Architectural Design Services - Boston, Massachusetts








Peter J. Herman, A.I.A., Principal

Overview

Peter is the founder of the firm and oversees all of the design work. He is a licensed architect with over twenty years of experience. He got his professional start early in life with a big box of Legos.

Long associations with educational communities, the influence of many thoughtful individuals, travel, and some years working as a carpenter have fostered his deep appreciation for the built environment.

He strives to design buildings, spaces, and places that stand in harmony with their environment while supporting both the basic and transcendent needs of the people who use them.

Professional experience

Principal & Co-founder - Payne Herman Design, Inc., Boston, MA (PHD)
Senior Associate, Senior Designer - CBT/Childs Bertman Tseckares Architects, Inc., Boston, MA (CBT)
Designer - William Turnbull Associates, San Francisco, CA (WTA)
Designer - Turner Brooks, Architect, Burlington, VT (TBA)
Designer - Herman Coliver Architecture, San Francisco, CA (HCA)
Designer - Sir Denys Lasdun Architect, London, UK (DLA)
Apprentice - Minoru Takeyama Architect, Tokyo, Japan (MTA)

Awards

American School & University - Outstanding Specialized Facility Award (CBT), 2002 and
AIA New England - Design Award, 2002 both for Governor Dummer Academy Performing Arts Center (CBT)

Professional affiliations

Member, American Institute of Architects
Member, Boston Society of Architects
Member, BSA Educational Facilities Committee
Member, BSA Codes Committee
Masters Thesis Representative, Boston Architectural College
Volunteer Architect, Boston Public Schools, The Joseph J. Hurley Elementary School
Volunteer Teacher, Boston Public Schools, Project Reach
Volunteer Teacher, Learning for Life, Massachusetts
Board Member, Interlocken Center for Experiential Learning, New Hampshire

Education

Master of Architecture, University of California at Berkeley, 1988
Bachelor of Architecture, University of California at Berkeley, 1984

Registration

Registered Nationally by NCARB – No. 62129
Registered Architect in Massachusetts - No. 9996
Registered Architect in New Hampshire - No. 2192

Institutional Buildings Representative Projects

Windsor Mountain International Welcome Center & Dormitory (2007)
Currently under construction, and due for completion in May of 2004, this fully winterized, 8,000 sq. ft. building will serve as a year-round facility for school groups and off-season administrative staff. It will sleep twenty people in a variety of rooms and includes a second story staff apartment.

Windsor Mountain International Wash House, Windsor, NH (2002)
This playful wash house with its unusual "butterfly" roof is nestled in amongst a stand of pine trees. It provides toilets for boys and girls in two separate, symmetrical wings. Both wings converge on a central, double height space that features a large communal sink.

The Governor's Academy Performing Arts Center, Byfield, MA (CBT - 2001)
Winner of the American School & University - Outstanding Specialized Facility Award
Winner of the AIA New England - Design Award
A 24,000 square foot facility that includes a generous lobby/art gallery, 500-seat proscenium theater,
100-seat studio ("black box") theater, ensemble room, music practice rooms, and a sizable scene shop. Careful siting of this sizable performing arts center kept it in character with the modest scale of the other buildings on the street.

Museum of Fine Arts, Master Plan & Additions, Boston, MA (CBT - 2001)
In association with internationally renowned London-based, Foster and Partners, Mr. Herman served as CBT's design liason to assist the overseas firm with the preliminary & schematic design phases of the museum's 500,000 square-foot expansion.

Bowdoin College, Ladd House Dormitory, Brunswick, ME (CBT - 2001)
Located in an area of the campus that is designed to become a new residential quad, this 12,000 square-foot project involved the conversion of an existing brick mansion into a twenty-six room student dormitory. The renovation and remodeling included the insertion of a new commercial kitchen, elevator, and the addition of a new free-standing egress stairway.

