July 28, 2009

Weekly business journal NJBIZ featured the Research Collections and Preservation Consortium in their Jul. 27 issue. KSS designed the fifth module of the now 85,000 sf state-of-the-art library archival center, located in Princeton/Plainsboro, N.J. The center is now capable of preserving 10 million items, which come from three consortium members: Columbia University, the New York Public Library, and Princeton University.

One of the most exciting and sustainable features of the project is the installation of 5,000 roof-mounted solar panels capable of generating 370 kWh. Because the building must maintain strict conditioning requirements for preservation--55 degrees Fahrenheit and 35 percent relative humidity--its energy needs are significant. The project became a natural candidate for solar panels since its energy needs are greatest when the sun is shining the most.

Read NJBIZ's article.

Read KSS' press release for more information.

Print

July 28, 2009

AIA's Committee on Design recognized KSS Architects' entry in the 2009 Ideas Competition as one of 25 Notable projects. The competition, "Listening to the Past, Looking to the Future: A House for Today," invited architectural professionals and students to design a house to replace the recently demolished Rachel Raymond House in Belmont, Mass. The house had to follow the original house's program, the ideals of modernism, and guidelines for sustainable design.

Considered as New England's first Modernist dwelling, the Raymond House was designed by Eleanor Raymond, FAIA, one of the most prominent American woman architects of the 20th century. Rachel and Eleanor were sisters. Raymond designed the house in 1931 after returning from Europe and visiting the Bauhaus. She was inspired by what became known as the International style of architecture, exemplified by the work of master architects Le Corbusier, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, and Walter Gropius.

The KSS team, composed of associate J Shermeta, AIA, intern architect Kevin Shaffer, and partner David Zaiser, AIA, titled their project "Reinventing the Raymond House." At the center of the house, a void commemorates the original house. An enclosed glass garden brings the landscape within the building. In the summer, the glass opens to connect the front and back of the house as one continuous landscape. Their design, based on an economy of means, uses simple, recycled, and local materials.

View KSS' submission.
View PDF of all winners (16.5 MB file).

Print

July 14, 2009

Campus centers have taken on many meanings in recent years. From the college pub--when it wasn't frowned upon--to the mail center, dining hall, and more formal functions, such as performance space and student admissions, the campus center is a living room and town center for a higher education institution. Given the range of programs that can potentially fit or cram into a campus center and today's vigilance on spending, how do institutions find the right path for their campus center?

On Jul. 20, KSS, with Stockton College and Lawrence University, will discuss the complex issue, "Coffee Cart or Cafe? Campus Center Decisions for Every Institution," at the Society of College and University Planning (SCUP) Annual International Conference in Portland, Ore. The presentation covers the nebulous dynamic of a campus center and the process of taking a university's unique mission and culture and adding in program elements, stakeholders, design experts, student voices, and site considerations to inform and develop the end result: a built project.

Partners Allan Kehrt, FAIA, LEED AP, and Pamela Lucas Rew, AIA, will co-present with Stockton College's Eileen Conran-Folks and Lawrence University's Nancy Truesdell on Mon., July 20, 2:30-4 p.m. in rooms C120-C122 in the Oregon Convention Center.

Update: We have posted our presentation for SCUP Annual online. If you didn't make it to Portland, KSS presented on two screens to capture the wide range of issues and program encompassed in campus centers. The presentation on the "left" screen conveyed ideas and topics mostly in text, while the presentation on the "right" contained supporting images.

Print

July 10, 2009

Princeton architecture firms KSS and Michael Graves & Associates have joined forces for the 2009 season of the Princeton Business Softball League. Captained by KSS intern architect, Kyle Rendall, the softball team of architects comprises 24 enthusiastic and fun players. Games began in April and continue through August. Other professional businesses in the league include McGraw-Hill and Shiseido America. Game locations rotate through parks in central New Jersey.

While the team record is, let's just say, not one for the Hall of Fame books, players are enjoying their new friendships, running around outdoors and time in the sun. Plus they're donning awesome jerseys and T-shirts with a custom design by KSS that reflects the teams' mutual Princeton heritage.



Print

July 6, 2009

Everyone has felt the effects of the economy in some way. Higher education institutions have always shouldered the burden of being all things to everyone--enrolled and prospective students, faculty and staff members, trustees, alumni, and so on. With the economy changing the status quo of applicant volumes, yield rates, and financial aid, universities and colleges are scrambling to rework once successful models to stay ahead of the game.

In the May 2009 issue of Urban Land magazine, Pamela Lucas Rew and Michael Shatken discuss how educational institutions can redefine their master plans and capital planning and construction to continue moving forward strategically in the current economy. For example, Drew University is focusing efforts on future planning for their campus edges and improving ways to interact with the town. The article also includes case studies from Lawrence University and New Jersey City University.

Check back soon for a link to the article. Otherwise, see page 66 of Urban Land's May 2009 issue.

Print

Archived Posts