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Facade Designer, Sean Levesque, Associate AIA, out of our Boston office, is the next team member to be highlighted in our #SNYLturns20 series! What is your favorite Boston-area building or structure? Why? 🎤Renzo Piano’s Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum expansion. It complements and never overshadows the existing historic structure while presenting some really interesting tectonic design choices. What has been your most proud moment as an architect/engineer? 🎤While finishing up punch listing for a new build lab project, a teacher setting up her lab space expressed how grateful she was for the new teaching facilities. That moment, while small, really drove home why we do what we do as architects and designers and made me proud to have played a role in that effort. What kind of projects do you want to work on in the future? 🎤Facade and envelope retrofits that help to improve energy efficiency, overall building performance, and extend building lifespan. What do you see as the largest barrier to a zero-waste building, city, and world?🎤The biggest barriers I see are financial ones. The best zero-waste projects will start with reuse and retrofit. If we can come up with creative ways to make working with what we already have a cost effective and profitable solution for project owners, that would go a long way towards achieving zero waste and environmentally friendly milestones. What is the greatest potential for architecture and/or engineering to shape a neighborhood community? 🎤To bring back new life to underutilized or vacant buildings and sites to help foster community engagement and excitement within a neighborhood’s built environment. What is one thing you enjoy doing outside of work? 🎤Following (and occasionally playing) ice hockey. Go Bruins!

6 reasons why real estate needs an architectural rendering

A complex project in its own way, very proud to have worked on it through to completion.

Last year, I started taking on architectural projects. Small things at first, house renovations, dormers, that kind of thing. But then it started to be adding new floors on to houses, working on some of Amsterdam's famous canal houses, refurbishing some ruins in France, and planning an artist retreat on Crete. I became a registered architect in the Netherlands and it got to the point where I had to ask myself "Am I doing this? Am I starting an office?" The answer is yes and no. I find it incredible to work with people and share my skills to make their dreams come true. It's just about the best feeling in the universe. But I'm not starting an office to become a famous architect or be published. I know publicity can be necessary in order to get new work, but I've realised that it's just not my ambition. I want to work with people in collaboration to achieve their visions, guiding and advising along the way, and the result probably won't result in the kind of cohesive portfolio of work that you might see on a traditional architect's website. I'm just using my name because right now it's just me and I want to come into each project as an equal. If it grows to multiple people, we'll change the name to represent that, but growth isn't the aim. Good work is. So the ambition is clear, I want to work with people to make their lives better and at the same time make the world a better place. Sustainability is key. Reuse is the starting point. Process not product. Joy is the goal. If that sounds like something you'd like to be involved in, then get in touch. Nothing I like better than hearing ideas and trying to make them a reality. No project too small, no project to big, no project too far away.

5 Things to Know Before Opening Your Architectural Firm

5 Things to Know Before Opening Your Architectural Firm

🤩 🏡 Unveiling the first of two uniquely contemporary homes that I’ve designed for a golf course adjacent development on Pittsburgh’s East side. My process: ⤵️ 1️⃣ Develop the initial design concept on paper. ✍️ 2️⃣ Take those initial sketches into Autodesk Revit to elaborate on the design. 💻 3️⃣ Export the 3D model from Revit to SketchUp to refine the design, and help it look more realistic. 🧑🎨 🎨 4️⃣ Render the Revit model with Twinmotion for the client’s marketing to begin. 🧑💻 5️⃣ Once the owner is happy with the results; I finalize the construction documents (blueprints) in Revit with the model I previously created to help the owner visualize the project. ✍️ 🧑💻 6️⃣ Submit the construction documents for review by the local jurisdiction governing the project, and receive the building permit from them once the review has been completed. 🔎 7️⃣ Construct a beautiful new contemporary home. 🏗️ 🔨 This contemporary style of architecture is entirely new to the community. I am excited for the opportunity to push boundaries and showcase a higher level of thoughtful residential architecture, design, and detailing that the Pittsburgh region lacks. If you like this style of home, would you want to live here? Let me know by leaving feedback in the comments! National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB), AIA Pittsburgh | The Pittsburgh Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, AIA Pennsylvania, Texas Society of Architects, Kent State College of Architecture + Environmental Design - CAED, UTSA School of Architecture + Planning, National Association of Home Builders, The American Institute of Architects (AIA), SketchUp #architecture #construction #realestate #engineering #homeaddition #adu #pittsburgharchitecture #modernarchitecture #pittsburgharchitect #pittsburghhomes #buffaloarchitecture #buffaloarchitect #buffalohomes #PittsburghModernArchitect #BuffaloModernArchirect #marketing #youtuber #builder

Progress is like Compound Interest for Your Dreams ! Let me explain why ? Around 2019, after completing my architecture training and successfully executing seven or eight projects utilizing modern design techniques and contemporary practices, I found myself unexpectedly in a creative drought. Despite my achievements, I felt a lack of inspiration and growth, leaving me disheartened in my pursuit of architectural interiors. . . After two long years of feeling stuck, I finally had a breakthrough. It hit me that I needed to change things up. I committed myself to enhancing my design skills, deepening my knowledge in electrical, plumbing, and lighting systems, and exploring alternative options within these areas to enrich my expertise. Slowly, I began to see a positive change in my workflow, which led to greater creativity and happier clients. . . But as I grew in my career, I was shocked by how well my clients understood their vision for their homes. They came in with a concept board filled with ideas that clearly reflected their goals. It was surprising to see how informed they were about the latest technologies available.  . . This awareness & demand inspired me to enhance my design skills, driving me to create spaces that blended timeless design with cutting-edge technology, ensuring both functionality and style. To meet these demands, I updated myself with practical solutions and future technologies and also learned to approach each design challenge with multiple solutions. This not only enhanced my skill set but also boosted my confidence, allowing me to create distinctive and meaningful spaces that truly resonated with my clients. . . So here is my takeaway from my journey of embracing progress over the past three years Just as compounding interest gradually builds wealth, my daily progress has compounded me to reach new heights in my confidence and skills in design, technologies, materials, and project management in multiple ways paving the way for my dream.  Each small step forward has opened doors I never imagined, carving out a new path in my career. We all have our unique stories of progress, and I’d love for you to share yours in the comments below! __________________________________________________________________ Renuka KJ  Founder & Principal Architect TRINITY STUDIO

Architectural surveys company, Archilink, on track to hit £1 million turnover Archilink Measured Surveys, an architectural surveying company based in Aberdeen, has achieved record growth in 2024 and is on track to surpass £1m in revenue for the first time since its 2018 launch. Using advanced technologies to produce detailed 2D and 3D models, the company has grown from two to six employees and expanded with a second office in Glasgow. With 234 active clients, notable projects include the Glasgow Film Theatre and Gleneagles Hotel. Plans include opening a Manchester office by 2025. Alistair Lea

Architectural Home Design