Douglas C. Hertsenberg named Associate

September 2008 - Bernardon Haber Holloway Architects PC (BHH) announced the promotion of Douglas C. Hertsenberg, AIA, to the status of Associate of the firm.  The addition of Hertsenberg to BHH’s management team brings the total number of Associates to seven.

“During his 18 years with the firm, Doug has excelled in multiple areas of the firm’s practice including design, marketing, operations and finance,” says Arthur Bernardon, a principal with the firm.  “Doug’s dedication to the firm and our clients makes this promotion well deserved,” added Bernardon.

Hertsenberg joined the firm in February 1990 as a designer.  He is a graduate of Drexel University where he earned a Bachelor of Architecture degree.  Since joining the firm, he has gained a special area of expertise in the design of golf and country clubs, high-end single family homes, independent senior living residences, and historic adaptive-reuse projects.  Hertsenberg has led the firm’s Residential Studio in designing more than 50 custom residences ranging in size from 4,000 SF to 22,000 SF.

“When I started here, I was a junior designer finishing my architecture degree at night,” says Hertsenberg.  “I was fortunate that the firm was willing to provide me with opportunities for growth, advancement, mentoring, and the ability to work on a variety of project types.  I am honored by the confidence the principals have placed in me, and I look forward to further advancing the firm’s success in design excellence and our commitment to client satisfaction,” adds Hertsenberg.

Hertsenberg has contributed his talents to such notable projects as Fieldstone Golf Club, French Creek Golf Club, and RiverCrest Golf Club & Preserve as well as the restoration and adaptive re-use of the Indian River Life Saving Station, the Buena Vista State Conference Center and the Delaware Academy of Medicine, to name a few.  His current projects include several custom designed residences, senior living cottages for Mariposa at Bethany (a new continuing care retirement community being designed for Peninsula United Methodist Homes); and the adaptive reuse and expansion of the historic Cool Spring Meeting House in Wilmington, Delaware

Sustaining a Sustainable Lifestyle

August 2008 - Pennsylvania-based footwear manufacturer, Dansko, was thinking “green” long before it was cool to do so. When the 17-year old company built its first headquarters, in 1998, co-founder Peter Kjellerup was disappointed to learn that the building materials and technologies essential to sustainable living were far less accessible in the U.S., than they had been in his native Denmark.

But when the company began planning a new headquarters in 2004, things had changed. Kjellerup and his wife, Dansko co-founder, Mandy Cabot, were delighted to have their architect, Paul Andrew Sgroi, AIA, of Bernardon Haber Holloway Architects PC, propose a design with many sustainable features. The architectural firm, which has offices in Pennsylvania and Delaware, is a full-service practice that combines architecture, interior design and land planning. Sgroi was confident that Bernardon Haber Holloway could put together a local team experienced in implementing a green building philosophy that would do justice to Dansko’s progressive culture of community engagement and natural, healthy living.

Sgroi calls the experience of dealing with such a visionary client “exhilarating,” explaining, “The freedom of design exploration we had on this project was unmatched in our experience, because at Dansko, they themselves are designers. Being committed to spaces that provide betterment to the way we work and live is a passion we all shared.”

Both the firm and the client set out, in the words of Kjellerup, to “do the right thing,” rather than to achieve public recognition, but it was clear by five months into the project that the building was going to advance the Mid-Atlantic region’s perception of what is possible using today’s green materials and technologies.

Sgroi reports that the green design elements began with land planning for the site itself with the implementation of a storm water management system and pervious paving for one third of the parking area.

Perhaps the building’s most stunning feature is its living wall and vegetative roofing, which were designed by Maryland-based Green Roof Services, LLC and implemented by Maryland-based Furbish Company, LLC, using roofing materials manufactured by The Garland Company, Inc., headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio. Over 70 percent of the roofing surface is planted with a mixture of perennials, low grasses and herbs. The roof provides added ecological benefits by reducing energy consumption and controlling storm water run-off. It also serves as a terrace where employees can enjoy a calm and relaxing environment.

