The Young Designers Core was founded in 2000 by young designers who saw potential to enhance the professional development of emerging professionals in the firm. As a grassroots initiative, the YDC has maintained a great level of autonomy and innovation, even as the architectural and economic climate has changed around it. The most successful facet of the YDC model has been its adaptability; over the past 18 years the program has been able to transform and change to cater to the current needs of the firm. The underlying mission of the group has always stayed the same; to elevate young designers, but the methods have not. From year to year, the YDC’s focus may shift from education, to mentorship, to career advancement, or even to community and culture building. The events and opportunities that the YDC offers changes to align with this focus every year.
The YDC is led by two people, co-chairs, with alternating two-year term periods to ensure an easy transition between leadership that we feel helps keep our group thriving. Today, we wanted to introduce and learn a little more about our newest co-chair – Megan Brown.
What drew you to become an YDC co-chair?
Payette’s Young Designers Core was a big draw when I relocated to Boston and was interviewing at architecture firms. The emphasis on growth and development for young professionals is essential to a healthy practice and I’m so excited to keep this tradition moving forward!
What is one of your favorite YDC events?
My favorite event is the YDC vs. ODC softball tournament in the summer. It’s a great mix of friendly competition, fresh air and exercise, and good food and drink. Looking forward to the next one!
If you could eat lunch with one architect, living or deceased, who would it be?
There are several that come to mind, but picking just one, it would have been fun to meet Zaha Hadid.
The sky is the limit: what would you redesign?
I would love to redesign wireless, Bluetooth headphones for running. I want something more customizable, minimal and that actually stay in place without the need for material wrapping up over the ear. Possibly worn to look like small earrings. I think technology will get there eventually.
What do you do in your free time?
Now that summer is nearly here, I like to spend the majority of my free time outside biking, running, hiking or playing sports.
This Earth Week, we’ll be covering five landmark buildings exemplifying new approaches to building performance and sustainability.
The Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Klarman Building is the first hospital in the northeast to implement chilled beams in an inpatient setting. Early energy analysis demonstrated that the use of chilled beams would be the best way to reduce building energy use.
For this strategy to work, however, the peak thermal loads of the façades could not exceed the capacity of the chilled beams. An integrated design approach and in-house modeling allowed for constant tuning of the façade to optimize glazing, solar exposure and massing. The building orients glazing to face true north and south to minimize heat gain and maximize occupant comfort, resulting in a 15% reduction in peak solar load.
Beyond performance, the distinctive serrated terracotta façade reflects the scale and cadence of individual patient rooms, providing a delicate scale and texture to the façade.
#earthweek #designalways #buildingscience #performalism #facade