DSK

NEWSLETTER

The Future of Camp Belknap

1 August 2022

DSK has an exciting vision for the future of Camp Belknap, an all-boys summer camp in Tuftonboro, NH. “After building a 6-year relationship with the Camp, we have developed a deep understanding of Camp Belknap culture, camper needs, and the camp’s environs. DSK strives to uphold camp traditions while introducing innovative and exciting designs, reflecting the already rich and spirited community culture,” says DSK designer, Ben Herter. Part of our vision for Camp Belknap includes a new Dining Hall & Kitchen, adding to the iconic waterfront site on Lake Winnipesaukee.

Camp Belknap
Thornton Tomasetti (Structural Engineer)
Eckerson Design Associates (Landscape Architect)
Oak Consulting Group (Civil Engineer)
Rist Frost Shumway (MEP/FP Engineer)
Harvey Construction

High-Rise Under Construction at MMC!

15 May 2022

The Judith Mara Carson Center for Visual Arts at Marymount Manhattan College is a new interdisciplinary creative space for students, faculty, and the broader art community to push the boundaries of the arts. This multi-purpose space features a new glass roof, allowing natural, diffused sunlight through, livening the art studios below. The glass roof provides a connection to the blue sky, rare for a high-rise in NYC.

Earth Day! DSK|Interiors

22 April 2022

DSK is passionate about sustainable solutions in design. The materials palette photographed above includes red-list free, cradle-to-cradle, and Certified Green Label materials from companies that aim to reduce environmental impact in manufacturing processes. DSK’s Hannah Fuller says, “We keep sustainability in mind to create healthy interiors that are lasting and beautiful. The project concept is inspired by a connection to nature and includes a preserved plant wall, generating a warm, welcoming lobby for students to gather.”

Vogue Features DSK’s Lovango Cay

11 March 2022

Vogue recently featured DSK’s newest USVI project, Lovango Resort + Beach Club. “Nestled between the main islands of St. Thomas and St. John…the private island couldn’t have a better location.” Todd Plumber of Vogue mentions “…luxurious yet rustic-feeling – worlds away from anything else I’ve seen in the Caribbean” and we couldn’t agree more.

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HBS Features Cash House

10 March 2022

DSK is proud to work on Harvard Business School’s (HBS) Cash House. Cash House “was renamed in honor of Professor Emeritus James Cash,” the first Black member of the faculty to receive tenure at HBS. Harvard Business School pioneers the movement toward diversifying its institution and partners. DSK was pleased to support Shawmut Design and Construction and Janey Construction Management who took the lead on HBS’ mission toward a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive institution.

Click Image for Article Link

Simkin, Shona. “With Cash House Renovations, HBS Gains Ground towards Racial Equity in Construction Projects.” With Cash House Renovations, HBS Gains Ground Towards Racial Equity in Construction Projects – News – Harvard Business School, 25 Feb. 2022, https://www.hbs.edu/news/articles/Pages/cash-house.aspx.

International Women’s Day!

8 March 2022

Thank you to Shawmut for hosting a panel discussion on our project for Marymount Manhattan College featuring project leaders Michelle Ouellette and Amy Latva-Kokko. Shannon Haley, Britt Ambruson, Hannah Fuller, and many other DSKers are contributing to the vision of this great institution.  

The Rogers Center at Brewster Academy

16 December 2021

The Rogers Center at Brewster Academy creates a new interdisciplinary learning and performing arts hub on picturesque Lake Winnipesaukee. The revitalization of this mid-twentieth-century building transforms the space into a light-filled student commons and café,  combined with dedicated spaces for group collaboration, theatre, dance, visual arts, maker/media creation, and robotics. The first phase is scheduled to open in January 2022.

DSK|Interiors on Moskito Island

6 December 2021

Julia Ferraro, DSK | Interiors, is pictured above putting the finishing touches on Moskito Island’s Point Estate. Julia and members of the DSK team reviewed finishes, placed furniture, and curated artwork anticipating the upcoming high season.

Winsor House Opens!

3 December 2021

Island Creek Oysters has opened the historic Winsor House Inn in Duxbury, MA. Winsor is the newest addition to Island Creek Oysters’ farm on Duxbury Bay. DSK collaborated with artist Michael Coyne to revitalize this 1803 landmark. 

DSK is Pleased to Announce the Promotions of Michelle Ouellette, Erin Cusker, and Rob Peirce to Senior Associate!

