RALEIGH, N.C. - HH Architecture has been selected as the architect for the expansion and renovation of the N.C. Zoological Park’s Polar Bear exhibit in Asheboro, N.C. The project will allow the Zoo to improve the habitat and living areas for its current resident, Wilhelm, as well as any new bears that are brought to the Zoo.

The expansion will add a new 15,000 sq. ft. habitat area as well as a new 2,400 sq. ft. holding building. A new 7,500 sq. ft. open-air education center will have a glass front viewing area to provide visitors with an up-close experience with the bears. The exhibit will help educate the public on a variety of topics including the reduction the polar bear’s natural habitat due to global warming.

Renovations to the existing holding areas will enlarge the dens and bring in natural light so the bears have a comfortable place to retreat when not on exhibit. The new exhibit areas will be designed to meet the Manitoba Standards for Polar Bears, rigorous guidelines that ensure the support and the well-being of polar bears at the zoo.

The $6.3 million expansion and renovation project will also include retrofitting the existing swimming areas from freshwater to saltwater, as well as energy reduction measures to minimize the environmental impact of the exhibit.

“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to work with the State of North Carolina and the Zoo. The Polar Bear Exhibit is an incredible asset to our state,” said Kristen Hess, principal at HH Architecture. “Our focus is to make a stronger connection between visitors and the bears.”

The Polar Bear Habitat is the most popular exhibit at the Zoo and is a tourist attraction for the region. This expansion will help attract more visitors for the Zoo.

HH Architecture will lead the team selected for the project. Their team includes: Ursa International, animal habitat and exhibit design; CLH Design, civil engineering; TJP Engineering, life support design; Stroud Pence & Associates, structural engineering; and Stanford White, plumbing, mechanical, and electrical engineering.

About HH Architecture:

HH Architecture is a design firm focused on creating spaces that promote learning, wellness, and recreation. We are committed to improving the community through conscientious, responsible design. We are accredited professionals in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), and have extensive experience with design that minimizes waste and uses resources wisely.

Visit www.hh-arch.com

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RALEIGH, N.C. - HH Architecture, a full-service design firm, announced that it has hired Geoffrey Barton as Architectural Intern. His current projects include design work for the Hill Street Park Neighborhood Center and Fayetteville Technical Community College’s Academic Redevelopment.

Mr. Barton specializes in 3D schematic modeling and has a strong interest in sustainable design. Prior to joining HH Architecture, he earned his Master of Architecture from North Carolina State University. Mr. Barton is a 2005 graduate of Wake Forest University where he earned a Bachelor of Arts and graduated cum laude. On several occasions he has delivered guest lectures at Wake Forest University, and has been a featured guest columnist for the Raleigh News and Observer’s “Home of the Month” section.

“We are very excited to have Geoffrey join our team,” says Kristen Hess, Principal at HH Architecture. “He is a driven, forward thinker and will not only be an asset for the company, but his expertise will help us further our efforts in sustainable design.”

HH Architecture has expanded its team to increase its design capabilities. The firm was recently presented with the Pinnacle Award for Steady Growth and Profitability from the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce. Current projects include design of the master plan for the new 60-acre Western Campus at Fayetteville Technical Community College and the renovation of the High Point Central Gymnasium for Guilford County Schools.

About HH Architecture:

HH Architecture is a design firm focused on creating spaces that promote learning, wellness, and recreation. We are committed to improving the community through conscientious, responsible design. We are accredited professionals in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and have extensive experience with design that minimizes waste and uses resources wisely. Visit www.hh-arch.com.

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RALEIGH, N.C. - HH Architecture announced today the expansion of its design team by hiring Chevon File, CDT, as a designer. Ms. File’s projects include design work for the City of Raleigh’s Hill Street Park Neighborhood Center, and the academic redevelopment at Fayetteville Technical Community College.

