PERSPECTIVES

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.

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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!

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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.

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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.

very year, RODE invites a handful of talented young individuals studying architecture and design to experience what it's like working at an architecture firm. The students are able to work with our team on projects in all phases of the design process and apply the knowledge and skills they've obtained in their education thus far. This opportunity is extremely rewarding for us. We get to connect with the future professionals of the industry, learn the methods and programs being focused on in today's architecture curriculums, and help students gain a clearer picture of how fulfilling a career in the industry can be.

This week, Ivanildo DaMoura wrapped up his time with RODE and we are sad to see him go. Ivanildo, currently a student at Fitchburg State University, was able to apply his talents to a variety of projects. He dazzled the team with his model-making skills, was happy to lend a hand on job sites, and came in with a smile every day. This week, we sat down with Ivanildo to learn how he got into architecture and how his time at RODE has impacted his career goals.

What degree are you pursuing at Fitchburg State?

My major is Engineering Technology with a focus on Architecture.

What made you become interested in architecture?

I was born and raised in Cape Verde until I was about 8-years old  before migrating to the United States. During my childhood in Cape Verde, I spent a lot of time around my grandfather and uncles who were all builders. In doing so, I developed a strong interest in architecture and construction.

How did you hear about RODE Architects and what made you choose us to do your internship with?

I was recommended for an internship with RODE through the Boys and Girls Clubs of Dorchester.  I chose RODE because they are working on many great projects in my city and I hope to gain experience to further my career.

What skills that you learned in school have you been able to use at RODE?

My past courses at Fitchburg state have taught me how to use Revit which has allowed me to help the team develop designs. I have also been able to apply my skills in 3D modeling. RODE has a great fabrication shop with all of the tools you need to make a really great model.

What new skills has RODE taught you since being here?

I've been able to spend a lot of time in West Roxbury at the Brucewood Homes job site, where RODE is building three Passive House certified homes. I helped construct the houses and learned what Passive House means and why it's important. The process was very interesting because the homes are constructed differently than regular homes and specialized testing is conducted to make sure the homes will become certified. I was also able to build representational 3D models for different types of buildings. Being able to build models for a real firm gave me the opportunity to ask the team for tips on how to construct the models, as well as what materials are best to use. It was a lot of fun.

We wish Ivanildo success as he continues in his studies and hope he will think of us when he's ready to begin his career!

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