25 November 2021

DSK is Pleased to Announce the Promotions of Jim Newton and Justin Mello to Director!

20 November 2021

Island Creek Oysters – Richards House

16 November 2021

Built in 1800, the historic federal style Richards house provides Island Creek Oysters with a central hub for partners. Located in Duxbury, MA, Richards House is just one of the many Island Creek Oyster properties, including the DSK-designed Winsor House, Shore House, and Raw Bar. DSK is always excited when challenged with the revitalization of a unique historic property. When faced with historic renovation, DSK’s mission is to restore the house to its original form, introducing creative and exciting nuances. DSK used the historic homes of Duxbury as a reference and added a modern twist, using a paint palette inspired by the natural colors of oysters.  

Summer Star is High Impact!

9 November 2021

DSK’s Summer Star Wildlife Sanctuary was recently featured in Metropolis Magazine’s “Design for Impact: Case Studies in Design for a Better Impact.” Summer Star is LEED Gold certified with 52.2% energy reduction, 87% waste reduction, as well as several other sustainable features including stormwater control, light pollution, heat island effect, and rain gardens. Summer Star also benefits from its sustainable materials and finishes, photovoltaic system, composting units, and Earth roof. Summer Star was awarded MA USGBC Green Building of the Year, 2015 (Source: “Design for Impact,” 2021).

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DSK Kicks Off Bi-Annual Meeting

28 October 2021

The DSK team is pictured huddled under the tent, asking the right questions about the identity and future of the Firm. Led by the DSK | Practice group, the Bi-Annual Meeting is a time to reflect on the year and reaffirm our DSK | Core Values. DSK would like to extend a very special thank you to Clark Farm Market for hosting our group!

Robb Report Highlights DSK Projects

Photo: Virgin Limited Edition

8 October 2021

Following the Robb Report article, DSK’s Amy Latva-Kokko, Sustainability Coordinator and curator of Moskito Green Island Initiative said,

“These homes aim to integrate luxurious design in an unmatched setting with environmentally sustainable initiatives to create villa estates that respond to climate change with resiliency and sensitivity.”

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Town&Country Spotlights DSK|Interiors

Photo: Virgin Limited Edition

1 October 2021

“DSK’s warm and contemporary interiors ground The Point Estate’s modern Bali-inspired architecture to the natural landscape of Moskito Island. From the open-faced Great Room to the floating Seaside Pavilion, and panoramic outdoor patio areas, DSK | Interiors blur the boundaries between indoor and outdoor living.”                            Emilie Tucker, Director DSK | Interiors

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Architectural Digest Features Oasis Estate

Photo: Virgin Limited Edition

25 September 2021

In “Richard Branson’s Private Caribbean Island Features Magnificent New Estates You Can Rent,” AD wrote,

“…each rentable estate has its own completely different yet equally striking design… One such development is the Oasis estate, perched upon the island’s highest point and designed by Dewing Schmid Kearns Architects + Planners…”            Jessica Cherner  

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Quissett Research Facility at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

28 July 2021

DSK is excited to announce the opening of the Quissett Research Facility at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. This research and engineering facility supports the AVAST program (Autonomous Vehicles and Sensor Technology), the Mooring Lab, Advanced Fabrication, and flexible innovation space for program growth.

“The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution is dedicated to advancing knowledge of the ocean and its connection with the Earth system through a sustained commitment to excellence in science, engineering, and education, and to the application of this knowledge to problems facing society” (Source – 2021 Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution).

Westport River Watershed Alliance Concert

10 July 2021

DSK was recently the lead sponsor of Westport River Watershed Alliance’s summer concert held at Westport River Winery. The sold-out concert featured folk artist Amy Helm. DSK is proud to support this great organization that is protecting the health of our natural environment. 

Certified Passive House Designers

29 June 2021

DSK is proud to announce that architects Amy Latva-Kokko and Courtney Borelli have earned the title Certified Passive House Designer. Passive house design focuses on comfort, high indoor air quality, proper building siting, a very efficient envelope, and low long-term operational energy usage. “Some 5,000 professionals around the world have already earned the internationally recognized Certified Passive House Designer and Consultant designations” (Source – 2021 Passive House Alliance).

Passive house designs can offset their minimal energy usage with nonpolluting on-site renewable energy. DSK recently completed a high-performance home in Southern New Hampshire with a negative HERS rating. The fully electric building has an efficient, tight envelope with continuous exterior insulation and triple-pane windows capturing scenic New England views. This home’s anticipated energy consumption will be fully offset by the electricity generated through a rooftop photovoltaic array.

