance to residents and visitors and provides easy access to common areas, such as the Good Dog Café (bottom right), Art Room and Community Room, and the adjoining dining room and bar (top right). Photography: Warren Jagger Client: The Northbridge Companies | Contractor: Callahan Construction

Senior Living By Design | Once the site of a well-known

at the same time, designed to meet the diverse physical and cognitive

Massachusetts’ 19th century farmstand—which became part of Way-

changes of this aging population.”

land’s agricultural history during the 20th century when farms were lost

The program incorporates areas for interactivity and creativity, promoting

to development—Carriage House at Lee’s Farm opened in February

the varied interests of residents, such as the Café, Golf-themed bar, a

as a new senior living community. The 54,000 square foot country-

Brain Gym, Fitness Center, and an Art Studio; as well as a community

inspired building developed by The Northbridge Companies, offers 32

room utilized for exercise and wellness programs, and a private family

independent and assisted living units and 30 memory care units with

dining room. In tribute to Lee’s Farm original use, both the exterior and

ample resident amenities.

interior designs reflect a familiar country lifestyle exemplified through a

“We worked collaboratively with the client to develop a design solution

warm tone color palette, the use of sliding barn doors, rustic wrought

expressive of an environment that thoughtfully reflects their philoso-

iron light fixtures, featuring Shaker-style millwork and local artists’ work.

phy ensuring that residents: live well, love life,” says Melanie Conant,

Carriage House is one of six senior living communities the firm has

NCIDQ, Director of Interior Design, at The Architectural Team. “The

designed for The Northbridge Companies to include Stonebridge at

inviting, homelike setting is aesthetically pleasing, safe and comfortable

Burlington in Burlington, Mass., completed in 2012, and The Pinehills

for residents. The interiors selections are appealing to families, while

in Plymouth, Mass., currently under construction.

PRESS The Big Re-Boott: Adaptive Reuse of the Boott Mills Complex Retrofit Magazine

By Robert J. Verrier, FAIA, NCARB March-April 2014 Boston High-Rise Soars as PostRecession Success Story Multifamily Executive Magazine April 2014 The Appeal of the High Rise Multihousing News Magazine March 2014 To read full articles and other recent firm news, please visit: www.architecturalteam.com Rendering by TAT of new waterfront development, Haverhill Place, Haverhill, MA

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EVENTS N E W S U P D AT E S O N S E L E C T TAT P R O J E C T S

Harbor Place Haverhill, MA Client: Greater Haverhill Foundation and Planning Office for Urban Affairs Contractor: Dellbrook Construction

Currently in design development, the firm is working on a new mixed-used waterfront development located along the Merrimack River (shown above). Demolition of the existing Woolworth’s building and other vacant buildings will make room for phase one, which will be comprised of two new midrise structures: a seven-story, 81,000 square foot building with first floor retail, UMass Lowell satellite campus space on the second and third floors, and office space on the upper floors; and a sixstory mixed-use structure to provide 80 units, ground level retail and commercial space. Plans also include a 25,000 square foot boardwalk with a public boat dock. Construction is expected to begin in the fall 2014.

Whittier Place Apartments

Recent groundbreaking ceremonies include: The Residence at Brookside, Avon, CT - a new 74 unit assisted living/independent living/memory care community; Lighthouse Nursing Care Center, Revere, MA - a new 17,000 square foot addition to an existing skilled nursing facility; and St. Kevin’s, Dorchester, MA - a new 80 unit mixed-income multifamily development.

Recently completed work includes: Arlington 360, Arlington, MA - a new 200 unit market-rate rent and for-sale residential community; 135 Lafayette Apartments, Salem, MA - a new 51 unit mixed-income multifamily development; and Bristol Commons, Taunton, MA - the redevelopment of an existing affordable housing development into 88 new townhomestyle units.

Boston, MA Client: POAH Madison | Contractor: TBD

The firm is designing the master plan and redevelopment of Whittier Place Apartments to create a new mixed-income multifamily community. The main Whittier site is comprised of five new buildings that will provide 340 residential units, and an additional five buildings located on a nearby site will provide 160 units. The building types will be comprised of townhomes, mid-rise buildings, and a high rise offering one-, two-, three and four-bedroom units. Amenities will include a community room, children’s playground, parks and underground parking.

300 Cambridge Street Boston, MA Client: Talanian Realty Company | Contractor: Columbia Construction

Located in Boston’s historic Beacon Hill neighborhood on the site formerly known as Grampy’s Gas Station, the firm designed the core and shell of a new 30,000 square foot, five-story commercial office building with two-floors of retail space. The firm’s design is respectful of the historic context of surrounding buildings both in its massing and brick material selection. The site is currently under construction and is expected to be completed in the winter 2015.

TEAM TAT welcomes new hires to the architectural staff: Michael Albert; Jay Bradley, AAIA, LEED AP; Michael Doherty, AIA, LEED AP; and Deirdre Horan; and Valerie Roosma to the Interior Design team.

Congratulations to Michelle Fograse, AIA, on becoming a registered architect in Massachusetts.

The firm also welcomes Cash, canine service companion to project manager Scott Maenpaa, as the newest team member.

For more information, please contact Valerie Capone at 617.889.4402. To subscribe to an electronic version of tat|now+next, please visit www.architecturalteam.com and click on the News section. Copyright ©2014.

50 Commandant’s Way at Admiral’s Hill Chelsea MA 02150 T 617.889.4402 F 617.884.4329 www.architecturalteam.com

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To commemorate the site’s his-

tory, the development team incorporated a 50-foot-long exhibit of Gaiety artifacts visible along the exterior.