What is the value of design? Businesses and institutions struggle with this question on a regular basis as they weigh concerns about budget, timing, and a variety of other factors against the priority of design. Several organizations, like Apple Computer, have seen the benefit of prioritizing design, and have made it a part of their core message.

As the this Oct. 10 New York Times article points out, good design can have a powerful impact on the urban landscape. One city, New York, has lately taken the initiative to prioritize good design in new public buildings. As architects, we take the advantages of strong design for granted. How can ...[more]

Tad Jusczyk gave everyone at Shepley a remarkable new perspective as he journeyed from Xi’an to Venice this past summer as Shepley Bulfinch’s inaugural Howe Traveling Fellow. As Tad traveled we shared his discoveries and observations on his blog, The Long Road to Venice. Since his return, they have enriched our design dialogue.

His journeys were also documented in Tour de Force, a Boston Society of Architects’ online feature and slideshow.

The Howe Traveling Fellowship is a grant for travel and exploration for Shepley Bulfinch staff, supported by the firm to honor ...[more]

“We’re #27.” OK, it may not trip off the tongue, but it sounds pretty good to us.

Shepley moved up the ranks of the country’s “Design Giants” in the results of a national survey just released by Building Design + Construction magazine. With an overall ranking at #27 in the annual survey, the firm came in 26th among university design firms and 48th among healthcare design firms. The magazine gives a shout-out to Marquette Law School with a photograph of the school’s Zilber Forum as the survey’s featured higher education project.

Shepley, which now uses ...[more]

Shepley Bulfinch welcomed Partners In Health co-founder Dr. Paul Farmer (“Mountains Beyond Mountains”) to our Boston office today, where he spoke at the unveiling of plans for a new rehabilitation and training center in Haiti.

We partnered with colleagues from Boston’s healthcare and design communities to deliver this pro bono project, joining with Partners in Health, Partners Healthcare, Spaulding Rehabilitation Network, and the Mass Design Group to address the immediate and long-term demand for rehabilitation services in Haiti.

Carole Wedge welcomed 80 guests to this morning’s event. “We got as much as we gave in this process,” she said, pointing to the design response forged by a tight timetable, limited ...[more]

Shepley Bulfinch was one of three firms honored for achievements in diversity by the American Institute of Architects in a presentation earlier today at the annual AIA national conference in New Orleans. 2011 jury chair Clarence Kwan, AIA, announced the honorees, lauding Shepley was honored for its work in transforming the culture of the firm into one that is diverse and collaborative.

Accepting the award on behalf of Shepley Bulfinch, human resources manager Maggy Godfroy emphasized the firm’s commitment to inclusion and advocacy. “Receiving this is an honor and recognition of an important ...[more]