2030 Commitment Recognized

30 April 2021

DSK, a signatory to the AIA 2030 Commitment, earned this 3 Year Badge after submitting building design energy data for our 2020 active projects. Since 2018, we have submitted the predicted operational energy of our designs annually. In 2020, DSK had 16 projects with an average of 46% energy conservation, against the AIA 2030 baseline. Energy models and lighting power density calculations are key elements in improving the sustainability of DSK’s architecture. We continue to increase the number of Firm projects that are modeled. These efforts coincide with optimizing passive design opportunities, increasing use of non-polluting renewable energy, improving air quality and access to daylight, and reducing embodied carbon and the environmental footprint of building materials.

DSK Featured in AIA Sustainability Action Plan Guide

29 March 2021

DSK recently conducted an internal survey on commuting habits and analyzed data on business travel, printing, and electricity usage. It’s important to understand our impact on the climate by diving into the data about our individual (and firm-wide) carbon emissions. The DSK offices were closed for 11 weeks from mid-March to June 1, 2020. Working from home during that time has allowed DSK to not emit 32.7 metric tons of carbon or the equivalent of planting 545 trees for 10 years.

Click images above to link to the AIA Sustainability Action Plan guide featuring DSK’s recent internal study. 

Judith Mara Carson Center for Visual Arts at Marymount Manhattan College

17 February 2021

DSK has partnered with Marymount Manhattan College in the design and construction of the new Judith Mara Carson Center for Visual Arts on their campus in New York City. The project will create a transdisciplinary ecosystem that invites students to flex their creativity across a range of techniques, media, theories, and systems of knowledge. Students will take advantage of plentiful opportunities to think and learn beyond the traditional bounds of defined disciplines. Interconnected studios, classrooms, and multipurpose communal areas, including abundant gallery space, will become rich sites for community-building, where students, faculty, alumni, and guests can gather and exchange ideas.

The above text is from a recent article announcing the new Judith Mara Carson Center of Visual Arts at Marymount Manhattan College. Click images above for the full article.

Construction Management: Shawmut Design and Construction
Engineer: Vanderweil Engineers
Lighting Design: Horton Lees Brogden Lighting Design
Acoustic Consultant: Acentech

Construction Underway at WHOI

20 November 2020

A first look at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution‘s New Quissett Facility taking shape! The project features precast concrete panels, steel superstructure, and envelope framing in progress at WHOI’s newest facility. The building is 3-stories and 50,000 GSF, on the 124-acre Quissett Campus in Woods Hole, MA. This project was first identified as part of DSK’s ongoing work on WHOI’s Strategic Facilities Assessment and is designed to support research and development of above and underwater autonomous vehicle and sensor technology.

Owners Project Manager: CSL Consulting
Construction Management: Consigli Construction
Engineer: BVH Integrated Services
Landscape Architects: Stimson Landscape Architects
Civil: Holmes & McGrath

17 March 2020

Dear DSK Community:

I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone for meeting the challenges we are facing with intelligence and composure. I believe we are well-positioned to navigate the COVID 19 outbreak and the multifaceted issues related to it. Transdisciplinary problem solving is our hallmark. I would like to share several themes with everyone:

Scales of Action

Generally, be aware of your context, local to global. Specifically, acknowledge what you can control. This is a call for leadership at all levels. Prioritize your personal and family health, physical and emotional. DSK leaders are a resource for you. Reach out if we may be of help.

Regarding our work, focus. The best action we can take, collectively and individually, is to focus on the work in front of us and make daily accomplishments. This will benefit each of you, with some semblance of normalcy, and counterbalance the all-consuming news about the virus. This is also very important for the Firm. 

Communicate Ideas

If you and/or a member of your immediate community are sick, please provide daily updates. We are committed to monitoring everyone’s health status and providing support, as appropriate. Firm First means we take care of each other, so we are better positioned to serve others.

Please share your design thinking regarding this new live/work paradigm. This is new. There are more questions than answers, which can be destabilizing. Interesting and potentially impactful ideas will come from all members of our community. If you have an idea about how we can make the next several weeks or months the best it can possibly be, please share. No live/work idea is out of bounds, candor with care. 

DSK Core Values

When faced with uncertainty at any scale, I always return to core values. These are not simple slogans, they are actions.

