Putnam Progress!
News
Community Works Together to Reimagine Its Downtown
Good News!
If you’re out in the Bennington, Vermont area, you may have noticed that work is starting up again at the Putnam Block! We’re excited to report that crews have begun to return to work this week. We will be ramping up the job site over the next few weeks in accordance with the Governor’s orders and new COVID-19 safety procedures. Stay tuned!
S&A and M&S in the news ~ Vermont Arts & Living
Bob Stevens, Founder & President of Stevens & Associates and a Principal for M&S Development is working on two important downtown revitalization projects. Read about them in the Vermont Arts & Living Winter/Spring 2020 issue:
‘A remarkable part of the legacy’ – Putnam Block redevelopment project invests in tradesmen
and
Reveling in Brattleboro – BMAC’s ambitious buildout does what no one else can do
Supporting the Ski-to-Stay and Stay-to-Stay Programs
Meet S&A Architect, Diane Abate Monday morning (2/24) at the Roost in Wilmington, VT as she supports The Chamber, Mount Snow and Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation Ski-to-Stay and Stay-to-Stay programs. These programs have been designed to attract visitors considering re-locating to our region and connect them with residents and local businesses. Please share the following links with friends and colleagues for additional information and registration.
Program Info: https://www.vermontvacation.com/stay-to-stay/brattleboro
Monday Coffee Hour at the Roost: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/93555315467
S&A – Job Posting – Summer Intern OR Entry Level position
Summer Internship -or- Entry Level Engineer/Landscape Architect
S&A is seeking qualified applicants for a paid internship or full time entry level position to support the civil engineering and site development team. This opportunity will work directly with both Civil Engineers and Landscape Architects. Interested candidates should have the following:
Intern candidates: Completed junior year of a bachelor’s program in either civil engineering or landscape architecture
Entry Level candidates: Completed bachelor’s degree in civil engineering or landscape architecture
- Ability and interest to work within an office environment and at outdoor, active job sites
- Proficiency in MS Office
- Drafting experience with AutoCAD, knowledge of Civil 3D preferred
- Familiarity with land planning and site design
- Knowledge with grading, drainage, and utility design
- A basic understanding of environmental permit applications
- Interest in Stormwater a plus
One position will be offered. Internship or Entry Level status will be determined by the candidate that best fits both qualifications AND overall fit with the team.
We offer a competitive compensation and benefits package, including flextime. Please email your cover letter and resume to: Betsey Brackett – bbrackett@stevens-assoc.com.
Architecture + Design Film Series – The Proposal
Season 7 of the Architecture + Design Film Series continues next week with, “The Proposal”, on Wednesday, Jan. 22nd at the Contois Auditorium, 149 Church Street, Burlington and in Brattleboro, VT at 118 Elliot – 6:00pm
For more information visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcYZEGqTstk
Inside Look at the Putnam Block Redevelopment Project
Take an inside look at the Putnam Block Redevelopment project in Bennington, VT. Stevens & Associates and M&S Development are excited to provide services for this complex site transformation and downtown revitalization project.
To take an inside look watch the iBerkshires video here: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=425028038158299
For more information about the Putnam Block Redevelopment project visit: www.putnamblock.com
S&A Supporting Local STEM Programs
S&A was delighted to have Dan Braden and the students from the Brattleboro Union High School STEM program visit our studios to learn more about careers in Architecture & Engineering and the recently completed Snow Block project.
Historic New England – Cogswell’s Grant
For everyone who loves images of historic New England, please read on. . . . .
S&A began working with Cogswell’s Grant, a 165-acre historic Coastal Farm in Essex Massachusetts, which is owned and operated by Historic New England. The existing parcel was originally part of a 300 acre land grant from Ipswich to Jonathan Cogswell is 1636.
The property which currently consists of a farm house constructed in 1728 that now serves as an American folk art museum, as well as a series of barn structures built throughout the 1800’s; the oldest of which has been converted to a Visitor center.
Left to Right: (Left) Main Barn built by prominent Essex shipbuilder Adam Boyd sometime before 1863. (Center) Connector Barn originally built as single-story sometime in the 1870’s, later converted to two-story by 1894. (Right) Milking Barn; the oldest structure of the three-barn complex, built in the late 1700’s.
This is an early example of wood ductwork to provide better ventilation to the cattle below. Ducts and cupolas were added to barns as advancements in milling offered more weather tight wood clapboards to replace the early wood board siding.
The prominent faces of structures which were often more colorfully painted with higher end finishes, while less significant exteriors were often completed with more economical colors and finishes.
Finally, this image is of the detailing of the timber frames of the Main Barn revealing influences from shipbuilding.
A special ‘thank you’ to S&A structural engineer, Ben Harwood, PE for providing these images and information.
Arts & Culture Corridor – Community Charrette
Yesterday’s session in Keene, NH brought community leaders, business owners and residents together to continue discussions for the Arts & Culture Corridor project.
