Maclay Architects Will Become Vermont Integrated Architecture - Maclay Studio

Maclay Architects and Vermont Integrated Architecture, P.C. (VIA) are excited to announce that Maclay Architects will become “VIA - Maclay Studio” as of January 1, 2024. The staff at Maclay Architects will become VIA employees at that time. Nationally-recognized as a pioneer of sustainable architecture, Bill Maclay has been practicing in the Mad River Valley for over 50 years. With trailblazing projects throughout Vermont and the Northeast (e.g. Aiken Building at UVM, Coastal Maine Environmental Learning Center, Putney School Fieldhouse) Maclay helped set the standard for ecological design and continued to innovate throughout his career. As his attention turns to a new book project on architectural design as well as an update of his definitive book, The New Net Zero – Leading-Edge Design and Construction of Homes and Buildings for a Renewable Energy Future, Bill carefully chose VIA as the caretaker of his staff and clients going forward. “Through their practice of architecture and design, VIA has demonstrated a similar, authentic commitment to care for the planet and our communities,” Maclay stated. Maclay will remain partially involved in the firm as a mentor, advisor, and collaborator on various projects, including Greylock Glen Outdoor Center, Dorset Town Office, and Putney School Dormitories.

VIA Partners Andrea Murray, Ashar Nelson, and Megan Nedzinski are honored to carry the Maclay Architects’ tradition forward. “The collective wisdom of our two firms in the realm of sustainable architecture is significant,” notes Murray. “We look forward to partnering with friends, clients, consultants, builders, communities, and new collaborators to work toward a flourishing future for all.” VIA will maintain its main office in Middlebury as well as the “Maclay Studio” in Waitsfield. Vermont Integrated Architecture, PC is a full-service architecture firm serving residential, commercial, and institutional clients throughout Vermont and greater New England. Notable recent projects include the net-zero VNRC headquarters in Montpelier, Shelburne Pierson Library, the Middlebury Natural Foods Co-op Addition, and Village Center Apartments, a fossil-fuel free affordable housing project in Morrisville. Learn more at https://vermontintegratedarchitecture.com/stronger-together/

TruexCullins has announced that Matthew Bushey is advancing to the role of Managing Principal

He will succeed David Epstein, AIA, who has served as Managing Principal for the past 11 years. Epstein will remain with the firm and will continue to lead the Education studio, where he will more fully dedicate his time to the planning and design of K-12 school projects throughout the region and overseas.

Bushey joined TruexCullins in 2006 and is a design architect for commercial, hospitality, and higher education projects. As a workplace strategist, he has helped some of Vermont’s most well-known companies adapt to growth and change, with transformative projects that support a company’s brand identity and values.

He received a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Carnegie Mellon University, which has served as the foundation for a career combining design creativity with critical thinking and an interdisciplinary approach to problem solving. He leads the sustainability efforts at TruexCullins, including tracking the firm’s progress toward the net-zero energy goals of the AIA 2030 Commitment.

Bushey is a fourth-generation Vermonter who currently lives in Burlington with his wife and two daughters. He recently completed 10 years of service on the Burlington Design Advisory Board and is the immediate past President of AIAVT, the Vermont chapter of the American Institute of Architects.

Now in its 55th year, TruexCullins is a nationally recognized Architecture and Interior Design firm serving local, national, and international clients. The firm’s work is organized across four design studios: Residential, Education, Workplace, and Hospitality.

Gov. Scott Appoints David Epstein to the VT School Construction Task Force

Governor Scott has appointed David Epstein, AIA, to the Vermont School Construction Aid Task Force, a group created by the Vermont Legislature to examine issues relating to Vermont school construction aid. David has been a longtime advocate for Vermont public schools and has worked for many years to reinstate a new Vermont school construction program.

The Task Force is comprised of 16 members and will be chaired by State Treasurer Michael Pieciak and acting Vermont Secretary of Education Heather Bouchey. As laid out in VT House bill H.486, the group’s mission is to study the state’s school construction needs and potential funding options and report to the Legislature with written recommendations by January 2024. The group will review the conditions of school facilities statewide and study the following issues:

• The needs, both programmatic and health and safety, of statewide school construction projects
• Funding options for a statewide school construction program, including any incentive plans
• A governance structure for the oversight and management of a school construction aid program
• The appropriate state action level for response to polychlorinated biphenyl contamination in a school
• Whether the State should continue to require the testing of indoor air quality in schools for polychlorinated biphenyls
• Criteria for prioritizing school construction funding

Vermont is currently the only state in the Northeast without a statewide school construction aid program. Due to a backlog of financial obligations, the Legislature enacted a “temporary” moratorium in 2007, which was never lifted. The result is an enormous backlog of unaddressed facility needs, contributing to less-than-optimal learning environments, poor energy performance, and considerable inequities in the educational quality across the State.

