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ACE Mentoring’s Final Presentations
Last night I served as a panelist at the Ace Mentoring Program’s final presentations. ACE Mentoring is a non-profit, volunteer based mentor organization that pairs high school students interested in architecture, construction, and engineering with professionals in the industry. The final presentations offer an opportunity for the students to present their semester’s work to a panel of industry professionals. It…
Excited About ACE
ACE Mentoring is a non-profit, volunteer based mentor organization that pairs high school students interested in architecture, construction, and engineering (ACE) with professionals in the industry. For the last six-years I’ve served as a mentor, assisting with the program’s mission to engage, excite, and enlighten high school students to pursue careers in architecture, engineering, and construction. The students tackle a…
My AIA Story
If you are an emerging professional, you have received your packet about “I AM AIA.” This is my AIA story. There was never a doubt in my mind that I would become a licensed architect; a goal I accomplished in 2008. After licensure I asked the same question as so many others – now what? I knew I wanted to…
Off the Grid with Tesla’s Powerwall
Every year, BuildingGreen names the ten best green building products “transforming the design and construction industry” and helping to solve environmental problems. One product we are particularly excited about is Tesla’s Powerwall and Powerpack Onsite Energy Storage. As we work towards designing more energy efficient multi-family housing, the use of alternative fuel sources (such as solar panels) becomes more effective….
Designing for Collaboration and Innovation
While working with BioMed Realty to create the Sidney Research Campus, we partnered with one of their new biotech tenants to fit out their new space. Our interiors group partnered with our architectural team to design a collaborative office and lab space with clean lines and innovative features to reflect both their brand and the fast-moving life sciences community in…
HarvardxDesign Conference
This Saturday, February 20th, is the annual Harvardxdesign Conference, which is being held at Harvard’s Graduate School of Design. I’ve attended the past two conferences and had great experiences both times; the speakers were engaging and inspiring, and it’s a wonderful way to learn about different design processes.
Better Acoustics in Jamaica Plain
Arrowstreet is working with the Hyde Square Task Force (HSTF) on the renovation of the Ceverus Building, home to its Youth Community Development Center. The 15,000-square-foot building is located in Jamaica Plain, and offers a variety of arts programs, including dance rehearsal space, a soundproof music-recording studio, a dedicated computer lab, and four multi-use classrooms. Each week, over 500 young…
Future of the Library
Last Thursday, several of our staff members attended a panel discussion at MIT featuring David Adjaye, 2016 recipient of the Eugene McDermott Award in the Arts. Titled “The Future of the Library,” the event invited five panelists to discuss the library as a place and its future in a landscape of ever-evolving information exchange. Other panelists included Chris Bourg (Director…
Creating PlaySpace
A group of Arrowstreet’s staff recently entered a design competition promoting innovative outdoor play spaces in Philadelphia. Hosted by the Community Design Collaborative and Delaware Valley Association for the Education of Young Children, the competition invited teams to choose one of three public sites—a school, a library, and a recreation center—and create plans for a new outdoor space. Arrowstreet’s team…
Commuting by Ride Sharing
I commute from Coolidge Corner in Brookline to Arrowstreet’s Post Office Square office on the Green Line. A year ago, I saw small groups of people waiting in the morning for what looked like a private driver. One day I decided to ask what were they waiting for and was told about Bridj. The company operates small, luxurious shuttle buses…