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Architecture | Planning | Interior Design | VDC | Branded Environments

SGA Hires Six New Architects and Interior Designers, Expanding Boston and New York City Offices

SGA, a Boston and New York City-based national award-winning architecture, interior design, planning, branded environments and virtual design and construction practice, today announced that it has expanded its Boston and New York City offices and has hired six new architects and interior designers.

In addition, to these new six hires, SGA earlier added nine architects and interior designers to its expanding teams in Boston and New York City. SGA’s latest hires are Nathaniel Boggs, LEED AP BD+C, AIA, BSA, Project Designer; Emily Ottinger, LEED GA, Job Captain; Andrei Sdrula, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, Project Architect; Ashton Schlundt, NCARB, Project Designer; Scott Harrison, Project Architect; and Nick Loughrey, Project Designer.

“As SGA celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, we’re pleased to welcome aboard our second batch of talented architects and designers to continue serving our clients at the highest level in areas of Life Sciences, Academic Facilities and Interior Design,” said Al Spagnolo, AIA, NCARB, and President and Founding Partner at SGA. “In the last thirty years, we have thrived on attracting the best talent and adopting the latest technologies to deliver the finest design projects faster. As today’s work environment continues to undergo extraordinary changes, we will continue to attract outstanding experts and bring innovative design projects to the market.”

Here is more information about SGA’s newest team members:

Nathaniel Boggs, LEED AP BD+C, AIA, BSA | Project Designer

Nathaniel Boggs plays a critical role at SGA. At the beginning of any new commission, he conducts site analyses and massing studies, and steers the project through phases of zoning, entitlements, and schematic design. Most of Boggs’s work focuses on the life sciences sector. He especially welcomes opportunities to design laboratories and research facilities because they usually incorporate advanced building techniques and high standards of sustainability. Before joining SGA in January of 2021, Boggs served as a project designer at CambridgeSeven. Projects he completed include: a performance space in Boston, an aquarium in California, and a “community resilience pod” created within a shipping container in Florida for a nonprofit organization. Boggs earned a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Maine.

Emily Ottinger, LEED GA | Job Captain

Emily Ottinger brings expertise across a variety of sectors and roles to her position at SGA. She enjoys not only design development, when she determines schematic approaches, but also the more detail-oriented tasks involved in construction administration and documentation. Ottinger focuses primarily on life sciences, but her experience encompasses academic, commercial, residential, and cultural commissions, as well as a wide range of project types, including core & shell, interior repositioning, and BIM modeling. She honed her skills in these areas at Studios, MBB Architects, Ann Beha Architects, and, most recently, at CBT Architects. Ottinger received a Master of Architecture from Yale University and a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture from Wellesley College.

Andrei Sdrula, AIA, LEED AP BD+C | Project Architect

SGA’s emphasis on design and technology attracted Andrei Sdrula to the firm. In his new role, he takes every opportunity to apply the latest BIM tools to complex projects ranging from core & shell construction to adaptive reuse and repositioning. Sdrula especially enjoys working on lab and research facilities, which present him with the kinds of challenges he welcomes. Previously, Sdrula served as a senior architect lead at WeWork in New York City. In this capacity, he programmed, designed, and supervised the construction of co-working spaces. Before joining WeWork, he spent five years as a project manager at Kliment Halsband Architects, where he developed a specialty in multifaceted institutional commissions involving complex trade coordination and many different phases. Sdrula earned the degrees of Bachelor and Master of Architecture from Roger Williams University in Rhode Island.

Ashton Schlundt, NCARB | Project Designer

SGA’s project managers rely on Ashton Schlundt to ensure that every stage of a commission is fruitful. His favorite phase is conceptual design because it offers so much flexibility, but he also enjoys his other many responsibilities, which include drawing, documentation, code compliance, and construction administration. Since joining SGA, Schlundt has focused primarily on life sciences, but his previous experience centered on multifamily and residential properties. He honed his expertise in these sectors at EMBARC, where he served as a designer for nearly two years. Schlundt earned the degrees of Bachelor and Master of Architecture from Wentworth Institute of Technology.

