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Architecture operates on an extended time frame. The process, from concept to construction to a building in use, spans years. This is true for an architect's education as well. It's rewarding to see both our buildings and our people develop over time.
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The Importance of Time Off
by Andrea Murray
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I have always been a hard worker, at least in my adult years. Early riser, grab the bull by its horns, outdo the next person, work harder, longer, faster, break new ground, push the limits, overachieve…that’s me!
So, for four weeks this summer I did something very unlike me: I took some “time off.” At first, I considered it payback for the nine-week sabbatical Ashar (my business partner) took last summer. At least, that’s what I was telling people to avoid not feeling guilty about leaving work for an extended period. I had lofty goals for this interlude: spend hours of quality time with my kids, go on some adventures with my husband, clean out all of my perennial gardens, write dozens of songs, hike a few mountains, make raspberry jam…the list goes on. Did I get to everything on the list? Of course not! IF you’re curious, though, let me share a few exciting experiences I had and things I learned:
First, I sent myself away to guitar and song-writing camp (Frets & Refrains). You may be thinking, I never knew Andrea played the guitar and wrote songs…well I do now! As my Middlebury guitar instructor, Chris Prickitt (highly recommended by the way) reminded me – I was exploring my Zones of Proximal Development (ZPDs). The space in between what I already know how to do and what I am clueless about. The place outside my comfort zone where some magic is bound to happen. When was the last time you challenged your ZPDs? It was humbling, intimidating, and ultimately very rewarding. I spent a week with Richard Thompson, Happy Traum, Patty Griffin, Sloan Wainwright, and other notables learning about the guitar, singing, songwriting, and making new friends.
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Second, and it took me about a week to do this, I disconnected myself from my work email. At first I thought I would worry about my co-workers, projects, clients, associated deadlines and responsibilities, but quickly I realized that I was not worried at all. We have a tremendously thoughtful and capable team at VIA, and I knew that all questions, tasks, and challenges would be put to the tried and true “Ashar Test” by asking, not “what do we need to do?” but “what is the right thing to do?” I, indeed, did stop worrying, but I did not stop caring…there is an important distinction here. I must admit that I did tune in for the Shelburne Select Board meeting on July 24 to support my Shelburne friends and witness the approval to move forward with construction for the new Library and Town Center project. Hooray!
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Third, I supported my husband Chris Murray with the painting of his original artwork on the silo of the Bridge School n Middlebury. The mural, “We’re Different, We’re the Same, We’re All Beautiful,” will inspire students (and the community) to focus on “Identity” (teaching theme for 2018/19) and our place in this world as caring, compassionate, tolerant people. I am currently Board Chair for the school and have been blessed to work with a very talented board, staff, and school consultant Ashley Cadwell to develop an exciting strategic plan for the school in its second 40 years of existence. As an architect I am incredibly excited to work on more education projects – big impact areas as we teach our kids to be stewards of this precious world – and because my son Jackson has been utterly transformed by Bridge School (socially, emotionally, and academically).
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A little side note here: I did do some cool things with my family. We rode the Cog Railway up Mt. Washington, I watched the little one jump off the big diving board at our town pool, we took some great hikes, and made some incredible meals. I spent some quality time with my siblings, and most appreciatively with my mom. My husband and I also attended a couple of excellent concerts.
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That said, the most important thing I did was I just stopped. I took some time simply to be. We live in such a fast-paced world where technology and electronic communications often seem to rule our daily lives. We forget to check in with the people about whom we care most, and ultimately, we forget to check in with ourselves. I took the time to listen and notice these people and also the changes in my own perspective and my body. I sat in a rocking chair on my porch.
I am writing this on the eve of my return to work. I had a fabulous last day hiking with my dear friend Amy Sheldon and our dogs, splashing in the river, playing my guitar and singing with my music friends (and the aforementioned instructor) at East View, gorging myself on garden veggies, and feeling grateful for my health, my family and friends, for music, for this incredible place (Vermont, Middlebury) we call home, and for the fact that I have a most wonderful career and VIA team to return to tomorrow morning.
So why is it important to take time off? Well, for each of you it might be different; but life passes so quickly by. If we don’t stop to smell the flowers (cliché, I know) we might miss something really important.
Thank you to all of you who supported me, covered for me, loved me, played with me, and ultimately helped me push the “RESET” button. I look forward to returning the favor.
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The Shelburne Pierson Library project, with accompanying upgrades to the municipal complex, is now underway. Selective demolition of the historic Town Hall's first floor has begun, as well as site preparations including utility and telecommunications connections (ensuring continued service to the fire department and town offices). In addition, hazardous materials abatement is now complete. Investigation of the cupola and clock tower in the historic town hall begins today to determine the extent of rehabilitation required. The town is planning a ceremonial ground breaking once the existing library is removed and construction is ready to begin. Stay tuned for details!
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Utility work on site and demolition in the lower level of the historic town hall (above). A closer look at historic elements in the cupola/clock tower, and historic windows removed for restoration (below). (photos courtesy of Neagley and Chase)
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Libraries Keep Us Together
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Neighbors gather for craft making at Cutler Library in Plainfield (photo courtesy of Cutler Memorial Library).