• Firm First
• Candor with Care
• Contribute to Each Other’s Success
• Come to the Table with a Strong Point of View and be Open to the Strong Points of View of Others

I’m proud to be a member of your community.
Tom

A Modern Boston Carriage House

09 March 2020

DSK is pleased to share that a recently completed design project with LTK Interiors is featured on Architectural Digest’s digital version (click through the photo above). This collaborative interior renovation of a historic Beacon Hill home creates a relaxed, contemporary, light-filled living space in what was utilitarian architecture for horses and carriages.

Interiors: LTK Interiors
Cabinetry: Kochman Reidt + Haigh Cabinetmakers
Builder: Howland Company, Inc.
Photography: Jared Kuzia Photography

Westport River Watershed Alliance

31 October 2019

Congratulations to our design team on the successful completion of the Westport River Watershed alliance project. The renovation and restoration of the historic building relocates the WRWA headquarters to the heart of the Westport River Watershed, supporting the organization’s mission to protect one of the region’s most valuable natural resources. 

05 August 2019

DSK is looking for talented individuals to join our team!

DSK | Dewing Schmid Kearns is an award-winning 35+ person design firm with offices in Concord and South Dartmouth, MA. Our practice provides meaningful opportunities for our employees to advance the missions of our clients and make positive contributions to society. We have the following Full-Time positions available:

Interns – Currently enrolled in or graduated from an accredited Architecture, Planning, or Interior Design program with strong Revit, Adobe Creative Suite, and Microsoft Office skills

Interior Designer – Bachelor’s Degree in Interior Design with 1-3 years experience Senior

Senior Interior Designer – Bachelor’s Degree in Interior Design with 10+ years of experience, NCIDQ accreditation preferred

Planner – Bachelors or Master’s degree with 1-3 years of planning, architecture, and/or urban design experience

Architectural Designer – Bachelors or Master of Architecture with 1-3 years of professional experience

Project Manager – Bachelors or Master of Architecture with 5+ years of post-graduate professional experience

Please contact Mary Lou Kearns at [email protected] for possible career opportunities.

Acton Discovery Museum

22 July 2019

DSK is excited to be working with Acton Discovery Museum and Andrew Brockway & Associates to create a Master Plan for the museum; addressing the growing needs of the museum while also implementing sustainable and renewable practices on the site. We are thrilled to be reinforcing their philosophies of fostering a connection with the world around them and sparking curiosity in their visitors.

Robert Peirce Joins DSK

17 July 2019

DSK is pleased to welcome Robert Peirce, LEED AP, as Senior Project Manager with comprehensive experience in the planning, design, and construction of higher education projects. He has worked with institutions of various scales and administrative structures. Rob will be furthering his work on projects at Hamilton College, Duke University, and Xavier University.

Tom Sherman in the Caribbean

17 May 2019

After a 7-month long sailing journey from Boston to the Virgin Islands, Tom Sherman is now based in the Caribbean. With his new placement, Tom will be overseeing and supporting continued work on DSK’s Necker Island and Oil Nut Bay Projects, along with pursuing other project opportunities. Tom is a registered architect and Senior Project Manager at DSK and has led the development of sustainable design initiatives for DSK projects in the British Virgin Islands, supporting renewable energy and water self-sufficiency practices.   

Check out his Sailing Journey here.

Harvard Executive Education

25 April 2019

After 10 years of collaboration with Harvard University Graduate School of Design and serving as the Expert-in-Residence for the Executive Education program, Tom will be passing off the baton to Brie Hensold. Tom has led a number of Executive Education programs at the Graduate School of Design, teaching and guiding professionals from around the globe. 

Marine Biological Laboratory

14 March 2019

DSK is proud to be working with Dr.Patel and his team to design a Butterfly Vivarium at the University of Chicago’s Marine Biological Laboratory. An article on Dr.Patel’s work has been featured in the New York Times.

Duke University 

13 February 2019

DSK is thrilled to announce that we have been selected to design the addition & renovation of Lilly Library at Duke University! The project aims to reinvigorate East Campus and breathe new life into Lilly as an academic hub – both retaining the charm of the beloved original library and the addition of dynamic new collaborative spaces.  

Necker Island has Reopened

23 January 2019

Following the destruction of Hurricane Irma, DSK has been working to restore many of the buildings on Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands. 

The Necker Island Projects include several guest houses, dining & recreational pavilions, and the reconstruction of the Necker Great House.

