Tiny House Design Concepts for Any Size Project
Just because a design solution is used in a Tiny House project, doesn't mean that it will not be appropriate in a larger project. In fact most projects need to use space efficiently, creatively, and cost effectively. Click on the Headline for this blog post to go to an article with 5 Tiny House Design Concepts for any project.
Community Planning
Chris Kennedy attended the Build Maine Conference on November 6 in Lewiston, Maine. Build Maine was hosted by the Congress for the New Urbanism's Maine Chapter (CNU Maine) with GrowSmart Maine, the Maine Municipal Association (MMA), and the Maine Real Estate & Development Association (MEREDA).
The lineup of speakers was particularly intriguing. Build Maine was able to bring together a handful of the most influential practitioners in the field of Community Planning, Complete Street Design, Walkable Communities and Strategic Real Estate Development. It was a great opportunity to get refreshed and reinforce UK Architects' knowledge and skill sets in Community Planning issues. To get a better idea of the concepts that were communicated during the conference here is list of links that are worth checking out:
Jeff Speck author of Walkable City: How Downtown Can Save America, One Step at a Time, and principal of Speck & Associates LLC.
Charles Marohn President and Co-founder of the non-profit Strong Towns.
Steve Mouzon Principal of Mouzon Design, one of the nation's urban thought leaders.
Victor Dover, Principal of Dover, Kohl & Partners Town Planning and coauthor of Street Design: The Secret to Great Cities and Towns.
In addition to the excellent speakers, it was also an opportunity to take a walking tour of Lewiston and Auburn, Maine, two classic Northern New England mill towns, split by the Androscoggin River. The conference was held at the Bates Mill Complex that has been undergoing a phased renovation into offices, restaurants and housing.
UK ARCHITECTS PARTICIPATES IN PLAN NH CHARETTE IN GREENFIELD, NH
Chris Kennedy volunteered to participate in a 2 day long community planning charette (an intense period of design or planning activity) with Plan NH in Greenfield, NH.
Plan NH brought together a team of design professionals to assist the Town of Greenfield to propose ideas for reinforcing the vitality of Greenfield's town center.
Passive House Explained
Here is a simple 90 second video introduction to Passive House principles that we came across on the internet. If you want some more in-depth explanations of any of the specific elements touched on in the video, we would be happy to discuss them with you.
Passive House Explained
Our most sustainable project to date......?
Our most sustainable project to date......?
This is a combination outhouse and woodshed we designed to go with a remote cabin on a mountaintop in central Vermont. The outhouse contains a solar powered composting toilet, space for stacking wood for the cabin's wood stove, and a storage space for the cabin's window screens. The entire structure is built on a sledge base, which allows for it to be hooked to a tractor and relocated if necessary.
We have often wondered if we might be the only Architects who have done construction documents for an outhouse.
PROSPECT STREET OFFICE BUILDING TOPPED OUT AND MOVING FAST
View looking at South East corner
View looking South from the top floor
The steel frame for the Prospect Street Office Building in White River Junction, Vermont has been completed and work is progressing on the building envelope.
UK ARCHITECTS PARTICIPATES IN PLAN NH CHARETTE IN CHICHESTER, NH
Chris Kennedy spent 2 days in Chichester, NH, as a volunteer design professional, assisting Plan NH in developing strategies to mitigate traffic speed and volume on Chichester's historic Main Street, while at the same time enhancing the historic, pastoral and community aspects of the street.
The Concord Monitor article about the Plan NH Charette in Chichester
HANOVER COOP COMMUNITY MARKET WINS 2011 PLAN NH MERIT AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
Hanover, NH, April 19, 2011 – On March 31, 2011, Plan New Hampshire announced that the Hanover COOP Community Market project, designed by UK Architects in Hanover, NH, received a 2011 "Merit Award for Excellence." This honor marks the third award that the Community Market project has received. Previously, the store was awarded the 2010 American Institute of Architects, New Hampshire, "Excellence in Design Award" and the 2009 Business NH Magazine "Green Structure Award: New Building."
The store is located in Lyme, New Hampshire, and is owned by the Hanover Consumer Cooperative Society. UK Architects' design team included ORW (landscape architects), Engineering Ventures (structural engineers), John F. Penney Consulting (mechanical engineers), and others. The General Contractor was Trumbull-Nelson Construction.
