Dragone Classic Motorcars Inc., Bridgeport CT  2002

Design for showroom addition

Law Offices of Glass and Braus, Fairfield CT  2001

Law Offices of O’Donnell, McDonald and Cregeen, Fairfield CT  1999

Shore and Country Club, East Norwalk CT  1998

Alterations for employee housing

Power Video, Hawley Lane Mall, Trumbull CT  1996

Retail store

Metro Swim Shop, Westport CT  1996

Retail store

Chiropractic offices of Dr. Matthew B. Leonard, Fairfield CT  1991 and 1997

Modern Art, Stamford Town Center, Stamford CT  1995

Retail store

Beach House Restaurant, Westport CT  1994

Interior alterations

Larkin’s Varsity Club Restaurant, Fairfield CT  1994

Interior alterations

Miller Automobile Corporation, Darien CT  1992

Interior alterations

Leon and Lawrence Personnel, Fairfield CT 1988

Office suite

They said it couldn't be done:  "You'll never get a beer hall into the Fairfield Historic District."  "You'll never raise the money."

The building's design overcame those hurdles, externally and internally.  The scale and massing of the new community center were residential; the site design was sensitive to the neighbors, and so the Project received an unprecedented unanimous approval from the Fairfield Plan and Zoning Commission in 1991.  To its members, the appearance recalled the architecture of the Irish countryside; it was efficient and beautiful, and the membership raised the money, retiring all debt within four years.

The design is distinctly non-commercial.  Scale is homelike, human-scaled, comfortable, though at nearly 9000 square feet the building is much larger than it appears from the outside; within its walls are many functions:  social rooms, reception hall, kitchen, bar, a library, classrooms, and support spaces.  The large air-handling units are concealed within the rooflines.  Landscape areas are well considered, using natural stone and a wide variety of plantings.  Site lighting is low-height and discreet.  As a result, the building received the Fairfield Chamber of Commerce "Best Building of 1994" award.

Architectural features harken back to the roots of the building; the general form is taken from the traditional Irish cottage, with raised gables and engaged chimneys.  Built into the front wall are heraldic crests of the four provinces and thirty-two counties of Ireland, rendered in terra cotta to artwork by the Architect.  The entrance court stonework (photos below) is patterned as a Celtic cross.

Consultants:  Stuart H. Sachs ASLA, Landscape Architect; David E. Seymour PE, Structural Engineer; Malafronte & Kasparek, MEP Engineers.

General Contractor:  Kokoska Construction

A full-service veterinary hospital, including lobby/reception, three examination rooms, the doctor's office, kennel, food prep room, grooming, sterilization area and operating room.

This 14,000 square foot addition and complete renovation of an existing 20,000 square foot strip mall created a recognized local landmark.  The original grocery store (far left) was built in the 1950s; a fire in the 70s destroyed most of a 60s addition.  For nearly 20 years its slab sat adjacent to six small stores and a supermarket.  By 1992, the Owners wanted not only to add space, but rejuvenate the center, shaking off its dowdy image – and not worry about maintenance.  This design met that requirement; in over 20 years of service, only minor trim repainting has been needed.

Fast Track Photo was diverse – the business sold cameras, processed film, dealt in racing collectibles, and was often a showroom for classic cars, including the famous Kodak racecar.

The store was designed to include hallmarks of all of its wares.  Throughout, the lines were clean and racy, black-and-white.  In fact, the floor tiles were laid to resemble crossed checkered flags, and in the center of the merchandise display area are laid in a “winner’s circle.”  The other dominant color was Kodak yellow, over the sales and display counters.  The store also had photo studio and office space.

Sadly, with the virtual disappearance of film, Fast Track Photo no longer exists.

The main social room's bar is deliberately designed to avoid the stereotypical "beer hall" appearance.  It is integral to, but not the focus of, the Pub Room, with its massive fireplace.

30,000 square foot addition to an existing factory building.  The original building was well-designed, and care was taken to respect the quality of its materials and composition.  The new wing contains factory and warehouse space on two levels, loading and receiving areas.  The building is concrete- and steel-framed on two levels.

Consultants:  Stuart H. Sachs ASLA,

Landscape Architect; David E. Seymour PE,

Structural Engineer; Eastern Engineering,

MEP Engineers

General Contractor:  Zampco Construction

The site was redesigned for traffic calming.  Previously, motorists had used the parking lot as a high-speed shortcut between Routes 1 and 234; the new plan allows easy access from either road without danger, and in fact encourages people to stop and shop.  From Route 1, the clocktower is framed by a graceful allée of trees.  All exterior building lighting is indirect; signboard lighting is concealed behind the painted steel fascia at the roof eave.  Pedestrian lighting is mounted behind the continuous hanging aluminum fascia.

Consultants:  Stuart H. Sachs ASLA, Landscape Architect; David E. Seymour PE, Structural Engineer; George T. Fox PE, Electrical Engineer; John A. Hofbauer, M/P/FP Engineer.

General Contractor:  Brennan Construction; Walter Lehner, Project Manager

The exterior materials are brick (matching the original 50s building), ground-face block, aluminum storefront, 3-coat stucco soffits, and painted steel.  The signature element is the siding – white cedar shingles, common to local architecture – which has weathered to a maintenance-free silver-gray.  The prominent clocktower is trimmed in painted cedar of intriguing geometry.  All mechanical equipment – which would be visible from higher ground behind the building – is housed in the octagonal section to the right of the tower.

Existing

This suite was built in an office building with limited natural light, filtered through blue-tinted glass.  The plan takes full advantage of all available natural light by use of transoms in the partners' office.  In addition, dramatic "faux-skylights" were created over node points, visible throughout the suite.  Custom cherry millwork accented the muted grey-mauve color scheme.