RODE's Brucewood Homes project has been honored with the prestigious Planet Positive Award for Single-Family Home by Metropolis magazine. The Planet Positive Awards recognize excellence in sustainable, healthy, just design at every scale in the built environment.

Brucewood Homes, the first internationally certified Passive House single-family homes in the City of Boston, is a series of three single-family residences perched on a rocky outcropping in a quiet residential neighborhood. The Homes’ simple, contemporary design celebrates their sustainable aspirations: large windows and warm materials connect the occupants to nature, daylight, and well-being; an efficient building form minimizes disturbance of the site; and high-efficiency mechanical systems ensure a low-carbon footprint. The project exemplifies RODE Architects’ commitment to integrating sustainability with great design, setting a high standard for energy efficiency and resiliency in residential construction to create healthy, durable living spaces.

“We are incredibly proud to receive the Planet Positive Award for Brucewood Homes,” said Kevin Deabler, principal and co-founder of RODE. “This project represents our dedication to building sustainably. We believed that high-performance, healthy, and comfortable homes like Brucewood are in demand and this was proven true through the experience of our client and these homeowners. It’s an honor to be recognized by Metropolis alongside all of this year’s worthy award winners.”

‍

"Mike is positive and passionate, and that attitude motivates his students in a big way. I find that Mike also motivates me with his excitement for design. He can really run a class, too by keeping his students interacting all the way through the evenings. The work students accomplish under his teaching is usually extraordinary as he shepherds the breakthroughs in Arc1 Studio. As a whole, Mike is an all-around exemplar of a practicing instructor that the BAC embraces.”  

- Lee Peters, Director of Foundation Studios, Boston Architectural College

We are proud to announce that RODE Associate Michael DelleFave, AIA is this year’s recipient of the Boston Society of Architecture Award for Excellence in Teaching! The Boston Society of Architects (BSA), a chapter of the American Institute of Architects, awards this merit to faculty members in Architecture or Liberal Studies for their commitment to excellence in architectural education and contributions to the profession and to future professionals.

Mike was nominated by Lee Peters, Director of Foundation Studios at Boston Architectural College for the practice awareness he brings to the studio and his deep understanding of precedent and current design examples. A faculty member for 12 years, Mike infuses his industry experience into his classes, often sharing real projects he is working on at RODE, to help students understand the process and challenges of design.  

Many of our team members, both current and prior, are architects and designers by trade but also dedicate themselves to to being educators in their field. Rashmi Ramaswamy, AIA LEED AP, who has an advisory role within our firm, was last year's recipient of the Excellence in Teaching Award. Infusing our studio with teaching DNA is a key part of our studio culture. We are honored to have team members who inspire us to pass our knowledge and expertise on to future generations of talented architects and designers.

Congrats, Mike!

‍

Firm appoints Michael DelleFave as Studio Director; Lucas Herringshaw and Ruthie Kuhlman as Senior Associates; Nick Ruggeri as Associate; and Deidre Lamoureux as Associate & Director of Finance

BOSTON, February 1, 2024 - RODE Architects, a Boston-based collaborative design and architecture firm, announced five promotions today as the firm deepens its leadership team and diversifies its project portfolio. Michael DelleFave has been named Studio Director; Lucas Herringshaw and Ruthie Kuhlman have been promoted to Senior Associates; Nick Ruggeri has been named Associate; and Deidre Lamoureux has been promoted to Associate and Director of Finance.

“The evolution of our leadership structure with these five promotions is a demonstration of RODE’s growth and trajectory as we kick off 2024,” said Eric Robinson, principal and co-founder of the firm. “We’re thrilled that Mike, Lucas, Ruthie, Nick and Deidre will continue to be core members of our team in these expanded roles.”

As Studio Director — a new role born out of his passion for design and mentorship — DelleFave will ensure that the firm's portfolio continues to meet a high caliber of design by engaging its staff’s diverse talents and pushing a process that has consistently delivered strong, concept-driven work. Herringshaw and Kuhlman have distinguished themselves through leadership within the studio, and as Senior Associates they will guide and direct firm-wide initiatives towards RODE’s goals. Ruggeri’s promotion celebrates his long dedication to the firm, and his strength in project delivery. Lamoureux’s proficiency in managing the firm’s core operations has been crucial to RODE’s recent success.

“Since founding RODE nearly 20 years ago, we’ve prioritized fostering a culture that allows for the unique creative talents of each individual to contribute meaningfully to our work,” said Kevin Deabler, principal and co-founder of RODE. “We’re proud to acknowledge the achievements of these key team members, and empower them to continue shaping RODE’s evolution and recognition in the industry.”

• Michael DelleFave, AIA, is a registered architect, project manager and senior project designer with more than 17 years of industry experience. His broad range of project types includes Passive House, single-family, multi-family, adaptive reuse, commercial, and community-based projects. A graduate of Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston and Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, he joined RODE in 2014 and continues to contribute to the growth of the next generation of architects as a member of the design faculty at several Boston-area colleges and through his mentorship of RODE design staff.
• Lucas Herringshaw, AIA, brings project coordination experience and attention to detail to RODE, drawing on his experience working on a variety of project types and scales. Lucas, who joined RODE in 2015, pushes design excellence with rigor and dedication, honed through his 20 years of architectural experience. Lucas earned his Master of Architecture Degree at Tulane University.
• Ruthie Kuhlman, AIA, has worked across multiple scales and project types as both an architect and an engineer. A member of the RODE team since 2017, she brings a passion for problem solving through thoughtful contextual design with experience in museum, hospitality and multi-family residential projects. Ruthie holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Rice University and a Master of Architecture from the Boston Architectural College, and is a member of the adjunct faculty at the BAC.
• Nick Ruggeri, AIA, is a registered Architect with more than 10 years of experience in a broad range of projects including multi-family residential, hotels, high-rise, restaurants, light industrial, adaptive reuse, and commercial spaces. He joined RODE in 2015 after graduating from Kansas State University with a Master’s in Architecture and a Minor in Urban Planning. 
• Deidre Lamoureux joined RODE in 2018 as an accounting manager. With more than 25 years leading the finance departments at some of Boston’s leading design firms, she brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to RODE.

MEDIA CONTACT: Natalie Milewski, Elevate Communications, nmilewski@elevatecom.com

About RODE Architects

RODE is a Boston-based team of architects, designers, and urban planners who know that great design has the power to transform our environment. We have cultivated a network of driven people – employees, clients, builders, community members – who share this mission, and know that working collaboratively is the best way to achieve our goals. The breadth and depth of our collective capabilities enable us to apply our practice across an array of project types that includes mixed-use, hospitality, multi-family, commercial, industrial, and institutional buildings. Clients select RODE to drive the design process and ensure their vision is realized. For more information and to be inspired visit www.rodearchitects.com.

‍