DSA News

Airport Terminal Design Matters

2013-03-17T10:30:00.000-07:00

Walking through the American Airlines Terminal at JFK, designed by AECOM and completed in 2008, is a reminder how transportation facility design matters as a joyful and efficient first/last impression of a destination. While not extravagant, this terminal is simple in layout, has abundant natural and discreet artificial lighting, uses a durable and attractive material palette, and is lined with retail shops that seem to be placed by a museum curator. However, the best part of this experience - which could not be photographed - is TSA's pre-check security station; no need to remove shoes and pull out laptops sans the humiliation of a pat-down. As the expert traveler next to me said, "This is almost like the old days." Cities with aging, cluttered and poorly designed airports with brutal security protocols beware: your destination is only as good as your aviation architecture! Dean Sakamoto photos

See AECOM site at http://www.aecom.com/What+We+Do/Architecture/Market+Sectors/Transportation/Transit+Oriented+Development/_carousel/American+Airlines+Terminal+at+JFK+International+Airport

Will Reynolds: SA-KA-MO-TO!

2013-03-16T21:34:00.002-07:00

Super Art DUDE Will Reynolds shouts out a pitch for DSA and friends at a New Haven gathering.

Urban Observation: Funny (or Sad?) House Addition

2013-03-13T16:52:00.000-07:00

A peculiar house addition under construction on University Avenue in Honolulu, located (ironically) across the street from the University of Hawaii at Manoa School of Architecture. While the green and yellow wall sheathing is visually striking for now (it should eventually be clad with another architectural finish like shingles or faux plaster), the addition's haphazard building proportions, placement/size of windows juxaposed against the old house is too weird to be an accident. While this could be a new architectural genre we have yet to learn about, questions that beg to be answered include:
1) Has any thought been given to the quality of day light and ventilation inside?
2) Is it structurally sound and did its designer do the necessary due-diligence and obtain a building permit?
3) How does this conform to zoning for single-family use and the required building height envelope?
4) What will this addition be clad with? Is that a dog house up top?
Ultimately, this observation raises the issue of architecture as a reflection of its place and time... of yesterday, today, future or, none of the above.
Dean Sakamoto photo

Urban Observation: '59 Impala Preserved

2013-03-07T16:00:00.000-08:00

This mint-condition, 1959 Chevy Impala was sighted at a gas station on Waialae Avenue in Honolulu recently. This fine vehicle, made during the same year that Hawaii achieved Statehood, sets an excellent example of how we should respect our buildings of similar vintage: maintain its design integrity from the inside/out and keep it functioning and meticulously maintained. Although, it is not entirely fuel efficient, at least it runs on unleaded gas, says its owner of over 50 years... check out those tails! Dean Sakamoto photos above.

Fate of IBM Building in the News

2013-02-20T14:43:00.000-08:00

The fate of a Honolulu icon, the IBM Building, designed by Vladimir Ossipoff, was discussed in the local media with opposing spins. Honolulu Star-Advertiser reporter, Andrew Gomes reported on February 1, 2013 that the Howard Hughes Corporation, IBM's owner, and developer of the ambitious redevelopment plan of Ward Villages, will "...get a $20 million makeover, though the name and general look of the 51-year-old building in Kakaako will remain the same." On the other hand, Curt Sanburn's story in the Honolulu Weekly (Feb. 20, 2013) is more skeptical. Sanburn's story reveals concerns about the renovation design as expressed by a group of local architects. Good start by Hughes to save IBM, but why not truly PRESERVE it - with 21st century building envelope and systems upgrades - as a historical landmark, collect the deserved tax incentives, and kudos from citizens who appreciate its distinct architectural form as crafted by its original architect? Like it or not, one can argue that this building is an urban memento to Hawaii's heady Camelot days; similar to what the Aloha Tower is to the steamship era of the 1920s-30s. DSA thanks Andrew and Curt for their reporting on this critical issue. Mariko Reed photo above.

See Gomes' Star-Advertiser story and images of the planned renovations at: http://www.staradvertiser.com/businesspremium/20130201_IBM_Building_once_fated_for_razing_to_be_remodeled.html?id=189330911

See Sanburn's Honolulu Weekly story at: http://honoluluweekly.com/feature/2013/02/protecting-a-landmark/

