| Last night, the union representing New England?s 22k carpenters invited the Boston Society of Architects to tour its impressive new Dorchester HQ, 12 years in the making. (Even a carpenter needs patience to get a new house built.) It appears worth the wait. The sleek $20M, 75k SF building designed by ADD Inc shows off the trades? two sides. The front entrance on Dot Ave. that we snapped is traditional and subtle with muted colors and glazed cubes meeting the street where small residences and stores predominate. |
| Bill Brett |
| The faade overlooking I-93 speaks to their determination to be part of the future with its sweeping roof line, emphatic colors, and giant LED screen projecting messages to SE Xway drivers. After years of being dispersed from Southie to Brighton, the New England Regional Council of Carpenters has since February had one HQ for the administrative offices of its own operation and those of three other locals; it also has training facilities, a community vision center, and a 1st Trade Union Bank branch. |
| We snapped the Boston Carpenters? Ben Tilton, Office Renovation?s Carolyn Schreiber, and Add Inc?s Jeffrey Wade (also a BSA member) standing before one of many murals and art pieces depicting trades people at work. Jeff says the building itself reflects what carpenters? do by incorporating wood, metal, and concrete elements. He was amazed to learn that not only do they fashion wood, but they drive piles, weld metal, and pour concrete. And 900 union carpenters did just that (many volunteering their time) to construct this building. |
| ADD Inc?s lead designer Liviu Marza (now pursuing international projects) sees new things in the double height sculpture his team created for the angled stairway. The Council?s Mark Erlich is working with many local groups to display images on the building's LED screen. In June, the BSA will put up pics from its 2010 Neighborhood Photography Project that celebrates Boston's built environment. Also inviting in many neighbors to use the facilitites, Mark says the HQ is already the vibrant, active place they wanted and when the economy picks up, ?It'll be jumping 24/7.? |
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