2003

The 8th Designers 3D CAD Challenge

with Architectural CADD Systems

2003 Challenge of the Architectural CADD Cup

As of September 29, 2003, we have narrowed down the possible projects to the design of a PlaySpace at the Ronald McDonald House in Boston (a place where the
families of children patients at the hospitals can live while their child/sibling undergoes treatment).   We will consider the other projects on this list as possible
projects in 2004.


On our initial appeal last month we have received numerous responses from architects, and communities, of possible candidates for the design
project building or site. We are going to discuss the various projects at length, and, also, we are not yet closed to even more proposal
possibilities. We will have a meeting of the BSA Committee on Design Software this summer where we will discuss and narrow down the
possibilities (all are welcome to attend, meeting date not yet set). At least for this year, preference would be for a project somewhere in the
Boston area. Also, there is a preference for a project involving a Building (whether new or adaptive use) and also one where it may be
possible to actually come up with possible design solutions in just a few hours.

See the Summary List of proposed projects on the  2003Project  page


Discussions and Proposals for Potential Projects :

Do you require existing 2D drawings for the building?   If you wish, I
will forward your request to the masshistpres (a list serve of people
serving on local Historical Commissions) and you would probably receive
numerous suggestions for forlorn abandoned historic buildings that beg
for better documentation, (some with and some without a proposed program
for reuse).
-Matthew Bronski
Co-Chair, BSA Historic Resources Committee

The central artery development parcels could be cool as there is a 3d
model of the artery already.  RAB
The open parcels may be designed but the development parcels are
not.
From: Robert Brown [mailto:Brown@CBTarchitects.com]

I agree, and it would be very timely.   I would imagine though that all
the parcels are all already designed ?   If not, and if a particular one
is designated as a public resource such as a new
museum/library/culturalcenter/etc. that may be ideal.
 From: Geoffrey Moore Langdon [mailto:glangdon@shore.net]


On the campus of the Northampton State Hospital is a mammoth Kirkbride
structure called Old Main. It is slated for demolition. go to 1856.org
or the various websites under Northampton State hospital for a sampling
of what the building is all about. Contact me if you are interested in
additional info.
Peg Keller/ Planning Department
                     City of Northampton

The developers, Mass Development and the Community builders say they will
wait one year for a redevelopment proposal to come forward, then if
nothing viable presents itself, it will come down.
Peg Keller, pkeller@northamptonplanning.org


I am a member of the Canton Historical Commission and I am working with
a non-profit group to save the David Tilden House, a very early 18th
Century building in Canton, MA.  The building was primarily built in
1725 but portions of the building were constructed between 1710 - 1723.
I have superb historical documentation that was commissioned in the mid
1970's and was completed by the SPNEA.  This property is eligible for
inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places. The building is
owned by the Town of Canton and the plan is to work on short-term
stabilization followed by long-term preservation.  There are plenty of
quirky element to the structure and unique architectural elements
spanning the build out between 1725 - 1950's.  Essentially this is an
extremely well preserved historically and architecturally significant
building in sincere need of restoration.

Clearly this is a unique project that would benefit on many levels
associated with the charrette. As we work towards developing a serious
plan for restoration and adaptation it is our hope that precise CADD
visualization will assist us in development of funding resources,
presentation of our project and ultimately will lead to a successful
preserved building.

Thank you for your kind attention. I hope that you will consider this
project worthy for your competition.  Should you wish to contact me,
please call me at 617.305.1625
George
--
George T. Comeau, Esq.
Managing Associate Director      University Media Services
617.305.1600 p.       120 Tremont Street
617.305.3072 f.       Boston, MA 02108-4977
gcomeau@suffolk.edu


The Tappan House in Attleboro MA. built in 1901 is slated for demolition
and is on Preservation Massachusetts list of the ten most endangered
properties in the state.  It is an architectural treasure and should be
documented. It is owned by the non profit hospital on whose property its
on. Unfortunately the hospital is in the business of saving human lives,
not the lives of irreplaceable buildings.

