By Jonathan Evans. There has always been a disconnect – or at the very least a perception of one – between architecture as a discipline and architecture as a practice. The discipline, closely guarded by academia, is seen to represent more conceptual, abstract thinking and a pushing of architectural knowledge forward. read more >
By Joe Flynn. It’s all about the roof deck. When we moved to 308 Congress Street, each of us stepped out onto that adjoining roof deck with that “kid on Christmas morning” wonder. As we stepped outside, there were two immediate sensations that overwhelmed us: fresh air and view. It truly is a remarkable experience to describe. read more >
By Dan Perruzzi. I always encourage architects in my office to become active members of the Boston Society of Architects. Those who are active BSA members are generally better informed, better trained, more current, and in general just a whole lot smarter about their profession. Encouraging BSA membership is a strategy for developing talent in our office. read more >
By Janet Morra, AIA, LEED AP. I went to graduate school in the early 1980’s (please don’t do the math) before there were personal computers in common use. In fact, if you wanted to type a paper you could either use a typewriter or you could reserve time on the University mainframe. read more >
By Christine Law Pestana. Since the inception of LEED in 1998 there has been a lot of “green” talk going on. One of the hot items that have taken off since then is “green roofs”. But did you know that before the modern green roof some form of the green roof has been around for centuries? read more >
Idea contributed by Dianne Dunnell. Kent Larson from MIT Media Lab was this years’ keynote speaker at the Annual IFMA Awards event held at the Renaissance Hotel on 5-26-11. His group are leading innovators involved in studying ways to change & better society. read more >
Idea contributed by Dianne Dunnell. Here is how to take the concept of growing a Chia pet and using it on a building façade to absorb pollution out of the air. read more >
By Dan Perruzzi and Cyndy Gibson Murphy. The best designed interior space can easily be ruined by poor lighting choices. Work spaces can’t be successful if lighting does not support the tasks being performed. read more >
Our new blog is focused mainly on the inspiration we all feel as architects and designers. So…What inspires you? Some of our staff share their own inspirations. read more >
Part of MPA’s philosophy is to encourage the ongoing education and training of its employees. To that end, the firm is extremely supportive of its many Boston Architectural College (BAC) students. Going to school and working full time is quite a challenging feat. Vivienne and Saul discuss below the pros and cons, benefits and challenges. read more >
