Education
How We Created a Flexible Design for Slate Upper School
Slate School in North Haven, CT, is an independent school established to truly “nurture each child’s natural love for learning” and “nurture lifelong learners who are deeply connected to nature”. Patriquin Architects was commissioned from the beginning to help translate the school’s pedagogy into an educational facility representative of both their vision and mission. Careful…
Read MoreHow to Use Passive House Principles Successfully in Historic Buildings
As the renovation of our historic 1816 masonry office building, known as the “King’s Block,” nears completion, our firm took the opportunity to put the details of this Passive House retrofit into a presentation that Associate Jeannette Penniman and I were thrilled to give to two recent audiences: An energy-focused group at PhiusCon, the annual…
Read MorePowerful Tools for the Design of Sustainable Early Childhood Centers
At Patriquin Architects, the sustainability of the buildings we design is a top priority. Working within budgetary constraints, site parameters, and specific client goals, we strive to incorporate sustainable strategies as much as possible. In early childhood center projects, we’re even more careful about indoor air quality, natural daylighting, and views to the outdoors,…
Read MoreHow We Make Structures More Resilient in Historic Preservation Projects
At Patriquin Architects, we do a great deal of work on historic buildings, including many with historic significance to their surrounding area. In order to maximize the lifespan of these unique and interesting structures, and ensure that they are a vital part of the local historic fabric for decades to come, our first question in…
Read MoreHidden Historic Treasures: How to Find and Preserve Them
As our work has shown many times through the years, when renovating an older building there is often an opportunity to find, salvage, and restore elements of historic or architectural significance. We’ve also learned that sometimes we have to choose which part of a building’s history should be preserved, and which areas should be modified…
Read MoreLinden Street Elementary School Courtyard Vision
As part of our office’s Community Outreach efforts, Jennifer Shea from our team has been collaborating with the Plainville Community Schools district by creating a connection with them and being a professional guide to some of their students. Previously, Jennifer had given their high school students a presentation on the architecture career path during their…
Read MoreNeed Excellent Thermal Performance? Try These Wall Assemblies
Thermal performance—the degree of energy transfer between a building and its surroundings—is an important consideration for every construction or renovation project. Not surprisingly, exterior wall assemblies play a major role in achieving the desired performance. At Patriquin Architects, we’re continually exploring new wall options to meet specific project conditions. Whether or not a client is…
Read MoreWhat Is Daylighting and Why Is It Important?
The term “daylighting” refers to architectural design that allows natural light into buildings. Daylighting provides many benefits, including increased productivity, enhanced connection to the outdoors, improved health, and energy savings. As a result, it’s highly desirable in educational settings. Numerous certifications for high-performance buildings feature daylighting as part of their rubrics. They cite daylighting as…
Read MoreWhat’s Master Planning? Slate Upper School Is a Good Example of the Process
Early stage master planning for the design and construction of a building or site is a highly collaborative process that puts the project on the right trajectory for success. It involves everything from early budgeting, to coordinating the work of experts like landscape architects and civil engineers, to working sessions with the client. “Laying the…
Read MoreTrinity Baptist: 6 Steps to the Optimal Design
We are proud of the exceptionally talented architects and designers on our staff. But it takes more than just talent to produce a design that fully meets a client’s needs. We’ve learned in our many years practicing architecture that the best way to achieve a successful outcome is to follow a thorough initial process for…
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