Marc, today's charrette was terrific. Thank you for your truly generous collaboration. You've caused me to turn a mental corner. Until recently, I thought that that to do really intelligent buildings, we'd need the right clients, the right engineers, and a premium budget. Thanks to you, I now believe that to do intelligent buildings all we need is INTELLIGENCE!—and the guts to ask the simple questions until we get the answers, and the courage of our convictions to persuade others...

We can do this and it will change things. You've empowered us. Thanks. –Ellen

Expert Participation in Charrettes

Design charrettes can be a very effective tool to get a project off in the right direction.  Bringing the entire design team together for a concentrated and focused work session, especially with active client participation, allows ideas to flow freely.  People learn about the needs and constraints of the other disciplines and can see how their work impacts the work of others.  It can be a wonderful team building exercise as well.

Our participation brings our years of experience to expand people’s idea of what is possible.  We are able to bring unfamiliar concepts, systems, and products to the design professionals involved with the credibility of having implemented the solutions we propose.  We help manage the perceived risk of the as-yet unknown, and we challenge the designers to stretch beyond their usual comfort zone.

Marc has collaborated in charrettes or design intensives for projects for Shelburne Farm, MA Firefighters Academy, Tufts, Proctor Academy, Alchemy Farm Cohousing, Stonyfield Farm CO2 Reduction, Crotched Mountain Rehabilitation Center, Northhaven, ME School, Stonehill College, White Mountain School, Grinnell College, and Middlebury College.