Freeman French Freeman, Architects:

Burlington Rotary names Jesse Beck Rotarian of the Year

Jesse Beck, AIA, was selected as 2018 Rotarian of the Year by the Burlington Rotary Club. The award is given in recognition of outstanding and persistent service to the Burlington club.

Jesse has been a member of the Burlington Rotary for over 30 years, and was the club’s president from 2008 to 2009. In 2016 he helped launch the Vermont Ski+Ride Expo, the state’s only winter exposition for all things alpine. In prior years he coordinated the Club’s fundraising efforts to beautify City Hall Park and the Edmunds Middle School landscape.

“Rotary has given me the opportunity to make a difference in our community and at the same time impact the world through our international programs,” says Beck.

The Burlington Rotary Club is part of a global network of over 35,000 Rotary clubs with more than 1.2 million members. Jesse Beck is President of Freeman French Freeman in Burlington.

Hotel Saranac Wins Top Honor from the Preservation League of New York

Hotel Saranac was one of seven projects recognized for excellence in historic preservation by the Preservation League of New York State at its annual awards ceremony in May. Freeman French Freeman was the architect for the $25 million project, owned by Roedel Companies of Wilton, NH.  

The six-story, landmark hotel in downtown Saranac Lake, New York opened in late 2017 after a multi-year, top-to-bottom renovation. The historic 1927 building, which sat vacant for nearly a decade, has been repositioned as an upscale, full-service hotel.

Jesse Beck, President, attended the awards ceremony at the New York Yacht Club in Manhattan on behalf of Freeman French Freeman.

City Market South End Piles Up Awards in its First Year

Since opening in late 2017, City Market, Onion River Co-op has received multiple awards for its new South End market.

The Burlington Business Association awarded City Market its 2018 Hertzel Pasackow Award for Architectural Excellence. The award is given annually to recognize buildings that make a significant contribution to the physical or architectural quality of Burlington.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, New England Office, recognized City Market for its commitment to sustainable design with a 2018 Environmental Merit Award. One of just two winning projects in Vermont, the EPA took note of City Market’s efforts to clean up and reuse a heavily contaminated site, its human-scaled, pedestrian-friendly design, and its energy-saving equipment.

The EPA also recognized City Market with a 2018 GreenChill Award for having the lowest refrigerant emissions rate in the country among all small and independent grocers. GreenChill is an EPA Partnership with food retailers to reduce refrigerant emissions and decrease their impact on the ozone layer and climate change.

Finally, City Market was named Natural Retailer of the Year in the Creative New Store category by the New Hope Network. The award was given at Natural Products Expo East, the nation’s largest tradeshow for the natural products industry.

Freeman French Freeman of Burlington served as architect for the 32,000 sf cooperative grocery store.

Freeman French Freeman Named a “Friendly Firm” for Emerging Professionals

Freeman French Freeman has been recognized as an “Emerging Professional Friendly Firm” by AIA New England. This new program aims to recognize firms that are committed to the advancement of young architects through mentoring and professional development. 

Thirty-five architectural firms from across New England were recognized as “Emerging Professional Friendly” at the 2018 AIA New England Design Awards Celebration in Boston. Freeman French Freeman was one of just two Vermont firms to receive this distinction at the October 12 event.

Shawn Brennan, AIA, Concludes Second Term on Norwich Board of Fellows

After six years of service, Shawn Brennan, AIA, has reached the end of his tenure on the Norwich University Board of Fellows.

The Board of Fellows is comprised of alumni and friends who have an abiding interest in the enrichment of the university’s academic programs. Board members sit on a variety of academic committees and help support the various colleges and schools within the university.

During his time on the board Brennan served a term as Chair of the Visiting Committee for the School of Architecture + Art, helping to advise school leaders and mentor students. 

“Our Committee was known for high achievement,” says Brennan. “The thing I remember most during my time as Chair was the creation of the “Wall of Fame” to recognize distinguished alumni of the School and inspire current students.”

Brennan received his architecture degree from Norwich University and is Vice President of Freeman French Freeman in Burlington. 

Lisa Rovner Accepts Senior Associate Position with Davis Brody Bond in Manhattan

One of AIA Vermont’s longest serving board members, Lisa Rovner, has announced that she has accepted a position with Davis Brody Bond in Manhattan and will complete the move to the city in October. In her new position, she will be joining a team that is currently working to complete the new Perelman Performing Arts Center adjacent to the 911 Memorial site due to open on the 20 year anniversary of the tragic event.

Lisa has been a member of AIAVT since 1993, served voluntarily as a board member since 2005, as President in 2015 and as ACX's annual collaborative conference Co-Committee chairperson along side CSIVT. Along with her consulting work, she has done pro-bono public outreach projects that have had a sustainable and social justice impact on her community. Examples included; designing the interior dance studio fit-up for the Vermont Ballet Theater and School that her daughter attended, helping to create AIAVT’s mobile classroom called the “Archistream,” constructing the AIAVT’s People’s Choice public display for the New England design awards, designing the interior renovation of Temple Sinai's synagogue and creating custom park benches for it's front garden.

“After being in Burlington, raising a family and running my own collaborative architectural consulting firm for the past 26 years, I am looking forward to making a change and forging a new path” says Lisa of the change. AIAVT wishes Lisa the very best in her new position!

Housewright Construction Welcomes Boy Scouts to Construction Site

On Wednesday, September 26th, Housewright Construction welcomed special visitors to one of our construction sites in Lyme, NH, where they are remodeling a home and building a second story addition. The purpose of the visit was to provide the opportunity for two members from Boy Scout Troop 273 to complete tasks from the list of the requirements to earn their Model Design and Building merit badge.

To receive this merit badge, the Scouts must demonstrate their understanding of both model-maker and builder hand tools and demonstrate knowledge of the appropriate safety precautions to follow when working with flammable, hazardous, or dangerous materials. They must be able to explain the uses for architectural, structural, process, mechanical, and industrial models. Each must complete a scale model of his own design.  Finally, they must identify three career opportunities within the modelmaking field, choose one, and research the education, training and experience required for that profession.

HWC Site Foreman Dan Bartlett gave the boys a tour of the project and explained the details of the building activities they were observing. They were quizzed to test their knowledge and they had to use the architectural blueprints to orient themselves within the site. Each scout got to take home a set of the blueprints to help with their own design.

HWC wishes both Scouts the best as they continue earning their badges!