The 5,500 s.f. grocery store was designed to be within easy walking and biking distance of the nearby neighborhood and as a community gathering place. Its generous south-facing glass enhances the store's transparency and connection to the neighborhood. Its north-facing main entrance, with its large glazed vestibule and garage-style doors, offers protection from winter winds and opens the store to the outside in summer.
As described by Plan NH (www.plannh.com/awards), "Not only is the project a good re-use of a former gas service station site, but the COOP utilized numerous sustainable materials during construction, met many of the NH Smart Growth Principles, and collaborates with local food producers to provide a marketplace for their products." Some of the sustainable elements that were used include geothermal heating and cooling systems, closed cell foam insulation, a sealed building envelope, energy efficient lighting (including LED lighting, skylights, and daylight harvesters to automatically dim lights), energy efficient mechanical systems, and water retention systems.
Each year, Plan New Hampshire recognizes exemplary projects that reflect their mission and that incorporate the principles of Smart Growth, sustainability, social responsibility, and/or creative approaches to partnership and collaboration.
NEW UPPER VALLEY HAVEN ADULT SHELTER WINS EFFICIENCY VERMONT AWARD
White River Junction, VT, February 22, 2011 – The newly constructed Haven Adult Shelter, located in White River Junction, Vermont, won the 2011 Efficiency Vermont Award for Best of the Best in Commercial Building Design & Construction.
Each year, Efficiency Vermont recognizes innovative and integrated design approaches for energy efficiency in Vermont’s commercial, institutional, industrial, and multifamily buildings. This year’s top design award in the category of New Construction, Small Buildings (<20,000 sq .ft.) went to UK Architects located in Hanover, New Hampshire, for the Upper Valley Haven’s Adult Shelter. The Award was presented to Christopher Kennedy, Principal of UK Architects, on February 9, 2011, at Efficiency Vermont’s annual conference, Better Buildings by Design.
The energy efficient design of the Haven’s Adult Shelter, aka the Hixon House, is projected to have annual energy savings of $9,850, compared to a design that meets the current energy code. Design elements included the use of sustainable materials throughout, energy efficient lighting and water conservation devices, a continuous high performance thermal envelope including triple-glazed windows, and energy efficient heating and ventilation equipment, as well as Energy Star® commercial appliances. The Haven has applied to the US Green Building Council for LEED® certification of the project.
The Hixon House provides shelter for homeless single men and women, and couples without minor children. The Shelter opened to guests in June 2010 and has room for up to 20 guests, with two guests in each bedroom. The building includes 10 bedrooms, staff offices, counseling rooms, phone rooms, check-in area, an elevator, computer room, kitchen, common areas for dining and recreation, bathrooms, laundry, and storage. The new Hixon House shelter provides a safe place for individuals and couples to stay while making positive changes in their life.
The project owner, the Upper Valley Haven, brought their vision to a successful completion through the collaborative efforts of the project team: Architect – UK Architects of Hanover, NH; Contractor – Shepard Construction of Quechee, VT; Thermal Envelope Consultant – Murphy’s Cell Tech of St. Johnsbury, VT; Civil Engineer – Engineering Ventures of Burlington, VT; Mechanical Engineer – Thomas Engineering Associates of Waitsfield, VT; Electrical Engineer – William Bissell of Montpelier, VT; and Commissioning Agent – John F Penney Consulting of Chester, VT.
James R. Wasser from UK Architects was the project manager for the project. Jim is a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and is a LEED® Accredited Professional. He brings extensive experience and energy to UK Architects and to all projects he works on.
The Upper Valley Haven is a private not-for-profit organization, founded in 1980, that provides temporary shelter and educational programming for homeless families and adults, as well as food and clothing to those in need. All Haven services are provided free of charge. For over 30 years, the Haven has fostered independence by providing resources through Education programs, Shelter Advocacy, Case Management, Outreach, Aftercare, and more.
