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The Children’s Library Design Process
We were excited to serve as the graphic design consultants to William Rawn Associates Architects (link) for updates to the Boston Public Library; one of our primary tasks was the development of the environmental graphics in the Children’s Library. The Children’s Library is a small part of the major renovation, but it was one of the top priorities for the…
One Concept for Three Locations
Arrowstreet has designed three unique climbing gyms for client, Brooklyn Boulders (BKB), since they began expanding from their namesake location in Brooklyn, New York. Our first two collaborations were adaptive reuse designs: the Somerville location is a converted warehouse, while the Chicago gym combined two adjacent church buildings. The company’s latest gym in Long Island City is located in the lower levels…
Equity in Architecture
I had no idea architecture had such a diversity problem when I first realized I wanted to be an architect. At the time in 1994, 10% of AIA members were women, and only 7% of AIA members were people of color. While percentages today have improved, it is an issue that deserves our attention for two reasons—a diverse society needs…
Providence Place Reboot
General Growth Properties CEO Sandeep Mathrani recently spoke at NAREIT’s annual convention about the keys to a successful mall. Among them, he cited the curation of the right tenants, and a “removal of the pain points.” At Arrowstreet, we’re hard at work helping GGP with those very ideas at Providence Place, in Providence, Rhode Island. We were the architects of…
450 Kendall’s “Nerve Center”
As part of the design for 450 Kendall Street, Arrowstreet planned for an installation of public art to activate the plaza. Our client, BioMed Realty commissioned New England sculptor Chris Williams to create “Nerve Center,” an illuminated 25-foot-tall metal and glass representation of innovation in Kendall Square. According to Williams, the inspiration for the design came from “Kendall Square’s prominence…
Designing Sophisticated Coastal Interiors
Arrowstreet’s interiors group is working with our architectural team to design a variety of spaces in a new, 230-unit residential development on the beach in Revere, MA. The concept developed for the exterior was successfully carried into the interior spaces, expressing a sense of sophisticated coastal living. The approach to the interior design was centered on creating an inviting, warm…
Giving Back with Building Impact
We recently teamed up with nonprofit, Building Impact, to host an in-office volunteering event assembling toiletry kits for two local charities. We held a month-long drive to collect a variety of toiletries including toothpaste, toothbrushes, first aid kits, lip balms, soaps, and shampoos. Our group of volunteers sorted all of the items and then packaged them into individual bags that…
Studio Traditions: Yankee Swap
This week, Arrowstreet was filled with holiday cheer! We gathered in our VooDoo Lounge for eggnog, cookies, candy canes, and our 2nd Annual Yankee Swap. Over 30 members of our staff participated in this year’s event, and much fun was had by all in the competitive gift swap. An amaryllis plant and a Starbucks gift card cleverly concealed between two…
Congratulations to our newest RA!
Congrats to Arrowstreet’s newest registered architect: Nicole Voss! On the traditionally unlucky day of Friday the 13th, Nicole found out that she had passed her final ARE exam, especially impressive given that she only began the process in March. To acknowledge our new RAs, Arrowstreet honors them with $1,000 bonuses…and while it’s not in our office manual, a bottle of…
Greenbuild 2015
Greenbuild 2015 in Washington DC was as busy as ever this year. From a conversation with James Cameron to educational sessions to checking out new products on the expo floor and school building tours, I was able to make great connections with all that is happening in the world of green building. As the COP21 climate talks begin today in…