BCT announces new graphics studio director

BRENNAN MURRAY
Studio Director, Graphics
brennanm@bctarchitects.com  

BCT, the US-based architecture, planning and design firm, announces Brennan Murray as the Studio Director of Graphics.

“Graphics has been a core service in our firm since our founding nearly 50 years ago, and we are excited to build on that history by welcoming Brennan back to our family, after several years away working in the DC market,” Bob Northfield, Senior Director of Architecture + Design said. “In addition to creating comprehensive environmental graphics packages for our architectural projects, Brennan’s creative skills will enhance our offering with developers, other design firms and real estate consulting firms around the globe.”

Throughout his career, Brennan has produced graphic design solutions for a variety of projects, from mixed-use town centers to large-scale, international planning projects. “His approach to design thinking is both collaborative and in-depth,” according to Northfield, “and it reflects an extensive knowledge of marketable place making solutions within mixed-use environments.”

With a strong background in identity + branding, print, exhibit, environmental signage + graphics and place making, Brennan has experience in mixed-use, retail, entertainment, hospitality, residential, and waterfront developments at any scale. Specific projects include: The Collection in Chevy Chase, Maryland; Stonebridge in Woodbridge, Virginia; Westfield Siesta Key in Sarasota, Florida; Bahçeşehir Park and Mall of Istanbul in Turkey; and Airia Mall in Gurgaon, India.

Newsletter | Spring 2018

Designing the Waterfront!

Our waterfront experience crosses the spectrum – from single-family custom-designed houses in Florida, to an exclusive resort on Kuta Bay in Bali, to waterfront redevelopment on Wardie Bay in Edinburgh, Scotland, and of course, the design of several waterfront mixed-use developments around our inner harbor in Baltimore. The diversity of projects, both in region and in magnitude, has given us the unique opportunity to provide developers with creative designs that are both distinctive and efficient functionally. We are not a “formula-driven” firm – rather, we strive to create designs that re-think and re-shape the old rules into innovative and bold works that are at the cutting edge of design. It is this perspective, that every project presents a fresh challenge – a new possibility – to re-shape the way we experience architecture, that is the foundation of our award-winning success.

visit BCT at ICSC Mid-Atlantic!

Happy Holidays from BCT Architects!

As we reflect on the year, our thoughts turn to those with whom we have the privilege to work. Thank you for your continued support! Best wishes for the holidays and the New Year!

The Third Place is Changing

As our apartments and workspaces get smaller, our desire to be in inspiring, socially oriented, spaces increases. So urban folk, that are young at heart, have often walked to the corner cafe and rubbed elbows with like-minded people. Because this often occurs in neighborhoods or on high street retail locations, there is one major change occurring.

Retail which often embraces and defines our public spaces is changing due to online purchasing and the demise of traditional retail channels such as the department store.

Therefore public gatherings are occurring more frequently adjacent to co-working, fitness, breweries, repair shops (bike, computer, etc.) and bars, restaurants, and entertainment uses. It is not surprising that we want to be in the midst of cool stuff. But our definition of cool stuff changes occasionally over time. Currently, when relaxing, many of us like being around activities that require dexterity and skill and pique our interest. Witness the proliferation of Bicycle Repair cafes, live music, maker markets, and art studios.

We are finding ways to cram many of these uses together and making spaces that are active 16 hours a day (if not 24) and that stimulate our senses. So this means moving some workspace and co-working space to the street level. It can also mean moving the public space to upper levels... but more on that in a future post.

Coffee shops and co-working are both changing... And becoming more alike... We are seeing more interest in "membership places" such as clubs like ww.oxfordexchange.com in Tampa. Uses under one roof include a restaurant, co-working, coffee shop, event space and retail. 

These trends are impacting the built environment. National chain stores (despite their credit ratings) are shunned. Organic, granular, and authentic are the characteristics that are prevalent in the most successful destinations. These efforts are generally more easily achieved by small entrepreneurial 'developers' like Liz Dunn in Seattle. Her self-described "skinny development" focuses on historic buildings, programming, and community focused uses.

Renovation and re-use of existing buildings will continue to grow and will complement our new structures that will focus on sustainability, natural lights, plants, and especially flexibility for uses!