PERSPECTIVES

This week, the proposal for a new 75,000 SF recreation facility on Columbus Point was filed with the city of Boston. Designed by RODE, the future Dorchester Fieldhouse which will include an indoor turf field, track and hard courts as well as a dance studio, theatre, training facility, café, cooking kitchen, nutrition center, classrooms, and more.

We have worked closely with our clients, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Dorchester and the Martin Richard Foundation to ensure the facility meets the needs of the community. The project came to fruition through the collaborative efforts of our team—The Green Engineer, Howard Stein Hudson, Goulston & Storrs, Lee Kennedy Company, LAM Lighting & Design, BET Building Envelope Technologies, LeMessurier, Cosentini Associates, BR + A Consulting Engineers, Haley & Aldrich, Stoss Landscape Urbanism, Dot Joyce Consulting, CSL Consulting, and Joyce Strategies LLC.

Wednesday’s filing with the Boston Planning & Development Agency will kick off a formal city review of the project and we are thrilled to see this exciting and transformative project come to life. The Fieldhouse aims to be a welcoming and inclusive recreational space for members of all ages to gather and connect.

To read the full article from the Boston Globe, click here.

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UPDATE: After graduating in 2023, Molly joined RODE as a full time employee!

After a long year of remote everything, RODE was pleased to welcome Molly Gagnon to our office and team. Currently in her fifth year at Northeastern University, Molly is pursuing a Bachelor's of Science in Architecture and joined our team for her semester co-op. Since being at RODE, Molly has been an active team member, helping out on a variety of tasks—everything from hauling foam on a Passive House construction site to façade work for a large-scale residential building to organizing project data for marketing initiatives. When asked why she chose RODE for her co-op experience she explained,

"RODE has done a bunch of interesting projects, from a concrete facility to trendy hotels and everything in between. I also spoke to a former RODE co-op and learned about the firm's laid back, collaborative, and exciting office culture. I was sold on wanting to join the team."

For her very last assignment, we asked her to share her experience with our firm...

One thing I learned from working at RODE is that design doesn’t have to be boring. From projects to events, there always seems to be something exciting going on in the office. Having just spent over a year in online classes, being able to be back in a collaborative and spontaneous working environment was something that I was really looking forward to. Working at RODE felt like a return to the architecture school studio environment that I really enjoy, albeit with more regular hours. Being able to turn to a person, rather than a computer to get answers to questions, feedback, or just talk to someone was great, and I feel that it contributed to how quickly I felt like I was a part of the RODE team, rather than “just an intern”.

I found that RODE takes “work hard, play hard” seriously. I’ve had the pleasure of attending numerous Lunch and Learns, Trade Shows, Hive Workshops, happy hour and networking events, birthdays, promotions, site visits and holiday parties during my six months here, as well as finding the time to train and run in an 8K or go apple picking with my colleagues. I’ve also had the opportunity to help in the construction and lay down the foundations for what will hopefully be Boston’s first certified Passive House project! It feels like every week that there’s always something to look forward to socially, and even as I’m writing this now, I’m thinking about when I should make my cookies for our holiday bake-off and cookie drive for the Pine Street Inn.

The work is nonetheless exciting too. Though I’ve only worked on a few projects during my time here, I’ve had the opportunity to be exposed to and work on various stages of design. From building massing models for an addition to an existing building, to ensuring that the positions of light switches in an apartment all made sense, along with making sure that bathroom plumbing and door hardware are all accounted for, I’ve learned that designing at all scales is important for the overall impact of a building, both spatially and environmentally. Of course, none of this can be done without thorough project management, and I’ve had the pleasure of working with project managers and architects that are great at staying in-tune with their projects as well as with their team members. I was able to aid in making presentation materials for community and client meetings, and learn from RODE’s approach and talent for presenting design intent and ideas to a wide audience.

The past six months went by like a whirlwind. I’m sad for my second co-op experience to come to an end, but I’m also excited to see what RODE has in store in the future, and to be able to see the projects I worked on come to life. I hope to take everything I’ve learned about architecture, design and maintaining a healthy workplace back to classes, grad school and the rest of my professional career.

We wish you the best with the rest of your time at Northeastern and hope you'll come back and visit us, Molly!

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As we wrap up 2021, Jessica Haley, RODE’s Head of Interior’s, shared the interior team’s perspective on what trends will be omnipresent in the hospitality industry in 2022. Head to HOTEL Magazine to read the full piece: https://www.hotelsmag.com/blog/escapism-in-design-fits-the-moment/.

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The highly-anticipated opening of Karen Akunowicz' second Boston restaurant, Bar Volpe, is finally here! The space includes a restaurant, bar, dining lounge, back bar, and pastificio (pasta shop), all inspired by Karen's travels through Southern Italy. Venetian plaster, antique mirrors, and a warm white color palette compliment the cuisine, creating an intimate and engaging atmosphere. To read more, click here.

Photo by Alyssa Blumstein

This is not our first time designing restaurants for Karen. RODE was behind the design of her first eatery, Fox & the Knife. In contrast to Bar Volpe, RODE fused the sensibilities of an enoteca (Italian wine bar) with the punk-femme culture of its chef and all-female management through bold colors, rich textures, and intimate lighting. Since opening in 2018, Fox & the Knife has quickly become a gastronomical touchstone in hip South Boston, described as warm, welcoming, cozy, and delicious by both local articles and online reviews.

Photo courtesy of Xhulio Cooks

We are thrilled to watch Bar Volpe join its Northern Italian-inspired counterpart, Fox & the Knife, as one of South Boston's favorite restaurants. Congratulations, Karen!

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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.

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