Ann J. Chapdelaine
Member Town of North Attleborough Historical Commission
 Ann Chapdelaine <designer@naisp.net>


You might contact:  Shirley Eustis House, Tamsen George, 617 442-2275
tamseng@aol.com.
Pse let me know if this works for you.
Balukonis, Cheryl, Cheryl.Balukonis@art.state.ma.us

The Westborough Historical Commission and Friends of the Nathan Fisher
House would like to submit the Nathan Fisher House in Westborough as a
potential pro-bono project for your 3D CAD challenge to create a
computerized visualization model.  The Nathan Fisher House has a number
of unique features that would make it particularly worthy of such a
project:

*  The Nathan Fisher House is owned by the town of Westborough, and is
under the care of the non-profit Friends of the Nathan Fisher House and
Westborough Historical Commission.  As such, it meets your criteria for
both a public and non-profit building for your project.

*  The Nathan Fisher House is a classic, early 19th Century structure
whose interior structure has been "bastardized" and allowed to
deteriorate through many years use by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
as part of the Lyman School for Boys reformitory.  CAD visualization of a
restored interior would be an ideal project for your competition, and the
results would also be very helpful to us in raising funds for the
interior restoration.

*  The main entryway to the Nathan Fisher House has a unique mural,
possibly painted by Rufus Porter, that was overpainted by the State a
number of years ago.  The critical features of the mural can still be
seen in the way the overpainting has deteriorated through the years, and
we also have written descriptions of the mural prior to the State
painting over it.  Computerized visualization/restoration of this mural
would be a particularly challenging task for one of your teams.

I'd be very interested in discussing the possibility of doing this
project with the Nathan Fisher House.  Please feel free to contact me if
you have any questions or I can provide any additional information.
Sincerely
Stanley Tyliszczak
Westborough Historical Commission


This is in response to the call for potential building sites. I suggest
St. Stephens church, Hanover Street, North End, Boston. It is was designed by
Bulfinch. It is currently the centerhouse for the Missionary Society of
St. James - a non-profit organization.

>From the internet:
"...The Freedom Trail soon turns by St. Stephens Church, a red-brick edifice
topped by a scruffy white cupola. Here, Rose Kennedy, mother of the slain
president, was both baptized and eulogized. While I am reading her
memorial plaque, a man drives by shouting like a godfather enforcer.
"Hey, tell Kennedy the church needs a paintin'. It's a disgrace. This is a
beautiful church, and now it's all a peelin'."
I promise to bring it up next time I party with Teddy. The complainer drives
off, still ranting. By Dan Leeth DAILY HERALD CORRESPONDENT
or
"...They decided to leave the cellar and start meeting in St. Stephens
church in the North End, which is one of the historic Congregational meeting
houses in the city of Boston. The building was now owned by the Catholic
Church, but they were allowed to meet there under the supervision of Father Robert."
The North End Story- by Jay Rogers
Please contact me if any interest.
Bill
Bill Milhomme, Field Archivist
Massachusetts Historical Records Advisory Board
Massachusetts Archives
220 Morrissey Blvd.
Boston, MA 02135
617.727.2816 x 257


I am responding to an e-mail I received from the Mass. Historic Society
about the BSA CADD Challenge.  We may have a good candidate for your
competition- The Brewery Complex in Jamaica Plain.

The Brewery Complex is owned and operated by the Jamaica Plain Neighborhood
Development Corporation , through its subsidiary, the Brewery Development
Corporation.  Both are community-based, not-for-profit organizations.

The Complex itself is the former home of the Haffenreffer Brewery, and is
still home to Boston Beer/Sam Adams Brewery.  The 1880's era property is
listed on the National Historic Register.

