ISSUE 1: 2017
now+next THE SIBLEY BUILDING With more than 23 acres of floor space, this iconic building is at the heart of the economic rebirth in downtown Rochester, and will soon be home to the University of Rochester’s high-tech incubator. With short walks to transit, access to parks, proximity to entertainment and flexible and functional interior configurations, The Sibley Building is poised to reposition an entire city core. The master plan, which will be built incrementally over a decade, will ultimately add several hundred thousand square feet of office space and nearly 200 apartments. In addition, the building will feature an array of destinations: art galleries, boutique shops, medical services, cafes, and a fitness center.
TRUSTED ADVISORS. Sometimes we spend so much time looking forward, anticipating and preparing for what’s next, we fail to stand still and appreciate where we are and how far we have come. Close to 45 years after founding TAT, I value our accomplishments of today and our journey to get here; the firm’s portfolio growth and the exceptional talent that brings design solutions to life for our clients is especially gratifying.
Robert J. Verrier, FAIA, NCARB President | Managing Principal + Founder
I’m an optimist, but if someone had told me that the firm would artfully transform a 1M square foot historic property into a landmark mixed use development, I would have doubted the possibility. But that’s where we are now. Adapting and restoring The Sibley Building in Rochester, NY, one of many great projects currently on the boards. TAT is now a leader in the design of multifamily housing - thoughtfully creating more than 4,000 units a year with renown regional and national developers. And we continue to realize the benefits of our staying-power with projects that often take 10+ years to come to fruition: Battery Wharf, The Kensington, Lovejoy Wharf, 40 Trinity, and Fenway. Successful collaborations and long-standing relationships are the foundation of our success. And the trust we’ve built didn’t come without considerable effort. Thanks to the TAT team for continuing to deliver, for being resilient, for your ingenuity and commitment. Stop for a moment and think about now: it’s better than good.
Maplewood at Brewster, Maplewood Senior Living Photography Courtesy of Maplewood
Loft Five50, WinnDevelopment Photography By Gregg Shupe
The Residence at Salem Woods, LCB Senior Living Photography By Mary Prince
Harbor Place, POUA + Greater Haverhill Foundation Rendering By TAT
Uphams Crossing, POUA Photography By Gustav Hoiland
Sibley HTR, WinnDevelopment Rendering By Tangram 3DS
TOP TRENDS IN MULTIFAMILY DESIGN. For multifamily developments the importance of contextual and vernacular architecture cannot be overstated; it’s purposeful, pragmatic, and inspiring for those that call it home. Today’s marketplace requires high-value design and competitive amenity offerings to attract and retain tenants. This focus helps our team create designs that work in the best interest of the client, while engaging the residents. Winning over the loyalty of a target market often comes down to what they value in a complete living experience. While adapting to ever-changing lifestyles, TAT’s designs strive to elevate and enrich the residential environment. We’ve found that exceptional design is a long-term strategy, no matter what the renter profile.
MULTIFUNCTIONAL SPACES Designing spaces that foster social interaction and multiple uses are a must — they are likely to be used on a regular basis, for everything from communal cooking and dining, to informal gathering. These spaces act as ad hoc living areas, providing an extension of resident living space, allowing for flexibility, socialization and increased connection. With a growing demand for more compact units, outdoor areas have also become increasingly important to tenants, and often include a kitchen connecting to a pool area, comfortable lounge seating with dual-sided fireplaces and spaces for entertaining. With most of the workforce connected 24/7, co-working tech-savvy common spaces outside
of the unit environment are in demand for live-work interaction. Equipped with WiFi, work tables, and echoing an e-lounge atmosphere, these designated areas feature flexible communal spaces, access to shared offices, kitchen and snack-prep areas —and amenities to support business activities.
CONSUMER-DRIVEN AMENITIES The 24/7 fitness center is a key amenity and is growing in size and complexity with every new project. Fitness is an essential part of any community and the spaces reflect current fitness trends that include a mix of cardio, strength, and core exercises; encouraging a fitness lifestyle rather than just a workout. Incorporating pet spas and dog care services go hand-in-hand with an increase in pet-friendly multifamily
environments. The pet spa features large tubs and dryers where residents can easily bathe their pets and often include grooming options. Bike amenities are growing in popularity as well. Bike service centers, washing stations and storage areas are in high demand. Urban rooftop decks are perfect for socializing . Once completely off-limits for tenants , they are now essential for gathering and comfortably socializing, with lounge seating and amazing views.
WALKABLE DESTINATIONS Location-driven value is universal. Walkable neighborhoods —the convenience of having shopping and cultural activities within close proximity —command a price premium. The key asset for these neighborhoods is the relative ease with which people can access a wide range
of jobs, goods, services and opportunities for social interaction. These designs facilitate and prioritize the use of transit as well as people-oriented urban travel modes —promoting walking and non-motorized transport networks like cycling. There is value and interest in integrating multifamily communities with a mix of commercial and residential uses, and access to transit.
AFFORDABLE LUXURY To appeal to a sophisticated generation of renters, the design of multifamily housing necessitates a holistic view of the “lifestyle” tenants are seeking. More often than not, the communities that are most appealing have distinctive architectural features, a variety of unit layouts, sought-after locations, top-quality interior finishes, unique artwork,
designer landscaping, multifunctional spaces for socializing, and coveted locations with boutique hotel-style amenities complete with concierge services.
ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS FEATURES TAT designs with the basics in mind: building orientation, passive solar, natural ventilation, and daylighting – sustainable principles that have been around a very long time. We are thoughtful about designing with building materials that minimize environmental impact and whenever feasible select energy-efficient appliances, a variable refrigerant flow HVAC system, upcycled resources, and Low VOC paint, carpet and flooring. Smart thermostats and lighting options are also prevalent in today’s designs. Electric vehicle charging and shared vehicle spaces are becoming
more popular. For TAT, the practice of adaptive reuse has been a highlight of our firm’s expertise for decades —preserving or reusing materials from historic building structures and incorporating reused raw materials in our designs is second nature to us.
TOP: Clippership Wharf, East Boston, MA, Lend Lease, Rendering by Pictury; Quarrystone Apartments, Malden, MA, WinnDevelopment, Rendering by Tangram 3DS BOTTOM: Avalon Marlborough, Marlborough, MA, AvalonBay Communities, Photography by Mike Rixon; Elan Union Market, Watertown, MA, Greystar, Rendering by Videa Vision; Rolling Green, Andover, MA, Wood Partners, Photography by Joel Howe.
+next 1 The Residence at Melrose Station, Melrose MA, LCB Senior Living 2 The Village at Barnstable, Barnstable, MA, Greystar 3 Quarrystone Apartments, Malden, MA, WinnDevelopment; Rendering by Tangram 3DS 4 Brighton Marine, Brighton, MA, WinnDevelopment 5 Avalon Piscataway, Piscataway, NJ, AvalonBay Communities
Avalon Piscataway Piscataway, NJ | March 3, 2017 | AvalonBay Communities | 16016 | Š The Architectural Team, Inc.
Rendered Perspective
+ team
WITH ASSOCIATE GARY KANE
Boston Architectural College’s 2016 Fall course “Strategic Architecture: building citizen action through urban renewal” is a studio competition sponsored by TAT and instructed by Michael Ferrara. The competition invited students to envision the future of Dudley Square in its entirety. The intent was to have a fully realized master plan by the end of the semester. TAT Associate and BAC supporter, Gary Kane, answers questions about this year’s course.
and prosperous development to an underserved historic area. Students are encouraged to explore critical design approaches which result in livable, affordable, and sustainable strategies for the existing residents of Roxbury. Proposed solutions were geared toward creating better, more innovative and engaging living environments while also exploring the varying effects of program typology and its ability to improve our cultural and natural environments.
Why was multifamily housing and the location of Dudley Square chosen this year?
What are the benefits to students enrolled in this course?
Andrew Stebbins, LEEP AP + Gary Kane, AIA LEED AP, at a BAC Student Design Competition sponsored by TAT.
The challenge is to provide a meaningful
The BAC and The Architectural Team designed this competition to challenge students to focus on a real-world urban design problem. The competition’s spirit and program focus is on encouraging multidisciplinary, visionary ideas for our urban future. The format is set up as a design competition with cash prizes to help alleviate the rising cost of education—this was Bob Verrier’s idea as a means of “giving back” to the next generation of designers. Beyond receiving a grade and a cash prize, the students directly benefit from TAT’s additional studio support and experience —something they would not ordinarily be exposed to during a standard studio. Students are often primarily exposed to one point of view, or an additional practicing architect’s POV only at the completion of the semester. At the onset of the program a few years ago, TAT participated in a few class visits along with the mid-term and final presentation reviews. Since then we have increased TAT’s involvement to
EVENTS + OPENINGS
RECENT NEWS
TALENT
TAT recently celebrated the Grand Openings of Breslyn Housing, West Philadelphia, PA; and Howard House, Brockton, MA.
Sustaining a New Community Retrofit
TAT welcomes back Ed De Blieck, along with new hires Fernando Salcedo, Jeff Sargis, and Michelle Hobbs to the architectural staff, as well as co-ops Bowen Wang, Kaiyang Zhang, Nina Babbitt, and Yite Niu.
All of TAT’s sponsored classes have centered on some form of housing in and around dense urban areas; this is one of our foremost areas of expertise. In 2015 we responded to, and won, a City RFP for two adjacent parcels in Dudley Square — so we are intimately familiar with the location. Although the City subsequently put a halt to the transfer of all DND property and has stalled the development, this area has long been looked at as an economic and cultural engine waiting to come back to life. The Dudley Municipal Center (aka The Bolling Building), has been the cornerstone of this attempted rebirth and the center is a mixture of old historic gems and empty lots. Michael and I thought Dudley would be a great real-world location for this semester’s work.
What is the primary challenge for the students?
Recent Groundbreakings were celebrated at Elan Union Market, Watertown, MA; and Gateway Residences, Lynn, MA
Walsh announces $30m grant to revitalize Roxbury housing Boston Globe Workforce Housing Project Under Way in Massachusetts Builder
have increased exposure and hands-on engagement with the students during their design process.
How does this help the students?
In addition to fostering good design strategies, we bring extensive practical experience to the classroom. We challenge students with questions that clients are likely to ask, or that a City Planner would ask, or even an aggrieved project abutter would ask. Design studios are intended for pushing the limits of academic pursuit, but TAT believes that the sooner students begin to solve real world problems on paper, the sooner they will begin to affect solutions in real world applications.
Congratulations to Meghan Bell for recently passing the AREs and becoming a Registered Architect in Massachusetts! For more recent news and project information, please visit architecturalteam.com
Rooftop Community Space at The Sibley Building Client: WinnDevelopment Rendering By: Tangram 3DS The Architectural Team, Inc. 50 Commandant’s Way at Admiral’s Hill Chelsea, MA 02150
architecturalteam.com
© 2016