Tag: thomas hanrahan architect

hMa’s Bridge-Studio in Easton, PA: Update

October 25th, 2010

Bridge-Studio in construction Fall 2010 Click here to view more photos of this project at hanrahanmeyers.com

A centered breezeway that connects two private studio spaces features a fireplace and looks out toward the Delaware River Click here to view more photos of this project at hanrahanmeyers.com

Bridge-Studio is a new artist studio building designed for artist couple Joe Amrhein and Susan Swenson. Bridge-Studio will house a painting studio for Joe on the East side, and a writing studio for Susan on the west. Bridge-Studio features a breezeway in the center, between the two studios, with an outdoor fireplace. The new studio is entered by walking up a bridge, into the open breezeway, overlooking the Delaware River, approximately 100 feet below the edge of the site.

The outdoor fireplace hearth houses a flue for a second fireplace in Susan's writing studio, and for a third fireplace, in the open outdoor area below the 'Bridge'. In addition to producing their own bodies of work, Joe and Susan own Pierogi Gallery in Williamsburg, New York, and regularly entertain artists from their New York gallery at their home in Pennsylvania. The couple's desire for an appropriate setting to entertain artist friends created part of the program for the new studio building.
Work in Progress: Bridge-Studio by hanrahan Meyers architects

August 11th, 2010

Bridge-Studio: in construction August 2010 click here to see more of Bridge-Studio at www.hanrahanmeyers.com. Post: Victoria Meyers architect

Bridge-Studio is a new artist studio building designed by hanrahan Meyers architects (hMa) for artist couple Joe Amrhein and Susan Swenson. Bridge-Studio will house a painting studio for Joe on the East side, and a writing studio for Susan on the west. Bridge-Studio features a breezeway in the center, between the two studios, with an outdoor fireplace. The new studio is entered by walking up a bridge, into the open breezeway, overlooking the Delaware River, approximately 100 feet below the edge of the site.

Amhrein Swenson Bridge-Studio: Fireplace facing breezway, looking toward Delaware River. Post: Victoria Meyers architect

Amhrein Swenson Bridge-Studio: looking toward masonry fireplace wall, inside Studio. Post: Victoria Meyers architect

Click here to see more of Bridge-Studio at www.hanrahanmeyers.com
Urban Renewal and the Current Downturn: Levi’s leads the WayLevi’s ‘Ready to Work’ campaign; Levi’s ‘Go Forth’ campaign; urban renewal in Braddock, Pa.

July 10th, 2010

Post by hanrahan Meyers architects (hMa) principal, Victoria Meyers:

I often travel from New York City to Baltimore on Amtrak. Whenever I take that train ride, I look out at an urban landscape that I refer to as the: ‘Amtrak Urban Corridor’. It starts at Trenton, New Jersey, and continues right through Baltimore, Maryland: an unbroken corridor of urban decay and poverty.

abandoned factories and warehouses: the Amtrak Corridor. Post: Victoria Meyers architect

This landscape is an urban map that describes many of the things that have gone wrong in American society.  What is really concerning, first and foremost, are the empty and abandoned warehouses and factories. In between the abandoned and ruined industrial buildings, are blocks and blocks of neighborhoods that are half abandoned, where the residents are obiviously impoverished, and could use the jobs that have left from those factories.   This country could reuse and recycle these warehouses to build up a new industrial base for the 21st Century. What happened to the American spirit? How could we have allowed this to happen? If one of us is impoverished and in need, all of us feels that condition. We are all without.

What is needed here is a plan. An Urban Corridor Master Plan! A Master Plan that links new 21st Century start-up businesses with abandoned places. A Plan that links unemployed people with jobs.

People in these neighborhoods need the jobs that these factories could create if some smart or philanthropic investor would provide the start up money, coupled with a smart entrepreneur with new technologies to be assembled.  America needs to rebuild. Our Cities represent who we are and define us. Abandonment is not a pretty legacy.

abandoned brick row houses: Baltimore, MD.

President Obama has led the thinking on a lot of the innovations in urban renewal, with his push for a new ‘Green Economy’, with a new, post-industrial jobs base building the components we need to develop Solar, Geo-Thermal, Wind-Power, and Bio-Fuel technologies. In the 21st Century, the country that solves the current energy crisis is the country that will emerge as a super-power. The consequences of not changing the United States' energy-based economy to sources other than oil is evident right now in the Gulf of Mexico.

There was a very interesting article in the June 23, 2010 New York Times, titled: ‘Levi’s Features a Town Trying to Recover’ – that deals with many of these issues. Levi’s has ‘adopted’ the town of Braddock, Pennsylvania: a town trying to pick itself back up after losing its industrial base. Levi’s is doing a great thing by doing this, and deserves credit for their foresight.  Levis is making a difference not just in the lives of the people in this small American town, but also in the overall recovery and re-invigoration of the American psyche and Vision. The campaign slogan: 'Ready to Work' – is a tagline for America in the current downturn. The campaign also states: 'we are all workers'.



