Patriquin Architects Sign on to the AIA Materials Pledge

We’ve signed on to the AIA Architecture & Design Materials Pledge, which commits us to a deliberate, mindful and holistic approach to choosing which materials and finishes we put into our projects.    These choices represent a huge part of what we do as architects and construction professionals. Finishes are what we see, smell, hear,…

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Interesting Insights on Passive House Construction From Two Conferences

Recently members of our team attended and presented at two industry conferences focused on the design and construction of high-performance buildings: PhiusCon, the annual North American Passive House conference hosted by Passive House Institute US, and AIA CT CACX, AIA Connecticut’s annual conference and expo.   In particular, these events addressed Passive House design and…

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Powerful 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,…

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How We Create Great Designs for Early Childhood Education

Designing facilities that meet the unique needs of young children and the educators responsible for their care and teaching requires attention to a few key elements. For example, there should be plenty of informal learning spaces, certain elements of the design need to be scaled appropriately for children, and consideration needs to be given to…

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Learn About Helpful Funding Sources for Historic Building Renovations 

If you own a historic building and are considering improving it, you should keep in mind that there are funds available for the renovation, restoration, or rehabilitation of these types of structures. The Secretary of the Interior maintains separate “standards” documents for the different types of work performed on historic properties, but our team can…

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How to Create Successful Master Plans for Early Childhood Facilities

Master planning in any environment has its challenges. When it’s done within the broader context of an academic campus, a high degree of coordination with the institution’s existing plans, processes, and goals is essential.   Our firm recently undertook a project for a new facility called the Neighborhood Preschool on the campus of Wesleyan University.…

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Karin Patriquin Receives 2020 AIA Connecticut Women In Architecture Award!

Our own Karin Patriquin won the inaugural award from AIA CT Women in Architecture Committee. The Women in Architecture Award recognizes licensed women architects within AIA Connecticut who showcase exceptional design skills, advocate for fair and sustainable practices, and make a positive impact in the industry.  A Note from the 2020 Women in Architecture Award…

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Slate School: A Virtual Tour

As part of the 2020 Sustainability Week at AIA Connecticut and for the CT Green Building Council’s annual site tour, we were asked to guide a walking tour of Slate School. Due to the current health regulations, this has been postponed. As a small teaser, we are featuring a recent video of drone footage prepared…

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How Top Trends are Affecting Architecture Today

It’s surprising when I stop and think about the fact that I began working as an architect more than 20 years ago. I’ve seen many changes in my two decades in this profession, including new areas of emphasis like sustainability, and new tools such as 3D printers. Yet it seems that the evolution of architecture…

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How to Design a Natural Playscape

natural playscapes blog

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…

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