Studio Luz Architects

After much planning, we are excited to see the Dewitt Playground Public Art Project in the fabrication phase. At the helm of the project’s design is artist and educator Marlon Forrester, who Studio Luz is collaborating with, along with contractor BRM Production Management, to create a robust, resilient space in Madison Park Athletic Complex that facilitates intergenerational engagement, pays tribute to history, and promotes health and wellness of the body and mind through play. This program is supported by the Percent for Art funds from the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture and the City of Boston, with BR+A+CE: Building Research + Architecture + Community Exchange, INC. receiving a grant for the project. See a clip from our community meeting project presentation, and visit the link to learn more about this project: https://lnkd.in/g4FquvyZ

We are excited to share that Studio Luz team members E. Taylor Tocci AIA and Sophie Nahrmann have both been promoted to Associates! They have contributed to the firm's culture and growth with their respective knowledge in the areas of design, construction administration, project management, marketing, and community engagement. Congratulations Taylor and Sophie!

Studio Luz is excited to once again sponsor Roslindale Open Studios which will take place on October 19 & 20 from 11am-5pm. Roslindale Open Studios is a free, family-friendly community event that brings together artists, residents, businesses, and visitors for a weekend that showcases the neighborhood's vibrant creativity and builds community. We are proud to continue to support their mission, and to support Studio Luz Senior Project Manager Leena Ismail, who will be exhibiting her handmade ceramics at the event. "Making pottery is a therapeutic process for me where I find joy in creating with my hands," Leena says. "Unlike architecture, which can be technical and take years to see the final product, I enjoy being able to express my creative side with pottery and seeing the results in a matter of weeks." Swipe for more information about the event and to see some of Leena's beautiful work in pottery and her contribution to the firm's oversight of construction projects.

Studio Luz Principal Anthony Piermarini, AIA and Designer Joshua L. Ssebuwufu, Assoc. AIA, NOMA produced new diagrams for 69 Church Street in the Historical Bay Village Neighborhood to reveal how a new steel structure is integrated into the historical masonry and concrete buildings. Once a 1920's film warehouse, this site is now home to 6 mixed-use residential units, and a key challenge for this project was integrating historic construction types into a cohesive design. "The two-story addition draws inspiration from row houses and art-deco elements, reflecting the neighborhood’s early 20th-century film industry connections," shares Anthony. "The renovation includes a new helical pile-supported foundation and a steel frame that seismically braces the existing structures, and the vertical addition is a steel frame with timber infill." Swipe to see the diagrams, and learn more about the Church Street project: https://lnkd.in/gp89TJyN Developers: J.B.Ventures and TCR Development Photographer: Jane Messinger Photography

Studio Luz is proud to support EverGreen Meadow Academy, a future school and residential treatment center that offers therapeutic interventions for middle-school girls with trauma backgrounds. EverGreen's commitment to inclusivity in their approach to mental health care aligns and resonates with our own values, and we are proud to offer our support as they create an environment where girls of every race, ethnicity, identity, orientation, and income feel welcomed, supported, and understood. Learn more about EverGreen: https://lnkd.in/gxWb-7KA

The comment period for 639 Warren Street is now open, and we want to hear from the Grove Hall community members about the project – you can submit your comments now below! The proposed new construction from our collaborators at Madison Park Development Corporation will provide affordable housing to a total of 63 households near a dynamic commercial center with access to numerous transit lines (including bus and commuter rail), along with space for local businesses or nonprofit use. https://lnkd.in/gm4tg6P5

Community Liaison Sophie Nahrmann and Project Designer Meisam Dadfarmay visited Chelsea last week. The Studio Luz team was joined by Christine Madore, AICP from MHP (Massachusetts Housing Partnership), Karl Allen from the City of Chelsea, and Ben Cares from the City of Chelsea for a site walk, where they explored possibilities to provide mixed-use affordable housing in transit-oriented development districts in the city. To hear more about how higher-density housing and transit-oriented development can benefit communities, please read all about it here: https://lnkd.in/gGmNVaU4

This Latine Heritage Month, we're proud to continue to support Sociedad Latina Inc in their mission to support local Latine communities through mentorship and civic engagement, as well as their celebration of diverse Latine art and cultural traditions with their upcoming ¡Viva Nuestra Cultura! event. We previously worked with Sociedad Latina to design a dynamic multi-use community center that offers flexible space for all of their important programming and enables them to create real impact in our community. Read more about our work with Sociedad Latina below, and swipe to see moments from their grand opening celebration! Lead image by Sociedad Latina. https://lnkd.in/ggSzXijM

"The foundation of a building is not just steel, wood, concrete. It’s really the community that you’re building with." – Sophie Nahrmann, Project Manager, Marketing + Community Liaison Swipe for a peek into our community engagement process, and head to the link to watch our new video, created by EmVision Productions, that showcases our process: https://lnkd.in/gR8yYb4v

Join us on Tuesday, September 17th from 5:30-7:30pm ET as Studio Luz Principal and Co-Founder Hansy Better Barraza participates in the Boston Society for Architecture's panel discussion “The Persistently Missing Middle: The State of Housing Design and Development in New England.” Hansy will join fellow architects and public leaders Jonathan Evans, RA, Principal of MASS Design Group, Theodore Touloukian, Founder of Touloukian Touloukian Inc., Paige Roosa, Director of Housing Innovation Lab from the Mayor’s Office of Housing to share innovative approaches to creating, developing, and financing feasible "missing middle" housing solutions. This panel is free and open to the publish, though registration is required to attend in person and to watch the livestream — click the link to RSVP: https://lnkd.in/gkUMAqHv