PERSPECTIVES
This week, the Boston Planning and Development Agency (BPDA) approved the design of a building aimed at addressing East Boston's housing needs while supporting the area's local artist scene.
The mixed-use development will provide 139 residential units, 13 of which are work/live spaces reserved for artists. The building also provides 2,100+ SF of artist workspace. On the ground level, 3,200 SF of retail space will be able to accommodate a variety of potential new tenants, such as a daycare facility, local market, or restaurant.
282 Bremen Street also includes many upgrades to the public realm—pedestrian and vehicular access, streetscape design, and landscaping. In addition to improving the public right of way, sloped walkways, steps, and ramps have been integrated into the design to allow the first floor of the building increasing the building’s resiliency to future storms and sea level rise.
Meet Luke Stevenson, our newest Designer! Luke came to RODE with eight years of experience designing everything from single-family and multi-family homes, to civic and academic buildings like libraries and theatres. We checked in with Luke this week to get the scoop on his background and ambitions.
What inspired you to pursue a career in architecture? Were there any other career paths you considered along the way?
As a child, my favorite toy was LEGOS, I guess foreshadowing my future as a Designer. I never considered any other career paths and went straight into studying architecture after high school. I obtained a degree in Environmental Design from the University of Colorado, Boulder before moving to Texas and attending UT Austin for my Master of Architecture. The rest is history!
Are there particular project types, skills, or experience that you'd like to focus on as a Designer at RODE?
I am particularly interested in honing my skills and experience with construction detailing and I would love to work on religious buildings and places of worship like the Congregation Kadimah-Toras Moshe Synagogue.
What architect do you most admire and why?
Todd Williams and Billie Tsien have always been inspirations to me. Both Architects create idiosyncratic sculptural forms that make their buildings unique and impactful.
When you’re not designing amazing spaces, what do you like to do for fun?
I can usually be found woodworking, hiking, and gardening in my free time. Even when I am not at work, I enjoy activities that involve creativity and working with my hands.
You’ve studied, worked, and lived in many different places. Are there buildings that resonate with you as a designer in Colorado, Texas, or Massachusetts?
I am fortunate to have lived in each of those places because I was exposed to many different types of architecture. One particular place is the Charles Moore House in Austin, Texas. It is a great example of how architecture can be whimsical and colorful instead of anonymous and pretentious. The very modest home responds to Austin’s climate by organizing the house around a central pool covered by an arbor.
Yesterday, after four years of planning and development, our Neponset Wharf project was approved by the Boston Civic Design Commission! The multi-faceted waterfront project was presented last night by our fearless leader, Kevin Deabler, as well as members of the team from RISE Together and OJB Landscape Architecture.
The project will transform the northern end of the Port Norfolk peninsula with the development of a community wharf and boathouse, 120 residential units, office and community meeting space, and a resilient landscape of native plantings and public walking paths.
Neponset Wharf was met with praise from the commissioners in attendance, who lauded the project team for improvements made to the landscape and architecture over the course of the public process.
We are thrilled with the progress the development team has made in bringing this project to life. Neponset Wharf will create a unique seaside destination in Dorchester, bring new jobs to the area, and prioritize wetland restoration and climate resiliency. Congratulations to the team! Next stop, BPDA approval!
It's been a few weeks since our newest designer to the team joined RODE, so we asked Caroline Jones to tell us how she came to be at RODE and what she's been up to since she started...
1. What appealed to you most about interior design that led to you becoming a designer?
My love of design has always been there--as a kid (and still) I played Tetris with my furniture and went to any open house I would see in my neighborhood. After working for a couple of years out of undergrad I felt creatively deprived and began taking evening intro to architecture courses at my local community college and the rest is history.
2. How did your career lead you to RODE?
Jess Haley was one of my studio professors while I was in graduate school at the BAC and then became my graduate thesis advisor, which is how RODE initially got on my radar. I began following along with the projects RODE was involved in and was intrigued by the range of project types and sizes for a smaller firm. Once I knew there was a position open that I was qualified for I was all over it!
3. Is there a particular focus of interior design you are especially knowledgeable of, or interested in working on at RODE?
All of my professional work has been focused in residential design so I am especially excited to be working on future hotel and restaurant projects since that will be an entirely new experience!
4. When you aren’t at work making the world more beautiful, how do you spend your free time?
I love being outside--I have a 6 year old dog, Oakley, who I got of course because I love dogs and the companionship aspect, but I also wanted an adventure buddy who would get me outside on some of the less than ideal New England winter days. I hike and downhill ski, but with the pandemic and ski areas closing early I got into cross country skiing and Oakley loves it as much as I do!
5. In your opinion, what is one of the worst interior design trends you’ve seen in the industry (past or present)? What is one of the best (past or present)?
Not all accent walls are created equal! I feel like I am constantly trying to talk a friend out of painting one random wall a different color than the rest. I am really excited to see that bold patterns and color are again being used by the masses in both wallpaper and tile installation. Maybe we will be making fun of our choices in a couple of decades, but for now it's much more fun to be in a space that feels more lively.
Restaurant design has become an evergreen pandemic topic. Few industries suffered the effects of Covid-19 like the hospitality industry. In the July of 2020, Kevin spoke with Boston Real Estate Times about the impact of the pandemic on Boston's hospitality industry and how design and architecture is playing a role in business resiliency.
This August, nearly one year after his first interview, Kevin reconnected with Boston Real Estate Times to discuss how Covid-19 is continuing to impact restauranteurs and hotel owners, as they navigate a new post-pandemic era. From improved business forecasting to permanent al fresco environments, restaurant and hotel owners are continuing to evolve their business models to thrive in uncertain and ongoing conditions.
