17 March 2020

Dear DSK Community:

I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone for meeting the challenges we are facing with intelligence and composure. I believe we are well positioned to navigate the COVID 19 outbreak and the multifaceted issues related to it. Transdisciplinary problem solving is our hallmark. I would like to share several themes with everyone:

Scales of Action

Generally, be aware of your context, local to global. Specifically, acknowledge what you can control. This is a call for leadership at all levels. Prioritize your personal and family health, physical and emotional. DSK leaders are a resource for you. Reach out if we may be of help.

Regarding our work, focus. The best action we can take, collectively and individually, is to focus on the work in front of us and make daily accomplishments. This will benefit each of you, with some semblance of normalcy, and counterbalance the all-consuming news about the virus. This is also very important for the Firm.

Communicate Ideas

If you and/or a member of your immediate community are sick, please provide daily updates. We are committed to monitoring everyone’s health status and providing support, as appropriate. Firm First means we take care of each other, so we are better positioned to serve others.

Please share your design thinking regarding this new live/work paradigm. This is new. There are more questions than answers, which can be destabilizing. Interesting and potentially impactful ideas will come from all members of our community. If you have an idea about how we can make the next several weeks or months the best it can possibly be, please share. No live/work idea is out of bounds, candor with care.

DSK Core Values

When faced with uncertainty at any scale, I always return to core values. These are not simple slogans, they are actions.

Firm First
Candor with Care
Contribute to Each Other’s Success
Come to the Table with a Strong Point of View and be Open to the Strong Points of View of Others

I’m proud to be a member of your community.
Tom

A Modern Boston Carriage House

09 March 2020

DSK is pleased to share that a recently completed design project with LTK Interiors is featured on Architectural Digest’s digital version (click through the photo above). This collaborative interior renovation of an historic Beacon Hill home creates a relaxed, contemporary, light-filled living space in what was utilitarian architecture for horses and carriages.

Interiors: LTK Interiors
Cabinetry: Kochman Reidt + Haigh Cabinetmakers
Builder: Howland Company, Inc.
Photography: Jared Kuzia Photography

Westport River Watershed Alliance

31 October 2019

Congratulations to our design team on the successful completion of the Westport River Watershed alliance project. The renovation and restoration of the historic building relocates the WRWA headquarters to the heart of the Westport River Watershed, supporting the organization’s mission to the protect one of the regions most valuable natural resources.

05 August 2019

DSK is looking for talented individuals to join our team!

DSK | Dewing Schmid Kearns is an award-winning 35+ person design firm with offices in Concord and South Dartmouth, MA. Our practice provides meaningful opportunities for our employees to advance the missions of our clients and make positive contributions to society. We have the following Full-Time positions available:

Interns – Currently enrolled in or graduated from an accredited Architecture, Planning, or Interior Design program with strong Revit, Adobe Creative Suite, and Microsoft Office skills

Interior Designer – Bachelors Degree in Interior Design with 1-3 years experience Senior

Senior Interior Designer – Bachelors Degree in Interior Design with 10+ years of experience, NCIDQ accreditation preferred

Planner – Bachelors or Masters degree with 1-3 years planning, architecture, and/or urban design experience

Architectural Designer – Bachelors or Master of Architecture with 1-3 years of professional experience

Project Manager – Bachelors or Master of Architecture with 5+ years post-graduate professional experience

Please contact Mary Lou Kearns at info@dskap.com for possible career opportunities.

Acton Discovery Museum

22 July 2019

DSK is excited to be working with Acton Discovery Museum and Andrew Brockway & Associates to create a Master Plan for the museum; addressing the growing needs of the museum while also implementing sustainable and renewable practices onto the site. We are thrilled to be reinforcing their philosophies of fostering a connection with the world around and sparking curiosity with their visitors.

Robert Peirce Joins DSK

17 July 2019

DSK is pleased to welcome Robert Peirce, LEED AP, as Senior Project Manager with comprehensive experience in the planning, design, and construction of higher education projects. He has worked with institutions of various scales and administrative structures. Rob will be furthering his work on projects at Hamilton College, Duke University, and Xavier University.