More information about the projects can be found here and also in this recent article written by the Robb Report. 

Image courtesy of Virgin Limited Edition.

Seasons Greetings

10 December 2018

From all of us at DSK, we hope that you have a wonderful holiday season. 

A Time to Reflect

30 November 2018

In October, the DSK team took advantage of a beautiful New England fall day (and a recently completed project) and transformed their usual Bi-annual meeting into a mindfulness retreat.

The Summer Star Wildlife Sanctuary, located in Boylston, is a place of tranquility and self-reflection whose mission is to protect and care for the wildlife that thrives in this 45-acre habitat of natural land, plants, streams, and glacial boulders.

The DSK team gathered at the trailhead house to experience first hand how design and nature come together to create a place of reflection.  With a LEED Gold certification, the building is the front door for the visitors of the sanctuary.

Lunch, a moment for mindfulness (led by Lara Wilson – Be Well Be Here), and then a short hike in the woods rounded out the Bi-Annual meeting for the DSK team.

Bradford House Opens

24 August 2018

The Bradford House additions and renovations at Concord Academy are finally complete and are ready for the upcoming school year. The addition includes a new student common room, new dorm rooms, and two new faculty apartments while the renovations feature refurbished interior student and faculty spaces as well as a fully restored historic decorative staircase.

On the other end of the campus, construction has begun on a new addition that links Haines House and Hobson House together with new student common rooms and faculty apartment spaces. Officially known as the Haines Hobson Commons, this project is set to be completed for the 2019 school year.

DSK Continues to Grow

23 July 2018

DSK’s Somerville Studio has moved to Concord effective July 23rd. DSK merged with KDG last year and we are now under one roof in a newly expanded Concord Studio. Our new studio houses additional collaboration space, the Materials Lab, a model-making shop, and flexible workspace for members of our design team. Incorporating a variety of products DSK uses on many projects, our studio doubles as a showroom for our clients. DSK’s South Dartmouth office continues to serve our South Coast and Southern New England clients.

Down to the Details 

1 July 2018

Developing rich color schemes, coordinating patterns, and alternating textures is a process that DSK | Interiors enjoy. Pictured here, Haley creates a palette of materials for the CA Houses project that kicks off this summer. The new Haines-Hobson Commons will connect two of the oldest houses on Concord Academy’s campus, creating space for students to gather and collaborate outside of the classroom. The careful coordination of materials allows for seamless integration of these two historic and architecturally distinct houses. Whether it’s carpets, fabrics, or window treatments, the Interiors team assures the design is cohesive, down to the tiniest detail.

DSK’s Sky Milner at the Venice Biennale

31 May 2018

Sky Milner’s work with the MIT Urban Risk Lab is currently on display in the Japan Pavilion of the 16th Venice Biennale, an international architecture exhibition. The 2013 Sanriku Project looks at single-use commercial areas slated to be raised 10 meters above sea level in Minami Sanriku after the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami. Sky’s planning watercolors of post-disaster Minamisanriku documents the memories, concerns, and hopes for the future of those affected in an effort to increase communication between office and grass-roots planning efforts. The Pavilion show titled ‘Architectural Ethnography’ includes drawings from 42 architectural practices who use drawing in new ways to engage communities.

Construction Continues at Bradford House

10 May 2018

Construction continues at the Concord Academy Bradford House as part of residential life enhancements outlined in The Centennial Plan for Concord Academy. The west and north wings are almost complete. In June interior renovations will start on the east and south wings and be completed by late summer.

Construction Continues in Carlisle 

16 April 2018

During conceptual design, a parti sketch (bottom) helps DSK designers define an idea. The construction photo (top) shows how the idea is being translated into a built work. Stay tuned for progress on this modern house tucked into the woods of Carlisle.

Westport Project Update

22 February 2018

New photos of our Westport project, Turtle Rock Farm, are up! Click through the photos here to see more of this one-of-a-kind house.

23 January 2018

Learn why DSK jumped at the chance to bring Kao Design Group (KDG) into the fold, what it means for the future of our newly combined practice, and what legacy clients of each firm can look forward to.

Construction Continues at Concord Market

10 January 2018

No amount of snow can stop Concord Market from forging ahead! This project’s wood-framed structure continues to progress, even when surrounded by 14 inches of snow. Concord Market is set to be completed late summer and will be a great asset to the community!

Down to the Details 

17 November 2017

Every unique stair deserves