Scott Harrison | Project Architect

Scott Harrison’s interests in carbon neutrality, lean building methods, and design technologies prompted him to join SGA in December of 2020. As a member of the firm’s interiors and architecture practices, he helps to bridge concepts and constructability across a variety of life sciences projects. His goal is to preserve clients’ “excitement” through every stage of a commission – long after initial ideas are presented. Previously, Harrison served as a project architect at TRIA, Inc. During his five-year tenure there, he focused on incorporating technology into the building of laboratories, corporate interiors, and core & shell structures. Scott earned a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Carnegie Mellon University.

Nick Loughrey | Project Designer

Nick Loughrey, who specializes in life sciences, approaches every project with an eye toward integrating architecture and technology. He automates workflows and investigates design options through advanced modeling methods while promoting the use and exploration of computational tools in the office. He applies these skills to several practice areas: architecture, BIM, and virtual design and construction (VDC). Previously, Loughrey served as an architectural designer at Shepley Bulfinch in Boston, where he focused on healthcare. It is also where he developed a strong interest in sustainable design, which, in his view, goes hand-in-hand with technological advances. Loughrey received a Bachelor of Architecture from Iowa State University.

Are You Ready for Students to Return?

By: Stephen Hassell

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on both the finances and operations of higher education institutions worldwide. But as 2021 begins, it looks like the situation has begun to change for the better.

With newly available vaccines and vaccination rollouts nationwide, this pandemic will one day soon be over, and for higher education institutions in particular, students will return to campuses. But with all this good news, each institution will have to ask themselves an important question before they can open their doors again: Are they ready to safely welcome students back in the post-COVID-19 era, with new rules, regulations, and infrastructure?

For those institutions that made the difficult decision to not bring their students back to campus, it has been estimated that for every 100 students, there was a $1 million loss in revenue from room and board, the most profitable portion of the college invoice.

For those institutions that did decide to return students to campus, or adopted a hybrid model of operations, the days of placing two or three student beds per room are already over. To provide beds that meet social-distancing or quarantine safety standards, schools situated in urban areas have created temporary single bedrooms by renting rooms in nearby empty hotels. But this is not a permanent solution. As vaccinations continue, the hospitality industry will experience increased demand, making these rented beds no longer available. On-campus capacity will be inadequate to house all students in what would be the new normal.

Moreover, students that did take virtual classes will want to return to campus. Since new student resident halls take between two and three years from planning to occupancy, the best time for institutions to begin evaluating their alternatives is now.

University housing administrators must urgently act for the future safety of students and the peace of mind of the people who pay their tuition, be it the students themselves or their families. But this also raises a question that no one likes to ask: How will institutions pay for these urgently needed changes?  Well-endowed institutions have the financial footing to either pay for or loan against a new residence hall, or to raise needed amount of funds to support the new infrastructure. But how will schools with less secure financial footing afford it?

Those with lesser endowments, which may have been further diminished by the vast revenue losses experienced in 2020, may decide to seek a partner, such as a public-private partnership (P3) owner of a new student housing development. When taking this alternative, a P3 contract adviser is recommended unless the institution has previous experience with this development vehicle.

Issues to sort through in the request for proposal (RFP) and negotiations involve operations management, revenue sharing, term of the P3 ownership, maintenance, guaranteed occupancy rates, financing, loan amortization, cost to students, food service, and other amenities.

Boston and New York City-based architecture and design firm SGA is currently in design with a number of higher education clients who have the foresight and sense of urgency to realize this next step to living safely in the post-COVID-19 era, and has authored a paper on COVID-19 safe design considerations for student resident halls.

If you’re planning your next campus project, please contact us and we will guide you every step of the way—from planning to design and delivery.

(Stephen Hassell is Vice President of Business Development at SGA. He received a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering from Northeastern University and a Master of Business Administration from Babson College in Wellesley, MA. He is a frequent guest lecturer at both institutions, as well as at Wentworth Institute of Technology and the University of New Hampshire.)

SGA Celebrates 30 Years of Design Excellence

On Jan. 26, 1991, Al Spagnolo AIA, NCARB, Bill Gisness, AIA, BSA and Jeff Tompkins, IIDA, LEED AP got together and founded Spagnolo Gisness & Associates Inc. Thirty years later, the Boston and New York City-based practice, now known as SGA, has emerged as one of the nation’s leading Architecture and Interior Design firms.