Within the building, energy performance has been optimized through the use of energy-efficient equipment with underfloor air distribution, and light fixtures with sensors to control light levels based on occupancy and daylight. To conserve water, rainwater is collected and used for irrigation and flushing toilets; a water-efficient landscape plan was developed; and the building uses low-flush toilets, flushless urinals and sensor controlled faucets. In addition, Bernardon Haber Holloway in collaboration with Contract Environments of Wilmington, Delaware, specified interior materials, such as carpeting, counters, floors and furniture, that were evaluated for the environmental impact made at every life-cycle stage, from raw material, pre-processing, and production, to distribution, installation, maintenance and end-of-life disposal. Exterior materials were also selected with the same criteria in mind.

According to Sgroi, the complex project was expertly managed by W.S. Cumby, a family-owned construction company headquartered in Springfield, Pennsylvania. The building, which hosted its opening celebration in late July, was honored with a Merit Award by The Delaware Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, before it was even completed. The project is registered with the U.S. Green Building Council and intends to pursue Gold certification under USGBC's LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) program.

The employees’ response to the new facility has been overwhelmingly positive which confirms Dansko’s decision to “do the right thing” for both its employees and the environment.

New Castle Court House Museum Receives Preservation Award

July 2008 - The New Castle Historical Society honored the State of Delaware with the 2008 Bamberger Preservation Award for the restoration of the New Castle Court House. The State of Delaware Division of Facilities Management and Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs collaborated with the team of Bernardon Haber Holloway Architects PC and Frens and Frens Restoration Architects to complete the long-term preservation plans for this historic landmark.

Presented at the Historical Society’s annual garden party in June, the project was recognized for “quality restorations or additions that are compatible and harmonious to existing buildings.” Bestowed annually by the New Castle Historical Society, the award is named for Reinhardt and Elizabeth Bamberger, historic preservationists and Society benefactors.

“We were impressed by the attention to detail and the determination to remain true to the original design through the use of period appropriate materials and careful workmanship,” commented Michael Connolly, Executive Director of the New Castle Historical Society.

Threatened by long-term weathering of exterior building assemblies and antiquated interior building mechanical and electrical systems, t he $2.5 million restoration project included extensive brick restoration; exterior woodwork conservation; restoration of the terrace and perimeter railings; interior finishes restoration; and replacement of HVAC, electrical, fire safety and security systems.

The New Castle Court House (circa 1732) is a National Historic Landmark within the New Castle National Historic District and is the oldest surviving government building in Delaware as well as one of the oldest surviving court houses in the United States.

Historically significant due to its location with respect to the Mason Dixon Line, the brick Georgian Court House is surmounted by an octagonal cupola which forms the center point of the 12 mile arc forming the circular border between Pennsylvania and northern Delaware. Today, visitors can tour the Court House and learn how New Castle, Kent, and Sussex Counties declared their independence from Pennsylvania and England, creating the Delaware State.

“We are honored to have been part of such an important project,” says William Holloway, a principal of Bernardon Haber Holloway Architects.

Bernardon Haber Holloway Architects PC Expands Management Structure

June 2008 - Bernardon Haber Holloway Architects PC announced the promotion of Timothy. J. Cassidy, PhD, to the status of Associate. Cassidy brings the total of Associates to six.

"Timothy is a dedicated and talented designer who shares the firm's philosophy of providing exceptional design services to our clients," says Kerry Haber, a principal with the firm. "By expanding our 'leadership umbrella' we can continue to focus on what is most important to us – our clients."

Cassidy joined the firm in October 2006 as a Senior Project Director. He graduated from West Virginia University with a Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture and completed his education with a Master of Architecture, a Doctor of Philosophy in Architecture and a Certificate in Historic Preservation from Texas A&M University. He is a Registered Landscape Architect (RLA), a Certified Planner with the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) and a Certified Development, Design and Construction Professional (CDP) with the International Council of Shopping Centers. In addition, Cassidy is a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), the American Planning Association (APA), the National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP), and he is an Associate Member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA).

“Timothy’s expertise in urban planning and design has been a real benefit to our clients. His contributions since starting with the firm have had a direct effect on the internal and external operations of the Firm,” comments Haber. “He is a great mentor for our junior staff members and has gained an immense amount of respect from his peers and our clients. It was only logical to make him a part of the leadership of the firm,” added Haber.