Braddock, Pa.: Levi's 'Go Forth' campaign and urban renewal

We all could use the Vision that Levi’s is bringing to their ‘Go Forth’ campaign. I encourage anyone reading this blog post to visit the Levi’s campaign website, and watch some of the film clips there: http://www.levistrauss.com/news/press-releases/levis-proclaims-we-are-all-workers-launch-latest-go-forth-marketing-campaign. The campaign shows many images similar to the ones I've been describing along the Amtrak corridor, and includes some very smart film clips by very talented filmmakers, including one short that won an award at Sundance Film Festival this year. I have just one complaint. If Levi's is really sincere about this campaign - they'll also renovate one of the abandoned factories in Braddock, and install a new Levi's factory. (Levi's - I'm throwing down my glove).

hanrahan Meyers architects (hMa) is an internationally known design firm with experience designing sustainable master plans and landscapes for urban centers (hMa are the Master Plan Architects for Battery Park City's North Neighborhood, winner of the 2010 Heritage Award from the Urban Land Institute); small town centers (hMa designed a 550-acre zero-carbon footprint site plan and master plan in Claverack, New York), as well as private, residential landscape design (Holley House landscape layout and design).

Battery Park City, North Neighborhood: Teardrop Park. Master Plan design by hanrahan Meyers architects. Post: Victoria Meyers architect

hanrahan Meyers architects (hMa) is a full service Master Planning and Design firm. We bring expertise and experience to landscape and master plan projects. hMa has successfully laid out site topography, overviewed the installation of site services, including electrical, water, sewage, and gas. hMa has advanced expertise in integrating high-energy use, traditional site planning with the latest sustainable ideas and services, to create an integrated approach to achieving LEED certified design goals, and Zero-Carbon Footprint site designs.

For more information about hanrahan Meyers architects, and their innovative and green ideas for cutting edge 21st century Master Plans and Landscapes, visit hMa’s website: www.hanrahanMeyers.com; go to ‘Projects’: ‘Master Plans and Landscapes’.
Battery Park City Master Plan wins Urban Land Institute Heritage Award : Urban Waterfront Design

July 10th, 2010

hanrahan Meyers architects (hMa) are proud to announce that the firm's Battery Park City Master Plan project has won a Heritage Award for Excellence from the Urban Land Institute (ULI). Since 1997 hMa have been the Master Plan Architects for Battery Park City's North Neighborhood. In that capacity, hanrahan Meyers have been Leaders in applying Sustainable Design practices to Master Plan and Landscape Design. One of hMa's achievements includes writing the Green Guidelines for the Solaire - the world's first Green Residential high-rise Tower.

In addition to hMa's Green Master Plan winning a coveted Heritage Award, Battery Park City's Visionaire was also honored with a 2010 Award for Excellence from the Urban Land Institute. The Visionaire is a high-rise residential tower that received the top design Award from the ULI as 'America's Greenest Residential High-Rise Tower' - one of only 10 buildings in the Americas - and the only building to be recognized for Green Design in New York. The Visionaire received the US Green Building Council's highest rating for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED Platinum).

ULI Awards for Excellence define the standard for real estate development practice worldwide. In its 32nd year, the awards program is the centerpiece of ULI’s efforts to identify and promote best Green practices in all types of real estate development.

North Neighborhood, Battery Park City Master Plan, hanrahan Meyers architects. Post: Victoria Meyers architect

In 1997 hMa were hired as the Master Plan Architects for Battery Park City Authority’s North Neighborhood, the most forward-thinking Green urban master plan in the United States. The North Neighborhood is the location of the first Green high-rise residential tower in the United States (Green Guidelines by hMa) and is the first Sustainably designed high-rise neighborhood in the world (Green Master Plan by hMa). When the Master Plan is complete in 2012 it will include a total of 5 million square feet of sustainable buildings, an array of new technologies and operating practices and a unique integration with the spectacular natural features of New York's waterfront.

diagrams showing park spaces, green roofs and green landscapes – Battery Park City North Neighborhood Master Plan, hanrahan Meyers architects. Post: Victoria Meyers architect

hanrahan Meyers Architects' configuration of the North Neighborhood buildings emphasizes the area's engagement with nature by creating an interweaving grid of outdoor spaces – including 4 major parks – with 11 residential and public buildings including Stuyvesant High School. Individual buildings are designed to complete the urban blocks by aligning with lot lines up to the 11th and 14th floors, after which towers are placed up to the 25th and 32nd floors in a complex pattern of offsetting alignments to open up view corridors to the Hudson River, and bring light and air into the parks below.

