Archiscape Blog
St Mary school to be transformed into affordable housing
New London – St. Mary Star of the Sea School closed its doors at the end of the school year in 2012, a move that some considered traffic but necessary because of declining enrollment and mounting financial hurdles. Now, the former Roman Catholic elementary school that educated scores of students in grades 1 through 8…
Local developer plans to convert ‘General’s Residence’ and land into condo development
MADISON — A local developer plans to convert the dilapidated “General’s Residence,” a 1730 home with a storied past, and the surrounding property into a condominium complex. William Plunkett’s proposal, under the business name Capt’n Griffin, LLC, to develop the land around the General’s Residence at 908 Boston Post Road and the adjoining property at…
Architectural Transformation: Old School to Affordable Housing
The concept of “sustainability” in architecture encompasses a wide range of practices and principles; one of the most fundamental is the reuse of existing building material. That was a major reason why we were thrilled when asked to develop a design and a plan for converting a historic school building into much-needed affordable housing. The…
5 Challenges and Solutions When Restoring Historic Buildings
We have been fortunate through the years to have the opportunity to participate in the restoration and revitalization of a number of historic buildings in Connecticut. This includes both residential and mixed-use developments with public and private backing. From feasibility studies and designs through construction, we have been involved in all phases of these…
How to Design a Natural Playscape
As children, the first lessons we learn are about the natural world around us. And those lessons are important, because they become the framework for much of the learning that follows. That’s one of the reasons nature themes are so prevalent in childcare and early education settings. This includes outdoor play areas, where it seems…
Helping Young Minds Bloom with an Educational Greenhouse and Gardens
Slate School is an independent elementary school in North Haven, CT. Its 25-acre parcel is a beautiful plot of land, with both open meadow lands and forest. When school leaders approached us to design the school building, they expressed their vision of capitalizing on this incredible setting and having nature play a central role in…
Designing Industrial Buildings in a Historic Residential Neighborhood
Dictionary.com says that to master-plan an area is “to develop or improve (land, a community, a building complex, or the like) through a long-range plan that balances and harmonizes all elements.” Producing that “harmony” is no small feat under the best of circumstances. As we learned in one of our recent projects, creating harmony between…
How to Design Around an Industrial Process
As an architectural design firm that enjoys taking on unique projects, we are continually challenged to come up with solutions that meet the needs of a diverse group of stakeholders, which can include property owners, residents, neighbors, tenants, government entities, and business owners/operators. In our Quinnipiac River Oyster Farm project, one of the key elements…
3 Challenges of Rehabilitating Aging Housing Units
Building renovations are complex processes requiring many teams, lots of moving pieces, a great deal of careful thought, and a detailed plan. This is especially true when it comes to housing. However, these projects can be very worthwhile for property owners and residents. Renovation expertise will be increasingly in demand in the decades ahead. According…
How to Improve Accessibility in a Multi-Family Housing Renovation
It goes without saying that people with disabilities should be able to access public buildings. But to ensure that right, Congress passed the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990. It prohibits discrimination in employment, public services, public accommodations, and telecommunications against people who have physical or mental impairments that substantially limit “major life activities,”…