Richard Alvord Architects provides full in-house professional design services for the built environment from schematic design through construction administration. We combine our design expertise, knowledge of codes and regulations, and adept understanding of building systems with our client’s ideas and desires to create meaningful buildings and spaces.
Established in 1991, Richard Alvord Architects has successfully completed a wide range of project types and sizes for public and private clients. These projects include office facilities, commercial buildings, office interiors, recreational facilities, religious buildings, residences and child development centers. Other architectural services include master plans, feasibility studies,cost estimates, phased construction planning, space and site planning, existing conditions reports and due diligence reports.
Our work during the past decade has concentrated on the modernizing existing buildings through rehabilitation, renovation and adaptive reuse, including accessibility modifications and code compliance for community based organizations. Since 2006 we have been House Doctors for the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development which has allowed us to continue our commitment to community based organizations and in particular to those that help make lives better for others through more than 20 publicly bid building improvement projects.
Design Approach
Our top priority is client satisfaction, which we achieve through one proven simple method: quiet leadership. Quiet, because we value input from our clients, interested parties and our consultants. Careful listening means we can provide a design solution that meets the needs, desires and concerns of all. As design leaders, we provide our expert services and knowledge of programming, consensus building and facility design to ensure a smooth and efficient project development process.
Our approach follows directly from this principle. We begin by studying the site, assessing the building program, and developing a complete understanding of client’s needs and desires. Budget and schedule parameters are defined, and the opportunities and limitations inherent in the project are discussed. Working closely with the client we establish an overall design concept from which strategies and supporting details emerge. We build a dialogue through conversation, image and text which allows all parties to understand and confidently make decisions.
Our Committment
Our commitment to design quality is not restricted by tight budgets and schedules. Through strong ideas and creative use of ordinary materials we have achieved attractive and effective results over a range of challenging conditions. Our commitment to our client’s goals inspires a dynamic design process and the development of creative as well as appropriate solutions. Whether a private residence, a multi-housing development, a boutique gallery or a 50,000 square foot office interior, we find creative ways to realize the full potential of the project while minimizing costs and interruption time.
Biographies
Richard Alvord, Principal-in-Charge
Mr. Alvord’s work spans a wide range of building types including office buildings, private and multi-family residences, public structures and a variety of non-profit and community supporting facilities.
His current work includes the adaptive reuse of existing buildings for 4 new Head Start facilities for the non-profit group Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD) and approximately 75 Department of Housing and Community Development sponsored House Doctor projects in the Boston Metropolitan area.
Recent work includes several projects for the Town of Canton including the new Canton Senior Center in the renovated Knights of Columbus building. Richard Alvord Architects are currently providing design services for three projects for the Canton Housing Authority.
Richard provided comprehensive site and building design working with 11 separate committees to develop the Master Plan for Lutheran Outdoor Ministries of New England (Camp Calumet), a 180 acre site on the north shore of Lake Ossipee in Freedom NH and its implementation of $4M total value of various projects including housing, dining, comfort stations, beach lockers and storage for year round use. The Executive Director wrote: “Your patience in listening, really hearing, a diversity of thoughts and opinions,was a critical element in helping us to achieve consensus throughout the whole Calumet organization. This was especially true during the Master planning process and continued through every phase of the project.”
Mr. Alvord’s past work includes 1.2 million square feet of tenant space design for a variety of Fortune 500 companies. Notable are 25, 35, 45 Shawmut Avenue in Canton Ma with the design of the Norfolk County Probate Court (45,000 SF) and the Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office (32,000SF).
As Project Architect for Leers Weinzapfel Associates Architects, Inc. (LWA) in Boston, Mr. Alvord was Project Manager for the MBTA Porter Street West Entry in Cambridge and the MBTA Satellite Police Station in downtown Boston. He has contributed to the design and served as technical adviser for several major public building projects including the award winning 20 million dollar MBTA Operations Control Center in downtown Boston. With Joseph J. Schiffer and Associates, Richard was Project Manager for three “fast track” design and construction projects including the 128 Technology Center in Waltham, MA, with a total of 587,000 square feet completed over a three year period.
Richard Alvord holds a Bachelor in Science in Environmental Design from the University of Massachusetts and a Bachelor of Architecture from the Boston Architectural Center. A licensed architect in the states of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, and Rhode Island, Richard is a member of the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards, US Green Building Council, American Planning Association, and National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Raymond Falke, Intern Architect
Ray has worked with Richard Alvord for more than 14 years. During this time he has made significant contributions to a variety of projects. For the Camp Calumet Family Village in West Ossipee, New Hampshire, Ray organized and simplified a complex set of construction documents, coordinating common specifications for all eleven buildings. For the Millville Senior Center, he provided LEED certification research, and acted as co-project manager — organizing, researching and presenting drawings, specifications and design intent to the Millville Senior Center Committee.
Ray is currently the project manager for a variety of Housing Authority projects under our contract as House Doctors with the Department of Housing and Community Development for the Commonwealth. During the past 8 years Ray has completed over 75 House Doctor projects under Chapter 34 public bidding laws.
Prior to his employment at Richard Alvord Architects, Ray worked as an Intern for the Massachusetts Port Authority. During the internship he used his skills with emerging technologies to inform airport-wide development projects as well as visual and written information for internal Massport publications and public presentations. He provided significant design work and site research on a series of small parks that have recently been constructed between the Logan Airport and the East Boston neighborhood.
Prior to his architectural work, Mr. Falke built custom architectural millwork for high-end projects throughout the country with a manufacturer in Charlotte, NC. As a furniture maker in Olympia, WA, Ray built many individual pieces of furniture for clients in the Northwest. Paramount to both professions was a close understanding of the clients wishes and a knowledge of both the technical methods and the art of craft to achieve a desired aesthetic under specific financial parameters.
Raymond Falke holds a Master of Architecture from the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University. He holds a B.A. in Philosophy and a B.F.A. in Sculpture from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Ray is a member of the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards and US Green Building Council.