Fenn School Pool House and Pool, Concord, MA (CBT - 2001)
The open-air structure features post and beam construction, and unfinished cedar siding. Changing rooms for boys and girls, shaded teaching space, outdoor showers, equipment storage, and mechanical space are all included in the 13 foot wide by 60 foot long building.

Bowdoin College, McClellan Building, Brunswick, ME (CBT - 1999)
The 35,000 square foot, three-story, steel-frame, wood-clad, structure houses administrative offices, conference rooms, computer training labs, Senior thesis and faculty painting studios, darkrooms, media, and seminar rooms.

Fenn School Lower School Expansion, Concord, MA (CBT - 1998)
The central aim of this 12,000 sq. ft. project was to preserve the scale and historic atmosphere of the campus' original 1920's classroom building, while providing four new classrooms, two science labs, and six tutoring rooms. To accommodate the program, the interior of the original structure had to be completely removed; only the exterior walls remain. In order to insure that the new addition and redesigned interior of the old building would evoke an important past, original interior and exterior details were meticulously documented and incorporated into the design of the new.

Fenn School Arts Building, Concord, MA (CBT - 1998)
This 6,000 sq. ft. building includes state-of-the-art painting and ceramics studios, a multi-media lab, photography darkroom and classroom, and a student gallery. It exceeds today's health safety standards for fume, dust, and chemical protection.

Fenn School Dining Hall Addition, Concord, MA (CBT - 1996)
A 5,000 sq. ft. dining hall that replaced an existing, and much smaller campus dining hall. The new structure allows single sittings for the Lower, Middle, and Upper schools, rather than requiring staggered meals. The kitchen was upgraded to meet today's health safety standards and a new servery was added.

Windsor Mountain International Dining Hall, Windsor, NH (1992)
An 8,500 sq. ft. dining hall that includes a three-story observation and bell tower, wrap-around screen porch, and huge fieldstone fireplace in a cathedral-ceiling hall featuring four massive "fan" trusses.

Windsor Town Hall, Windsor, NH (1992)
This new 4,000 sq ft. town hall includes town offices as well as a vaulted ceiling meeting hall. Built on land donated by a town elder, it was constructed by the townspeople during the spring, summer, and fall of 1992.

Residential Buildings Representative Projects for Individuals

6 Bridgeman Road, Hanover, NH (2007)
A major addition to a circa 1960 ranch house will double the size of the orginal home. The roof of the existing garage will be removed to accommodate a new second floor master bedroom suite and study. A 1st floor rear addition will accomodates a generous kitchen and family room (see next page). Passive solar and sustainable design practices are integrated into the project.

12 Main Street, Mattapoisett, MA (2006)
A major remodel and addition to a circa 1805 waterfront home on Buzzards Bay. The project involved the complete gut renovation of the historic front of the house, razing a rear ell, and the construction of a new one. The renovated front includes a new kitchen, dining room, living room and master bedroom suite. The new ell addition includes a new entry, pantry, family room, media room, library, mud room, laundry, and two bedrooms. The exterior character deliberately references New England barn imagery.

Vacation Home, Bagley Pond, NH (unbuilt - 2006)
This playful vacation home in rural New Hampshire will overlook an undeveloped fresh water lake. The small two-bedroom home will feature a large Rumford fireplace, expansive windows, a generous deck, and distinctive "butterfly" roof.

3139 Silverado Drive, Silver Lake, Los Angeles, CA (2004)
A modest addition to a classic 1920's Spanish-style hillside home provides a new Kitchen, Dining Room, third bedroom, bathroom, and pergola-covered patio.

Smith Residence, Waldoboro, ME (2005)
A modest vacation home on the coast of Maine designed for a husband and wife who are building much of project by themselves. The plan incorporates special design features to address the needs of one of the couple who is blind.

The Belvedere Residences, Boston, MA (PHD - 2004)
A new roof terrace and pergola will "top-off" The Belvedere Residences in Boston's Back Bay neighborhood with a unique European-inspired outdoor entertainment space for the condominium residents.

