Month: February 2020

It has been an exciting start to 2020!

We are thrilled to share that Erin has been elevated to the AIA College of Fellows! This honor recognizes Erin’s tireless efforts to expand the public engagement role of architects in communities across the state over the past decade. Through initiatives like Activate NC and Connections 81.2 and her role as recent AIA NC President, Erin and her collaborators have sparked public initiatives across the state through speaking series, design competitions, and events that expand the leadership role of architects in imagining the best design outcomes for their communities. Erin’s accomplishments are remarkable, especially in light of how much we know she does in our office every day to lead award-winning projects and guide our team. Please join us in toasting Erin, a true citizen architect and standout in our profession!

 

Friday Morning Serial returns this month at 8:00 AM, on 03 19 20, in our office, with David Meeker. David will be talking about what’s next for Trophy Brewing, and why he thinks fare free bus service could transform Raleigh overnight. David is a true gem in our community, and we are excited to hear what he has to say! Come for a bowl of cereal, a hot cup of coffee, and bring a friend. RSVP here! And, if you have someone you think would be a great fit for Friday Morning Serial, please let us know via email!

 

We’re currently wrapping up the design of the Russell Moore Residence located in the Oakdale neighborhood of Raleigh. The massing of the house is a cube carved to allow for daylight and seamless transitions between interior and exterior. A major slice through the middle of the house connects the two stories, terminating in a skylight reminiscent of a slot canyon. An indoor garden rests under the stair, furthering the connection to nature in this space. The living and dining rooms open directly to a rear balcony, patio, and a beautiful backyard. The kitchen is fit for culinary adventures and feasts with family and friends. Several built in bookshelves are adjacent to cozy reading nooks for small getaways. We’re aiming to start construction late this spring or early summer and are excited to share construction photos as the project comes out of the ground!

 

Our team has a new project in galaxy far, far away (Chapel Hill), working on a new ground-up house, east of downtown. We have loved getting to know our clients and are super excited about what’s to come later this year. Can’t say much more at the moment, but just imagine: forts, treehouses, Tusken Raiders, kale, and courtyards! Stay tuned!

The next readings on race event will be held on March 26 at 101 S Wilmington Street from 7:00-9:00pm, where we will be discussing Wilmington’s Lie, by David Zucchino of Durham NC. This book details an often ignored event in our state’s history – the violent overthrow of Wilmington NC’s government in 1898 by white supremacists and the corresponding murder and expulsion of hundreds of African Americans in the community. The repercussions of this moment have shaped the demographic makeup of North Carolina to this day. Grab a local friend and join us for the discussion! So & So Books has generously offered a 25% discount for this event – pick up the book at 704 N Person St, or call to reserve your copy at 919 426 9502. E-mail questions to readingsonrace@gmail.com, or visit www.readingsonrace.com for more information.

Happy New Year from in situ studio! Tomorrow is Groundhog Day, and we sincerely hope Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow. It’s been too warm for our tastes this winter!

Check out what we’ve been up to so far this year: 

The spring semester is underway at the NCSU College of Design, which means that Brittany and Natalie are in their FINAL semester of architecture school! Their project is a maker space and gallery located on the Duke University Campus, expanding the programming of the Pratt School of Engineering. Vince is teaching first year architecture students with Sara Queen, Ellen Weinstein, and Joe Burkett. Jake is teaching second year students in a site and environment studio, ARC 202, with Don Kranbuehl. Matt is teaching third year students in the ARC 302 technology studio. Stay tuned for updates on excellent student work this semester on our Instagram!

 

As the new year gains momentum we have four special houses under construction! In the beginning stages is the Lewis House in Johnston County, a home for a young family nestled at the edge of a forest. The three other houses have all reached the rough-in stage at the same time, keeping us running from site to site! The Taylor Property is a renovation to a Latimer and Matsumoto mid-century house in Chapel Hill. Cranefly is new construction that perches on the banks of New Hope Creek and the edge of Duke Forest. House BC is our newest “machine in the garden” – sited in a post-WWII neighborhood in East Raleigh. We couldn’t do what we do without amazing contractors and subs – special thanks to Bob Aiello, Durham Potter, Xylem Inc., BuildSense, Leo Gaev Metalworks, Kemp Harris, Dopko Cabinetry, and Arrowhead! We can’t wait to see finishes start in the coming weeks at all four sites!

We are in various stages of design for three park projects across the Triangle. Our work on the Eno River State Park Visitor Center is about to enter the construction documentation phase. The new visitor center will be nestled in the forest near the top of a hill, overlooking the park’s well-known pedestrian suspension bridge. We’ve also just started design work on a large recreation shelter in North Raleigh at Baileywick Park. This 32,000 SF structure will accommodate basketball, pickleball, and myriad other community events. Third, we moving into schematic design for a visitor center and six other structures at a new Wake County Park, Beech Bluff, located near Fuquay-Varina. We’ll be excited to share progress on these projects, along with updates on our two museum projects at the NCMA and MoLaS, in the coming months!

Our team is currently completing several feasibility studies for important cultural resources in Raleigh. We recently completed a study for the Sutton Lobby and Theatre Renovation at Raleigh Little Theatre (pictured above). Our proposal focuses on the history of the building, updating finishes and lighting, way-finding, state-of-the-art theater lighting and sound technology, designed by TCC, and improved accessibility. We have also been helping the City of Raleigh and the Dorothea Dix Park Conservancy imagine the potential reuse of several existing structures in Dorothea Dix Park. This work focuses on the rehabilitation and potential reuse of four historic houses in the park and developing decision criteria that will guide viable future uses for other structures. And, finally, we have been working with Wake County PROS to assess the feasibility of reusing the main house at Kellam-Wyatt Farm as it becomes a new Wake County Park. We love working on projects at the feasibility stage to help clients establish a vision for how architecture can support their mission!

Our book of the month is el croquis 202, featuring Austrian architect Bernardo Bader. Bader practices in the Voralberg region of Austria, known for its small towns and picturesque landscapes, but also the city of Bregenz (notable to architecture nerds as the home of Zumthor’s Kunsthaus Bregenz). The firm’s work fights back against criticism of Frampton’s theory of critical regionalism, arguing that any important work harmonizes with people and place. Bader says it this way, “We look at things that are familiar and try to understand what is behind them. We work with the method of finding things rather than reinventing them. No, we’re not afraid of the familiar.” We recommend checking out the Islamic Cemetery in Altach, the Alpine Sports Center in Schruns, or Salgenreute Chapel in Krumbach. Bader has quickly become an office hero. Get your copy here!