Does Geothermal Make Sense in New England?

Right about now the typical homeowner in the Northeast is praying for spring not just because the change in season is overdue but also because the crushing cost of home heating oil is about as much as anyone can bear. There must be cheaper ways to heat a house – a small nuclear reactor perhaps? […]

The Architect’s Blog

I’m discovering that blogging is harder than it seems. What could be so hard about writing a few lines every couple of days about a profession with seemingly endless topics? Is it that many of the topics I consider would only be interesting to other architects? It certainly seems to be a theme in our […]

paper mache octopus in ocean

Charlie and the Purple Piñata

The other day my 8 year old son came home from school with the idea to make a piñata. Since it wasn’t his birthday, nor anyone else’s I could think of in the neighborhood and knowing that he isn’t necessarily the “arts and crafts” kind of kid, I asked him, Why? His answer was short […]

ridgefield library morris building

The Public Library: The True Barometer of a Community’s Core Values

As chairman of the Ridgefield Library Board, I find myself repeatedly challenged to defend the need for a public library in the modern information era. It’s always the same argument, “computers, the internet, the Kindle, etc. will replace or significantly reduce the need for a physical location”,

green hummer

Don’t Try to “Greenwash” Me

We have all heard the popular eco-jargon.  Every day we see or hear “green” -this and “eco-friendly”-that. As architects, we see many new building products and hear from many salespeople, all cheerleading the supposed “green-ness” of their goods. 

peter, john and staff reviewing plans

Coordination is King

[image title=”Team1″ size=”full” id=”98″ align=”none” ] Have you ever been involved with a construction project that is constantly hindered with little ticky-tacky problems?  A beautiful wainscot trim cut around a light switch? An HVAC register located where a chandelier was intended to be centered?