Irish Hunger Memorial – Battery Park City North Neighborhood Master Plan, hanrahan Meyers architects. Post: Victoria Meyers architect

When the Master Plan is complete in 2012 it will include a total of 5 million square feet of sustainable buildings, an array of new technologies and operating practices and a unique integration with the spectacular natural features of New York's waterfront.

Read more about the ULI Awards competition and view other award winners at http://www.uli.org. Read more about hMa and their master plan designs by visiting our website: www.hanrahanMeyers.com, and go to: 'Master Plans and Landscapes'. To read more about hMa's Green Designs, visit our website, http://www.hanrahanMeyers.com, and go to: 'Green'.

Teardrop Park – Battery Park City North Neighborhood Master Plan, hanrahan Meyers architects. Post: Victoria Meyers architect
Digital Water Pavilion: Cloud Architecture: Google, Twitter and ArchitectureWater Wall facade

June 10th, 2010

The Digital Water Pavilion (Battery Park City Community Center) is a new project by hanrahan Meyers architects (hMa) for Battery Park City Authority, in downtown Manhattan, across from Ground Zero. The project is a 550-foot long digitally interactive facade that will feature a sound composition, 'WATER', by New York Composer and hMa collaborator, Michael Schumacher. The Pavilion's glass facade will have interactive links, so that music (WATER), and the Pavilion's architecture will link directly to contemporary social networks, Twitter and Google.

sample of arcade wall pattern for Battery Park City Community Center, cover for soon to be released CD for WATER, composed by Michael Schumacher for the Digital Water Pavilion

hMa's Digital Water Pavilion (Battery Park City Community Center) will integrate the cloud into the architecture by using a smart phone app as an integrated part of the building's public facade. Pavilion's east facing facade is a 550-long glass wall engraved with a frit pattern representation of New York composer Michael Schumacher's sound piece: 'WATER'. This piece joins Pavilion visitors thru Twitter, Facebook and other social networks, integrating with them through a smart phone app that will allow visitors to use cell phones to read different parts of Schumacher's 'WATER' as they walk along the glass wall.

The Water Pavilion's main facade is imprinted with digital code, embedded with a digital soundtrack from the hMa / Schumacher collaboration, 'WATER'. Visitors will wave their smart phones at the Pavilion wall and 'play' the wall.

interactive wall detail : Digital Water Pavilion (Battery Park City Community Center) by hanrahan Meyers architects, collaboration with Michael Schumacher

For more information about hMa's Digital Water Pavilion (Battery Park City Community Center) visit hMa's website: www.hanrahanMeyers.com.
Infinity Chapel on dezeen.com Minimalist Modern Chapel Design; Light and Architecture

May 27th, 2010

curved wall detail: Infinity Chapel by hanrahan Meyers architects see more photos of the project here

hanrahan Meyers architects (hMa's) recently completed Infinity Chapel, featuring a cube shaped sanctuary deformed by light, was recently published on dezeen.com. To read more about hMa's modern, minimalist Chapel design, visit the firm's website, www.hanrahanMeyers.com.

Click here to view the post on Infinity Chapel on dezeen.com

view of sanctuary: Infinity Chapel by hanrahanMeyers architects LLP

photo by: Michael Moran

sanctuary view looking down hallway toward offices: Infinity Chapel by hanrahan Meyers architects LLP

photo by Michael Moran
Interactive Wall Design: Digital Water Pavilion hanrahan Meyers architects; cell phone Apps + Architecture; Michael J. Schumacher WATER score

May 6th, 2010

Digital Water Pavilion (DWP) is planned to be a Platinum LEED building designed around principles of sustainable design. The conservation of water is a key issue of the new Pavilion, and the main facade of DWP will have a piece written by composer Michael Schumacher etched on the glass titled: WATER.

Schmacher's score for WATER will be etched on the façade as a bar code. The facade is a 550-foot long glass wall designed by hanrahan Meyers architects (hMa), and visitors will be able to activate and 'play' Schumacher's piece by aiming their smart phones at the wall, and using a custom 'app' to 'play' the facade. By 'playing' the facade, visitors will hear WATER through their cell phone earpieces.

Digital Water Pavilion: hanrahan Meyers architects (hMa). A new pavilion in construction at Battery Park City, facing the Ballfields. The facade is a collaboration between hMa and NY Composer Michael Schumacher called: Tonal Motion.

The use of water as a constantly circulating, regenerative natural element is explored inside the new Digital Water Pavilion, which features an Olympic length pool with filters that clean the water using minimal chemicals, and minimal water waste. The building features Grey Water recycling, and all plantings around the building are native species.

Visitors walking by the glass façade of the Digital Water Pavilion can wave smartphones toward the façade and read a signal, which will play part of Schumacher's piece, WATER, on their phones. Visitors can literally play the façade.