2013-02-14T23:04:00.000-08:00

HURRIPLAN Presented at Pratt Institute-Manhattan Campus

HURRIPLAN: Resilient Building Design for Coastal Communities is a two-day training course for planners, design professionals, state and local officials, and property owners. Developed by Dean Sakamoto with graduate assistants Nathalie Razo and Michael Hill, and a team of national experts which include, Don Watson, FAIA; Tom Smith, AIA; Dennis Hwang, J.D.; Gary Chock, P.E.; John Whalen, FAICP; Tom Schroeder, Ph.D. and Ty Dempsey, P.E. At Pratt, the instructional team of Sakamoto, Watson, Hwang, and Don Shaw, AIA, presented HURRIPLAN to a multidisciplinary audience of 30 practitioners, local officials and academics.
For more info on HURRIPLAN, see: https://ndptc.hawaii.edu/training/catalog/9

2013-02-13T22:41:00.000-08:00

Post-Sandy Recovery Event at New York Center for Architecture

At a packed Tafel Auditorium, Dean Sakamoto was one of six speakers and panelists at AIA New York's Design For Risk and Recovery (DFRR) committee's Post-Sandy Recovery event on February 13, 2013. Sakamoto shared an overview of the Hurricane Sandy field report with Dennis Hwang and impressed upon the need for architects to design with resilience in mind. Other distinguished speaker included: Ron Shiffman, Thaddeus Pawlowski, Erica Kerberle, Anthony Romeo,AIA and Denisha Williams, RLA, LEED AP, event organizer and moderator. Lance Jay Brown, FAIA and Illya Azaroff, AIA are DFRR co-chairs.
For more info on the DFRR committee, see: http://designforriskny.blogspot.com/

2013-01-25T15:09:00.000-08:00

Prouve and Ossipoff Houses Discussed

On January 25, 2013, Dean Sakamoto participated in the seminar, Cool House: Imagination of Home in the Tropics at the University of Hawaii at Manoa School of Architecture Auditorium. Sakamoto's presentation titled "2 Houses" compared and contrasted the Jean Prouve designed, Maison Tropicale with Vladimir Ossipoff's Pauling House on Mount Tantalus in Honolulu. This event was organized by Professor Kazi Ashraf of UHM. Other speakers included Martin Despang, Cathi Ho, David Rockwood and Luis Longhi.

2013-01-16T15:39:00.000-08:00

Mixed-Use Zoning Fix Needed in New Haven

Dean Sakamoto testified in favor of the BD-1 zoning amendment to New Haven's Zoning Ordinance at its Planning and Zoning Commission meeting on January 16, 2013. This proposed amendment is a correction to New Haven's ordinance in which residential mixed-use development in urban areas can comply with commercial use density and building bulk standards. To the City's credit, this action sparked a debate among concerned citizens, both for and against this zoning correction that was originally established in 1988. Sakamoto believes that if the zone correction is made, this rule would increase the Elm City's growing "creative culture" in its urban core. For more details see Allan Appel's story in the New Haven Independent:

http://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/city_plan_tables_bd-1/

Dean Sakamoto appointed to AIA National Committee

2012-12-20T20:17:00.000-08:00

President Mickey Jacobs, FAIA, of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) has appointed Dean Sakamoto, FAIA, LEED AP to serve on the 2013 Committee on Disaster Assistance. Others on this committee include Rachel M. Minnery, AIA, LEED AP of Seattle, Washington; Michael D. Lingerfelt, FAIA, LEED AP of Orlando, Florida; Gregory R. Beste, AIA of East Providence, Rhode Island; James E. Butch" Grimes, AIA of Birmingham, Alabama; and Robert W. Thiele, AIA of San Diego, California. Dean Sakamoto's interest in this area is based upon his belief "...that our communities and buildings today must not only be sustainable, but they must also incorporate resilient design strategies." Resilient design has to do with the built environment's ability to absorb the effects of predicted and unpredicted changes and impacts due to natural or human-induced events. DSA's Juliet Rice Wichman Botanical Research Center, a LEED Gold building on Kauai, Hawaii, is designed for hurricane resilience.

Superstorm Sandy Damage Observed

2012-12-20T19:51:00.001-08:00

From November 29 to December 6, 2012, Dean Sakamoto, FAIA, LEED AP; Karl Kim, Ph.D., University of Hawaii Urban Planning Professor, who is also executive director of the National Disaster Preparedness Training Center (NDPTC); along with coastal geologist and land use law expert, Dennis Hwang, of UH Sea Grant, visited the most severely damaged areas along the New York City and New Jersey coasts to support the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) efforts in recovery from Hurricane Sandy. The team was hosted by Professor Ronald Shiffman, FAICP of Pratt Institute’s Graduate Center for Planning and the Environment and met with community leaders, local officials, New York City planning and design professionals, residents, building owners, and those involved in relief and recovery efforts. Coastal storm surge, flooding, and infrastructure failure were the main causes and consequences of Sandy’s impact. Sandy struck the east coast on October 29 of this year. Dean Sakamoto leads the Urban Resilience Lab at UH Planning and is the lead developer of NDPTC's HURRIPLAN, a design-based training course for hurricane resilience. HURRIPLAN will be presented at the Center for Architecture in New York City as part of its September 2013 Design For Risk and Recovery events. Dennis Hwang photo above of the remains of a home on Union Beach, NJ.

