Post Apartments /
Out Post Apartments project was featured in the Champlain Housing Trust Spring 2024 Newsletter! To look at the entire newsletter click here.
Carbon Calculating Now Part of the Design Process /
Now part of Vectorworks (our design software) is a carbon calculator that compiles and breaks down the life cycle of the materials from cradle to grave or cradle to cradle. Estimates of how much embodied carbon a material produces from the acquisition of the components of a material to the transportation used to dispose or recycle materials are made in spreadsheet provided by Vectorworks. Additional estimations to verify overall embodied carbon are made using BEAM which provide a similar breakdown of materials.
Elmwood Community Shelter /
Elmwood Community Shelter is open for residents as of February 2023. The 30 units on the site are able to hold up to 35 residents at a time. It is intended as transitional housing for residents as they work with staff on site to apply for permanent housing. More information on the project can be found in this Seven Days article.
VR Renderings with Twinmotion /
DWA has been researching a new software that will assist our design process by virtually placing us into our rendered buildings using Twinmotion. Twinmotion can be viewed with a VR headset or through a web browser on a phone, tablet, or computer. Utilizing this software allows us to view and modify our designs in real time, streamlining our decision making process.
Links for saved panoramic views of a waiting area and office space for Howard Center; a project currently in its design development phase.
NEW AVENUE RECEIVES 2022 PRESERVATION AWARD /
St. Johnsbury was booming in the late 19th century. Industry was expanding, commerce growing, and the arrival of the railroads made the town a lively junction for business and vacationers alike. Following the fire and destruction of the Avenue House on Eastern Avenue and Railroad streets, the owner decided to rebuild. When the new Avenue House opened in 1898, the paper of the day commented that “St. Johnsbury can never be spoken of again as a place without a first-class hotel.”
Constructed in the Richardsonian Romanesque style, this L-shaped, 50-thousand square foot, four story brick building flourished in response to the activity at the nearby rail station, and soon became an anchor building in town.
Riding the waves of economic ups and downs, the changes in industry and the evolution of transportation, the hotel operated until around 1970. In 1978 it was converted to apartments by a private developer.
In 2018, with dogged advocacy from Senator Jane Kitchel, the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, leadership from St. Johnsbury Academy, and deep financial support from housing development partners across the state, Evernorth purchased the building and partnered with RuralEdge to restore the residential floors. New Depot Square Commercial Properties, LLC assembled a local investor group to take on the challenge of acquiring, renovating and leasing the street level commercial space. Their collective goal was to provide good affordable housing and a vibrant streetscape, bringing new life and vitality to St. Johnsbury.
The task was daunting: almost nothing of its original storefront facade was visible. The building’s once prominent corner turret and conical roof had been removed in the 1950’s. The entire building was suffering from deferred maintenance.
Careful research combined with the remaining historic material provided a framework for rehabilitation. With the expert guidance of Duncan Wisniewski Architecture, the design of the new storefronts incorporates the historic fluted iron columns into a bay window motif that evokes the original storefront design while complying with modern codes for accessibility. Though rebuilding the tower proved unfeasible, the intact turret rooms have been restored, including their decorative fireplaces. These rooms now function as office space, community and common spaces for the residents, and on the top floor a remarkable studio apartment. Original doors and corridor widths were documented and preserved if possible. In all, more than 200 windows were restored or replaced in-kind, some with original curved glass, providing incredible daylight and urban views, as well as views of the mountains beyond.
The completed $14.9 million New Avenue has been resoundingly welcomed into the larger community. All of the 40 apartments and commercial spaces are fully occupied and the corner is bustling once again. Not only is the project a renovation success, and it has become a catalyst for other downtown projects and activities, helping to rejuvenate and reinvigorate a critical area of downtown St. Johnsbury.
Three Rivers Path Pavilion /
The Three Rivers Path Pavilion is now open and connects the Three Rivers Path to downtown St. Johnsbury, VT. The path and pavilion are a part of the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail which, when complete, will extend 93 miles from St. Johnsbury, VT to Swanton, VT. The pavilion invites trail travelers to take a break and explore downtown St. Johnsbury. Trail planners hope to also incorporate bike and equipment rental services at the site in the future. Learn more about the pavilion in this VT Digger article.
Preservation Burlington - Liberty House /
Liberty House and the Cupola Loft Apartment were featured in the 2018 Preservation Burlington Homes Tour. Guests explored the former St. Joseph's Orphanage, taking in spectacular views of Lake Champlain from the rooftop terrace and experiencing the character of the loft apartments. Check out the 2018 Preservation Burlington Homes Tour Program for more information on Liberty House and the other featured historic homes.
