SMMA

SMMA is thrilled to celebrate the opening of the brand new West Elementary School in Andover, MA! ✏🎉 The new school is designed to support diverse learning styles with flexible classrooms, interactive learning commons, and numerous multi-sensory graphics. The design fosters the joy of learning as a reminder that school is a place for young minds to grow, explore, and find delight. Nature-themed elements and spaces are featured throughout the building, including outdoor classrooms, a rooftop courtyard, and a sensory garden, encouraging students to embrace the outdoors while inspiring exploration. Built with sustainability in mind, the all-electric, Net-Zero Ready school reflects Andover’s commitment to future generations and a greener future 🌿 Congratulations to the Town of Andover on this momentous achievement, and thank you to our project partners PMA Consultants and Gilbane Building Company. #K12Design #NextGenerationLearning #JoyOfLearning #NetZero #AndoverMa

Congratulations are in order for our new Senior Associates and Associates! 🎉 This talented and dedicated group of individuals is drawn from a wide range of services within SMMA including architecture, engineering, graphic design, interior design, and project management. We are thrilled to announce their well-deserved promotions and look forward to seeing their continued growth. Senior Associates: (Clockwise) Abe Brahmachari, AIA, Lucas Carriere, Thomas J. Faust, Yanmin Ji, and Lance Keoki Kubiak. Associates: (Clockwise) Andrew Barros, Michael Chmielewski, Hillary Dutton, Austin Santamaria, Jennifer Lyle, and Cam Leandri, AIA. 🔗 Read more: https://lnkd.in/d7W98j2f

Have you ever noticed a time where your work setting made you feel more empowered, engaged, or comfortable? The more workplaces evolve, the clearer it becomes; empowering people through design means embracing flexibility, diversity, and experimentation. Creating environments where innovation and refinement are possible in order to support and hone a workplace philosophy. Together we craft living laboratories that ensure all employees can find a setting that empowers their learning style, while fostering efficiency, creativity, and a sense of ownership. Check out a few of our recent workplace projects that encourage balanced, positive ecosystems where employees can flourish. #WorkplaceDesign #LivingLaboratory #WorkplacePhilosophy

🏫 A new home for Hardy! In August, we celebrated a momentous day alongside teachers, parents, school committee members, and project partners as eager Wellesley students filed into the newly opened John D. Hardy Elementary School. Tucked into the back of a lush site, the new Hardy School is the second of two newly built Wellesley elementary schools, following the ribbon-cutting of Hunnewell Elementary earlier this spring. The design preserves the commitment to maintaining small, community elementary schools and student-centered classes while promoting collaboration and embracing next-generation learning and alternate learning styles. In alignment with Wellesley’s sustainability goals and SMMA’s commitment to the next generation of learners, the school is Net-Zero energy ready and LEED Silver pending 🌿 "This project was a result of so many dedicated teams”, said Michael Reid, Project Architect. “We are thrilled to have worked with the Town of Wellesley, MA, the school committee, principals, teachers and community members to make this vision come to life. The level of commitment that they exhibited in creating the best possible learning environment for the next century was unwavering. We forged a partnership that we believe created a truly exceptional school.” A special thanks to our project partners, Shawmut Design and Construction and The Vertex Companies LLC. #NextGenerationLearning #NetZero #K12Design #MassachusettsSchools

Knowledge sharing is essential when it comes to building a more sustainably conscious and informed future. 🌿💭 As contributors to the built environment, we strive to exchange ideas, solutions, and processes to better serve our projects, our communities, and our planet. Last week, Senior Interior Designer, Sarah Sopelak - NCIDQ, WELL AP, LEED AP BD-C, sat down with Boston area industry experts to discuss the challenges and successes of tracking sustainable specifications. Adopting an organized, detailed, and thoughtful approach to tracking materials not only strengthens systems for current and future designers but also supports future projects and advances sustainable solutions.   Thank you SmithGroup, Material Bank®, and Rebecca Elie Best for putting together such a positive discussion, in addition to fellow panelists Kristen Fritsch, AIA, LEED AP BD C, WELL AP, Marianne E. Weiss, IIDA, LEED AP, Zoha Amjad, Peter Nobile, and Ashleigh Savage. #SustainableMaterials #LEED #KnowledgeSharing 

From the ribbon-cutting ceremony to the first day of school, the past few weeks were incredible milestones for the city of Waltham and its growing community! The new Waltham High School represents a commitment to providing a top-tier education while accommodating 14 CTE programs in addition to their academic coursework. Congratulations to the City of Waltham, MA, and to the many team members who made this vision a reality. 🎉 A special thank you to our project partners, LeftField and Consigli Construction Co., Inc. 🤝 #K12Design #BackToSchool #CTE #NetZeroReady

As our long summer days start to wind down, we’re reminded of the incredible power of harnessing natural light in our projects ☀ Designing for natural light is not only beneficial to our circadian rhythm, our immune system, and our mood, but it can also improve the working environment of those who are sensitive to artificially lit spaces. When opportunities are limited for outdoor exposure, a solution is often attainable through flexible workplaces – whether it’s in an atrium, conference room, or cafe. Our Workplace designs continue to drive towards solutions that support various learning and working needs. #DesignForAll #HumanExperience #WorkplaceDesign #NaturalLight #WELLBuildingStandards 

Join Sarah Sopelak - NCIDQ, WELL AP, LEED AP BD-C and other local design leaders for an insightful panel discussion about sustainable specification tracking! 🌿 Boston | Wednesday, 8/28 @ 8am Register for free 🔗 https://lnkd.in/efPFHU8N

And just like that, SMMA’s 2024 integrated internship comes to a close!    This year, SMMA welcomed our latest class of interns from various disciplines, including mechanical, structural, and civil engineering, architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, information technology, and knowledge management. Taking their skills outside the classroom, the group was able to collaborate on a full-service project over the course of the summer. Two weeks ago, they presented their final design to SMMA's Cambridge office with humor, creativity, and enthusiasm.  "SMMA's integrated internship program is unlike any I have participated in, challenging each intern to experience what it means to be part of an interdisciplinary firm," said Emmie Barnett, Interior Design Intern. "Through various processes, ideologies, and strengths, the project advanced beyond what any of us could have imagined."  #IntegratedInternship #CambridgeMa #SMMAPeople

SMMA remains committed to supporting licensure for Interior Designers and looks forward to building on recent progress in upcoming legislative sessions! #LicensureForInteriorDesigners