In 2018 David founded a group of state education leaders, including Jeff Francis of the Vermont Superintendent’s Association, to meet and discuss a plan of action. The effort resulted in the passage of Act 72, which directed the Agency of Education to update the school construction aid program. Act 72 also commissioned a statewide school facility evaluation, which is currently underway. This study will assess every school facility in Vermont, make recommendations for infrastructure improvements, determine the cost of these recommendations, and rank buildings in terms of need.

David brings to the Task Force his experience working with VT public school districts around the state, including Winooski, Champlain Valley, Harwood, Addison Central, and Milton. The recently completed $60M Winooski Schools project design boasts many features that support collaboration, community, and team-based learning inclusively and equitably.

“We are fortunate to have David representing AIA Vermont on the Task Force,” said AIA Vermont Executive Director Sarah O’Donnell. “David has been a strong voice for school design and construction within AIAVT. With his experience and understanding of modern school design, he is extremely qualified.”

AIA Vermont has formed an ad-hoc committee of members to support David and provide him with feedback over the next few months while the Task Force is in effect. If any AIAVT member wishes to join that group, they may contact Sarah O Donnell for more information.

Birdseye is honored to have been included in several recently published books:
Lathhouse was published in New View: A Curated Visual Gallery: Twenty Magnificent Homes by Northeast Architects by Benton Buckley Books, for which Birdseye’s Principal Architect Brian J. Mac, FAIA, wrote the introduction.
bentonbuckleybooks.com/new-view-ne

Lathhouse and Deckhouse were published in Timber Homes: Taking Wood to New Levels by Braun Publishing
www.braun-publishing.ch/en/architecture/timber-homes.html

Lathhouse was published in Building With Wood: The New Timber Architecture by Prestel Publishing
prestelpublishing.penguinrandomhouse.de/book/Building-with-Wood/Agata-Toromanoff/Prestel-com/e610418.rhd

Annex was published in Architizer: The World’s Best Architecture (11th Annual) by Architizer
shop.architizer.com/products/architizer-the-worlds-best-architecture-11

Birdseye’s Principal Architect Brian J. Mac, FAIA, attended the Architizer A+ Awards Gala in Paris this October in celebration of our Annex project winning a Popular Choice award in the Cultural > Gallery & Exhibition Spaces category.

Birdseye and E4H Environments for Health Recognized as Emerging Professional Friendly Firms in 2023

Two Vermont Firms, Birdseye and E4Hhave been chosen to receive this prestigious designation because their firms have displayed an outstanding commitment to the development of their Emerging Professional staff. This designation has the ability to attract and retain employees by sending a message to current and future employees, as well as other regional firms, that these firmshave evaluated their policies from an emerging professional lens, recognizes emerging professionals, and values Emerging Professionals’ development to sustain the future growth of their practice.

Yestermorrow Offers High Performance Design/ Build Certificate

Yestermorrow is offering a brand-new, six-week High Performance Design/Build Certificate. This intensive program will provide hands-on experience in the design/build process centered on high performance, super-insulated residential homes. Perfect for the architect or builder looking to take their skills to the next level of energy efficiency and sustainability! Learn more

ReArch Shares Year in Review Highlights

The opening of a second location in Lebanon, NH, a Carbon Commitment, and employee led philanthropic efforts all round out a productive year for ReArch. Learn more

Carolyn Bates Releases New Book: Street Murals of Burlington Past and Present

Photographer, Carolyn Bates,  shared the following regarding her new book, which comes out in three volumes: "I have photographed street murals in Burlington since 2018 and I have hired journalists to interview many of the artists. Others have written their own stories. I have had the incredible pleasure to get to know many of them personally.  My book designer Victoria Colotta and I have researched art work beyond the murals that many artists have done." Learn more at https://www.carolynbates.com/