Offering On-Site Training at the Putnam Block Project
Improving the community in more ways than one, Bread Loaf Corp. offers construction workers at the Putnam Block project site training sessions in a makeshift classroom. Workers are developing a greater literacy with architectural, structural and other types of drawings used in construction projects.
For more information visit: https://www.benningtonbanner.com/stories/after-hours-training,590365?
Investing in Main Street: A Case Study Using an Opportunity Fund
Bob Stevens & Skye Morse, M&S Development will present ‘Investing in Main Street: A Case Study Using an Opportunity Fund’ at the Vermont Development Conference in Burlington on November 6th.
For more information and registration visit: https://whiteandburke.com/r…/vermont-development-conference/
Thank you to S&A staff for building an Interactive Placemaking Model
A special Thank You to Taylor Shulda, Landscape Architect Designer and Mark Westa, ASLA for creating a fun and interactive placemaking model. The model was recently displayed at SNEAPA 2019 and enjoyed by people of all ages during a community workshop for the Arts & Culture Corridor project in Keene, NH.
Vermont Works for Women: Women Can Do!
Thanks Erin Fajans, Structural Engineer for braving yesterday’s storms and volunteering at the Vermont Works for Women: Women Can Do! event.
To learn more about this organization and future events promoting STEM & Trades Careers visit: https://www.vtworksforwomen.org/programs/high-school-girls/women-can-do?fbclid=IwAR3VhTEXJoEsBVtl-iBmuFa_mAA1dLl4YNRejO-JKys87RCJdPPwhNLFm_8
Architecture + Design Film Series October Event
Looking forward to another Architecture + Design Film Series event titled: KUSAMA: INFINITY on October 23rd at the Contois Auditorium, and Brattleboro, VT at 118 Elliot – 6:00pm
For more information visit: https://www.aiavt.org/news-events/event-details/post/architecture-design-film-series-20191014-457/
Hidden gems found during demolition at Putnam Block redevelopment
Bob Stevens conducts a tour of the Putnam Block Redevelopment project highlighting some of the gems hidden within.
Read more in Vermont Business Magazine: https://vermontbiz.com/news/2019/october/07/hidden-gems-found-during-demolition-putnam-block-redevelopment?utm_source=VBM+Mailing+List&utm_campaign=2051ddf604-ENEWS_2019_10_07&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_b5e56b36a4-2051ddf604-286693409
SNEAPA 2019: Rethink, Reinvest, Renew
Join S&A and M&S staff at SNEAPA 2019: Rethink, Reinvest, Renew on October 17-18 in Springfield, MA. Visit our table and meet our staff.
S&A – Mark Westa, ASLA will present: Psychology and the City: Springfield MA Case Study
Residents, visitors, and those that rarely or never have been to a specific city often have widely varying perceptions about the quality, character, and safety of that city. What is that? And what can be learned by digging into how various groups “see” the city.
Using urban design principles paired with ideas from human psychology, such as Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, this session will look at how people perceive the City of Springfield and why, like in many cities, those perceptions often are significantly in opposition to each other.
Primarily using pictures of the city, we will discuss how urban areas are perceived, how taking different routes or knowledge of various districts impacts us and what can be done to address the disparity in understanding and feelings. We will also look at how these impact the goals of many communities to be creative, entrepreneurial places.
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M&S – Gabby Ciuffreda is a panelist for: It Takes a Village to Revitalize a Historic Downtown Block
It takes a Village of state, regional, local, public, and private partners to move a complex historic revitalization effort forward. Downtowns throughout New England are rich with opportunities to live, work, and play. However, many downtown buildings and sites need significant rehabilitation. There are brownfields issues and a variety of funding sources are needed to implement the necessary environmental remediation to get a site ready for redevelopment.
The Putnam Block project in Bennington Vermont (VT) utilized funding from Windham Regional Commission and the VT AGency of Commerce and Community Development for brownfields remediation. The brownfields funding helped enable the project to leverage the remaining resources needed to make this $30 million historic redevelopment project become a reality. The Bennington County Regional Commission rallied local anchor institutions to come to the table and play a role. Each of these partners are critical to the success of the project.
This session will discuss the various funding sources used for remediation, the challenges associated with the project, and the lessons learned for complex, downtown rehabilitation projects. These lessons are applicable to communities throughout New England. We will discuss the importance of such funding in making larger redevelopment projects financially viable. Joining Gabby on the panel are:
Susan Westa, AICP, Windham Regional Commission
William Colvin, Bennington County Regional Commission & Industrial Corporation
Brett Long, Vermont Department of Economic Development
For more information and to register visit: https://www.sneapa.org/registration/
Architecture + Design Film Series
Come kick-off Season 7: A+D Film Series on Wednesday, Sept. 25th at 118 Elliot Street in Brattleboro or 149 Church Street in Burlington, Vermont.
