On Resiliency

I Am Vermont Strong

I often ponder the irony of the success of the Waterbury Municipal Center project. If it hadn’t been for Tropical Storm Irene and its associated recovery funding, I wonder if this project would have been constructed? I also wonder if it would have been designed to address key issues of endurance, including: flood proofing, independence from fossil fuels, and community gathering.

For years many in the Waterbury community were trying to build support for a new library and community space, with little forward movement.  Not long before VIA became involved, a bond vote for a combined Library, Police Department, and Town Office project had been rejected by taxpayers as not affordable.

Waterbury Irene Cleanup
Tropical Storm Irene clean-up (Photo from The Burlington Free Press)

So, how can we encourage communities, businesses, institutions, and individuals to consider resiliency before a tragic event occurs?  As architects, we are helping our clients design the future they want to live in; shouldn’t this exercise attempt to anticipate potential stresses and demonstrate strategies for sustainability and resiliency?

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has been working to imbue in its membership an obligation to address resiliency as scientists predict many more natural disasters as a result of climate change.  I have participated in a couple of AIA seminars recently on just this topic and have also been researching how this way of thinking in many ways is just plain, old good design. While it many have a new moniker (“resiliency”), VIA has been practicing with this mindset all along.

So, what are some of the basic considerations as we design for resiliency? Here are some key points I’ve collected in my research and investigation:

Vulnerability – We must have a basic understanding of the vulnerability of a place. IS this place vulnerable? What is its “Hazard Risk,’ or the likeliness this place will see a catastrophic event in the future? To what degree will the community and building be able to cope with the impacts of both minor, gradual changes and catastrophic events? Where can we as architects engage to have the greatest impact on vulnerability?

Interconnectedness – To what extent is the place dependent on shared systems and services? How can we design to support shared resources and services while being prepared to supplement should a system become dysfunctional? (As an aside here, recognizing and embracing our interconnectedness and interdependence can be a beautiful thing. When individuals and communities are willing to share, collaborate, and support each other, we can often overcome what seems to be impossible.)

Short and Long-Term Recovery – It is important to plan for both short and long-term recovery efforts. In some cases, it may be okay to abandon the building, as long as that potential outcome informed its design (e.g. use of natural, non-toxic materials). Ask some questions: can this building/place resist the impact of an event and adjust immediately to the changed environment with little or no effort/energy? Will this building/place require extensive work to become functional again?

Comprehensive, Interactive Process – Architects are big on process. As we work with our clients to design buildings that are beautiful, well-loved, and sustainable, we can work a few key considerations into our processes that highlight and address resiliency. The abbreviated process may flow something like this:

  1. Establish objectives for the useful life of the project.
  2. Assess the risk tolerance for the project (this includes budget, by the way).
  3. Evaluate site sensitivity and vulnerability.
  4. Determine the project’s (site and construction) ability to adapt to both gradual and significant, immediate changes.
  5. Ensure design strategies support project objectives to the greatest extent possible.
  6. Critically review design options for potential maladaptation, hazardous conditions, potential change of function over time.

The richest and most informative process is one that involves and integrates a diverse group of participants and expertise.

Clearly this is only the tip of the rapidly melting iceberg (pun intended).  But, I wanted you to know that VIA is thinking about its projects in terms of resiliency. Below are a series of resources if you want to dig deeper. Also feel free to give me a call if you’d like to discuss.

Resources:

National Climate Assessment (NCA) – 2018

Intergovernmental Panel on climate Change (IPCC)

U.S. Climate Resistance Tool Kit – Climate Explorer

New York City Resiliency Plan – One NYC 2050

American Institute of Architects – Resilience

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Think about it this way: isn’t it better to eat right, get enough sleep, exercise regularly, wash your hands, etc. and know that you are doing what you can to prevent a major health incident for your own body temple?

We need to think this way about our buildings and project sites as well. Join us in being proactive, instead of reactive because if hindsight is 20-20, imagine the clarity and impact of foresight!

Demystifying Color

Blue kitchen
Elderly Services kitchen.

Years ago I was walking down Main Street in Middlebury, and a gentleman stopped and asked, “Weren’t you the architect who designed the Elderly Services building?”

