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450 Kendall’s “Nerve Center”
As part of the design for 450 Kendall Street, Arrowstreet planned for an installation of public art to activate the plaza. Our client, BioMed Realty commissioned New England sculptor Chris Williams to create “Nerve Center,” an illuminated 25-foot-tall metal and glass representation of innovation in Kendall Square. According to Williams, the inspiration for the design came from “Kendall Square’s prominence…
Shop for a Greener World
After my second year of co-chairing the only sustainability conference in the world to focus on retail store development, I can proudly say that ICSC RetailGreen is changing the equation of development. Just to scratch the surface, the changes in ‘normal’ construction since the conference began eight years ago are tremendous: LED lighting is ubiquitous even in the sacred space…
Designing Sophisticated Coastal Interiors
Arrowstreet’s interiors group is working with our architectural team to design a variety of spaces in a new, 230-unit residential development on the beach in Revere, MA. The concept developed for the exterior was successfully carried into the interior spaces, expressing a sense of sophisticated coastal living. The approach to the interior design was centered on creating an inviting, warm…
Cambridge Net Zero Breakfast
Join me as the USGBC MA’s Advocacy Committee welcomes Susanne Rasmussen, Director of Transportation and Environmental Planning for the City of Cambridge. Susanne will be speaking about Cambridge’s Net Zero Plan. Cambridge is leading the way for a net zero future in Massachusetts, and their policy can provide ideas for other municipalities to create successful plans for their communities. Listen as we discuss…
Giving Back with Building Impact
We recently teamed up with nonprofit, Building Impact, to host an in-office volunteering event assembling toiletry kits for two local charities. We held a month-long drive to collect a variety of toiletries including toothpaste, toothbrushes, first aid kits, lip balms, soaps, and shampoos. Our group of volunteers sorted all of the items and then packaged them into individual bags that…
Visiting the Net-Zero Energy Test Facility
In Gaithersburg, Maryland the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has built a Net-Zero Energy Residential Test Facility (NZERTF), which I was able to visit while participating in Greenbuild DC. It’s home to a four-member robot “virtual family” and a lab to keep track of the energy data that their household produces. The house is used to demonstrate that…
Studio Traditions: Yankee Swap
This week, Arrowstreet was filled with holiday cheer! We gathered in our VooDoo Lounge for eggnog, cookies, candy canes, and our 2nd Annual Yankee Swap. Over 30 members of our staff participated in this year’s event, and much fun was had by all in the competitive gift swap. An amaryllis plant and a Starbucks gift card cleverly concealed between two…
Arrowstreet at ALIS
It’s hard to believe, but January is around the corner, and David Bois will be heading out to sunny Los Angeles just as the chill sets in. He will be attending the Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS) January 25-27th at the JW Marriott and Microsoft Theater. ALIS is the largest hotel investment conference in the world, and it features seminars…
New Tech at Greenbuild DC
Greenbuild DC introduced the next generation of user controlled systems that make environments more interesting and comfortable. In our studio, there seems to be a constant struggle to find a temperature on which everyone can agree. These new technologies allow users a whole new level of control, without the use of more energy. In some cases, they can even result…
Housing Group Visits Ocean 650
Recently, Arrowstreet’s internal housing group went on the first of two site visits to Ocean 650 in Revere to see how construction was coming along. Ocean 650 is a part of Arrowstreet’s Waterfront Square at Revere Beach masterplan—a transit-oriented, mixed use development adjacent to the Wonderland T station. The 230-unit high-rise building is podium construction—a three-hour fire rated horizontal assembly…