The Gravures summer concert at Cassilhaus in the new outdoor space. It was a highlight of Keith Carter's residency. He was joined by Lori Vrba, Tama Hochbaum and Allen Anderson

The Durham Food Hall

The Durham Food Hall has started construction and we eagerly await the completion late this fall. Meredith has been doing a fantastic job serving 11 different clients all in one space. Here are a few renderings to help communicate the feel of the space.

Still Hollow

We are happy to let you know that our net-zero project Still Hollow will be on NCMH's Modapalooza Tour September 29th. Frank and Ellen had fun taking evening shots.

El Futuro

We are so pleased with the completion of El Futuro. Please read these kind words from their founder and dedicated doctor, Luke Smith.

We worked for almost 15 years to get here and now feel like we're in such a great place and at the right time! El Futuro started in a small two room space with one part time staff person and several volunteers. Now, we have 34 staff members and helped around 1,600 people last year who came for specialized culturally appropriate mental health and substance use treatment. Our new home at the Lakewood Reuse Arts District is just perfect!

Ellen and Megan listened and designed a functional, beautiful space for us to do our work - a work that welcomes Latino immigrants each day and provides a space of refuge and healing. As one patient recently said upon visiting for the first time, "Este lugar es muy especial - me siento especial" - "Wow, this place is really special - I feel special!" What a tremendous message to our immigrant friends who feel so beleaguered by the harsh politics and policies that are so difficult for them. With this new clinic, El Futuro will be able to grow in important ways to better help achieve its mission of "nurturing stronger familias to live out their dreams!" Thank you so much!

The Golden Leaf Awards

We had three projects in the running this year for the Golden Leaf Awards and all three won!
GRUB - best adaptive reuse project

The Meintjes/Berliner studio in the Heart and Home catagory.
The hammock is calling.

And the Piedmont Prairie Classroom at Duke Gardens won the People's Choice Award Thank you!

NCSU Summer Design Build Studio #8

The students have broken ground on the NCSU design/build project. This year we are back in Durham working with the good folks at Durham Parks and Recreation and the Durham Parks Foundation to create an environmental education and nature station at West Point on the Eno on the north side of the Eno.
The students have done lots of designing, planning, estimating, and ordering of materials. Last week they poured the footings and this week they are working on attaching the base plates for the columns, girders, joists and decking.

Two fine honors

Ellen was one of 13 women honored as one of the Women of Achievement by Durham Magazine. Take a look at the article and find out about some of the other women who are changing Durham for the better.

Ellen will also be honored in November as an Outstanding Alumni of the College of Architecture of Texas A&M University.

Summer listening tip!

Over the last week I have been glued to a podcast which I highly recommend. It is season 2 of Scene on Radio and it is a 14 episode podcast called Seeing White. Durham's own John Biewin of The Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University is the force behind it.

Seeing White clearly explains the historical steps and attitudes which created systemic racism. It is the most complete and compelling discussion on race I have encountered. Some of it was difficult listening and in order to move forward we need to look at the issue straight on so that we can start to address it in a meaningful way. I encourage everyone to listen to it in its entirety. I know that folks are busy but this is important.

Esther Bent

After thirteen years of making the trains run on time, our fabulous office manager, Esther Bent, has decided to trade in her computer bag for a diaper bag on account of Kennedy, her first granddaughter. What a cutie!

Pamela Osborne

Pamela, our new office manager, has been with us for about three months and we can all see that it's going to be a great fit. She has a deep background in restaurant ownership and management which we are already tapping into with the many new restaurants we are designing.

Marie Samek

It's not summer without a summer intern! Marie had jumped in assisting us with drawing SketchUp models, measuring existing conditions, doing redlines and even preparing drawings for 3D printing.

Wishing you all a wonderful summer. Keep cool.

Ellen, Meredith, Megan, Pamela, Marie and Niña