Tom Sherman in the Caribbean

17 May 2019

After a 7-month long sailing journey from Boston to the Virgin Islands, Tom Sherman is now based in the Caribbean. With his new placement, Tom will be overseeing and supporting continued work on DSK’s Necker Island and Oil Nut Bay Projects, along with pursuing other project opportunities. Tom is a registered architect and Senior Project Manager at DSK and has led the development of sustainable design initiatives for DSK projects in the British Virgin Islands, supporting renewable energy and water self-sufficiency practices.

Check out his Sailing Journey here.

Harvard Executive Education

25 April 2019

After 10 years of collaboration with Harvard University Graduate School of Design and serving as the Expert-in-Residence for the Executive Education program, Tom will be passing off the baton to Brie Hensold. Tom has led a number of Executive Education programs at the Graduate School of Design, teaching and guiding professionals from around the globe.

Marine Biological Laboratory

14 March 2019

DSK is proud to be working with Dr.Patel and his team to design a Butterfly Vivarium at the University of Chicago’s Marine Biological Laboratory. An article on Dr.Patel’s work has been featured in the New York Times.

Duke University

13 February 2019

DSK is thrilled to announce that we have been selected to design the addition & renovation of Lilly Library at Duke University! The project aims to reinvigorate East Campus and breathe new life into Lilly as an academic hub – both retaining the charm of the beloved original library and the addition of dynamic new collaborative spaces.

Necker Island has Reopened

23 January 2019

Following the destruction of Hurricane Irma, DSK has been working to restore many of the buildings on Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands.

The Necker Island Projects include several guest houses, dining & recreational pavilions, and the reconstruction of the Necker Great House.

More information about the projects can be found here and also in this recent article written by the Robb Report.

Image courtesy of Virgin Limited Edition.

Seasons Greetings

10 December 2018

From all of us at DSK, we hope that you have a wonderful holiday season.

A Time to Reflect

30 November 2018

In October, the DSK team took advantage of a beautiful New England fall day (and a recently completed project) and transformed their usual Bi-annual meeting into a mindfulness retreat.

The Summer Star Wildlife Sanctuary, located in Boylston, is a place of tranquility and self-reflection whose mission is to protect and care for the wildlife that thrives in this 45-acre habitat of natural land, plants, streams, and glacial boulders.

The DSK team gathered at the trailhead house to experience first hand how design and nature come together to create a place of reflection. With a LEED Gold certification, the building is the front door for the visitors of the sanctuary.

Lunch, a moment for mindfulness (led by Lara Wilson – Be Well Be Here), and then a short hike in the woods rounded out the Bi-Annual meeting for the DSK team.

Leila Kamal Joins as Principal

09 October 2018

We are pleased to announce that leading architect, Leila R. Kamal, AIA, LEED AP, has joined DSK Architects + Planners as Principal and Vice President. Leila comes to DSK from EYP Architecture and Engineering, where for the past 20 years, she served as Principal, Chief Design Strategy Officer, and Board member. With her experience and her passion for design, Leila is excited to contribute to DSK’s diverse portfolio and culture.

Bradford House Opens

24 August 2018

The Bradford House additions and renovations at Concord Academy are finally complete and are ready for the upcoming school year. The addition includes a new student common room, new dorm rooms, and two new faculty apartments while the renovations feature refurbished interior student and faculty spaces as well as a fully restored historic decorative staircase.

On the other end of the campus, construction has begun on a new addition that links Haines House and Hobson House together with new student common rooms and faculty apartment spaces. Officially known as the Haines Hobson Commons, this project is set to be completed for the 2019 school year.

DSK Continues to Grow

23 July 2018

DSK’s Somerville Studio has moved to Concord effective July 23^rd. DSK merged with KDG last year and we are now under one roof in a newly expanded Concord Studio. Our new studio houses additional collaboration space, the Materials Lab, a model-making shop, and flexible workspace for members of our design team. Incorporating a variety of products DSK uses on many projects, our studio doubles as a showroom for our clients. DSK’s South Dartmouth office continues to serve our South Coast and Southern New England clients.