The Complex is a small business incubator, consisting of 16 buildings on 5
acres of land, including @ 160,000 SF of commercial space, of which,
100,000 SF is fully rented.   Tenants include Boston Beer/Sam Adams,
several architects, contractors, not-for-profit organizations, artists,
suppliers, and several food related businesses.   In total, there are more
than 40 businesses in the Complex.

The JP NDC is currently completing a feasibility analysis to undertake
build-out of the remaining vacant 40-50,000 SF of undeveloped space,
including an analysis of opportunities for developing the Amory St. entry
to the site, and possible options for future build-out.

We would be particularly interested in documenting the existing structures,
as we do not have any accurate plans, elevations, renderings, etc. for the
entire complex, as well as some consideration of possibilities for future
build-out.

The JP NDC is a not-for-profit community development corporation.  Our
mission is to revitalize the JP neighborhood as a racially, ethnically, and
economically diverse community. To achieve this mission, the NDC works with
coalitions of residents, community groups, human service agencies,
businesses, and government to bring new resources to the community through
3 main areas: affordable housing development, economic development that
leads to job creation and business growth, and community organizing.

If you think this project is applicable, I would be interested in speaking
with you more about the opportunity to collaborate on this BSA project.
Sincerely,
Jen Faigel
Community Development Director
Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corporation
31 Germania Street
Jamaica Plain, MA.  02130
617-522-2424, ext. 230


Save The Victory Theatre or Save Holyoke Catholic High School could use
your help. (Check Webites)You may even try and get the Mayor on board.
Good Luck.
 "carroll pinette jr." <cp_histpreserve@hotmail.com>

The LEx Historical Commission (of which I'm a member) has a property
under demolition delay that we would love to get some architectural
interest in- it is a very attractive concrete-tile (ie like Guastavino)
construction 1910-12-ish Arts & Crafts residence designed by a minor
Boston architect, William Sidebottom.

The owner wants to demo it in order to build his own dream house, but
we'd love to see him try to achieve his dreams in this particular house,
so have delayed issuance of a demo permit thru our local demo delay
bylaw.  The Commission has a fair amount of preservation expertise that
could assist the CADD team, including myself (I work at Camb Hist COmm),
Marilyn Fenollosa, who is the regional attorney for the National Trust
for Hist Pres, and Nancy Seasholes, a prominent
archaeologist/architectural historian.

The house is in a very desirable neighborhood and we have been desperate
to find a way to get the owner some architectural expertise as a way of
encouraging him to look at alternatives to demolition.  A set of drawings
of the house would be a huge help. Thanks
Sally Zimmerman


What a wonderful opportunity for poor communities with very limited budgets,
(especially in light of recent huge cutbacks by the State in local aid), but
rich with older buildings that want to be restored and preserved for
continued use.  One prime example of this would be Somerville's oldest
remaining school building, which celebrated its 100th anniversary just a few
years ago, at the turn of this century.  This 1900 elementary school, known
as the Benjamin Brown School, is still in active use and is academically
thriving  with a highly energized PTA.  However, it needs a good deal of
adaptive reuse and renovation work to remain viable over the longer term,
particularly in light of State Dept of Education requirements, which are not
very supportive of preserving older school buildings.  A set of good,
accurate CADD drawings would really help us further that goal, at a time
when funds for such work simply do not exist in this City.  This project
would be extremely relevant to other communities throughout the
Commonwealth, which are also facing the same type of preservation challenges
with their school buildings.

Thank you for your consideration.  We would be happy to provide more details
if appropriate.
Sincerely,
Michael Payne, AIA
Chairman                                                        J. Brandon
Wilson
Somerville Historic Preservation Commission     Executive Director


The Town of Framingham Senior Center Study Committee has asked me to forward
their interest to you.  I am not a member of the committee but my partner is.
 I forwarded the original E-mail to her and the committee expressed a
definite interest.  Since no one on the committee is an architect, they asked
if I would serve as their contact person.