UK ARCHITECTS’ WAINSHALL MILL PROJECT RECEIVES A 2010 PLAN NH MERIT AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
Claremont, NH, April 23, 2010 - Plan New Hampshire announced that Monadnock Mills No. 2 and No. 6, also known as the Wainshal Mill Buildings, received a 2010 Merit Award of Excellence in Planning, Design, and Development. The design team was led by UK Architects of Hanover, NH, and included Pathways Consulting of Lebanon, NH, Engineering Ventures of Burlington, VT, and The Preservation Company of Kensington, NH. The mill buildings are located in Claremont, NH, and are owned by Wainshal Partners.
Considered to be the most important buildings in Claremont’s historic mill district, the two buildings now form one rehabilitated structure that successfully maintains the integrity of the old features while incorporating modern necessities. In addition, site elements connect the building with the river and with other parts of the mill district.
The UK Architects project exemplifies a classic public/private development with the buildings’ owner/tenants working with the City of Claremont to include stronger pedestrian connections, vibrant public spaces, improved infrastructure, and pedestrian safety. The project took an abandoned area of the downtown and provided an opportunity for additional jobs.
The awards jury commented that this is a “high quality restoration that turned a serious liability for the town into an asset… [that] reinforces the fabric and vitality of downtown Claremont.”
Awards were given to projects in New Hampshire that have been completed since 2005, and, not only exemplify excellence in sustainable planning, design, and development, but also go above and beyond in the areas of smart growth principles, sustainability, social responsibility, and/or creative approaches to partnership and collaboration. A total of five projects were recognized and celebrated at a dinner held on March 31st at The Derryfield Country Club in Manchester.
About Plan New Hampshire
Plan NH, founded in 1989, is an organization of professionals working within the industries of the built environment. Its purpose is to help maintain the unique character and quality of life in the state’s communities by advocating for and championing “excellence in sustainable planning, design, and development,” while incorporating the principles of smart growth, social responsibility, and collaboration and cooperation. Further information about Plan NH, visit www.plannh.org.
UK ARCHITECTS RECOGNIZED FOR EXCELLENCE IN DESIGN
Hanover, NH, January 21, 2010 - UK Architects, PC, of Hanover, NH, received two awards for Excellence in Architecture at the New Hampshire Chapter of the American Institute of Architects’ 26th Annual Awards Banquet on January 15, 2010.
The Hanover Co-Op Community Market garnered one of the top Honor Awards for what the award jury described as a “thoughtful and well resolved solution at multiple levels.” The Community Market, located on Lyme Road in Hanover, NH, embodies the organization’s ideals in the support of local economies and exemplifying “green” design practices. Geo-thermal heat systems located under the parking lot reduce the building’s energy consumption by approximately 50%, and water retention areas clean and reduce the amount of run-off leaving the site by approximately 50%. Daylight harvesters measure the amount of light from the skylights and windows and dim the electric light as needed. Large overhead doors allow flowers and produce to spill out of the entry like a farmer’s market. Trumbull-Nelson of Hanover, NH, was the construction manager for the project, and ORW of White River Junction, VT, provided landscape design.
The Monadnock Mills No. 2 & No. 6 received one of four Merit Awards for what the award jury described as a “delightfully well-executed renovation of a worthy building in a wonderful location.” The two mills were built in 1853 and 1912 respectively and form a single building. Located on the banks of the Sugar River in Claremont, NH, the rehabilitated building accommodates a boutique hotel and office space. The project utilized Federal Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credits, and architectural interventions were sympathetically planned, employing contemporary design features that distinguish the new from the old. The construction manager for the project was ReArch Company of Burlington, VT.
UK Architects pursues their corporate mission of enhancing the communities around them through thoughtful design. Established in 1992 and located on South Main Street in Hanover, NH, UK Architects has designed numerous residential and commercial projects that have achieved high levels of energy efficient, sustainable design, while making meaningful contributions to their communities.
HANOVER COOP COMMUNITY MARKET WINS GREEN STRUCTURE AWARD
Lyme, NH, October 12, 2009 - UK Architects’ design of the Hanover Consumer Cooperative Society Community Market located in Lyme, NH, was awarded the Business NH Magazine “Green Structure Award: New Building” in its September 2009 issue.