For information contact: info@hanrhanMeyers.com

Facade design by hanrahan Meyers architects www.hanrahanMeyers.com

Sound by Michael J. Schumacher http://www.diapasongallery.org/
Green DesignBattery Park City North Neighborhood; Masterplan Guidelines; Urban Design; Green Streets

April 5th, 2010

North End Avenue: Battery Park City North Neighborhood; photos: Paul Warchol

hanrahan Meyers architects (hMa) support major advances that are happening in green and sustainable technologies and practices. These changes have radically altered how people see their relationship to the environment.

Cities everywhere are becoming greener, cleaner and healthier places to live. A major aspect of this change for the better is the 'green streets' movement. Green Streets is a new Landscape Design Initiative to use planted areas to control and clean rain water run-off. It is a more natural approach to controlling storm water run-off that results in islands of Nature within cities.

Battery Park City Esplanade

Green Streets work by diverting street rainwater run-off from the city's storm/sewer pipe system and manages it on-site using a landscape approach. Once water is within the landscape area, it is retained to a certain depth, often up to 12" deep, by a series of check-dams. Water cascades from one cell to another, until plants and soil absorb the runoff or until the curb extensions reach their storage capacity. The landscape system infiltrates water at a rate of roughly 3 inches per hour. If rain is too intense, water will exit the system, through another curb cut at the end of the curb extension, and flow into the existing street inlets.

These systems have the ability to manage most rain water run off and, through the natural filtration abilities of plants, purifies water that would otherwise go into a storm or, even worse, sewage system.

The City of New York currently diverts all of its rainwater run off into the City's sewage system. hMa applauds Mayor Michael Bloomberg's efforts to 'green' the City by creating hundreds of new pocket parks and greenscapes throughout the five Boroughs. We would like to encourage the City to think about implementing a 'Green Streets' system for the City of New York, perhaps choosing a limited area as a 'demonstration project'.

A jog in the park : Battery Park City North Neighborhood

hMa sees Green Streets as the most important urban innovation since the City Beautiful Movement in the 1890's / 1900's. It is about time that Americans make their cities more natural and, by being more natural, more humane.

hMa have been the Master Plan Architects for Battery Park City's North Neighborhood since 1997. In that capacity, they have written design guidelines for over 4 million square feet of Green construction. Under hMa's watch, Battery Park's North Neighborhood developed the first high-rise LEED certified residential tower – the Solaire – in 2003. hMa also were responsible to overview the development of all Parks in the North Neighborhood, where Green Streets principals of water management are currently being actively applied.

To read more about hMa's Master Plan designs, visit our website, www.hanrahanMeyers.com.
New York Architects : hanrahan Meyers

January 4th, 2007

hanrahan Meyers architects (hMa) create uniquely branded sustainable and green spaces and master plans. hMa's collaborative design process has produced award-winning designs featured at the Museum of Modern Art and in publications worldwide. In 2007, partner Victoria Meyers published 'designing with light' with Laurence King / Abbeville Press, featured on National Public Radio and in arts and architecture bookstores worldwide. hMa clients enjoy modern style, and have access to our firms experience producing sustainable design, custom interiors, and unique corporate branding.

Victoria Meyers is a founding partner of hanrahanMeyers architects (hMa). She has been a principal on a number of award-winning projects in the firm, including Red Hook Center for the Arts, Marfa Theater, Schrom Studios, Arts International, Sagaponac House, and Ojai Festival Performance Shell. In addition to numerous public projects, Ms. Meyers works with residential clients on the design of award-winning houses, loft apartments, and furniture design. in 2004, Ms. Meyers was one of twelve designers chosen from a field of international talent to have her work showcased as part of the 'Wonder Women' show mounted by Dune Furniture during ICFF weekend.

Ms. Meyers published Designing with Light with Laurence King Publishers, London / Abbeville Press in 2006 cataloging hMa's research into natural light. Ms. Meyers has taken a leadership role in bringing sustainable and green knowledge to the firm, completing courses in sustainable and green design through her post-professional researches into Green and Sustainable design practices. Ms. Meyers received her M. Arch from Harvard and an A.B in Art History and Civil Engineering from Lafayette College.

Thomas Hanrahan is a founding partner if hanrahanMeyers architects (hMa). He has been principal on a number of award-winning projects, including Hunt's Point Performance Center, Holley Residence (featured at the Museum of Modern Art in 1999), Pratt Design Center, and the Interpretive Center museum in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Mr. Hanrahan works with urban design clients, including Battery Park City Authority, where hMa are the official master plan architects for the North Neighborhood. In 2004 Mr. Hanrahan hosted a symposium in New York in collaboration with Metropolis magazine titled: 'Global Warming'. The symposium addressed issues of green technologies applied to building construction as well as regional urbanism and sustainable development.

Mr. Hanrahan received his B. Arch from the University of Illinois and his M. Arch from Harvard's Graduate School of Design.