Northland Newton Development is an innovative national model of sustainability, affordable housing, transit demand management, historic preservation, open space, master planning, and community amenities. This 22-acre mixed-use development introduces 10 acres of public open space and parks and 1.5 acres of green roofs and amenity decks; transforming a classic New England strip mall and its associated sea of parking into a lively neighborhood interconnected with open green spaces that will serve residents and employees living and working in the neighborhood, as well as visitors from the surrounding area.
Inviting plazas emerge from lush, planted areas, as if they had always been there. The design for each space was inspired by historic and natural site features and together creates a vibrant, desirable, and walkable community. A nuanced yet cohesive native planting palette provides visual interest seasonally as well as significantly improving the existing ecology and contribute to the regional ecosystem.
The judges commented, “This project has been awarded the top honor in the Site and Landscape category for its unwavering commitment to design excellence, seamlessly bridging the worlds of architecture and nature to foster genuine ecological harmony, all while fostering substantial positive social and environmental benefits. A cornerstone of this project’s success lies in its key strategies, which encompass the careful design and masterful implementation of green roofs, amenity decks, and plazas. These elements have been meticulously crafted to not only nurture a sense of community but also to pay tribute to the site’s rich historical and natural heritage. This thoughtful choice is poised to yield a healthier and safer space, ensuring the well-being of both present and future generations.”
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Sladen Feinstein Integrated Lighting is now formally recognized as a certified Women Business Enterprise (WBE)! We’ve restructured over the past year to bring new opportunities for leadership, and Julie Rose will act as the new president along with fellow leaders Josh Feinstein, Reiko Kagawa, and Ben Strauss. This turning point will enable us to offer our lighting expertise while striving to create a more equitable and just industry.
In addition to becoming a WBE, earlier this year we established studios in Providence, RI and Washington DC and have begun exciting new collaborations in the process.
While our office and reach have grown a bit, our values are still the same. We continue to build a practice that holds true to our core values. We are seeing our influence in sustainability and material transparency echo through the industry as many manufacturers commit to increasing efforts to build more sustainable products.
All the best,
Julie, Josh, Reiko, and Ben
Presented by the Lighting Controls Association and supported by the National Association of Innovation Lighting Distributors, the Lighting Controls Podcast interviews Jennifer Bean, a Senior Lighting Designer and Controls Specialist at Sladen Feinstein Integrated lighting and learns more about her approach to projects. "You have to get into the weeds, lighting controls are so complicated now and there is so much coordination that needs to happen. The lighting designers, the controls specialists and the engineers all need to work together." To watch/listen to the episode click here.
The College of Wooster celebrated the successful completion of the Lowry Center’s transformation with a formal ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony on Feb. 25th 2023. “Lowry Center is the heart of our campus. It’s the one place where every student goes every day, and it plays a central role in the learning they do on campus by living, leading and spending time together,” said Former President Sarah Bolton. For more information on this renovation and expansion click here.
We are excited to announce the opening of two new studio locations: Providence, RI & Washington DC.
Our Providence Studio will be led by Principal, Julie Rose, a long-time resident of Rhode Island who designed the lighting for the renovation and restoration of Bank Newport's Flagship branch and is currently working on the renovation of an historic firehouse, both in the Historic District of Newport. Julie is excited by the innovation taking place in Providence and is looking forward to participating in the redevelopment of the city. Our DC Studio will be led by Associate, Allie Steimel who has a decade of design experience in the Washington Metropolitan Area including lighting renovations for the Washington DC Metro and a lighting Master Plan for Port Covington in Baltimore.
Both studios will continue the firm's mission of creating innovative and sustainable lighting design solutions for our clients, while meeting the functional needs of the end-user. We look forward to developing new client relationships and expanding existing ones in both markets.
SFIL collaborated with SMMA on the renovation of the former Genzyme Center at 500 Kendall Street in Cambridge, MA to serve as the centerpiece of Takeda’s interconnected network of buildings across our three main campuses in Massachusetts. As the first LEED Platinum office building of its size in the United States, 500 Kendall was significantly updated to improve the building's efficiency and is seeking additional LEED certification for this interior renovation as well as Fitwel 3 Star certification for its focus on occupant wellness.
For more information about this project click here.
For a video on the virtual unveiling click here.