The Belvedere Residences, Boston, MA (PHD - 2002)
The customizing of three units with minor reconfigurations of some of the non-structural walls as well as the insertion of high-end millwork built-in cabinetry.

26 Bradford Street, Boston, MA (2000)
Gut rehab of a garden-level duplex in Boston's historic South End neighborhood. The contemporary interiors are elegant and uncomplicated without being austere or impractical.

Residential Buildings for Developers Representative Projects

Six Townhouses, Boston, MA (2007)
Working as an integral member of a speculative development team, Studio.625 analyzed the urban site from regulatory, design, and economic pro forma perspectives. The project proposed a new six-townhouse subdivision with individual garages. Each lot was designed to include a four- story townhouse, one-car garage, separate entry in-law apartment and two private outdoor parking spaces. Prior to anticipated land acquisition, preliminary design approval was granted by the Boston Redevelopment Agency.

Two-Family Townhouse, Boston, MA (2007)
Working as an integral member of a speculative development team, Studio.625 analyzed the urban site from regulatory, design, and economic pro forma perspectives. TThe new two-family residence was to be located on a rare vacant lot. Featuring a large and dramatic cantilevered two- story glass bay, the design integrates 19th-century vernacular and 21st-century design sensibilities. Prior to formal development it gained preliminary approval from the BRA and South End landmarks.

Katywil Co-housing, Colrain, MA (2005~2007)
Studio.625 was hired to design this rural co-housing community for people who seek a modest home in a development founded on the principle of Voluntary Simplicity. Although the design will not be built, it would have featured twelve modest 1,300 square feet 3-bedroom homes, employed sustainable design practices & materials, and approached Zero Net Energy status (the buildings were designed to have put as much power into the local electrical grid as taken out in any given year). In addition to the homes, each resident would have shared ownership and use of a Community House, barn, and communal vegetable gardens on the 110-acre rural site.

348 Beacon Street, Boston, MA (PHD - 2005)
The renovation of a 13,500 square foot brownstone, and new 1,500 square foot penthouse features five luxury units. The distinctive units include high-end detailing, custom woodwork, custom kitchens, an elevator, roof decks, and garage space. Located in the historic Back Bay and overlooking the Charles River.

70 East Brookline Street, Boston, MA (PHD - 2005)
A new 4,100 square foot, four-unit condominium building in Boston's historic South End Historic district. The market-rate units include hardwood floors, custom kitchens, decks, and on-site parking.

66 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA (PHD - 2002)
The renovation of a 9,600 square foot brownstone features three luxury units. The distinctive units include high-end detailing, custom woodwork, custom kitchens, an elevator, roof decks, and garage space. Located in the historic Back Bay, abutting Boston's Public Garden.

1313 Washington Street Condominiums, Boston, MA (CBT - 2000)
A design concept developed for the Boston Archdiocese when it was considering developing the land at 1313 Washington Street (where Wilkes Passage Lofts now stands; having been built by a different architect/developer team). The design would have provided 160 condominiums units of various configurations as well as a classic mid-block park.

Commercial Buildings Representative Projects


Franklin Cafe (2007)
Gut-renovation renovation of a popular South End restaurant.

Franklin restaurant (2006)
Although construction documents were completed, the project was not constructed. The new restaurant would have seated 180, had a raw bar, long bar, intimate booth seating, and pool table lounge.

283 Newbury Street - Life is Good, Inc. (PHD - 2003)
Gut-renovation conversion of a five-story, 19th century townhouse into two levels of retail space and three floors of new office space o Boston's premier shopping street. The project includes a new - rarely granted - excavated front garden entrance.

The Waterfront at Pitts Bay Road, Hamilton, Bermuda (CBT - 1995)
A commission awarded by a design competition, the project includes 100,000 square-feet of office space in two new office buildings, as well as 25 condominium villas overlooking Hamilton Harbor. Site planning and the architectural appearance of the buildings respectfully reflect local design.
Peter Herman, Architect, AIA - Copyright © 2007 Studio.625, Inc. All rights reserved. Corporation name & logo are Service Marks