In the last 30 years, SGA’s portfolio is approaching half a billion square feet of commercial space across the country. SGA cemented its place in the market by delivering notable works such as the corporate headquarters of clients such as life sciences pioneer Biogen, retail giant Staples, gaming technology company GTech, mathematical computing software firm MathWorks and the US headquarters of banking and financial services firm ING.

In addition to corporate headquarters, SGA has designed projects for some of the nation’s leading institutions of higher learning, including Vanderbilt University, Williams College, MIT, Wentworth Institute of Technology, Tufts University, and Northeastern University.

As it grew, SGA diversified and today it is known as a leading designer of Life Sciences labs and facilities. SGA serves as the architecture and design firm for top Life Sciences developers and institutional investors in current and emerging clusters including Cambridge, Greater Boston, New York City, New Jersey and Philadelphia.

Recently under the guidance of the new partners, SGA was awarded 11 Architecture and Design awards in 2020 from industry peers and publications, which recognized the firm’s innovative and tech-forward design ethos in projects such as TitletownTech, Vanderbilt University, 50+60 Binney Street (the home of Sanofi Genzyme and Bluebird Bio), LogMeIn, the Autodesk BUILD Space, Williams College and Wheaton College.

“I am very humbled and excited to say it has been a spectacular journey of doing what we really enjoy at SGA, and that is pioneering tech-forward design that redefines how projects are visualized and delivered,” said Mr. Spagnolo. “Architectural design was quite different 30 years ago. New technology has changed the face of architecture today, and we are very proud of leading this technological revolution to serve our clients better.”

In its 30th year, SGA, has diversified and expanded its Architecture, Interior Design, Planning, Branded Environments, Virtual Design and Construction, and Building Sciences practice, and added new ones, such as Science + Technology Planning.

“We would also like to take this opportunity to express our gratitude to SGA’s clients, consultants, vendors, our talented staff and construction partners for supporting and collaborating with us during the last three decades,” said Mr. Spagnolo. “Thanks to our clients and partners, SGA today is celebrating its landmark 30-year milestone.”

Trending Now: cGMP Facilities

By: Stephen Hassel + Kristen O’Gorman

As the Life Sciences sector continues to boom, demand for cGMP facilities grows, particularly in regions that are already home to a significant number of biomedical and pharmaceutical corporations. That’s why the experts at the Boston- and New York City-based architecture, interior design, and planning firm SGA recommend that owners and developers in these areas tap into this lucrative market, with build-to-suit or speculative projects. 

“CGMP stands for current Good Manufacturing Practices,” explains Stephen Hassell, SGA’s Vice President of Business Development. “New facilities must meet FDA standards for cGMP in order to safely and successfully product medications and associated products.”

Kristen O’Gorman, LEED® GA, NCARB, and SGA Associate, Senior Designer, and Architect, notes that the architectural, structural, and MEP (mechanical, electrical, and plumbing) layouts of a cGMP facility differ from those of a Class-A Life Sciences building, due to the need to maintain a secure, controlled, and aseptic environment. “For example, the provided shell volume is typically around 32 feet high, because we need to accommodate a clean room, a walkable ceiling, and mechanical mezzanine, so that necessary maintenance can be performed without compromising the clean environment. Warehousing may take around 20% of the overall square-footage, and is ideally within a high bay environment.”

Proper circulation is also very important, O’Gorman says. “There needs to be a one-way circuit through the space, from the loading docks that receive supplies, to entry corridors, to clean rooms, to production, to packaging, to high-bay warehousing, and back out to another set of docks to load trucks with the finished product.” (A third loading dock is usually required for waste removal, she adds.) 

Throughout, Hassell says, there are numerous FDA-required validation processes, which assure adherence to all production procedures and standards. “A tremendous amount of data must be collected at all times, at each step in the manufacturing process. Every room has a temperature and humidity monitor, for example, to ensure an optimal production environment. Some systems, like power and IT, need to be redundant, so that ongoing experiments and production won’t be compromised by potential interruptions. There is also the need for a constant supply of process gases.” 

