Care and Collaboration: How We Design Near Sensitive Ecosystems

Buildings do not exist in a vacuum. They are part of a continual give-and-take with their surroundings. Consequently, one of an architect’s most important objectives is creating visual and functional harmony between a structure and its environment. This can be particularly challenging when a building, like a school, is situated near a sensitive ecosystem and a…

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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…

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Classic Forms, Modern Functions. How to Find the Right Balance in Design

Founded in 1912, Girl Scouts of the United States of America—better known simply as the Girl Scouts—is an organization steeped in tradition. Whether you were a scout, know someone who was or is now, or simply are familiar with the organization, you have to admire their long history of helping girls grow, thrive, and improve…

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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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