In an ever-evolving profession, our advancing staff enriches the work and culture at Payette while cultivating the talent, creativity and growth among the very project teams they make up. With great pleasure we announce the advancement of 8 staff members. We’ll feature one staff member each day over the next couple of weeks. We hope you’ll join us in celebrating their achievements.
Laura Berman, AIA, LEED AP
Promoted to Associate
Laura started with Payette as a summer intern in 2004, and returned full-time after earning her Bachelor of Architecture from Syracuse University in 2005. Recognition of Laura’s skill first came from her work on several projects for Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, most notably a 361,000 SF fit-out at the Center for Life Science. She has contributed to other academic projects for Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Amherst College. Currently, Laura is the Project Architect/Manager for an addition and renovation at Connecticut College’s New London Hall, a highly complex project that converts a century old building into a modern science facility. Laura Co-Chaired the firm’s Young Designers Core from 2006-2008.
What inspires you?
Experiencing new cultures, spaces, and landscapes through travel. In particular, I find inspiration in the textures, patterns and the details of my surroundings.
What is the best part of your job?
The process of working with the end users to learn about their needs, develop creative ideas and implement architectural solutions that have a positive impact on their day-to-day environment.
What is the most important thing you’ve learned so far?
Be confident in yourself but not so much as to be unyielding to the expertise of others.
The sky is the limit: if you could design or redesign anything, what would it be?
It would be interesting to redesign the large site along the Fort Point channel currently occupied by the US Post Office distribution center. Creating an office and commercial center, conveniently linked to South Station, would continue the redevelopment along the west edge of the channel. In addition, the removal of the security points creating a barrier along Dorchester Avenue would create a complete circulation path for the Harbor Walk along both side of the channel for pedestrian activity.
3 of 8 in a series about advancing staff members.
Northeastern EXP features an organic pinwheel design, shaping research and classroom neighborhoods with shared community spaces radiating from the core to define each area. The building façade was tuned to achieve a 78% reduction in peak solar heat gain and a 62% reduction in cumulative solar radiation leading to energy use reductions and reduced mechanical system sizing. The use of stainless steel further leads to an embodied carbon reduction of almost one million tons when compared to aluminum while the natural stainless surface reflects light in a natural and warm tone giving the building an inherent energy.
#earthweek #designalways #buildingscience #performalism