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Public libraries have long been central fixtures of communities large and small. They are reservoirs of books and information, gathering places for meetings and events, resources for educators and students, and increasingly community hubs where neighbors are likely to cross paths. Given the 21st-century social landscape where virtual connections are replacing live ones, libraries play a critical role in fostering in-person, real-time interactions within a local community. Moreover, with rapidly changing technologies and social customs, libraries have to adapt and be flexible with both space and programming. An article in a recent edition of The Christian Science Monitor highlights the importance of libraries in communities across Vermont.
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Norwich residents offer ideas for reimagining library space (left). The new Waterbury Public Library includes computers and a cafe area with plenty of natural light (right).
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VIA recognizes the design challenges libraries face and delights in finding creative solutions that maximize improvements on a tight budget. We enjoy working with libraries of all sizes on projects varying widely in scope to address needs specific to their own communities. Often, Vermont libraries live in beloved historic buildings requiring varying degrees of renovation or reconfiguration to function well in our time. The challenge is to honor that history while making libraries welcoming, accessible, and flexible now and for the future. VIA’s library projects can be as small as planning and executing a public outreach event to gather community input (Norwich Public Library), as large as a brand new building (Shelburne Pierson Library, Waterbury Public Library), or somewhere in between (Rochester Public Library, Brandon Public Library, Cornwall Town Hall Library, Winooski Public Library, Jericho Center Library). We are pleased to begin a new project assisting Cutler Memorial Library in Plainfield, VT to design an addition and various accessibility upgrades to their charming historic building. For more details about some of our library projects with before and after photos, see the latest blog post on our website.
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Bethel Poolhouse - Two Years Later
VIA is delighted to learn that the Bethel Recreation Facility is bustling with activity two years after construction of the new poolhouse and pavilion. VIA's mission is to create buildings that people actually want to be in - aesthetically pleasing spaces that function well. The most successful buildings foster community life. Bethel's poolhouse pavilion has become a gathering place for family fun nights, adult classes, and community events. Community is happening in Bethel! (photos courtesy of Bethel Recreation Department)
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VIA Develops Planning Resources for
a Successful Residential Project
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Which do you encounter more often in your home– sunrises or sunsets? What are the most important activities in your home? What do an ideal three hours at home look like? These are just a few questions on a survey that Jean Terwilliger and Sam Ostrow developed to guide clients through the process of building a new home. It is one of several resources to guide clients as they embark on a new project. These strategies foster a more efficient process, saving clients time and money.
Choosing a site for building is a great opportunity for defining a new home. Jean and Sam created a list of things to consider when looking for land – things that can lead to creating a dream home or to expenses that would quickly drain the budget. For example, a steep slope can provide unique opportunities for views or walk-out basements, but can be trickier and more expensive to develop than a level lot. VIA offers consultations to clients who would like to think through some of these questions before purchasing a building lot.
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VIA always advocates for hiring a builder early in the process of building a new home. Being familiar with the client, the architect, and the evolving design allows the builder to better understand the wishes of the client and the nuances of the design, often saving time and money later on. We especially appreciate working with builders who are experienced with high performance homes; a trusted builder minimizes time spent on construction administration. VIA maintains a list of builders whom we’ve worked with successfully and are happy to help clients find a builder with whom they feel comfortable.
VIA's Residential Programming Questionnaire helps clients think not only about space requirements, but also the particulars of living and how different spaces feel. These questions often clarify priorities both for the client and for the project as a whole. A clear program from the outset provides the framework for a more efficient, and potentially less costly design process.
VIA aims to make high performance homes accessible and affordable to a wide range of clients through thorough and thoughtful planning. Choosing land, hiring a builder, and working through hundreds of design decisions really can be fun with careful planning and clear communication throughout.
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Interns Contribute While Learning
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VIA hosted two interns again this summer: Kai Dobek, a senior at Mt. Abraham High School who has worked with us during the summers and school vacations throughout high school, and Najat Croll, a student of AutoCAD who practiced skills in our office over the past year and began working as an intern this June. Here is what they've been working on:
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This has been my fourth summer working for VIA. I began in 2015 creating physical models of both buildings and sites in order to bring projects off the page into a more tangible understanding of the designs. This year, I transitioned to computer work with both AutoCAD and SketchUp. Some of my time has been focused on updating VIA’s CAD standards, which included drawing window installation diagrams and door jamb details. These details allow for more consistency between projects and make future designs a bit simpler to put together. I also spent some time working on a residential project where I created floor plans and sectional views while working with Najat, another intern at VIA, both to help the project move along and to learn firsthand what the architectural process looks like. The immersion was fun, educational, and valuable as I move into my senior year and then on to college.
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I was honored for the opportunity to become an intern with VIA this summer. Everyone in the office has been warm and welcoming. With the AutoCAD skills I have been developing over the past year, I have been able to work on two residential projects this summer. For one, I helped Sam gather photos, measurements, and other relevant information on site and then drew up the existing floor plans using AutoCAD. Sam advises me of changes and renovation ideas which I input into the working model. Another project entails demolishing an existing residence and building a new one. Nicholas and I have been working together to get the site plan information drawn in AutoCAD, including property lines, digging limits, topography levels, etc. which will determine where the house will be built. Interning at VIA has been a great educational experience and I look forward to continued learning.
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Tip #16
Research Materials
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