Down to the Details

1 July 2018

Developing rich color schemes, coordinating patterns, and alternating textures is a process that DSK | Interiors enjoy. Pictured here, Haley creates a palette of materials for the CA Houses project that kicks off this summer. The new Haines-Hobson Commons will connect two of the oldest houses on Concord Academy’s campus, creating space for students to gather and collaborate outside of the classroom. The careful coordination of materials allows for seamless integration of these two historic and architecturally distinct houses. Whether its carpets, fabrics, or window treatments, the Interiors team assures the design is cohesive, down to the tiniest detail.

DSK’s Sky Milner at the Venice Biennale

31 May 2018

Sky Milner’s work with the MIT Urban Risk Lab is currently on display in the Japan Pavilion of the 16^th Venice Biennale, an international architecture exhibition. The 2013 Sanriku Project looks at single-use commercial areas slated to be raised 10 meters above sea level in Minami Sanriku after the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami. Sky’s planning watercolors of post-disaster Minami Sanriku documents the memories, concerns, and hopes for the future of those affected in an effort to increase communication between office and grass-roots planning efforts. The Pavilion show titled ‘Architectural Ethnography’ includes drawings from 42 architectural practices who use drawing in new ways to engage communities.

Construction Continues at Bradford House

10 May 2018

Construction continues at the Concord Academy Bradford House as part of residential life enhancements outlined in The Centennial Plan for Concord Academy. The west and north wings are almost complete. In June interior renovations will start on the east and south wings and be completed by late summer.

Construction Continues in Carlisle

16 April 2018

During conceptual design, a parti sketch (bottom) helps DSK designers define an idea. The construction photo (top) shows how the idea is being translated into a built work. Stay tuned for progress on this modern house tucked into the woods of Carlisle.

Westport Project Update

22 February 2018

New photos of our Westport project, Turtle Rock Farm, are up! Click through the photos here to see more of this one-of-a-kind house.

23 January 2018

Learn why DSK jumped at the chance to bring Kao Design Group (KDG) into the fold, what it means for the future of our newly combined practice, and what legacy clients of each firm can look forward to.

Construction Continues at Concord Market

10 January 2018

No amount of snow can stop Concord Market from forging ahead! This project’s wood-framed structure continues to progress, even when surrounded by 14 inches of snow. Concord Market is set to be completed late summer and will be a great asset to the community!

Down to the Details

17 November 2017

Every unique stair deserves the right light. For important statement pieces, DSK | Interiors will first create a replica of the piece in Revit and then build a full-scale mock-up to test during construction. The life-sized model ensures the object and its intended placement are right for the space. The photo below illustrates the process from Revit to the life-sized model made of washers and string, and finishing with the final piece: the Ochre Seed Cloud Round 112 Buds. The careful attention paid to this spectacular pendant makes it a great addition to this one of a kind house.

Concord Academy Bradford House Breaks Ground

27 October 2017

Concord Academy Bradford House broke ground earlier this month as part of residential life enhancements outlined in The Centennial Plan for Concord Academy. We look forward to sharing updates as the project continues through the late summer of 2018.

6 October 2017

DSK is excited to receive an NAHB Best In American Living Award for Inside Out! Click here to see photos of this custom residential house.

DSK Revitalizes Identity of New England Campus

12 September 2017

Nashoba Brooks School has been transformed through a new exterior color palette developed by DSK. Through an office-wide design braintrust, a proposal emerged to establish a new field color with mid-twentieth century modern accent colors. The fresh and expressive design scheme cohesively ties the campus together, reflects the buzzing air of innovation within, and breathes new life into Nashoba’s exterior experience.

Concord Market Breaks Ground

17 August 2017

DSK recently celebrated breaking ground on construction of Concord Market, a new high-end market set to open in Concord center in 2018. Concord Market will offer quality meats, homemade prepared food, a full in-house bakery, wine, craft beer, and more. Construction of a new parking deck is also currently underway on site. Check back for project updates.

14 August 2017

We’re honored to receive Boston Magazine’s 2017 Best of Boston award for Best Architect, New Construction, West. This follows our recognition earlier this year by Boston Home Magazine as a 2017 Best of Boston award winner.

“With their deep knowledge, they play with our region’s dominant forms to create innovative and exciting spaces.”

