PERSPECTIVES
Appalachian Mountain Club Moving to Charlestown
According to the Boston Globe, The Appalachian Mountain Club on Monday closed on the purchase of a prominent building in Charlestown’s City Square, where it will move its headquarters after nearly a century of running its operations from Beacon Hill.
RODE worked with the nonprofit outdoors group, which manages trails, huts, outings, and conservation efforts from the mid-Atlantic to Maine, on a preliminary needs assessment of the building at 10 City Square, known as Roughan Hall, as part of the purchase process, and will now begin the next phase of planning for the design and layout of its future headquarters.
Stay tuned for future project updates!
Physical Models, Still Where Its At
Over the last few years there has been a revolution in the architect’s toolkit. From powerful BIM and illustration software, to 3D printing and even the use of Robots in fabrication, technology has provided a host of new options to help explore design. With the plethora of new technology options, physical architectural models could become a lost form of communicating spatial concept and design ideas. However, here at RODE Architects we still consider the craft of building physical models as a critical piece of the design process.
Modelling allows for further experimentation in terms of form and also acts as an indispensable communicative devise that provides a deeper understanding of the project. RODE uses models throughout all of its design stages. For example, during the beginning schematic phases of our project in Boynton Yards, we developed a quick series of massing models as a tool to develop and establish the general shape and form as well as size of the building.
Once we enter the latter stages of a project, We will often use a physical model to answer specific design questions and inform architectural elements like program adjacencies, pedestrian/vehicular circulation and the façade’s interaction with its context. For our Dot Block project, we continuously created physical models in order to conceive a strong pedestrian focused scheme, ultimately resulting in a network of walkable zones and bridges.
Technology keeps bringing us new avenues and allows for efficiencies and innovation, but throughout the evolution of architecture, the one thing that has stayed the same is the traditional use of the physical model, and we are big believers in the value they add to our work from start to finish. Models give the architect and the client ability to pick up and view the project up close in a way that would otherwise not be possible – and they represent an evolving design process that is continuously being modified to best serve its community and end user.
14 West Broadway Topping Off Ceremony
14 West Broadway's structural steel frame has reached its’ full height of 10 stories, officially making it time for the topping off ceremony. The topping off is traditionally held when the last beam is placed atop a structure during its construction. Opening in 2017, 14 West will feature luxury condominiums with amenities including a roof deck, outdoor dining area and glass storefront, allowing for an activated presence off the sidewalk.
Stay tuned for more construction updates!
RODE Featured in NC State DesignLife Magazine
The Fall 2016 issue of Designlife Magazine is available now!
We are proud to share the many stories of how NC State College of Design alumni are making a difference in their communities, including a feature on RODE’s interdisciplinary process and commitment to our clients, highlighting our Dot Block project in Dorchester.
Check out the online magazine to learn more about our design approach and collaborative style.
