B/A/D Talks

Eighty years ago, modernist homes suddenly and surprisingly took root in the New England countryside. With their walls of glass and flat roofs, they confounded conventional wisdom about design. Join us we explore their heritage, preservation, and influence on contemporary design.

Urban influx and downtown residential development are spiraling upward offering a newly enriched market for B/A/D companies. Urban dwelling has distinct qualities that attract homeowners and bring unique challenges to the professionals working on their behalf. Join our panel of experts in a discussion of the special qualities, opportunities, and constraints of working in downtown Boston’s rich mix of low and high-rise neighborhoods.

In today’s increasingly plugged-in world, an eye-catching public profile is crucial for attracting clients and collaborators. Join us for a practical discussion of photography, self-presentation, social media, and getting your work published designed just for busy B/A/D professionals.TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 2019 5:30 PMBOSTON DESIGN CENTER, GALLEY WEST (2ND FLOOR)1 Design Center Pl, Boston, MAMODERATOR John Kilfoyle. President, United Marble FabricatorsPANELISTSKatherine Nolan, Director of Marketing, Patrick Ahearn Architect, LLC.Kyle Hoepner, Editor-in-Chief, New England HomeMichael J. Lee, Photographer, Michael J. Lee Photography

Is there one particular professional best suited to lead a residential project team? If so, who? Or should leadership roles change over the course of design and construction? What if the nominal leader isn’t the real driver, or if nobody wants to take full responsibility? Is management by committee sometimes most effective? Join us to consider what kinds of leadership struct can produce the best outcomes for B/A/D professionals and their clients.Eric Adams, Co-Founder, Adams + Beasley AssociatesMichael Moynihan, Project manager/Owner, Nautilus ConstructionMichael Tartamella, Managing Principal, Patrick Ahearn Architect, LLC.Heather Wells, Principal, Heather Wells Inc

Builders, architects, and designers must all keep up with what’s new in home technology such as lighting, audio/video, automation, climate control, and the like. But it’s hard for a busy generalist to stay truly on top of the newest developments. Panelist: Dennis Jaques, System Designer, Maverick Integration Josh Feinstein, Partner & Principal, Sladen Feinstein Integrated Lighting

Establishing and maintaining impeccable quality is critical for residential projects in a very high-end market. How do you measure and achieve excellence for a particular job within your own firm? And how can you best work with outside partners on a job—other designers, consultants, builders and subcontractors to ensure that the whole team is producing up to the same standard? Panelists: Dee Elms, Principal, Elms Interior Design, Boston Jonathan Merz, President, Merz Construction, Carlisle, MA Paul Reidt, President, Kochman Reidt + Haigh Cabinetmakers, Stoughton, MA David Stern, Partner, Stern McCafferty, Boston

Imagination and inventiveness, although easy to lose in the day-to-day grind, are the wellspring for success in residential design, custom building, or any other creative field. How can you harness the power of inspiration and discovery to drive your work every day, from fresh ideas for a particular project to strategic planning for your firm? Some of our region's top professionals discuss how they keep the juices of ingenuity flowing. Panelists: Sean Clarke, president of Clarke/Sub Zero Wolf of New England Paul Lukez, principal of Paul Lukez Architecture David Winston, co-owner of Winston Flowers

Much of the home design and construction industry has historically been heavily male. While that is changing over time (particularly in interior design), there is still plenty of room for progress. How can companies attract more talented female employees, and what benefits does this bring to the shared enterprise? What changes to company culture and thinking will make women feel more welcome, valued, and able to make their optimal contribution? Panelists: Catherine Truman, principal of Catherine Truman Architects in Cambridge Paula Daher, principal of Daher Interior Design in Boston Emily Grandstaff-Rice, senior associate, Arrowstreet, Boston Von Salmi, principal, Von Salmi and Associates in Westminster, MA, and board member of EM NARI and BRAGB