DOCOMOMO US Hawaii Chapter Makes News

2012-12-14T16:38:00.001-08:00

In the Honolulu Weekly cover story, "Architecture Matters Now!" author and architecture critic Curt Sanburn describes the convergence (and resurgence) of interest in the Aloha State's capital city. Sanburn cites the opening of AIA Honolulu's Center for Architecture in downtown; plans for Kakaako, a central urban industrial district which appears to be turning a corner towards its long anticipated redevelopment; and coincidentally, Dean Sakamoto's return to Honolulu and start-up of the Docomomo US Hawaii Chapter with a team of local preservationists, designers and historians. Sakamoto is the Hawaii Chapter's founding President. Sanburn wisely states: "It’s Honolulu’s time to look back and move forward, to lovingly defend itself, embrace itself, and build itself as a blessedly unique city of the world. Whether it’s the architects at the AIA or the scholars at Docomomo, their passions and their conversations will help to forge a new Honolulu." This article appeared in the November 14, 2012 issue of the Weekly which can be found at http://honoluluweekly.com/cover/2012/11/architecture-matters-now/

DSA's Modern House Honored by AIA Connecticut

2012-12-14T16:17:00.000-08:00

The Modern House Renovation for Dr. Lauren Cohn in Woodbridge, Connecticut was the recipient of a 2012 AIA Connecticut Merit Award. A masterpiece of mid-century modern design which was originally designed by Yale architecture professor King-Lui Wu (1918-2002) for Benjamin Dupont and built in 1952. DSA's primary objective was to retain the identity and character of King-Lui Wu's architecture, yet update and improve artificial lighting and worn finishes, while "softening" the acoustics and areas of everyday activity such as the kitchen, living room and master bedroom. Lighting designers Atelier Ten and the Westmount Group, builders of the project were key collaborators. Vicky Sambunaris photo above.

Other firms honored in this year's program include Pelli Clarke Pelli, Centerbrook Architects, Newman Architects, Joeb Moore and Partners, and Beinfield Architecture.
The design jury consisted of architects Deborah Berke, FAIA, Hillary Brown, FAIA, and David Helpern, FAIA.

Jury comments:

This remodeling project keeps the spirit of the original building. The changes that were made were sympathetic and respectful to it.

For more info on this project see http://www.dsarch.net/projects/cohn.html

2012 AIA Honolulu CSI Pacific Building and Trade Expo

2012-12-14T16:03:00.000-08:00

Dean Sakamoto presented the concept of resilience in architectural design as it relates to the current standards of sustainability. Resilience in the built environment has to do with society’s ability to rebound or recover from widespread disruption caused by a natural or human-induced event. The first area of his talk addressed Hawaii’s vulnerability to coastal storms and how informed planning and design can prepare us for the associated hazards of high winds, heavy rains, interior flooding and coastal surge before disaster strikes. The second area coupled sustainable design and resilient mitigation strategies for commercial and institutional buildings. Dean's presentation ended with a mini-design exercise in which the audience of over 50 architects made sketches for a community safe room for a public school.

Boathouse at Canal Dock in Yale Daily News

2012-09-10T21:47:00.002-07:00

Read about the reinterpretation of Yale's historic Adee Boathouse(1911-2007) as part of the City of New Haven's soon to be built community rowing facility, the Boathouse at Canal Dock. Pictured above is the former Adee prior to its razing and an illustration of the future Boathouse at Canal Dock slated for completion in 2014. DSA is responsible for the interpretive design elements of the new boathouse by Greg Wies Gardner Architects and Langan Engineering. Rendering at right by Greg Wies Gardner Architects and photo at left courtesy of City of New Haven Department of City Plan.

