Andre Voss, AIA’s Post

Clackamas County Circuit Courthouse - A #PublicPrivatePartnership at the #AAJConference, Designing for Change: Architects Transforming the #JusticeSystem. On Sep 26, Nancy Bush, Debbie Spradley, Jon Kindrachuk, and Sean Link will be discussing the process and the details of the Clackamas County Courthouse project, which is being delivered via the PPP model: The remarkable growth of Clackamas County, Ore., rendered the existing county courthouse inadequate, and the financing modalities and schedules of yesterday impractical. The solution was a private-public partnership dedicated to crafting a trauma-informed courthouse. Our design for the new Clackamas County Courthouse rises to the needs of both modern civic and workplace life by prioritizing accessibility and connectivity, with thoughtful interior organization and connections to nature throughout. This works to foster community both internally — with common spaces, intuitive wayfinding, and clear sightlines — and with adjacent services, reducing the stress inherent to needlessly complex civic buildings. This responsibility to community and connection extends to the environment itself, with special care given to make the courthouse resilient to natural extremes and wildfires, while implementing a thoughtful water management system. https://lnkd.in/ebigCKbc

We have submitted plans to Reading Borough Council on behalf of developer Elder, for the new Greyfriars House co-living scheme. Situated at 20-30 Greyfriars Road, Elder's plans propose demolishing the existing building on-site to make way for a new development. The project includes a part seven, part 13-storey structure, featuring 266 co-living units—comprising 243 standard units and 23 larger, accessible units—designed to meet the applicable co-living design standards. Elder’s co-living concept reimagines urban living by engaging its local community and maintaining strong ties to the local area. Through participation and support for events and wider programs, this project will deliver meaningful connections with the neighbourhood, enhancing quality of life and embedding the development within the local fabric. https://lnkd.in/eAzKtMRP #residentialdesign #architects #buildtorent

Should you focus on the past... or is the future what matters? As someone who works closely with construction professionals in Ohio, it's inspiring to see the incredible work being done to revitalize historic buildings and neighborhoods in downtown Cincinnati. Take the Willkommen Project in Over-the-Rhine (OTR) for example. It’s more than just a preservation effort—it’s a forward-thinking approach to combining affordability, good design, and historic renovation. By restoring 11 historic buildings and adding modern infill, Willkommen is bringing much-needed affordable housing to a historic area while maintaining its rich architectural fabric. (https://lnkd.in/gtHCnia8) Historic preservation isn’t just about preserving the past—it’s about shaping a future that’s both sustainable and economically sound. Cincinnati shows how we can blend innovation, heritage, and community to create lasting progress. If you’re passionate about urban revitalization or work in construction, I’d love to connect and discuss how these projects are changing the landscape of Cincinnati! 🌍 #UrbanRevitalization #HistoricPreservation #CincinnatiConstruction #ConstructionJobs #Sustainability #BuildingTheFuture

 Architecture and Design Scotland (A&DS) article features our landscape scheme in Alloa as part of the town centre regeneration, that brings housing and resident living into the town centre, benefitting from the convenience of amenities close by, but also that acts as a catalyst for other improvement projects for the town. The landscape provides a secure yet welcoming series of courtyard spaces for residents supporting continued independent living for older people, and contributes to the public realm enhancement for the town centre. Read more here: https://bit.ly/TCLSLi

Wynwood, known for its unique blend of repurposed industrial charm and vibrant urban culture, is now at a critical juncture. The proposed Live Local Act looms large, potentially opening the floodgates to towering developments that defy the carefully crafted regulations that have defined our neighborhood's character. This legislation could pave the way for projects like Bazbaz Development's 48-story tower, a stark departure from the current 12-story limit set by the Wynwood Neighborhood Revitalization District rules. Such changes threaten to overwhelm our narrow streets with increased traffic and infrastructure demands, jeopardizing the very essence of what makes Wynwood a thriving community. #compassrealestate #realestate #luxuryrealestate #agentsofcompass #compass #realestateagent #compasseverywhere #realtor #architecture #luxuryhomes #condo

Reflecting on Ethical Urban Design: Addressing Anti-Homeless Architecture As urban planners and architects, it's our responsibility to create inclusive and welcoming public spaces that serve all members of our community. However, the prevalence of anti-homeless architecture in our cities raises crucial questions about the values underlying our design decisions. Anti-homeless architecture, such as metal spikes, sloped benches, and hostile landscaping, may aim to deter individuals experiencing homelessness from occupying public spaces. Yet, these measures often exacerbate social exclusion and marginalization, rather than addressing the root causes of homelessness. As professionals in the built environment, we must advocate for ethical urban design principles that prioritize compassion, dignity, and social justice. Instead of resorting to punitive measures, let's focus on creating spaces that foster inclusivity, accessibility, and support for all individuals, regardless of their housing status. By engaging in dialogue, collaborating with community stakeholders, and reimagining design solutions, we can work towards building cities that are truly equitable and inclusive for everyone. #UrbanDesign #EthicalArchitecture #InclusiveCities #CommunityEngagement #HomelessnessAwareness #gallantorbit