These cGMP facilities are increasingly needed in mature Life Science markets because of a growing desire to keep the drug manufacturing, packaging, and distribution processes in close physical proximity to the labs in which said drugs were originally developed. “Central Square, in Cambridge, is ground zero for biotech and pharma,” says Hassell. “There are 160 companies per square mile. Everybody wants to be there. The big pharma companies invest in smaller biotech firms, and when they come up with something promising, they want to keep the entire process nearby. Owners and developers in these markets do well to support each step of the drug discovery pipeline.”  

“Particularly if you have an underperforming office building in a sub-optimal location, or are planning a massive new campus for Life Sciences, cGMP facilities are something you should think about,” Hassell says. With a high-demand facility type in a high-demand industry, the potential upside is considerable. 

Pre-Built Labs Are Essential in Emerging and Established Markets

By: Brooks Slocum

With vacancy rates approaching zero in established markets like Boston, and increased momentum in emerging markets such as New York City, the Life Science market is often restricted by a lack of available research-ready laboratory space. That’s why the experts at industry-leading architecture and interior design firm SGA are advising owners to invest in pre-built labs. These ready-to-occupy laboratories—which have lab-ready infrastructure, casework, and equipment in place when they go to market—are the recommended way to attract Life Science tenants with immediate research needs. 

“Start-ups want to move in as soon as they secure their funding,” explains Brooks Slocum, AIA, SGA’s New York Studio Director. “Typically, tenants in emerging clusters have limited runway and bandwidth to allow for extensive lease negotiation and design and construction timelines. We’re finding that many of the experienced Life Science owners and developers are choosing pre-built laboratories as a way to market their facilities and accelerate leasing activity.” Of course, the owner also benefits: Start-ups will pay a premium for pre-built labs because of the convenience.

Additionally, Slocum says, construction of pre-built laboratories is the best way to enable the local Life Science field to grow, because step-out or graduation space is the next type of facility that start-ups typically require as they exit accelerators or incubators and begin receiving capital. “In an evolving market, where there isn’t a lot of lab space available, pre-built labs have become the preferred method for creating momentum. Another benefit to owners is that as the original tenants vacate those laboratories in favor of larger ones, the pre-built labs can be leased again, with minor modifications, to new tenants. Pre-builds are the fastest way to attract tenants that need space in order to conduct research.”

Some developers view the construction of pre-built labs as a way to transition a commercial building into a Life Science facility as space becomes available. But he says that, given the strength of this market segment, it is important to prepare for growth. “When repositioning a building, we recommend studying the building’s full conversion potential to establish a plan for accommodating additional lab fit-outs once existing leases expire,” he says. “Often, a Life Science tenant that starts in a smaller laboratory will soon find they have additional space needs. It is advisable to be prepared to accommodate the increased requirement.” 

Slocum agrees. “If you’re going to pre-build a laboratory and convert your building to Life Science, you should consider the entire building prior to fitting out a single floor. Ideally, the building should be capable of being fully fit-out to 100% lab ready. But if you are going to do a staggered or progressive evolution of the building, you don’t need to put all of the equipment in at once. You start with the pre-built labs, and then you make sure that you have the infrastructure ready for the building to convert over time.”

There is an upfront cost of pre-building labs to the owner or developer, but the upside benefits are more valuable: Tenants are attracted by other tenants, creating a community of like-minded individuals. That’s why Slocum and others at SGA are recommending pre-builds to any developer eager to get into, or grow their investment in, emerging Life Science markets.

Amenities as a Key Differentiator in Life Sciences Facilities

By: Amanda Vicari

There’s no question that the Life Science sector is booming. With the segment becoming increasingly competitive, a building’s amenities have become key to attracting leading tenants and building community. According to the architects and interior designers at the Boston- and New York City-based firm SGA, a recognized leader in this field, Class A facilities are enhanced by programming amenities that promote location.

Location informs amenities. You have to consider what a tenant needs as well as what’s available in the surrounding areas. Suburban buildings and urban frontier projects require more than buildings in more established urban neighborhoods. Campus-based projects can be planned more holistically, with the needed amenities distributed across the buildings.

Consider food-based amenities, for example, which are every bit as necessary for a Life Science facility as for a typical office building: An established urban neighborhood is likely to have plentiful dine-in and take-out options nearby, while a suburban environment might have fewer local off-site choices. But even though scientists, like office workers, want to eat and socialize, their preferences must be taken into account. The tech industry desires cafeterias that offer both gourmet cuisine and ample communal space for their workers to gather away from their desks, but workers at a research and development lab prefer nutritious grab-and-go options, such as healthy food counters or kiosks.

