THE DESIGN GROUP

portfolio

Principals of The Design Group have worked since 1980 on hundreds of projects of a wide variety. Listed and shown here are selected projects.

We have developed multiple projects for many commercial clients, have served numerous municipal and institutional clients, and have worked with regional and national non profits. We have won awards for design, green building, energy efficiency, historical and public service.

Please contact us for more information about any project, project type, or for reference requests.

 

WHAT'S NEW

Current projects underway include:

LAKE PLACID CONFERENCE CENTER:
We are working with the Olympic Regional Development Authority as the Lead Architects for the 17 million dollar Lake Placid Conference Center facility. The project includes extensive renovation, high performance envelope design, and energy upgrading of the existing 1932 ice rink. The final 54,000SF facilities will provide state-of-the-art conference center facilities for 1000-2000 person groups, a production kitchen to serve 1200, the Lake Placid Visitor's Center offices, and a Village meeting room. The stated goal of the project is to achieve a Gold LEED rating at minimum.

GREEN MOUNTAIN CLUB HEADQUARTERS:
Construction is complete on the Green Mountain Club Headquarters in Waterbury Center, VT, which was developed in partnership with the Cushman Design Group and the GMC Headquarters Planning Committee. All the wood structure and finish for this highly green project came from local, certified forest and milling operations, in partnership with Vermont Family Forests. We have installed primary renewable energy systems with a very low "carbon footprint" including cordwood heating and solar electric power. You can read more about the project at GMCL's website.

ULTRA LOW NET ENERGY GREEN HOMES:
Several unique green homes, including a model ultra low net energy home under construction in New Caanan, Connecticut for which we are planning a LEED platinum rating from the US Green Building Council. These homes will include super insulation, highly efficient heating and cooling systems, renewable energy systems, and are to be built of healthy, durable, and renewable materials with an emphasis on those from local and regional sources.

BERLIN MARYLAND TOWN CENTER | HISTORIC RENOVATIONS:
Planning major additions and historic renovations for BERLIN, MD’s town center - site of the films Runaway Bride and Tuck Everlasting. Plans include adding 20 apartments and renovating approximately 15,000 sq ft of existing commercial space while maintaining historic storefronts. This smart growth project is intended to support economic development by adding residential density to Berlin’s small downtown center while greatly improving the quality and energy performance of existing buildings.

LAKE PLACID CROWNE PLAZA POOL AND SPA:
The Design Group has been working with the Lake Placid Crowne Plaza to develop an updated pool and spa facility. The project has evolved from a new facility with a 24 foot high slide structure, 2 spas, a lap pool and a free form organic recreational pool, to a more modest renovation of existing spaces. All finish materials will be green products with high recycled content and /or made from rapidly renewable materials; every effort will be made to source all renovation materials from within a 500 mile distance.

CENTER FOR WHOLE COMMUNITIES:
Construction is continuing on the offices and renewable systems conversion for the CENTER FOR WHOLE COMMUNITIES in Fayston, VT. This includes the adaptive reuse of a historic utility barn at the Knoll Farm into office space, a workshop, farm market, and a biomass based heating plant for the farm compound. Planning is also underway for Photovoltaic generation and on site wind testing.

BERLIN PERFORMING ARTS CENTER & OCEAN CITY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER:
Concept planning has been produced for two PERFORMING ARTS CENTERS in Maryland. The 400 seat Berlin Performing Arts Center (BPAC) is planned as an adaptive reuse of the historic Cannery building in our master planned mixed use Cannery Village. The Ocean City Performing Arts Center (OPAC) is conceived as a larger project with 1700 seats and a five story parking structure adjacent to the Convention Center.

LIBERTY MILL GREEN ADAPTIVE REUSE:
Plans are continuing for the GREEN ADAPTIVE REUSE of the LIBERTY MILL in Bellows Falls VT. This is a 100 year old 50,000 sq ft concrete mill building sited directly on the Connecticut River and along the Amtrak line near downtown Bellows Falls. The program includes an indoor and outdoor recreation center, restaurant, meeting and event spaces, eco-lodge, and residential units. Goals include 90% carbon reductions, growing and supporting local food production, and providing economic development opportunities.