MIES ON SCENE: BARCELONA IN TWO ACTS | September 25, 2019
Directed by Pep Martín & Xavi Campreciós
2018, Spain, 57 Minutes
PREVIEW
This is the story of a building that changed the history of architecture. The Barcelona Pavilion, constructed in 1929 and subsequently reconstructed in 1986, at two key moments in Barcelona’s history, immerses us in a reflection on the perception of art, space and the concept of masterpiece. Originally existing for only 8 months, the Barcelona Pavilion expressed the ground-breaking ideas of Ludwieg Mies van der Rohe and Lilly Reich and influenced generations of architects around the world. This story reveals the originality and power of the building, and the struggle of a group of architects to recover and give back to the city of Barcelona one of its most emblematic architectural works.
For more information visit: https://adfilmseries.org/
Connecticut Architecture Conference + Expo
Join S&A’s sister company, M&S Development at CACX 2019 – Mohegan Sun Earth Expo + Convention Center.
Bob Stevens and Skye Morse will present: Beating the Odds: The economic and community impacts of downtown mixed-use projects can be trans-formative and create lasting change. This session will identify metrics to show these impacts and how to leverage those to finance projects. Using case studies to explore Impact Assessment; Benefits and Resilience; Overcoming Barriers and Financing Strategies.
Radically Rural – September 19 & 20
Stevens & Associates and M&S Development are proud to sponsor Radically Rural – Keene NH. Visit our table and meet the staff at the Main Street Track on Sept. 19 & 20.
For more information visit: https://radicallyrural.org/
Vermont Dignitaries – Kick Off Bennington Redevelopment
News coverage from the Putnam Block Redevelopment groundbreaking celebration in Bennington on August 7. Governor Phil Scott, Congressman Peter Welch, and others commended the Bennington community effort and stamina to bring what is now confirmed as the largest rural community/economic development project in the state at this time.
A downtown makeover begins ~ Bennington sees landmark buildings as key to reviving its urban core
In the news. . .Hill Country Observer – A downtown makeover begins ~ Bennington sees landmark buildings as key to reviving its urban core By: Evan Lawrence. Photo by Joan K. Lentini
Visit: http://www.hillcountryobserver.com/2019%20news/july2019bennington.htm
CNU 27.Louisville KY
S&A Architectural Designer and Accredited CNU member, Nikki Perry enjoyed a week at CNU 27.Louisville. In addition to interesting and educational sessions on transect oriented development, inclusive healthy places, and improving the public realm with place making, she spent time taking in the sites of Louisville and networked with other professionals eager to learn more about the New Urbanism movement. Nikki found Louisville to be a great example of a walkable city blending old and new urbanist communities.
Putnam Block Update ~ Financing Deal Done & Construction Begins
S&A is happy to congratulate M&S Development, all the organizations & community members responsible for reaching a huge milestone to revitalize downtown Bennington, VT.
For more information about the Putnam Block Redevelopment project visit :
https://www.reformer.com/stories/putnam-block-financing-deal-done-construction-begins,577216
Join Our Team ~ Open Position at S&A
Licensed Project Architect/Project Manager
S&A is seeking an energetic, licensed architect to join our growing team at our Brattleboro, Vermont office. This full time position will research, design, and lead the construction documents preparation that comply with applicable building codes, building practices, and standards.
https://www.stevens-assoc.com/employment-opportunities/
Annual Downtown and Historic Preservation Conference – Montpelier, VT
S&A staff invites you to join them at the Annual Downtown & Historic Preservation Conference on June 5th. Stop by our table and say ‘hello’. We are proud to sponsor this event, look back on two decades of downtown revitalization, and plan for a vibrant future.
2019 Massachusetts Association of Planning Directors Conference
S&A Team Leader, Mark Westa, ASLA joins Peter Flinker, Principal of Dodson & Flinker and Ted Brovitz, Founder of Brovitz Community Planning & Design for the 2019 Massachusetts Association of Planning Directors Conference.
During the Master Planning and Implementation Strategies to Help Downtown and Village Centers Get Ready for the New Economy session, Mark will focus on how designers and developers can overcome the economic barriers to mixed-use downtown projects through innovative financing strategies, including the use of historic or New Market tax credits and “community-supported development.
For more details on this event, visit: https://www.planning.org/events/activity/9177284/
VIM – Bennington’s Putnam Block, Revitalizing the Past for the Future
Working to revitalize 4 acres and 3 historic buildings in a downtown National Historic District is an extraordinary undertaking. Learn more about this project and how S&A, M&S Development and a dedicated group of organizations are transforming a community by reading, “Bennington’s Putnam Block, Revitalizing the Past for the Future” in Vermont Innovator Magazine – Spring 2019 issue.
Ben Harwood, PE
Congratulations to Ben Harwood, P.E. for earning his license to practice as a Professional Engineer in the State of Vermont. Ben is a dedicated member of S&A’s Structural Team and enjoys supporting local school STEM programs and various organizations.