Starting a design and construction project with a new client can be delicate…particularly when it comes to discussing schedule and budget. How can you know what their expectations are, and how can you make sure those expectations are realistic without scaring them off? Plus, if you are a builder, how can you ensure that the bidding process is open and fair? Come meet with your fellow industry professionals to share perspectives and experience. Panelists: Colin Flavin, Flavin Architects, Boston Jill Litner Kaplan, Jill Litner Kaplan Interiors, West Newton Steve Payne, Payne | Bouchier Fine Builders, Boston Matthew Cunningham, Matthew Cunningham Landscape Design, Stoneham

As a residential design and construction professional, you are undoubtedly running around like crazy just to service existing clients and keep your business going. But getting your name and your best work out in public, to catch the eye of potential new clients and collaborators, is the basis for all future success. This panel will address the most effective strategies for marketing and self-presentation, especially for small firms, in all the different media that help define today’s marketplace. MODERATOR: Kyle Hoepner, Editor in Chief, New England Home PANELISTS: Julie Brown, Business Development Strategist, JB|BD Jennifer Driscoll, President, Broadview Marketing Mark Hutker, Principal, Hutker Architects Mally Skok, Principal, Mally Skok Design

The cities and towns of New England are blessed with several centuries’ worth of beautiful older architecture. Yet new dwellings for new residents are always needed, and the arts of architecture and building continue to develop. This special public B/A/D Talk will consider what our options can be for honoring the best of our region’s heritage while promoting the finest in new design. Panelists:  Deb Andrews, Historic Preservation Program Manager for the city of Portland, Maine David Hacin, principal at Hacin + Associates in Boston Ted Landsmark, board member for the Boston Planning & Development Agency and president emeritus of the Boston Architectural College Scott Slarsky, director at Shepley Bulfinch in Boston

For small and large companies alike, managing work flow can often feel like a matter of feast or famine. How can you keep your people steadily busy, but not insanely busy? How do you harmonize the demands of commerce with your own standards of creativity and fine workmanship? This B/A/D Talk will explore the challenges of charting a stable course through the crosscurrents. Panelists: Arthur Hanlon, Shope Reno Wharton, Norwalk, CT Sarah Lawson, S+H Construction, Cambridge, MA Leslie Fine, Boston, MA Keith LeBlanc, Boston, MA

No other topic has come up as often during B/A/D Talks over the past three years. When you get down to basics, communication is the bedrock on which client relationships and team partnerships are built. What are the most effective ways of interacting with homeowners and your fellow professional stakeholders in a design and building project? How can good communication practices help ensure success...and what communication pitfalls need to be avoided? Panelists: Chip Dewing, Dewing Schmid Kearns | Architects + Planners Paul Guitard, Woodmeister Master Builders Rachel Reider, Rachel Reider Interiors Chuck Wisner, Communications Consultant and Advisor

High-end home design and construction projects often resemble the making of a Hollywood movie: they are big, complex undertakings that involve an entire team of creative, highly trained professionals. At their best, they can embody a shared vision and dedication to achieving top results for the client. But there are also inevitably areas where responsibilities overlap, where budget or time constraints conflict with aesthetic preferences, where personal relationships and communication can go awry. The goal of this B/A/D Talk is to consider best practices for how a design and building team can work together most happily and productively. What are the most successful methods of communication? How are areas of shared control negotiated? How can you make sure that everyone--including the client--feels informed, respected, and empowered to make her or his best contribution? Panelists: Interior designer Jennifer Palumbo, Jennifer Palumbo, Inc., Newton, MA Gerald D. (Gerry) Frank, Bechtel Frank Erickson Architects, Lexington, MA Jeff Adams, J. W. Adams Construction Company, Concord, MA Joe Wahler, Stephen Stimson Associates, Cambridge, MA

Panelist: Christina Van Houten, Home owner Andra Birkerts, Andra Birkerts Design, Bob Ernst, President, FBN Construction John Meyer, Meyer & Meyer Architecture and Interiors

The work of builders, architects, and designers requires a skill set that combines craft with creativity and communication. Finding people with this rich mix of abilities is challenging. Our next B/A/D Talk explores ways to find, retain, and inspire the people we hire. Panelist: Jason Sevinor, Salem Plumbing Kate Kelley, Hacin + Associates Matthew Woodward, Hacin + Associates Jennifer Thibeault, Strategic HR Solutions