Indeed, the emphasis on health extends well beyond diet: Amanda Vicari, NCIDQ, SGA Associate and Senior Designer, says that “Lab tenants are inherently health-driven, and biophilia [which is based on the belief that humans thrive when connected to nature] has long been an important factor in designing for them.” Living plant walls, noise control, and increased access to daylight and fresh air make these buildings healthier for everyone who works in them. So do features that encourage wellness, like open and accessible stairways, dedicated fitness spaces and showers, and even outdoor dining, walking paths and bike storage rooms.

Most of the above are elements of WELL buildings, as are sustainable heating and cooling systems, VOC reduction, and noise control. Regardless of whether or not a building plans to go through the WELL certification process, Vicari says, these features make a building healthier and therefore more attractive to biomedical, pharmaceutical, academic, and corporate lab users.

Of course, what it means for a building to be healthy has changed significantly in 2020. Many of their built-in attributes, such as increased air flow and decreased density, make them inherently well-suited to the needs of a post-pandemic world. But, there are still numerous decisions that can be made to further reduce the risk of infection from COVID-19 and other viruses. Examples include: incorporating touch-free technology wherever possible, from entryways to bathrooms; designing lobbies and pathways throughout the space that encourage forward motion rather than congregation; and increasing visibility into cleaning protocols and building population.

In their decades as leaders in this market, the architects and designers at SGA have seen that a Class A Life Science facility needs the right mix of amenities to attract and support leading scientists. The result is a building that will serve as a creative ecosystem, to enhance the efficiency of the research being conducted therein.

SGA Hires Eight New Architects and Interior Designers, Expanding Boston and New York City Offices

BOSTON—SGA, a Boston and New York City-based national award-winning architecture, interior design, planning, branded environments and virtual design and construction practice, today announced that it has expanded its Boston and New York City offices and has hired eight architects and interior designers.

In addition, veteran architect Joe Mamayek, AIA, LEED AP joined the firm as Architectural Principal in late 2020 to focus on SGA’s expanding Life Science facilities design and planning group.

SGA’s new batch of hires are: Tony Morra, AIA, LEED AP, Senior Project Manager; Marty McCammon, Project Manager; Irene Huang, LEED AP BD+C, Project Architect; Margaret Okonkwo, Job Captain; Grant Griffith, NCARB, CPHC, MCPPO, Job Captain; Rebecca Vooys, Interior Designer and Jillian Ahern, Junior Designer.

“It has always been a key mission at SGA to attract the best talent in the industry. The new additions to our growing team allow us to maintain our exceptional service level across the life sciences, academic, urban and mixed-use markets,” said Al Spagnolo, AIA, NCARB, President and Founding Partner at SGA. “We’re excited to welcome them all to the SGA team.”

Here is more information about SGA’s newest team members:

Tony Morra, AIA, LEED AP, Project Manager

Tony Morra, who has 35 years of experience in architecture, sees himself as a problem-solver. From his perspective, every project presents its own set of challenges, whether they’re related to design, zoning, management, budget, or even climate change. His job is to develop solutions and options that lead to successful completions and improve sustainability. Another important component of his role is mentoring: He enjoys helping his colleagues and sharing knowledge.

Before joining SGA, Morra served as senior project manager at Tsoi Kobus Design, where he oversaw a number of healthcare and life science commissions. Previously, he held positions at TRIA, Inc. and EYP Architecture & Engineering. His longest tenure was at Shepley Bulfinch, where he spent 18 years specializing in higher education. That sector remains a focus of his work at SGA, along with life sciences. Morra received a Master of Architecture from the Harvard Graduate School of Design and a Bachelor of Arts in environmental design from the University of Pennsylvania.

Marty McCammon, Project Manager

Throughout his 16-year career, Marty McCammon has specialized in life science. The sector appeals to him because labs and research centers typically feature a modern aesthetic and have complex requirements. McCammon welcomes the challenge of translating conceptual designs into successful facilities, which is why his favorite aspect of projects is coordination: He enjoys collaborating with engineers to ensure that the architecture blends harmoniously with a building’s infrastructure and systems.