– Boston Magazine

Celebration at Charbrook Farm

19 July 2017

I was fortunate to attend the 25^th anniversary celebration of the office of Stephen Stimson Associates (SSA) landscape architects held at Charbrook Farm in Princeton, MA on Saturday, July 8^th. The various remarks that were presented underscored the quality of SSAs design work and the strength of their collaboration with others. The design of various buildings at Charbrook was the result of a collaboration between DSK and Steve and Lauren Stimson.

Chip Dewing
Principal – DSK

Down to the Details

05 July 2017

DSK’s almost finished Orleans, MA project has a recently installed, beautiful shiplap barn door between the main house and the multi-season room. The DSK team is attentive to all details of a project from the selection of the barn door track to the layout and flow of an entire floor plan. Look closely at the image above, the lines of the shiplap on the door and the wall align perfectly and this subtle reveal detail appears again between the stair tread and riser. Look out for more updates on this project and an even closer look at the design details throughout this custom home.

Learning About Microscopy

22 June 2017

DSK recently had the exciting opportunity to spend a day visiting some of Harvard University’s microscopy imaging facilities. Joined by the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL), DSK toured multiple imaging facilities, specializing in areas from biology to neuroscience. The tour was catalyzed by the MBL’s ongoing design engagement with DSK. Highlights of the Harvard tour include getting to see the ZEISS MultiSEM 505 – the world’s fastest scanning electron microscope!

Tom Kearns, FAIA
Elected to the College of Fellows

10 February 2017

Tom Kearns, President + Principal at DSK, has been elevated to the AIA College of Fellows as part of the class of 2017. Becoming a Fellow is the AIA’s highest membership honor, recognizing significant contributions to the profession. About 3% of the AIA’s 88,000+ members have this distinction.

08 December 2016

Best New Construction Architecture, West

“Balanced, elegant, smart – the architects at this firm understand the New England design vernacular better than anyone around.”

– Boston Magazine

DSK Tours Concord Academy Science Center

22 July 2016

The DSK Concord office visited the Concord Academy construction site as it nears completion for a Fall opening. Don Kingman, Director of Operations at Concord Academy, and the DSK design team led the group through what will be a state-of-the-art interdisciplinary facility, highlighted by flexible learning spaces, a fabrication lab, and a green roof classroom for earth science and astronomy instruction. The photo above is taken on the roof of the addition, future home of the green roof classroom. Click on the photo for more on the Concord Academy: Labs

Half-Pass Project Update

21 June 2016

The results of winter and spring photoshoots are here. Click through the image above and the link below to see more photos of the Half-Pass house in Carlisle, MA.

More photos and a description of the project here: Half-Pass.

Changes in Padanaram

06 January 2016

Two DSK projects in South Dartmouth, the currently under-construction Bridge Street Marketplace and Little Moss Restaurant, are featured in a local email newsletter from our Padanaram neighbors, Millbury & Company. An excerpt from the newsletter below:

“It is wonderful to see all of the changes happening in our sweet little village of Padanaram. Take a peek here to read a great article about a favorite restaurant of ours, Little Moss, that opened this past summer.

The spring will bring another restaurant and a market to our village…we are so excited!“

Keep an eye out for more updates on the Bridge Street Marketplace and click through the links to see more photos of Little Moss.

Stage Harbor Project Update

23 December 2015

Here’s a breath of welcome Cape Cod air in the midst of a rainy December. Click through the photo above to see new photographs of the recently completed Stage Harbor house in Chatham, Massachusetts. (And Happy Holidays from the DSK team.)

Upcoming Project Updates

colonel willie cove news

11 December 2015

Keep an eye out for updates to two recently completed residential projects. Both the Colonel Willie Cove and Stage Harbor houses make the most of challenging but beautiful sites. Built on previously developed land in coastal flood zones, complex foundation systems were constructed to enable siting that makes the most of incredible ocean views. The two buildings are “upside-down” houses with the main living spaces on the second floor. More to come on the creative technical solutions used to make these homes a reality.