As an Associate of Bernardon Haber Holloway, Cassidy will continue to expand the firm’s engagement with projects which have an urban, community or neighborhood context where people have the opportunity to live, shop, work and play. These include projects such as Town Centers, Mixed Use Main Streets (Retail, Residential, Office and Entertainment Centers), Urban Infill Developments, Traditional Neighborhood Developments (TND) and Transit Oriented Developments (TOD). He will also continue the development of the firm’s landscape architecture studio.

Cassidy worked early in his career for Thomas Comitta Associates, Inc., in West Chester, then for Texas A&M University as an Assistant Lecturer. After returning to Pennsylvania to start a family, he worked for Thomas Comitta Associates, Inc. and the Arcus Design Group – Architects, Inc., before coming to Bernardon Haber Holloway.

The Value of Going Green: How High Performance Buildings Improve the Bottom Line 

January 2008 - There is a lot of talk in the industry these days about green buildings, high-performance buildings, sustainable development and LEED certification. So what does it all mean and what value does it bring to a project?

The construction and operation of buildings in the United States account for approximately 40 percent of the country’s energy consumption. The day to day operations alone of heating, cooling and lighting the places where we live, work and play account for nearly two-thirds of the country’s electricity and 16 percent of water usage. Add to that the amount of energy and resources required to produce and transport construction materials every year and it quickly becomes clear why green has become such a hot topic.

The fundamental concept behind green building is to decrease the impact on the natural environment through the conservation of energy and resources. In addition, green design strives to create healthier, more comfortable built environments. Although there are many green initiatives throughout the country, the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program has emerged as a national standard for design, construction and operation of green buildings.

It’s simple to understand why going green is good for the environment, but can it bring some green of a different shade to the bottom line? Although the individual financial benefits may vary, the answer from a lot of companies is, increasingly, yes! Green design can reduce operational costs, improve productivity, improve corporate or brand image and improve marketability.

With ever increasing energy, sewer and water costs, high performance buildings systems pay for themselves faster than ever. Commercial and industrial building operators will spend nearly 200 billion, yes billion, dollars on energy this year. Do you think there might be some potential cost savings in there? With numbers like that, even main stream retail giants like JCPenney are going green. Since starting their conservation initiatives in 2001, JCPenney has saved over 54 million dollars in energy costs.

Last year, health related decreases in worker productivity cost U.S. businesses 225 billion dollars. Through improved indoor air and light quality, as well as increased thermal comfort, green design can help improve productivity. Productivity gains for green buildings have been studied extensively and these studies consistently conclude that green design could return between 5 to 10 percent improvement in workforce productivity. Consider for a moment an average workforce compensation of $78,000. An average of 250 rental square feet per person would result in workforce costs of $312 per square foot. If workforce performance from going green were to be improved by 5 to 10 percent, this would result in an average gain of between $16/SF and $31/SF respectively. In other words, these productivity gains would likely pay for the cost of renting a new or improved green facility.

Consumer spending constitutes 70 percent of the U.S. economy. Consumers are increasingly interested in corporate brands that are green. A green building is one of the most powerful statements a business can make to the public about its environmental values. Whether it is national retailers such as JCPenney, Kohl’s, Office Depot and L.L. Bean, or corporate leaders such as Microsoft and Toyota, businesses across the country are electing to construct green buildings.

At Bernardon Haber Holloway Architects PC, helping our clients go green is part of our daily practice. Currently, one of our most ambitious green projects in the region is for Dansko, Inc., an international leader in the footwear industry headquartered in West Grove, Pennsylvania. Dansko is pursuing LEED Gold certification for their new 80,000 square foot office and retail facility.

No matter what type of building project you’re contemplating, now more than ever there is real value to going green—the environment will reap the benefits and so will your bottom line.

About the Author: Timothy Cassidy , PhD, RLA, AICP, ASLA, Assoc. AIA, is a Senior Project Director with Bernardon Haber Holloway Architects. As an Architectural and Urban Designer, Landscape Architect, and Certified Planner, Tim’s body of professional knowledge spans the full breadth of the built and natural environment. .