COTS North Avenue Receives Preservation Award /
We are very excited to announce that the Preservation Trust of Vermont has recognized COTS North Avenue as a 2018 Preservation Award Winner. COTS North Avenue was a renovation and new addition to the historic Colodny's supermarket at the junction of North Avenue and North Street in Burlington, VT. The building is now home to Committee on Temporary Shelter (COTS) offices, daystation, and 14 transitional apartments. Check out the video Preservation Trust of Vermont created honoring the project and its history.
Trauma Informed Design - COTS North Ave /
Check out this story VPR featured about Trauma Informed Design and how architecture can help create healing environments for those who have experienced trauma. COTS headquarters and Daystation, COTS 95 North Ave, incorporates these healing principles into the design. The design, along with the supportive resources the COTS staff provides works together to creating a healthy and safe surrounding.
Congratulations Arthur /
We are excited to announce that Arthur Chukhman recently passed all required exams in order to become a licensed Architect in the State of Vermont! Arthur completed the Architect Registration Examination in version 5.0 which consists of six separate tests in different divisions. Great job Arthur!
Imagining Home /
The "Imagining Home" exhibit is on display at the Fletcher Free Library from November 3, 2017 through December 15, 2017. "Imagining Home" is a project, which was conceived by Alison Cannon and supported by the Burlington City Arts Community Fund, where people who have directly experienced homelessness were paired with a Vermont architect who would listen to their needs and dreams and then design them a home. The architects, including Michael Wisniewski, brought these imaginations to life through drawings, models, and thoughtful descriptions. See more information about the exhibit within a Seven Days article here. See the home Michael designed for Stephen Marshall here.
ELM PLACE RECEIVES PASSIVE HOUSE AWARDS /
Elm Place received three awards at the Passive House Institute US (PHIUS) annual Passive Projects Competition! Awards were announced at the 2017 North American Passive House Conference in Seattle, WA. Projects were judged on their strength in multiple categories including: energy performance, design, craftsmanship, use of healthy materials, level of difficulty for the given climate/site, and cost effectiveness of the affordable projects. Elm Place was awarded Best Overall Project, Best Multifamily Project, and also received an Honorable Mention Award in the Affordable Project Category. Check out the awards and other category winners here on Green Building & Design.
Liberty House - Open To Residents /
Liberty House is open to residents! The historic renovation / adaptive reuse of the former St. Joseph's Orphanage finished construction this summer. Liberty House anchors and marks the first phase of Cambrian Rise, a new neighborhood development planned for Burlington's North End. Check out the in-depth story about Liberty House which was featured in Seven Days - Nest.
Taryn Barrett Receives Leadership Grant /
We are very excited to announce that DWA's own, Taryn Barrett is a recipient of the Sho-Ping Chin Leadership Fund! Sho-Ping was the founding leader of the AIA Women's Leadership Summit and the leadership fund was named in her honor. Continuing Sho Ping's legacy of women's leadership the recipients of the fund will be attending the 2017 AIA Women's Leadership Summit. Congratulations to Taryn! Read more about Sho-Ping's legacy and meet the other 2017 fund recipients here.
COTS 95 North Avenue Opening /
We were excited to join many long time supporters and community members to celebrate the COTS 95 North Avenue re-opening! The historic renovation and new addition is now home to COTS Daystation, 14 transitional housing apartments, and COTS offices. The project was completed in March 2017. Check out the full story here on COTS website.
Hickory Street - Final Phase /
We are excited to announce the Hickory Street Project has begun construction on it's third and final phase! Starting in 2008, we worked to rethink how the existing neighborhood flowed and connected to the surrounding area. The initial design was imagined in one phase but due to constraints the project was partitioned into three phases which spanned multiple years. Each phase included demolition of existing distressed buildings and construction of new, energy efficient, and community oriented buildings. It's been an exciting process working on this project and watching each phase transform the neighborhood into a healthier and safer environment where people are proud to live.
VPR covered a story about this project and the positive impact it's had on the community, check it out here.
Elm Place Grand Opening /
Elm Place celebrated it's grand opening on June 5th! We were very proud and excited to be there alongside so many people who helped bring this project together. Elm Place is the first multifamily passive house building in Vermont. Check out the full story here from the Milton Independent.
Elm Place Opens To Residents /
We are excited to announce that Elm Place is officially open to residents! The project is the first multifamily passive house building in Vermont. Check out the full story here from Seven Days.