I replied puzzled, “I was one of the architects, yes.”

“Well, because of you, my wife made me repaint every room in our house! Thanks a lot.”

I chuckled a bit, and he softened, “and the cheerful colors really do make a difference.”

Choosing paint colors for your home, and really any building, inside and out is never and easy task. Some things we consider as we recommend colors to our clients are:

  • Light Reflectance Value (LRV) – this is a percentage of the total amount of light that falls on a surface that is reflected back. Most paint chips have this value printed on the back for your use. The lighter a color, the higher the LRV percentage. For example, white is nearly 100% depending on the white. The darker and more saturated the color, the lower the percentage. On the interior, use light colors on ceilings and in spaces where brightness is desired. Reserve darker colors for ambiance and accent. LRV is also relevant to heat. For example, when we have a thermal mass such as a stone or tile floor in front of a south-facing window, we often choose a dark colored one as it will absorb heat and contribute to the passive heating of a space.
  • It’s Only Paint – Relatively speaking, paint is cheap. Do a mock up. Most paint companies sell small samples (enough to paint a 4’ x 4’ area). Choose a couple of colors and try them out before committing 100%.
  • Go Bold – Choose one “zinger” of a color and weave it throughout the project. It could be an accent paint on a column, a thread in your carpet, a display wall, a piece of furniture. Don’t use too many zingers.
  • Orange program room
    Waterbury Muncipal Center Program Room
  • yellow and blue bathroom
    Master Bathroom
  • Know Your Finish – matte, eggshell, satin, semi-gloss, high gloss –  these are different finishes, or sheens, that are available for your paint.

Flat or Matte – Absorbs light and is not so easy to clean. I almost never use this finish, but it is best for low-traffic, low-abuse areas.

Eggshell – In between satin and matte, this is a great finish for walls in common spaces. Not too shiny, but still cleanable. Best finish for darker colors as fewer flaws will show through.

Satin – Lustrous for sure and beautiful, yet trick y to tough up as variations in strokes or rolls are quite obvious.

Semi-Gloss/High-Gloss – Shiny! Use where cleanability is important. Consider for wood trim such as baseboards and trim at doors and windows. Also use for doors and windows themselves. Use high-gloss for furniture.

  • Not All Whites Are the Same – For trim and other elements you want to appear “clean,” choose Bright White. For ceilings, use “Ceiling White.” For walls, get to know the subtleties of the many whites out there that have various undertones that make them cooler or warmer. I tend to use cooler whites on exterior surfaces and warmer whites inside. If your home or building is flowing and open, choose one white and stick to it!  Coordinate your white with your “zinger.”

Finally, pick the colors that make you happy! It really is only paint, and it can be changed.

Practicing Gratitude

By Andrea Murray

Thanksgiving has long been my favorite holiday. The usually brown November landscape makes me feel okay about being in the kitchen, and the foodie in me appreciates the excuse to cook and eat some of my very favorite dishes without feeling guilty. Bar none, however, I love Thanksgiving because it is not about “stuff,” maybe just “stuffing.”  To me Thanksgiving is an opportunity to share the kitchen and food mentioned above with the people I love, with people who may be less fortunate, and to practice the act and art of gratitude.

BLACK FRIDAY – HMMM?

I woke up early this morning, the day after Thanksgiving, intent on continuing the practice of gratitude in my writing to you, and I notice 164 email messages have clogged my inbox with offers of sales and deals, “just for me,” on this Black Friday. I am not sure what to make of this.  My first thought is to be annoyed and to turn my nose up at all of those people out there who left their Thanksgiving dinner tables, warm beds, and families early to wait in lines at stores to take advantage of the aforementioned deals.

“What have we become as a society?”  I ask myself.  I turn on the TV, and our local reporters are interviewing people taking advantage of Black Friday in Burlington (at 6:30 in the morning!). One woman explains that this is a tradition for her and her sisters and that they have so much fun together and try to get all of their Christmas shopping done on this one day so they have more time to celebrate other holiday activities with family and friends. Another person notes how the deals are “unreal,” and that he couldn’t afford to shop at any other time with the same results. The reporter then goes on to state, “A recent study shows that Vermont leads the country as the safest state for shopping on Black Friday!” Wow! I actually find myself proud of this.  Of the many violent crimes that occur on Black Friday, trampling tops the list.  Was I wrong about Black Friday?  Perhaps it does serve an important role?