I do not have all of the particulars at this time but do have enough that I
feel comfortable in contacting you.  The committee has been studying the need
for a new senior center vs. rehabbing the existing senior center.  While no
final decisions have been made, they are leaning toward a new building and
have identified two sites as possible locations.  At the present time 1.5
million dollars is available providing the Town can raise another $500,000.
I do not know exactly what detail of information you might need to consider
this project as a possibility for the CADD Challenge, however, I would be
glad to take whatever information you may have - relative to your exact needs
- back to the committee and continue to serve as an intermediary until such
time as I am no longer needed.

Please let me know if this project appears to be one which you would consider
- with the necessary additional information, of course - or if you have
already chosen a project to work on.
Look forward to hearing from you.
Gerald Couto, A.I.A.
Jerrydhd@aol.com


I know the perfect potential site, a most excellent choice for the CADD Challenge.

Check out our web sight
http://www.saveoldmain.org/main/index.html

This property as it stands now is at its greatest danger and lowest chance
of being reused yet.

BUT still,,,

Simultaneously it has such huge potential for use as a conference center
sitting right on the edge of Smith College's campus and a very short walk to
Down Town "Paradise" Northampton Mass night life. This makes it a perfect
venue given the easy reuse of all standing bricks (where they are) in this
National Register District. It will reap 20% tax credit ONLY if many
buildings get reused because it is a district. To date the very few lookers
have wanted to remove the massive interior brick walls.

The ONLY reason the building is in jeopardy from demolition is that for some
time a narrow view in town has been; that the hospital sits on the most
valuable real estate in down town, and it needs to be cleared.
Simultaneously a misguided feeling may want to just eliminate a scary
history, even though it's the later more recent failure on the mental health
question.

It started out on such a high plane for civilization and this idea can be
saved and better understanding can be carried on in the future out of
respect for those interned who may have suffered. Many reported it to be a
safe haven and a home with security and stability.

Back in 1856 it was felt the industrial revolution's environments were
making people loose control of their minds. Dorethea Dix showed that it's
time people no longer were chained in attics and basements. So they built
the very opposite environmental concept in a palatial, airy, bright and
elegant mansion on a hill in a city & country paradise. It was felt this
would bring folks back to health through the built environment. Even chamber
music was played on a continuous schedule to heal their minds.

What better statement we architects can to tell the future, to keep this
effort alive to build healthy minds through good environmental design.

A CADD virtual world might record and help save it, if properly visualized
by those with the money in this eleventh hour. If it is sadly destroyed
because it never was presented well, it still may teach design principles
for eternity as a virtual model, with the real architecture gone. This site
was the top of 10 most endangered sites in Massachusetts the state that was
an early leader in mental health.

A CADD package for study may just be the secret solution to enticing
developers to bring the world to this 5 college area and hold conferences on
the human mind in this next frontier of human civilization.

When will Paradise become even more real?

Thank you for considering this site,
Tris Metcalfe

Btw
a fair start on CAD 2D files exist.

Tristram Metcalfe, twm3@conversent.net


Kingston has a few building which would benefit!!!

1.)   The Fred. C. Adams Library , which was just placed on the list of Historic place and is in major need of renovation.
2.)   The Kingston TOWN HOUSE  which is an issue of being abandonded when the Town offices move to the NEWLY constructed building.
3.)    The Maple Street School/ MAple Street/  used only limitedly for a small town office.
4.)    Surprize Hose/  Main Street /  probably the oldest wooden Fire House in the area(?).
5.)     Govenor John BRADFORD House/ Landing Road/ supported and maintained privaitely by the Jones River Village HIstorical Society.

Contact Chairman of Kingston Historical Commission - Chair, Walter HOEG #
781-585-3991
Thanks, Kingston Historic Comm. - member, Roberta Medal # 781-585-8443

Medal, Roberta (MRC), Roberta.Medal@MRC.state.ma.us