Sustainability
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…
Read MoreHelping 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…
Read MoreFitwel and Our Office Renovation: Taking Great Strides for a Better Score
People who work in an office environment spend a significant percentage of their life there. It’s certainly true for our team, which is one of the reasons we are proponents of the Fitwel System. Developed by the United States General Services Administration (GSA) based on research by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),…
Read MoreWhat Goes Into the Design of a New Elementary School Campus?
One of the most important characteristics for young students to possess is curiosity. For one elementary school in North Haven, CT, the notion of exploration is central to its mission: “Slate School cultivates creativity, fosters ingenuity, and inspires a deep passion for lifelong learning and discovery. Slate School’s priority is that each child’s innate and…
Read MoreFrom Design to Construction: How Slate School Was Built
Every design and construction project is unique. How well the parties involved address a project’s particularities is a key element in its success. Our work at Slate School in North Haven, Connecticut, is a perfect example of how effective collaboration yields exceptional results. In particular, our interaction with the construction team helped bring the client’s…
Read MoreA Tour of Passive House Buildings In and Around Boston
The driving principle of passive house design is simple—to design the most energy efficient building possible, to the benefit of our planet and ourselves. I recently attended the 13th Annual North American Passive House Conference in Boston hosted by Passive House Institute US (PHIUS). On the final day of the conference, I was lucky enough…
Read MorePassive House Design by the Numbers
Whether it’s personal fitness, retirement savings, or protecting the environment, goal setting is a critical first step toward success. I recently attended the 13th Annual North American Passive House Conference in Boston where the objectives of the Paris Agreement and the goals of “passive house” design and construction in helping achieve those objectives were front…
Read MoreHow Healthy Schools Support Happy Children
Our team of architects and designers handles a wide range of projects, including work on new construction, historic buildings, alterations and renovations, and site analysis and feasibility studies. And, we enjoy every new challenge we take on. But one area that is especially gratifying is designing school buildings and additions that meet the highest environmental…
Read MoreWhy Passive House Design is So Powerful
The idea of “sustainability” covers a wide range of disciplines and practices. One area that I feel can have a tremendous impact on the environment is making our homes, office buildings, and other structures highly energy efficient. The passive house concept involves designing buildings that incorporate super-efficient envelopes and mechanical systems that can pass a…
Read MoreHow to Promote a Healthy Working Environment
We are a firm that places a high value on designing buildings and spaces that promote and support healthy living. To put more of a framework around what has always been one of our guiding principles, Karin became an ambassador of The Fitwel System last year. The Fitwel System is described by the organization behind…
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