Ms. File brings nine years of experience as an Associate and Project Architect. After graduating from the University of Notre Dame in 2000, she designed residential developments in the Washington, D.C. area. Ms. File earned her Certified Documents Technologist certification in 2004 and is trained and proficient in Revit Architecture. She is an advocate of new urbanism, transit-oriented development, and sustainable design. Ms. File is a member of the American Institute of Architects and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

“Chevon brings tremendous design expertise and allows us to further our efforts in sustainable, responsible design,” says Kristen Hess, Principal of HH Architecture.  “Her caliber of experience will add great strength to our team.”

HH Architecture has been expanding its sustainable design and internal capabilities. The firm was recently presented with the Pinnacle Award for Steady Growth and Profitability from the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce. Current projects include design of the master plan for the North Carolina State Fairgrounds and design and construction administration for the Sanderford Road Neighborhood Center in Raleigh. HH Architecture was recently selected to design the master plan for Fayetteville Technical Community College’s new western campus.

About HH Architecture:

HH Architecture is a design firm focused on creating spaces that promote learning, wellness, and recreation. We are committed to improving the community through conscientious, responsible design. We are accredited professionals in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and have extensive experience with design that minimizes waste and uses resources wisely.

Visit www.hh-arch.com.

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City officials got a glimpse of what two new senior citizen centers will look like when they’re built in a few years.

City Council members looked at designs for both the center to be built on Whitaker Mill Road, the center for the Millbrook Exchange Park on Spring Forest Road.

The centers will be places for area senior citizens to gather and engage in various activities.

“We’ve had overwhelmingly positive response,” said Raleigh Senior Planner Stephen Bentley. “Seniors are just interested in it getting built.”

Bentley said both designs, which are about 60 percent complete, took into account public feedback. The combined total cost of both projects will be around $7 million. Final design of the projects should be complete by the end of this year, with construction finished by February of 2011.

RALEIGH, N.C. - HH Architecture, a full service design firm based in Raleigh, N.C., has promoted Andrea Frysinger to Design Administrator. Ms. Frysinger will provide operational and design support for a growing staff.

“Since she started at the firm, Andrea has played a critical role helping us expand our in-house capabilities, and we are pleased to offer her an opportunity to advance,” said Kristen Hess, Principal at HH Architecture. “Her engineering background has been a tremendous asset to our clients and staff.”

Ms. Frysinger earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from North Carolina State University. She is a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). Prior to joining HH Architecture, Ms. Frysinger’s diverse experience included civil engineering, GIS, and landscape architecture support on residential and commercial projects.

HH Architecture was recently presented the Pinnacle Award for Steady Growth and Profitability by the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce. Current projects include the academic redevelopment at Fayetteville Technical Community College, renovations at Spencer Hall at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and renovation work at Wake Technical Community College.

About HH Architecture:
HH Architecture is a design firm focused on creating spaces that promote learning, wellness, and recreation. We are committed to improving the community through conscientious, responsible design. We are accredited professionals in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and have extensive experience with design that minimizes waste and uses resources wisely. Visit www.hh-arch.com.

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RALEIGH, N.C. - HH Architecture was selected as a 2009 recipient of the Pinnacle Business Award for Steady Growth and Profitability. The award is given by the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce to recognize businesses that have demonstrated financial strength and profitability during challenging economic conditions.

The HH Architecture Team

HH Architecture was recognized at the Chamber’s annual Pinnacle Awards event on May 19, 2009 at the Raleigh Convention Center in downtown Raleigh. The full service design firm was founded in 2005, and has expanded each year to a current staff of ten. Notable projects include the master plan for the North Carolina State Fairgrounds, the Academic Redevelopment at Fayetteville Technical Community College, and the Sanderford Road Neighborhood Center in Raleigh.

“We are pleased to receive the Steady Growth and Profitability Award from the Raleigh Chamber,” said Kristen Hess, principal of HH Architecture. “Our commitment to customer service and our dedicated, talented staff are the foundations of our success.”