“The 5,000-square-foot store features a geothermal heating and cooling system, spray-in foam insulation, a high-efficiency refrigeration system and energy-efficient glass panels for lighting. ’Our focal point was designing a store that felt warm and welcoming, but also made business sense,’ says Anthony White, the store’s merchandising and operations manager.”
SHOEBOX CLUB HOUSES – ARCHITECTS TEACH FOURTH GRADERS ABOUT ARCHITECTURE
Plainfield, NH, November 12, 2004 - “Teaching local 4th graders about the principles and history of architecture was extremely rewarding,” says intern architect, Stephen Endy of UK Architects in Hanover, NH. Endy and architect, Hunter Ulf, AIA, recently taught three classes about architectural form and design to Plainfield, NH Elementary School 4th grade students, culminating in the design of club houses made out of shoeboxes. This educational experience was spearheaded by the New Hampshire chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA NH) as the first statewide application of a national AIA volunteer educational program called, Learning By Design.
The Plainfield Elementary 4th grade class identified historic buildings in New Hampshire and learned about various architectural forms. Then, students were asked to physically act out architectural forms such as a column, arch, dome, vault, and a truss, by standing tall or linking hands and arms as a group, and thereby demonstrating the cooperative interaction of tension and compression.
After this exercise, teams of two students were formed to design and create a scale model of a club house using shoeboxes. Each team determined what activities they wanted to include in their club house and how much space to provide. Next, they drew a floor plan based on the shape and size of their shoebox. Finally, the teams chose site locations for their club houses ranging from mountain tops, beach fronts, arid deserts, and even a tree. Students were encouraged to consider the relationship between interior space and exterior site conditions including access to natural light.
Jonni Nichols, the 4th grade teacher at Plainfield Elementary School, was excited about the program, as it tied in well with their current study of fractions and geography. The class chose one representative club house model to be sent to AIA NH for display with models from other schools around New Hampshire.
HOMELESS SHELTER RECEIVES A 5 STAR ENERGY EFFICIENCY RATING
Hartford, VT, November 3, 2014 - Efficiency Vermont has certified The Upper Valley Haven as having met all of the requirements for an Energystar labeled building. The facility, which is a homeless shelter located on Route 5 in White River Junction, VT, received 86.7 points out of a possible 100 points, earning the 5 Star designation. "The attention to detail, the high performance insulation system, and good mechanical and lighting choices led to this high achievement," said Cathy Reynolds of Efficiency Vermont. UK Architects of Hanover, NH, designed the building. Hunter Ulf, Principal of UK Architects, responded to the certification by saying, "it was very important that this facility was designed to provide cost-effective operations throughout its life, and energy efficiency is a big factor in achieving this."
Efficiency Vermont is the nation's first statewide efficiency utility. It provides technical advice, financial assistance, and design guidance to help make Vermont homes and businesses more energy efficient
UK ARCHITECTS' PRINCIPAL CHAIRS JURY FOR TWO PRESTIGIOUS AIA AWARDS
Washington, DC, November 14, 2003 - M. Hunter Ulf, AIA, chaired a jury of six architects in Washington, D.C. to select the recipients for the two highest honors bestowed by the national American Institute of Architects (AIA) Board of Directors – the Gold Medal Award and the Architecture Firm Award. The Gold Medal Award is given to an individual in recognition of significant work with lasting influence on the theory and practice of architecture. The Architecture Firm Award is conferred upon an architecture firm for consistently producing distinguished architecture. In the past 96 years, the Gold Medal Award has been granted to only 60 individuals, and since 1962, the Architecture Firm Award has been awarded on an annual basis (with the exception of two years when no awards were made).
M. Hunter Ulf, President of UK Architects, P.C., in Hanover, NH, and a Director on the national AIA Board, had the privilege of chairing the Gold Medal/Firm Award Advisory Jury for preliminary selection of the 2004 awards. Nominees for these awards undergo a rigorous submission and review process before being selected as finalists by the Jury. The Gold Medal has been awarded to such renowned architects as Henry Bacon, who designed the Lincoln Memorial and the Reflecting Pool in Washington, DC, and Frank Lloyd Wright. In 2003, the Architecture Firm Award was granted to the Miller|Hull Partnership, which played a large part in creating the "Pacific Northwest" style.