So, here I am on Friday morning at a critical juncture. Do I jump in, start my Christmas shopping, scour the web for the best deals? Or, do I try and re-frame the conversation?  Well, if you’ve read this far, you can probably guess.

MEANINGFUL COLLABORATION

I set out to write a piece about gratitude. So, here it goes I want you the VIA community (clients, consultants, contractors, vendors, friends, and family) to know how grateful we are not just for your patronage, but for your leadership, hard work, dedication, friendship, and support. Over the years we have noticed the following about our partners and collaborators:

  • You are doing what you can, in your own unique way, to make the world a better place;
  • You care about the future and understand that we as architects are uniquely trained to help you imagine and realize the future you want to live in;
  • You are open-minded and willing to “think outside of the box;” to consider ideas and opportunities that never occurred to you before;
  • You value excellent communications; and
  • You measure success not just by the financial bottom line, but also by impact on the natural environment and the community.

How fortunate I am/we are to work with so many of you. I am grateful to be in a position to work on projects with you that have a positive effect on so many. I am proud to be working to create spaces that foster community, have a net positive impact on our beautiful natural environment, help restore beautiful historic structures and make them relevant for future use, and simply make life a little easier and better for all of you and the people we collectively effect. I have learned so much from each of you. Thank you.

OPEN HOUSE #8 DISPLAY: SOMETHING NEW

In gratitude, on behalf of our entire firm, we hope you will join us for our eighth annual Holiday Open House at our studio in the Marbleworks in Middlebury. We will have the usual spread of local food and libation.

This year, instead of having our project work on display, we are creating a gallery of mentors, elders, and friends. Ashar has suggested that each of us in the office put up four (18” x 18”) photographic “portraits” of individuals who have been influential to us as mentors or elders. He noted, “In some ways, I think it would highlight the fact that we are in a people profession and a field that relies on mentorship and teaching. It’s a different approach than just pinning up a bunch of pretty pictures of projects.”

To summarize, we are grateful for the projects on which we collaborate, but mostly we are grateful for you!

JUST A SWEET STORY

Many years ago while teaching a section of “Architecture and the Environment” at Middlebury College, I asked my students upon returning from Thanksgiving break if anyone wanted to share an architecturally-related experience from their time off. I always ask this question of my students, and often I get: “I went to New York and walked the Highline;” “I was in Paris with my family, and I loved the Eiffel Tower;” “My parents just built a new house, and it was exciting to have our first Thanksgiving together there.”  But, on this one occasion, a senior Economics major who rarely contributed to class discussions had something to say.  He told us that his family has a very large house in Greenwich, CT, and that he has three siblings all of whom were present for the holiday. He said usually on Thanksgiving, we spend time in our own spaces and only come together at meal time. “My dad works constantly and is always on his phone or computer.”  This year was different, though, because there had been a big storm and the power went out. It was cold, and they made a fire for the first time ever in their fireplace. Everyone gathered around the fireplace to stay warm and conversations and board games ensued. Even this chap’s father joined. He reflected somewhat simply that it was the best Thanksgiving he’d ever had and that he learned how much he actually likes being with his family.  He also noted that they could have left the house and gone somewhere else, but it just felt right to stay put.

Several years after he graduated, I got a call asking for a written recommendation for graduate school (in Architecture no less). He said, “Andrea, do you remember me?”

“Of course,” I replied, and I recounted this story and told him what an impact it had on me. I said that when I am designing a house, I often ask my clients, “Where will you gather as a family when the power goes out?” He laughed and said they have new traditions in their family now as a result of that stormy Thanksgiving, and they make time to just “be” together.

He is, of course, a thoughtful practicing architect now.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Wherever you are this holiday season, we send you our well-wishes. Thank you for being part of our ever-expanding VIA community. Stay in touch.