Prior to joining SGA, McCammon honed his skills at Shepley Bulfinch and DiMella Shaffer, where he served as an associate and project manager, respectively. He earned a Master of Architecture from the Harvard University Graduate School of Design and a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the University of Texas at Arlington.

Irene Huang, LEED AP BD+C, Project Architect

Irene Huang loves to solve puzzles and problems, which is why she has thrived in the field of architecture for more than 30 years. She particularly enjoys addressing challenges of complex building types, logistics, phasing, and master-planning. On core-and-shell projects, she specializes in the detailing of exterior envelopes, selecting materials that both enhance a structure’s appearance and the efficacy of its engineering.

In her role at SGA, which she joined in November 2020, Huang works on a variety of large-scale commissions across several industries, including life sciences. Previously, she served as a project architect at CBT, where she spent 23 years. During her tenure there, she focused on multifamily and academic projects. Huang received a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Texas at Austin.

Margaret Okonkwo, Job Captain

Margaret Okonkwo’s experience across a variety of sectors is ideal for her role at SGA, which she joined last month. As job captain, she works on a wide range of projects, all at different stages, for clients in several industries. On any given day, you might find her contributing to a feasibility study, coordinating drawings with consultants, or planning a tenant fit-out. She welcomes this diversity and enjoys collaborating on any commission that is sound, sustainable, and respectful of the surrounding environment.

Previously, Okonkwo worked at the Boston-based firms TRIA, Inc., Group One Partners, and Regent Associates Inc., which specialize in life sciences, hospitality, and car dealerships, respectively. She also spent 10 years at Studio G Architects, honing her project expertise in childcare, education, affordable housing, mixed-use, and historic preservation.

Okonkwo received a Master of Architecture from Massachusetts College of Art and a Bachelor of Science in architectural engineering from Wentworth Institute of Technology.

Grant Griffith, NCARB, CPHC, MCPPO, Job Captain

Grant Griffith plays a critical role in setting objectives and helping teams meet them. On a daily basis, he collaborates with project architects and project managers to assess progress on commissions, develop strategies, and identify deliverables. He also devotes time to production, providing drawings, floor plans, and site plans, all of which he loves to see “coming to life” in construction.

A Certified Passive House Consultant, Griffith is a strong advocate of energy efficiency. He believes that the built environment has a significant effect on health and wellness, and strives to incorporate daylighting, fresh air, and sustainable building materials in design.

Previously, Griffith served as an architect at Flansburgh Architects in Boston, where he focused on primary schools. Earlier, he worked for five years at the McKnight Group in Columbus, Ohio, gaining extensive experience in commercial, office, and institutional projects. Griffith received a Master of Architecture from Miami University in Ohio and a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from Ohio State University.

Rebecca Vooys, Interior Designer

Rebecca Vooys specializes in corporate interiors and lab design. Her role at SGA encompasses a wide range of responsibilities, including design development, test-fitting, construction documentation, and selection of finishes. Rebecca especially enjoys the beginning of projects, when she familiarizes herself with the client’s vision, and the end, when she sees the final product come to life.

During her undergraduate studies, Vooys completed internships at Workflow Interiors, a furniture dealership in Boston; and at Perkins & Will, where she worked on several corporate and workplace commissions while gaining experience in higher education and sustainable design. Vooys received a Bachelor of Science in interior design from Wentworth Institute of Technology.

Jillian Ahern, Junior Designer

Jillian Ahern assists in all stages of the design process, from conceptual planning to construction administration at SGA. Her responsibilities include research, drawings, and specification of finishes, lighting, and furniture, all of which support successful project outcomes. The variety of her day-to-day tasks allows her to pursue her many professional passions: urbanism, adaptive reuse, brick detailing, and sustainability, to name a few. She also enjoys working across a range of sectors, from mixed-use buildings to lab facilities.

Ahern decided at a young age to pursue a career in design. As a teenager, she interned at high-end residential firms, which prompted her to enroll in Notre Dame’s five-year architectural program. Subsequent internships at Elkus Manfredi Architects and at Notre Dame’s department of facilities & design operations paved the way to her current role. Ahern graduated from Notre Dame with a Bachelor of Architecture, furniture design concentration.