American Institute of Architects NH honored Banwell Architects for the design of the new Dartmouth Skiway Lodge
The choice of an Architectural firm was a critical component in insuring that the best consultants in every building specialty were selected and the orchestration of the project from concept and design through final construction was successfully completed. We chose Stuart White of Banwell Architects (www.banwell-architects.com) for his proven experience in accomplishing the environmentally sensitive building goals we have and then to augment them from his three decades of experience. Stu has developed a reputation as an architect of highly energy-efficient buildings, and one of his projects received a LEED™ gold designation – the first LEED™ project in New England with a building for the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests.
Mr. White has lectured widely on architecture and the environment. He has served as an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the environmental studies program at DartmouthCollege, and was an energy consultant to the Brookhaven National Labs from 1980 to 1984 with a focus on passive solar energy utilization. He has been published internationally, and several of his projects have received regional and national design awards. Banwell Architects has maintained a leadership role in environmental architecture for over three decades. In recognizing the huge role that advanced building technologies play in edging us toward sustainability, they believe that good design begins with a broad understanding of environmental issues and the ability to apply them to specific, local conditions. Through their work in many innovative projects, they have demonstrated that when green building concerns are creatively addressed everyone benefits – the inhabitants, present and future – and the community at large.
Banwell has learned the importance of a team approach in achieving GreenBuilding goals, and pursue an integrated design process involving all the players – owners, architects, engineers, special consultants and often the builder – from the earliest design stages, as we explore together the goals, issues and options. The integration of architectural, engineering and construction components with the owner’s needs and aspirations is vital to the realization of a truly “high performance” building. Over the years they have developed valuable relationships with experienced consultants who share their commitment to the larger goals and play a major role in helping them to become realities. Banwell's completed work includes experience with the following key green design objectives:
· Comfort, visual and thermal, through the controlled use of the sun for natural lighting and passive solar heating
· Natural ventilation & sun-breaks to minimize need for AC
· Healthy interiors
· Low total energy requirements / low operating costs
· Durability / low maintenance
· Optimal site design, orientation and fenestration strategies
· Exceptional building envelope design (walls, windows, roof)
· Locally available materials with high recycled content and low emissivities · Water conservation
· Incorporation of renewables – primarily solar thermal, solar electric and wood
· Recycling of construction wastes
When all these parts come together an exceptionally pleasing new “place” is created – it is definitely not a “business-as-usual” outcome. This example can convince the larger community of the value of green buildings and encourage similar efforts, bringing us closer to a sustainable future.
Assisting Stu is our computer design guru Jeremiah R Goulet who has two years experience with Banwell Architects as a CAD technician/ designer. He is involved in the production of architectural drawings under the guidance of Stu White. He coordinates the integration of all buildings systems with the help of engineering consultants and product representatives.
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Stuart White, Banwell Architects, 6 south Park Street, Lebanon, NH 03766, tel 603-448-3778, fax 603-443-5555, website www.banwell-architects.com, Stu White email address Stu@banwell-architects.org, Jeremiah Goulet email address Jeremiah@Banwell-Architects.org.
