BLF&R’s Community Housing project Melpet Farms, was featured by North East Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA)’s Pro Tour series with a walk through event on May 6th. It was well attended, with BLF&R Architects Kathryn Giardi and Steve Williams as two of the tour speakers.

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of one of our founding partners. Peter G. Brown, 79, passed away on Cape Cod on Sunday, April 17, 2016 after a lengthy illness. Peter started Brown & Lindquist Inc. in 1969 with Philip Lindquist in Marblehead, MA and they relocated their families and their company to Cape Cod in the early 1970’s.

Peter had a tremendous influence on the professional development of Kurt Raber and Rick Fenuccio going back many years, and he also had a significant impact on several young architects who passed through his firm, many of whom are still practicing on Cape Cod today.

As a well-known, regional architect, Peter served as the architect on a wide range of commercial, residential, municipal, and golf course buildings, including the Hyannisport Club.

Peter will long be remembered for his lifelong love of golf, his gentlemanly manner, elegant style, and eloquent speech. On behalf of the staff at BLF&R Architects, we want to extend our sincere condolences to Lynne & Peter’s entire family.

Rick & Kurt

Brown Lindquist Fenuccio & Raber Architects, Inc. is pleased to announce their partnership with the Town of Sandwich for the completion of a design feasibility study to explore options for the construction of a new facility at Town Neck Beach to house lifeguard facilities, public restrooms and concessions.

The beach currently has no permanent restroom facilities or structures other than the iconic boardwalk over the marsh. This design study will assist the Town in addressing the public’s needs for restrooms, and changing rooms, lifeguard storage and office space as well as a space for a dedicated food/beverage vendor.

Design and construction of a facility at Town Neck Beach will be subjected to numerous municipal and environmental permitting hurdles.  The beach is located in the Old Kings Highway Historic district so any new structure will need to be designed appropriately for the district. FEMA has designated the area a “high hazard velocity flood zone” which will significantly affect design and construction.  Lastly the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program (NHESP) and the local Conservation Commission will need to be consulted during the design process and ultimately to approve the final design.

On Friday April 1st,  BLF&R Architects partnered with Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod to form team “Unforeseen Conditions” for the Roll the Rock bowling event at Ryan Family Amusements, sponsored by Cape Cod Charitable FunRaisers. The event benefitted 8 local charities including: Cape and Island United Way, Champ Homes, Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod, Hope Hospice- Cape Cod, Kiwainis Club of Hyannis, Latham Centers, Lyme Awareness of Cape Cod, and Spaulding Rehabilitation of Cape Cod.

Team “Unforeseen Conditions” knocked it out of the park with $1,925 in donations, not to mention the incredible bowling skills displayed..

Brown Lindquist Fenuccio & Raber Architects joined the Home Builders and Remodelers Association of Cape Cod to raise money in their “Bowling for Beds” fundraiser on February 25th at the Lanes Bowl & Bistro at Mashpee Commons. Our team “Unforeseen Conditions” did not sweep the competition, but had a great time bowling and networking with friends while raising money for a great cause!

Falmouth, MA (January 22, 2016) The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod, a community bank with 10 branches throughout Cape Cod, broke ground on their new branch in Falmouth on Thursday , January 21st. The new branch was designed by Brown Lindquist Fenuccio & Raber Architects, Inc., and will be replacing their smaller existing location on Main Street. The contractor for the project is Delphi Construction located in Mashpee.

The proposed new branch will be located off of Worcester Court, adjacent to the new CVS. The building will be approximately 2,700 square feet and will feature 2 drive-up teller lanes,  a 24 hour drive up ATM, and a 24 hour walk-up ATM. This branch banking center will offer a full range of services to personal and business banking customers. The branch will employ up to 6 full and part time employees.

About The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod

The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod was founded in 1921 as a mutual community bank serving the residents and businesses of the Cape. Although their focus has not changed, the types of products and services they offer have evolved along with the banking industry.. They are a one-stop provider of financial products and services for individuals, families, and businesses and are fully committed to offering these products and services  a highly personalized way. www.thecooperativebankofcapecod.com

Kurt Raber, Tom Swensson and Hugo Coutinho man the BLF&R booth at the HBRCC Career Day at the Barnstable Fairgrounds for local high school students on Oct. 15th. The local career day attracted several hundred students and more than two dozen construction-related companies. (More pictures available on Facebook)

Paula Drury, Certified Interior Designer at BLF&R Architects, recently addressed the latest trends in commercial design in the September 2015 issue of Cape & Plymouth Business Magazine. Here’s a reprint of the story that was published:

Wondering What the Latest Trend In Office Design Is? Just Look Down.

