HANOVER COOP COMMUNITY MARKET WINS 2011 PLAN NH MERIT AWARD OF EXCELLENCE

Hanover, NH, April 19, 2011 – On March 31, 2011, Plan New Hampshire announced that the Hanover COOP Community Market project, designed by UK Architects in Hanover, NH, received a 2011 "Merit Award for Excellence." This honor marks the third award that the Community Market project has received. Previously, the store was awarded the 2010 American Institute of Architects, New Hampshire, "Excellence in Design Award" and the 2009 Business NH Magazine "Green Structure Award: New Building."

The store is located in Lyme, New Hampshire, and is owned by the Hanover Consumer Cooperative Society. UK Architects' design team included ORW (landscape architects), Engineering Ventures (structural engineers), John F. Penney Consulting (mechanical engineers), and others. The General Contractor was Trumbull-Nelson Construction.

The 5,500 s.f. grocery store was designed to be within easy walking and biking distance of the nearby neighborhood and as a community gathering place. Its generous south-facing glass enhances the store's transparency and connection to the neighborhood. Its north-facing main entrance, with its large glazed vestibule and garage-style doors, offers protection from winter winds and opens the store to the outside in summer.

As described by Plan NH (www.plannh.com/awards), "Not only is the project a good re-use of a former gas service station site, but the COOP utilized numerous sustainable materials during construction, met many of the NH Smart Growth Principles, and collaborates with local food producers to provide a marketplace for their products." Some of the sustainable elements that were used include geothermal heating and cooling systems, closed cell foam insulation, a sealed building envelope, energy efficient lighting (including LED lighting, skylights, and daylight harvesters to automatically dim lights), energy efficient mechanical systems, and water retention systems.

Each year, Plan New Hampshire recognizes exemplary projects that reflect their mission and that incorporate the principles of Smart Growth, sustainability, social responsibility, and/or creative approaches to partnership and collaboration.

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NEW UPPER VALLEY HAVEN ADULT SHELTER WINS EFFICIENCY VERMONT AWARD

White River Junction, VT, February 22, 2011 – The newly constructed Haven Adult Shelter, located in White River Junction, Vermont, won the 2011 Efficiency Vermont Award for Best of the Best in Commercial Building Design & Construction. 

Each year, Efficiency Vermont recognizes innovative and integrated design approaches for energy efficiency in Vermont’s commercial, institutional, industrial, and multifamily buildings.  This year’s top design award in the category of New Construction, Small Buildings (<20,000 sq .ft.) went to UK Architects located in Hanover, New Hampshire, for the Upper Valley Haven’s Adult Shelter. The Award was presented to Christopher Kennedy, Principal of UK Architects, on February 9, 2011, at Efficiency Vermont’s annual conference, Better Buildings by Design. 

The energy efficient design of the Haven’s Adult Shelter, aka the Hixon House, is projected to have annual energy savings of $9,850, compared to a design that meets the current energy code.  Design elements included the use of sustainable materials throughout, energy efficient lighting and water conservation devices, a continuous high performance thermal envelope including triple-glazed windows, and energy efficient heating and ventilation equipment, as well as Energy Star® commercial appliances. The Haven has applied to the US Green Building Council for LEED® certification of the project.  

The Hixon House provides shelter for homeless single men and women, and couples without minor children.  The Shelter opened to guests in June 2010 and has room for up to 20 guests, with two guests in each bedroom. The building includes 10 bedrooms, staff offices, counseling rooms, phone rooms, check-in area, an elevator, computer room, kitchen, common areas for dining and recreation, bathrooms, laundry, and storage.  The new Hixon House shelter provides a safe place for individuals and couples to stay while making positive changes in their life.

The project owner, the Upper Valley Haven, brought their vision to a successful completion through the collaborative efforts of the project team:  Architect – UK Architects of Hanover, NH;  Contractor – Shepard Construction of Quechee, VT;  Thermal Envelope Consultant – Murphy’s Cell Tech of St. Johnsbury, VT; Civil Engineer – Engineering Ventures of Burlington, VT; Mechanical Engineer – Thomas Engineering Associates of Waitsfield, VT;  Electrical Engineer – William Bissell of Montpelier, VT; and Commissioning Agent – John F Penney Consulting of Chester, VT.

James R. Wasser from UK Architects was the project manager for the project.  Jim is a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and is a LEED® Accredited Professional.  He brings extensive experience and energy to UK Architects and to all projects he works on.

The Upper Valley Haven is a private not-for-profit organization, founded in 1980, that provides temporary shelter and educational programming for homeless families and adults, as well as food and clothing to those in need.  All Haven services are provided free of charge.  For over 30 years, the Haven has fostered independence by providing resources through Education programs, Shelter Advocacy, Case Management, Outreach, Aftercare, and more.

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ULF TO SERVE ON BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE NH PRESERVATON ALLIANCE

Hanover, NH, November 24, 2010 – M. Hunter Ulf was elected to a three-year term on the Board of Directors for the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance at the annual meeting on November 18 and 19 in Guilford, NH. 

The New Hampshire Preservation Alliance is a statewide, nonprofit historic preservation organization. The Alliance “believes that the best way to help preserve the character of New Hampshire is to work closely with communities, homeowners and a variety of partners to provide technical expertise in historic preservation, guidance in obtaining financial assistance and other resources, and leadership in the implementation of supportive policies” (www.nhpreservation.org/html/membership.htm). The organization was founded in 1985 as Inherit New Hampshire (INH), and over the years, it expanded its services and formed alliances that include the National Trust for Historic Preservation. At the turn of the new millennium, the organization became the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance. During the past decade, the Alliance has experienced tremendous growth.  It currently focuses its energy and resources on both preservation services and preservation policy. 

As a new member of the Board, Hunter Ulf brings an extensive background in historic preservation, as well as practical expertise to the NH Preservation Alliance. As a Principal with UK Architects in Hanover, NH, Hunter has been involved with projects such as the Wainshal Mill Renovation in Claremont, NH, the Wilder Church Renovation in Wilder, VT, the Miller Bicentennial Building Renovation at Kimball Union Academy in Meriden, NH, and the Bridgman Block Building Renovation in Hanover, NH. 

Early in his career, Hunter served as a consultant to the General Services Administration and the National Park Service in the renovation of historic federal buildings nationwide. In the weeks following Hurricane Katrina, Hunter was recruited by the State of Mississippi to perform damage assessments on historic buildings along the Gulf Coast, helping to ensure that Mississippi’s architectural heritage survived.  As a result, Hunter received a Presidential Citation from the Association for Preservation Technology in 2006 for his historic building assessment work. He has a passion for using the profession of architecture to enhance communities and enrich people’s lives. 

Since becoming a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) in 1989, Hunter has held a number of elected positions including President of AIA Vermont and President of AIA New England.  From 2001 to 2004, he served on the AIA National Board of Directors, representing the New England Region.  He has served on the National Joint Committee of the AIA and the Associated General Contractors, Hunter has chaired the Advisory Jury for the AIA’s Gold Medal and Firm of the Year Awards (the highest awards of recognition given by the AIA), and he has chaired the AIA’s Committee for the Site Selection of the AIA National Conventions. In addition, Hunter has been a design studio critic at Norwich University, Dartmouth College, and Vermont Technical College and he has participated in architectural design juries for the Boston Society of Architects and AIA New Jersey.

Hunter lives in Pomfret, Vermont, with his wife and two daughters. He is an avid mountain biker and skier. He also enjoys woodworking and architectural sight-seeing.

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