Voith & Mactavish Architects LLP

We're thrilled that 2021 is bringing continued growth to VMA! This week we'll be featuring some fun facts on our newest team members. Please join us in welcoming Matthew McCarty to the VMA team! Matt joins us with a background in architecture, interior design, and historic preservation and has worked on high-end residential, civic, and restaurant design projects with a focus in adaptive re-use and historic preservation. Matt identifies himself as a coffee snob, and enjoys trying new coffee spots throughout Philadelphia on the weekends. Matt also loves gardening and has worked at a number of plant nurseries and boasts an impressive 7 year of horticultural experience.

Daniela Voith worked with owners Mike and Connie Cone over a span of years to design the renovation and restoration of their historic Philadelphia townhouse, and it remains a favorite within the VMA residential portfolio. In the latest issue of Saving Places magazine, published by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, they share their perspective on the project - read all about it here! https://bit.ly/2MHUF2n

Biotech Commons at the University of Pennsylvania is one of the most exciting things happening in our office this year! It will be a "locus of innovation." at the intersection of the university's academic and health sciences campuses. We can't wait to see the final results of this long-term partnership with Penn Libraries - be sure to stay tuned for updates.

We're in the middle of our latest VMA-U, a regular series of "lunch & learn" sessions where staff discuss a specific design issue to share advice and lessons learned. Today's topic: detailing for various partition systems. Acoustical barriers, rigid insulation, Revit standards, steel vs. wood - all the fun topics we love to nerd out about! Don't forget we're always happy to share our expertise with others, too! If you're an educator looking for guest speakers on design-related topics, send us a DM today.

This week Daniela Voith was pleased to have accepted our graciously and safely hand-delivered IIDA PA/NJ/DE Best in Education <30,000 sf Award for our most recent work University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School's Silverman Hall. Congratulations to our partners and project team!

Congratulations to the African American Museum of Bucks County on securing a permanent home for their organization! We're honored to be working with the Museum's leadership and with project lead Pennoni on renovating Boone Farm and we can't wait for its grand opening in 2021.

How can independent schools responsibly plan for capital improvements in the midst of pandemic uncertainty? A feasibility study can provide everything needed to make an informed decision - without committing to unnecessary design costs. Learn more on Tuesday, October 27th when we'll discuss feasibility studies in detail during a webinar with PAISBOA members: https://bit.ly/31zicHs

Yesterday was the 32nd anniversary of VMA! On October 18th 1988, Daniela Voith and Cameron Mactavish decided to start their own firm and sealed the deal with a handshake on a bridge over the Schuylkill River. Their shared vision of seeking innovation in the context of tradition remains our foundation today and the key behind our continued success. We express our sincere thanks to all of the people - employees, clients, partners, friends - who have helped us achieve this milestone.

How to teach architecture students the concept of a "parti," or abstract design concept? For her studio class at Bryn Mawr College, Daniela Voith asked students to visually represent themes from a passage on Venice taken from Italo Calvino's book, "Invisible Cities." Here are some examples of the incredibly creative results!

You probably already know that VMA specializes in institutional design, planning, and preservation, but did you know we also have a thriving residential practice as well? One area where those two areas collide is when we're working on a head of school's house, like this one for an independent school in Connecticut. These homes must blend private residential areas for the head and his/her family as well as more public-facing areas for meetings and events. We especially love the wallpaper in the butler's pantry, which mimics glassware on shelves! See more here: https://bit.ly/3jU3i5O

Daniela Voith was surprised to spot a familiar face in the Summer issue of the Millbrook School magazine: herself, circa 1997, in a feature on the Holbrook Arts Center! To read more about the building's contextual response and the team at Millbrook who helped bring it to reality, read the magazine online here: https://www.millbrook.org/about-us/publications

#WorldTeachersDay feels a little different this year on most campuses, but what remains unchanged is our deep appreciation for everything that they do in, and out, of the classroom.

#ThrowbackThursday in honor of Archives Month Philly! We archives - they are a critical tool for our Preservation Studio when we're trying to uncover the history of a building.

Happy #NationalPodcast Day! VMA team members shared a few of their favorite podcasts, including 99% Percent Invisible, Reply All, The Memory Place, S-Town, The Weirdest Thing I Learned Last Week, and Throughline. What are your podcast recommendations?

Happy #NationalCoffeeDay! Whether in person or during one of our weekly virtual chats, sharing a cup of coffee together is one of our favorite ways to connect with each other. Send us a message - we'd love to share a cup with you, too!

The unexpected shift to virtual learning has challenged students and parents everywhere. Our staff, who are used to designing campus classrooms for all ages, have been applying their skills to adapting their own home learning environments. Read about their strategies here: https://bit.ly/363azw4

The first day of fall has us thinking about beautiful outdoor space designed with seasonal transition in mind. Fire elements and planting long-lasting grasses & perennials are just a couple ways to do this. Find more design inspiration here: https://bit.ly/2ZZfk5W

Every Monday during our weekly staff meeting, a VMA team member presents a topic as part of the firm's '7 minute presentations'. Today, Katrina shared facts on the history of the Gullah/Geechee Nation & the importance of its preservation. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/32QJSIO