The #CraftandDesignCanberraFestival kicked off with a fantastic Symposium: The #Future of #Housing and the Need for #Public #Amenity. This symposium brought together visionary #architects, #urbandesigners, #policymakers, and #economists to discuss the evolving landscape of residential architecture, the need for more diverse housing typologies, and the strategies for delivering public spaces and streetscapes that promote healthy living. Housing densification was seen as a necessary construct for the future of our cities, and it was acknowledged that urban renewal would be required. The discussion focused on how Canberra as a city based on ‘garden city’ design principles, highlighted as one of the world’s most liveable cities, could retain its landscape quality while delivering a compact city with missing-middle housing supported by high-quality public amenities for its residents. Australian Institute of Architects City Renewal Authority Suburban Land Agency Craft + Design Canberra #Festival @Rob Henry - unlock planning drivers to prioritize the missing middle Petra Oswald - need to shift the engineered character of our roads and instead make them streets. Demonstration precincts can demonstrate the value of missing middle typologies Lucy Wilson - vibrancy should be an outcome..."with more dense housing the jam (social / infrastructure returns) can be thicker on the toast" "Design a good street (rather than a road) and you are designing a good city"- Rob Adams AM Felicity Stewart - "Canberra has a space problem" .... way too much poorly utilized and defined space Greg Jericho - the Australian system is geared for land investment driven profit...."it's entirely predictable where we are headed with affordability."

With all the talk about #CityOfYes coming down the line, today I want to take a look at a zoning throwback... Height Factor The first iteration of the modern NYC Zoning Resolution did not look much like what we have today (even before #CityOfYes). In fact, it did not have any version of 'infill housing', otherwise known as Quality Housing, which came around in the 1980's. Development of all residential buildings depended on the Height Factor formula, which balances the total square footage of a building with the amount of open space provided on a lot, and results in taller buildings with lots of open space around them. In addition to the tricky calculations required, Height Factor buildings provide much less FAR on almost every property in the City. However, we do occasionally run into lots that actually get MORE FAR by using Height Factor. Usually, this involves large lots which run very deep or through the entire block, where Quality Housing height and setback limits make it very difficult to squeeze in all of the floor area. In these cases, we have found that by using Height Factor you can 'break free' from the envelope, and max out your floor area. Additionally, because the required 'open space' can go on top of a commercial or community facility building, Height Factor also opens up the possibilities for mixed use development, to maximize your development rights. We love working with challenging sites because it brings out the best in us, and we always have chances to learn new things about the zoning and development in NYC. Reach out if you have a site that you have not yet been able to crack and give us a shot 👌 #zoninghacks Meltzer/Mandl Architects., P.C.

"Central Mixed Development" (CMD) combines multiple uses, such as residential, commercial, and recreational, into a single space. Carlisle | Wortman Associates has assisted the City of Clawson with the implementation of a CMD district with the "Downtown Clawson Urban Framework Design Plan." The plan preserves and enhances the commercial “main street” character of downtown Clawson and ensures that new development is compatible with the desired character. Follow this link to view further details: https://lnkd.in/dT4RS85V #planning #Michigan #downtown #development #design #framework #mainstreet

I was interviewed by Kriston Capps for Bloomberg CityLab last Friday after Greg Chasen's house that survived the fire went viral. We talked a little bit about rebuilding in the Wildland-Urban Interface and the (lesser known) Intermix, how #Passivhaus design can allow for better protection against wildfire and #wildfiresmoke inundaation - and how quickly these things are evolving. 'As a climate-minded architect practicing in the Pacific Northwest, Eliason says he never anticipated that he would be designing wildfire smoke-resistant homes. But with wildfires breaking out more frequently in Washington and smoke events regularly lasting three weeks or more, his clients now ask for this advice all the time. “This issue of widespread wildfire smoke was on nobody’s radar, even in the Passive House community,” Eliason says, until the 2018 Camp Fire, at the time the most destructive in California state history.' This is also a major reason why I lobbied to have Passivhaus adopted as the default baseline for Seattle's #SocialHousing Developer. It is imperative we are designing places that protect residents to the greatest extent possible, and allow adaptation to the changing effects of #climatechange. Passivhus is the most durable building standard that offers the best passive survivability during smoke events, cold snaps, heat events (when properly designed) and the increasing risk to mold from deluge events. I have a lot of questions about rebuilding in or even near the WUI. I've fielded a number of questions about whether masonry or concrete should be mandated - I don't see the need, and as the surviving house shows - it's also not necessary. But I do think that a standard for building here that incorporates #firewise construction + passivhaus should really be the starting point if we're prioritizing climate and resiliency. Happy to talk about these issues further, if anyone is curious. #urbanplanning #rebuilding #climateadaptation #passivesurvivability #stadtplanung #architektur #architecture #buildingscience