See http://www.yaledailynews.com/photos/2012/sep/10/31100/

Senator Inouye Tours DSA Projects at NTBG

2012-09-05T23:44:00.000-07:00

Senator Daniel Inouye, the most senior member of the U.S. Senate and the President Pro-Tempore, and his wife, Irene Hirano Inouye, President of the US-Japan Council, toured the completed Native Hawaiian Cultural Learning Center and the Juliet Rice Wichman Botanical Research Center on August 23, 2012. The Senator was responsible for National Tropical Botanical Garden's Congressional Charter in 1964 and the Federal Grant that funded construction of the new Learning Center. Chipper Wichman, Director and CEO of NTBG, led the visit as Dean Sakamoto added his insight to the design features of both projects. Jon Letman photo, courtesy NTBG

Pacific Heights House Listed on Hawaii State Historic Register

2012-08-18T19:20:00.000-07:00

The Hawaii State Historic Places Review Board unanimously approved the nomination of the Henry F. and Florence E. Davis Residence to its Register. DSA designed the structural stabilization, renovation and restoration of this property located on historic Pacific Heights Road, saving it from demolition. According to historian Don Hibbard who drafted the nomination: "The house retains a high level of integrity with its main living areas very much intact...most notably the kitchen, bathroom, and basement, these changes were handled in a sympathetic manner, and do not detract from the overall historic impression of the home." Craftsman Rich Burkam of New Haven, Connecticut and Furukawa Custom Buildiers of Kailua, Hawaii were collaborators on this project.

2012-07-16T07:13:00.002-07:00

DSA attends AIA National in D.C.

2012-05-25T09:30:00.002-07:00

Design Connects was the theme of the AIA National Convention in Washington D.C. on May 18-20. In addition to the numerous continuing education programs and design exposition, Congressman Earl Blumenauer of Oregon’s keynote address on making our cities more livable resonated with the DSA Team.

Modern House Featured in New Haven Magazine

2012-03-26T12:21:00.000-07:00

"The living room ceiling that had been comprised of warping cypress slats with fluorescent lighting above it became a classic glowing grid under Sakamoto's design." - New Haven Magazine

See the full article, "Monument to Mid-Century Modernism" by Duo Dickinson here. And for more images of the renovation, see our website!

The Public reviews DSA's design of the Farmington Canal Greenway

2011-10-27T09:59:00.000-07:00

On October 25, 2011, a public meeting was held at New Haven's City Hall, where a few dozen people were presented designs of the final segments of the multi-use trail.

Tunnel Entry at Temple Street

For more details from the meeting, click here for an article in the New Haven Independent. And our website for more pictures of the project.

Cuba Presentation on Resilience by Karl Kim and Dean Sakamoto

2011-05-25T13:07:00.000-07:00

On May 17, 2011, Karl Kim, Ph.D., Professor of Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Hawaii and Director of the National Disaster Preparedness Training Center (NDPTC) and Dean Sakamoto, FAIA, LEED AP, made a joint paper presentation titled: "Rethinking Resilience: Pacific Island Perspectives on Natural Disaster Risk Reduction." This presentation was part of a two-day international workshop on "Earthquakes and Hurricanes Response and Preparedness" organized by the International Scientific Committee on Analysis and Restoration of Structures of Architectural Heritage (ISCARSAH). Kim and Sakamoto were impressed by Cuba's own disaster preparedness as well as the preservation of old Havana's historic urban fabric, and of course, its fine cigars and rum.

Major Renovations to Yale's Judaica Reading Room by DSA Published

2011-05-23T08:12:00.000-07:00

Inside the Program in Judaic Studies - Spring 2011 newsletter, an article titled "Major Renovations to Library's Judaica Reading Room" features DSA's recently completed project in Yale University's Sterling Memorial Library. In this story, Nanette Stahl, Judaica Collection Curator states: "In his careful attention to detail, Mr. Sakamoto used the grates that cover the air-conditioning and heating units as a means of beautifying the room. The grates are designed to echo the seven species for within in rabbinic tradition the land of Israel is known." For more images of the project, check out our website!

DSA Releases Its Most Recent Design for the Farmington Canal Greenway

2011-05-03T10:46:00.000-07:00

Here are a few of the renderings for DSA's most recent design for the Farmington Canal Greenway.

An illuminated interpretive line leads pedestrians through the tunnel between Temple Street and Whitney Avenue

A ramp and stairs connect the greenway to the Park of the Arts

A weathering steel arch announces the entrance to the greenway from Grove Street

For more images of the new design, visit the Farmington Canal Page on our Website.

DSA Tries Out a New Linear Paver for the Farmington Canal Greenway

2011-04-27T09:04:00.000-07:00

DSA is hoping to use the linear pavers depicted in the video above for the final stretch of the Farmington Canal Greenway that it is currently designing. Test subject Kai Sakamoto demonstrates that the paver can provide a comfortable riding surface for a standard wide-tire bike.

Although this choice of material is a big improvement over the steel grating that was originally considered for the riding surface, there is still a question of whether the grooves between the pavers might make cycling with thin racing bike tires difficult.

Cyclists, let us know what you think.

Note: those wishing to try out the paver for themselves should visit Kroon Hall at 195 Prospect Street, New Haven, CT