In 2020, the university undertook a $12.57 million renovation project on the fourth floor of the Bromery Center to transform the bridge of the center into a makerspace for the departments of art, music and dance, and theater. The multidisciplinary space includes a design studio, theater rehearsal studio, costume shop, music education classroom, music seminar room, recording studio, and newly designed spaces for animation and art classes and a computer lab.
“These state-of-the art facilities encourage emerging student artists as they hone their craft and practice, and support faculty as they conduct cutting-edge research and creative production,” Subbaswamy said. “Today, with the opening of the Arts Bridge, we are reaffirming our legacy of making the arts inclusive and accessible.”
To view a video on the project click here
Three SFIL projects received honorable mention awards in this year's AN (Architect's Newspaper) Best of Design Awards:
For more information and a list of all award-winning projects click here
“The collective ABA team proved to be very talented and able to successfully meet the frequent challenges the project presented,” notes Ralph de Florio, Director of Operations for the duration of the project. “Ann Beha Architects was the right architectural firm for this project and the school will benefit from their work on this project for many decades to come.”
To read the full article click here.
The Lowell Justice Center is featured in Bulit Environment Plus' 2021 Green Building Showcase and received this year's National Grid/Eversource Energy Optimization Award!
Located within the Lowell National Historic Park, the Lowell Justice Center forms the cornerstone of Lowell’s Hamilton Canal District development master plan. The project originally began with a certifiable building study and was the largest of three pilot studies for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM)s ZNE initiatives. A goal in the design of this 265,000 SF courthouse was to maximize energy efficiency. Building systems and controls, glazing, and highly insulated walls are among many of the design features specified to achieve performance targets 40% better than code and its LEED Platinum certification. The building contains a chilled beam HVAC system, photovoltaic panels, and a sophisticated building envelope as well as abundant natural light throughout. The Center was designed in orientation to the site, with many special landscaping features incorporated on the former brownfield site, such as the use of native plants requiring no irrigation and a post-development site runoff reduction of 40%. Approximately 65% of the occupied floor area offers direct views to the outdoors. Water use reduction is 35% and energy use savings are approximately 58%. The Lowell Justice Center is the first courthouse in Massachusetts and first state courthouse in the country to achieve LEED Platinum certification.
For more information on this project and other projects featuredin the Building Showcase click here.
"The Skating Club of Boston continues its century-long run in new facility while continuing to support figure skaters."
As New England’s premier skating destination this project includes a new 180,000 SF state-of-the-art training facility and performance center. The center includes three ice rinks for the Skating Club of Boston as well as events ranging from Olympic qualifying, ISU, and theatrical shows. The facility also includes lounges, offices, a library and academic center, off-ice training studio, physical therapy suite and exam rooms.
To read the full article click here.
"The architecture is neutral, in colors reminiscent of the water and surroundings, but we [wanted to] play with texture and reflections [to give] it an undertone of energy," Patrick Planeta says.
To read the full article click here
“Green building is on the rise in and around Boston, and the region is now set to have the state’s first LEED Platinum-certified courthouse.”
This 265,000 SF public facility houses 17 courtrooms, offices, a service center and law library, but it is much more than your typical courthouse. It is a thoughtfully designed public space that reflects the rich history of this textile and mill community while being environmentally responsible. The use of natural materials from local sources and integration of public art help enrich the goal of creating a calming environment. This new courthouse offers both a beautiful and sustainable design solution to the public realm.
To read the full article click here
PTC’s new global headquarters, designed by Margulies Perruzzi is featured on the cover of the May 2020 issue of LD+A. The cutting-edge oval building shape presented layout challenges, solved with a completely customized solution of two rows of curvilinear direct/indirect LED pendants, representing forward motion and embracing the architectural form.
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"This small but important project links two streets and serves as a public gateway to a new science and technology campus. The Architect’s vision for the corridor was to express the tension of two buildings coming together. The “ceiling fracture,” a custom lighting feature that spans nearly 200 feet, runs through the corridor and acts as a fault line, creating a statement and drawing the public through the entire space."
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The revitalization of the Council Chambers' original Brutalist interior respects the architecture and restores the original design intent with today’s standards and technology.
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"A playfully grand Back Bay townhouse designed by Catherine Truman Architects is full of treasures hidden in plain view."
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