Leers Weinzapfel recently completed a Campus Masterplan study for the National Chiao Tung University in Shinchu Taiwan together with a Concept Design for its first new Biotech Building.

The new 275,000 SF building is the first step in developing a new larger scale precinct of the campus. A second gate to the campus along a major commercial street and opposite a large public park will lead directly to the new Bio-Tech building. Departments of Biology and Technology will come together in the new facility to work in collaboration on interdisciplinary projects including Molecular Microbiology, Bio Medical Electronics, Bio Informatics, and Drug Discovery.

The new building will play a pivotal role in energizing the historic campus and demonstrating the University’s future focus in bio-engineering interdisciplinary research.

Josiah Stevenson, Principal, was recently elevated to the AIA College of Fellows. Josiah will be honored at an investiture ceremony at the 2014 National AIA Convention.

Josiah designs, researches and teaches architecture of the public realm. His work addresses the meaning of civic and community architecture today, how it relates to historic context and our sustainable future. His recent, award-winning projects include the Dudley Square Neighborhood Police Station in Boston, the Taunton Trial Court, and the Mugar Center for the Performing Arts at the Cambridge School of Weston. Josiah is currently leading the design teams for the new Integrated Design Building at UMass Amherst and the addition and renovation of the Greenfield Trial Court in Greenfield, MA.

Oak and Laurel Halls at the University of Connecticut were longlisted for a World Architecture News (WAN) Landscape Architecture Award. This awards program recognizes projects that create distinct spaces and reinvigorate them with new possibilities though urban design, recreation planning or environmental restoration.

Scandinavian-Architects recently featured an interview with Jane Weinzapfel, FAIA, on Oak and Laurel Halls as part of their Review section.

Read the interview here.

On March 5th, Jane Weinzapfel and Andrea Leers presented “Extended Territories: Leers Weinzapfel Associates,” at the National Building Museum in DC. The lecture was part of the Women of Architecture series, a collaboration between the National Building Museum and the Beverly Willis Architecture Foundation to celebrate the achievements of women in the field of architecture during National Women’s History Month.

Jane and Andrea spoke about recent work extending infrastructure, public realm sustainable landscapes, and global territories. Loreen Arnold, AIA President, AIA Potomac Valley, moderated the discussion.

Watch the full lecture here.

Leers Weinzapfel Associates has been selected to program and design a new 80,000 GSF facility for the departments of Landscape Architecture & Regional Planning, Architecture + Design, and Building Construction Technology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. The project will exemplify the University’s commitment to sustainability and innovative design, and the value of integrating the architecture, landscape architecture, regional planning, and green building design programs into one facility. LEED Silver Certification is targeted. Building occupancy is slated for Summer 2016.

“We’re excited about collaborating with LWA on this project. Their deep experience will help us create a ground breaking model for integrated education and research regarding the built environment”

Stephen Schreiber FAIA
Director
UMass Architecture+Design Program

Although the hospital campus occupies more than 15 acres in the city, it previously had no “address” on a principal street. Built on a tiny sliver site, the building’s gleaming copper and glass façade spans a city block, identifying the main entrance to the hospital with a large presence.

A series of spaces, each with its own identity, are stacked to make a tall three- story volume in its highly visible location. A double height entry lobby gives a generous and welcoming scale to the building, and its monumental stair joins first and second floors. The fully glazed ground floor exhibition space draw visitors in and engages the building with the public and the neighborhood. The second floor houses a flexible meeting, assembly, and reception space for hospital seminars and events overlooking the entry and gallery below. An oriel window offers glimpses of the activity of street and sidewalk. The pergola covered roof garden provides a contemplative space for the Hospital, patients, visitors and neighbors, and dramatic views over downtown Boston and Beacon Hill.

The exterior metal skin, fabricated of recycled copper, provides a durable, maintenance-free enclosure which will age in color gracefully with time. Copper-colored fritted glazing provides insulation and shading, yet allows natural daylight to penetrate the building. The green roof, as well as pervious site paving and plantings, absorb storm water and reduce the heat island effect.

Read  article here: http://www.architectureweek.com/2012/0523/design_1-1.html