Summer 2014

  • A bright dining hall with high ceilings, exposed beams, and tall windows showcases a school traditional design. Groups sit at white tables with red chairs, some talking and others eating. Booth seating lines the left wall as people walk near the entrance on the right.

    Millbrook School's Student Center Wins Palladio Award

    We are delighted to announce that the Student Center Barn at Millbrook School has won a Palladio Award. The project won for outstanding achievement in traditional design; the award and project are both highlighted in the June issue of Traditional Building Magazine.

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  • Three woman architects stand smiling and wearing medals on ribbons over black and purple academic robes, posed in front of a red curtain. The person on the left wears glasses and a burgundy sash; the others wear black and purple robes, respectively.

    Daniela Holt Voith Honored by American Institute of Architects

    Partner Daniela Voith was elevated to Fellow by the American Institute of Architects. This honor reflects Daniela’s career as a woman who is dedicated to promoting the advancement of design for educational environments and her client-focused practice which goes beyond design to support leading edge pedagogical thought to encourage mindful ways of living and learning. As a result of her extensive experience, Daniela has developed a method of practice that moves fluidly from planning initiatives to building design. This method depends on long term relationships and results in designs that carefully suit institutional missions, reflect their architectural identities, and assist clients in achieving their strategic goals.

  • A split image: left shows an elegant indoor hallway with checkered floors, arched doorway, and vintage elevator; right features a white, two-story house in Philadelphia’s Rittenhouse area, highlighting preservation with a person walking a dog on a tree-lined street.

    AIA Merit Awards for Rittenhouse Plaza and Millbrook School

    VMA was recently honored with two Merit Awards for Preservation by the Philadelphia Chapter of the AIA for the Student Center Barn at Millbrook School and Rittenhouse Plaza in Philadelphia. We are honored to have been recognized by our peers for these transformative projects.

Spring 2014

  • A collage featuring an Eames chair with geometric patterns, architectural sketches, colorful abstract art, a bird illustration, fabric facets, mirrored female figures, and modern building facades—showcasing modern classic design inspiration for the “Eames Chair Design Competition.”.

    Herman Miller 1st Annual Eames Modern Classic Chair Design Competition

    Congratulations to three VMA team members, Kelli Coles, Sennah Loftus, and Marisa Razi, on being selected to participate in the Herman Miller 1st annual Eames Modern Classic Chair Design Competition. The charity event will auction off the winning chairs to benefit selected charities. Their design inspiration is depicted in this design concept board.

  • Three people sit around a table in a meeting room with red walls, visible through glass-panel wooden doors. As laptops and papers are spread out, they discuss designing collaborative learning spaces together.

    VMA Presents Our Thoughts On Designing For Learning

    Partners, Daniela Holt Voith and John Cluver presented “School to Work: Designing Collaborative Spaces for Learning” at the 2014 Traditional Building Conference held in Washington DC. During the talk, Daniela and John outlined the process and values that are driving design in academic settings today and how education has evolved since the 18th and 19th centuries to the 20th and 21st centuries. They showed that contemporary work environments characterized by integration of technology, collaboration, openness, and sustainability has greatly affected the school environment as well.

  • Cross-section illustration of a multi-story building, inspired by Boston University planning, showing five floors with visible rooms, glass walls, and human silhouettes. The design highlights open communal spaces, a central staircase, and diverse functional areas on each level.

    "Less Is More: Planning For Expanded Programs Without Expanding Footprint"

    At the North Atlantic Regional Conference for Society for College and University Planning held in Boston, Daniela Holt Voith presented with Hardin Coleman, Dean of the School of Education at Boston University and Jo-Ann Verrier, Vice Dean of Administrative Services at University of Pennsylvania Law School. During the talk, Daniela, Hardin, and Jo-Ann showed the audience that with thoughtful and logical planning and re-working of existing space, expensive additions can be avoided. Hardin and Daniela discussed the planning efforts at the School of Education at Boston University, and Jo-Ann and Daniela presented the planning and end results of Penn Law’s transformation.

  • A spacious, elegant hotel lobby with marble floors, ornate arched ceilings, and wooden reception desks showcases Philadelphia preservation restoration. Two guests speak to a staff member; another guest walks in the distance amid soft, welcoming lighting.

    Rittenhouse Plaza Wins a Preservation Alliance of Greater Philadelphia Award

    Rittenhouse Plaza has been selected to receive a 2014 Preservation Achievement Grand Jury Award from the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia. Designed in 1925 by McLanahan & Bencker, Rittenhouse Plaza was due for restoration to improve safety and “first impressions”. Now completed, our period-sensitive rehabilitation efforts have rendered the complex more functional and the space has recaptured its original splendor.

  • A modern building with large illuminated windows and MORAVIAN ACADEMY glowing on its side stands on a grassy field at dusk, showcasing innovative athletic facility design under a dramatic cloud-filled blue sky. Trees and open land surround the structure.

    Moravian Academy Opens the Doors to Their New Field House

    On March 25th, Moravian Academy celebrated the grand opening of their new Athletic and Wellness Center. The new 39,000 square foot space, houses both a competition and multi-purpose court along with a weight and fitness room, classrooms, athletic offices and other support spaces. We hope the facility will be enjoyed by Moravian community for years to come. This project was in association with Design Lab.

  • How About Moving a Historic Building to a New Site!!

    On March 10th, the Wesley House of The Pennington School’s campus traveled 200 feet across the school’s front lawn to its new foundation. The move was the first step towards the preservation of the historic building which will include complete interior and exterior renovations. The moving crew claimed that the new foundation fit the old building better than any other building relocation project they had ever witnessed. In its place, the new Kenneth Kai Tai Yen Humanities Building will provide classroom and office spaces and is pursuing LEED Gold certification.

    Watch video here