By Paula Drury, NCIDQ

Flooring. It’s the palette upon which all other interior design choices are made, but often it’s selected as an afterthought. Most people focus on the furnishings and wall colors when thinking about office design. They simply want a floor covering that is subtle, durable, and easy to clean. I’d like to challenge you to think of the floor covering as the foundation of the design. It is one of the first things a visitor will see and “feel” as they walk into the space. It has the capability of brightening or darkening the room. It can direct the flow of traffic. It can partition space. It can convey a sense of warmth, professionalism, luxury and more.   

As an Interior Designer, I’m constantly challenged to keep up with the latest trends and research available and I’d like to share a collection of the more interesting trends in commercial tile flooring.

Long gone are the days of 12 x 12 tiles with unsightly grout lines.  Advancements in the tile industry are reshaping the industry and have opened up many new possibilities. The following are some examples.

Large Format: 3-by-10-foot porcelain tiles offer many possibilities. In the past, whenever you opted for tile, you also had to live with grout lines running everywhere. With 3-by-10 foot tiles, you can cover large areas of walls and floor in pure color or a textured finish with very few grout lines that are nearly invisible because the tiles can be set very close together. The 3-millimeter thickness of these large tiles is also beneficial to remodelers because it makes the messy, time-consuming step of removing old floor tiles unnecessary; in most cases these tiles can go over the old ones. The large 3-by-10-foot tiles can also be used for counters and vanities. Not only do you get a great look, but only a single tile is used, so there are no grout lines to keep clean.

Planks: Wood look tile flooring has become one of the hottest trends in the flooring industry today. With the advancements in manufacturing processes, porcelain tile that looks like natural wood are being used in projects large and small. No longer limited to traditional sizes, tile can now be manufactured in what are called planks, or tiles that are rectangular in shape. Thanks to advancements in technology and manufacturing processes, this tile flooring contains a level of detail not previously possible. Detail so innovative and precise that these products can mirror the look and feel of a hand scraped wood floor.

Rectified:  A tile that has been rectified has had all of its edges mechanically finished in order to achieve a more precise dimension. The benefit to a rectified tile is that you are able to use a much thinner grout joint, as narrow as 1/16”.

Digital Technology: In today’s market the demand for natural stone tile is declining as it is now so simple to replicate the look of stone, despite the fact they inherently fluctuate in their design. Not only do you get the same aesthetic, but because the engineered stone is actually porcelain, you get a stronger and more durable material that is more environmentally friendly.

Microban: Microban technology is permanently integrated in the tile surface during the manufacturing process to help prevent the growth of bacteria on the tile surface, providing 24/7, long lasting, durable protection for the life of the ceramic tile. This provides an amazing tool in the hands of architects and designers looking to develop environments with high performance when it comes to hygiene, cleanliness, safety and ease of maintenance for healthcare projects as well as hotels, restaurants and wellness centers.

Carpet Tile: Just like floor tile, the carpet industry has jumped on the plank trend. Carpet tiles are now available in various sizes including many rectangular “plank” sizes. The design possibilities are endless and can truly become a feature of your project.

These are just a few examples of the endless possibilities when considering the interior design of your new or renovated office. Each project brings its own list of challenges and considerations. Remember that one of the most important steps in the design of your new office – choosing the right flooring – will impact every other design choice you make.

Paula Drury is a Certified Interior Designer at Brown Lindquist Fenuccio & Raber Architects, Inc. with more than 15 years of experience in Commercial and Residential interior design.

PLYMOUTH (June 23, 2015) – Brown Lindquist Fenuccio & Raber Architects, Inc. (BLF&R) of Yarmouthport, MA is expanding its services to the South Shore with the opening of a new satellite office in Plymouth, MA, according to Rick Fenuccio, president of the firm. The 45 year-old company provides architectural and consulting services to a wide range of commercial, residential, multi-family and civic clients throughout Cape Cod, Southeastern MA and Rhode Island. Their new office will be located at 93B Court St. Plymouth, MA and will be staffed by architects Todd Carson and Rod Topolewski, and interior designer Paula Drury.

“After finishing a new Strategic Plan last year we recognized the need for a second location to meet the needs of our South Shore clients,” said Fenuccio. “At the same time we were very fortunate to recruit a number of highly skilled architects and an interior designer to complement our staff and fill our staffing needs at the new office.”

BLF&R has recently completed projects include bank branches for Cape Cod Five, The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod and Seaman’s Bank; a major addition and renovation of the Centerville Public Library; Stage Coach Rd. Affordable Housing; and several custom built single family homes.

HYANNIS (March 11, 2015) Brown Lindquist Fenuccio & Raber Architects is pleased to announce that Paula Drury, a certified Interior Designer, has recently joined their staff. In her new position, she will be responsible for providing interior design services for a variety of residential, commercial and municipal clients.

Drury has more than 15 years of experience as a designer in corporate interiors including directing and overseeing the interior design process; space planning; schematic design development; providing color, finish and material selections; managing millwork design and assisting with furniture selection. She most recently worked as an Interior Designer at DRL & Associates Inc. in Weymouth, MA. Drury attended Mount Ida College in Newton, MA and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design.