On the Boards: Musketaquid

musketaquid 3D print model musketaquid Revit model

01 December 2015

The top photograph is a 3D-printed model of Musketaquid, a new home currently under construction here in Concord, MA. The bottom photograph is an image of the Revit model used to create both the 3D-print as well as generate full construction drawings. In order to balance the contemporary first floor space demands of the client with the more petite historic scale of nearby homes, the roof and eave line is set closer to the ground. The first floor is a series of interconnected open spaces, including a master suite oriented to maximize afternoon daylight on the southwest corner. The second floor spaces are characterful, garret-like spaces shaped by the low bearing roof and by dormers that provide light as well as more ceiling height. After negotiating a ledge-filled site, foundation work began in earnest about a month ago. We look forward to sharing more on this project as construction and design progress.

Campus Tour of Merrimack College

30 November 2015

DSK staff took part in a pre-Thanksgiving outing to Merrimack College in North Andover, MA. DSK has been working with Merrimack College for the past 2 1/2 years, providing planning, architecture, and interior design services at a variety of scales. Our work is a comprehensive blend of resolving immediate space needs while also supporting near and long term innovation initiatives. The tour was led by both Merrimack and DSK staff, walking through a selection of interior renovation projects ranging from the President’s Suite to Division I Hockey Locker Rooms.

Concord Academy Science Center Groundbreaking

24 November 2015

Despite a rainy day, the groundbreaking for the Concord Academy Science Center (aka CA Labs) took place this fall. We look forward to sharing the progress of this project as construction is now fully underway. DSK worked collaboratively with Concord Academy, our neighbor right up Main Street from the Concord office, to design a kick-off capital project that would best represent the goals of create + innovate: The Centennial Plan for Concord Academy. See more information on the groundbreaking and create + innovate here.

Want to Get to Know Us?

17 November 2015

Follow us on social media. Search #studioDSK on Instagram and Twitter to see more of our work. Click here to visit the DSK Twitter feed. Click here to see #studioDSK photos on Instagram.

From Revit to Real World

17 November 2015

We’re in the midst of reviewing photos from last month’s Stage Harbor photoshoot in Chatham, MA. Stay tuned for the full project update. Click through the image to the project page to see some of the drawings and images used to design and build this home. Thanks to Chuck Mayer for some fantastic shots.

Architecture Across the Pond

Norman Foster Office Visit

15 November 2015

While doing some overseas traveling, DSK’s Tom Kearns took the opportunity to visit Foster + Partners in London. DSK staff attended a lecture last Thursday by Lord Norman Foster on the ongoing green movement held at GSD’s Gund Hall in Cambridge, MA by the Harvard Center for Green Buildings and Cities. In the photo, Foster partner Narinder Sagoo and DSK’s Tom Kearns in Foster + Partner’s main studio space. Thanks to Foster + Partners for the invitation.

DSK Attends EV Expanding Horizons Gala 2015

10 November 2015

DSK staff attended the Earthen Vessel’s 35th Anniversary Gala at the Charles Hotel in Cambridge, MA. We are pleased to be a part of this fundraising event. Earthen Vessels empowers inner city youth through one-on-one mentoring programs as well as an immersive summer camp in the Green Mountains of Vermont. See more on EV Camp here and more on the Earthen Vessels mission here.

Summer Star Named USGBC Green Building of the Year

October 2015

Summer Star named the USGBC MA Chapter 2015 Green Building of the Year. See link below for more a look at the Green Building Showcase, held at the LEED Gold Harvard Art Museum.

USGBC MA Article

Earthen Vessels Camp Recently Completed

October 2015

DSK and Silver Maple Construction recently completed the new farmhouse for Earthen Vessels Camp. Photo of the renovated kitchen and communal gathering space above. More details in the article below.

Fine Homebuilding Article

Highland House Nearly Complete

September 2014

DSK is delighted to see the final details come together on our most recent new residential project in the Greater Boston area. The Highland House project had a 14 month timeline requiring great execution by all team members involved.

Ongoing Project with Earthen Vessels Camp

September 2014

DSK recently collaborated with Earthen Vessels to renovate a farmhouse at their summer camp located in the picturesque Green Mountains of Vermont. The camp focuses on a truly immersive experience for Boston inner-city youth, encouraging character growth, leadership and sportsmanship. To learn more about Earthen Vessels and EV Camp please visit: http://www.evkids.org/causes/summer-camp