About HH Architecture:

HH Architecture is a design firm focused on creating spaces that promote learning, wellness, and recreation. We are committed to improving the community through conscientious, responsible design. We are accredited professionals in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), and have extensive experience with design that minimizes waste and uses resources wisely.

Visit www.hh-arch.com

Financial terms of the agreement were not revealed. The new Fayetteville Tech campus will cover 60 acres in western Cumberland County.

HH Architecture currently is working on the redesign of the service merchandise building on Fayetteville Tech’s main campus. That $13.2 million project calls for the conversion of the building into a structure with new classrooms, offices, labs and campus bookstore.

HH Architecture employs nine people.

Let’s face it: A senior center is meant for older people, not for kids.

And that was the thinking that has gone into the designs of Raleigh’s two planned centers, which were unveiled last week at a Raleigh Parks and Recreation event.

Both a larger center on Whitaker Mill Road and a smaller center at Millbrook Exchange Park will have a number of features specifically  aimed at making the centers more enjoyable, easier to use and safer for older people.

“We are not building a building for everybody; we are building a building for you,” Chris Horner, project manager at HH Architecture, told older Raleigh residents who gathered for the April 14 meeting at Hayes Barton United Methodist Church.

Some community centers in Raleigh parks are so crowded with children and teens that older people hesitate to attend activities there, audience members said. Except for occasional meetings of community groups, the new centers should be specifically reserved for the older crowd when they open in 2011, parks representatives said.

Douglas Gallow, a design specialist from Ohio-based Lifespan Design Studio, said elements of the centers that will be designed to suit the needs of older people include:

Easily accessible parking spots and wide sidewalks.

Floor finishes design to provide few trip hazards.

Extensive use of natural light to cut down on glare.

An interior that is easy to navigate.

Halls wide enough to let two wheelchairs pass.

Grab bars and wide stalls in restrooms.

Members of the audience weren’t shy about making suggestions for improvements at the centers.

“How much trouble would it be to add a covered entrance for cars?” North Raleigh resident John Floreth asked about the Milbrook Exchange Park center. “It makes a big difference for seniors.”

Parks officials promised to consider adding a covered drop-off for Millbrook, something that the Whitaker Mill plans already include.

Some of the center’s features are directly tied to earlier requests and specifications — from residents in other public hearings and from council members.

“In siting the senior center, there should be as little disturbance as possible to the trees and natural areas,” council members said in a January 2008 resolution authorizing the city to purchase land from Wake County for the Whitaker Mill center.

Horner, the architect, said that goal will be met.

“It was really nice to be able to tuck the building under some old-growth trees,” Horner said at the public hearing.

At earlier meetings, people requested a billiards room, and one is planned for the second floor at Whitaker Mill.

Some members of the current Whitaker Mill Senior Center made it clear that they liked their current facility. That building is owned by Wake County and will be turned over completely to county use when the new center is finished.

“It does look a lot like the building next door, and that was our charge,” Horner said of the planned 19,000-square-foot center.

The buildings also will feature an environmentally sensitive design and exceed the access requirements of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act, designers said.

Why it matters: The new 59-acre satellite campus will allow FTCC to expand its nursing and allied health programs, President J. Larry Keen said.

What’s next: The college and the architects will negotiate the architect’s fees and create a contract.

Other business: College officials presented their budget to the Cumberland County commissioners. FTCC is asking for an increase of $289,770, or 3.5 percent, from the $8.25 million in county funding this fiscal year. The extra money would replace a generator, pay for increases in heating and property taxes and allow some buildings to go green. Jeannette Council, chairwoman of the commissioners, said: “We are going to do all we can to meet their request.”

RALEIGH, N.C. – HH Architecture announced today that Dave Carey has earned the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Accredited Professional designation from the U.S. Green Building Council. This credential recognizes professionals with extensive knowledge of LEED ® standards for design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings.

“We’re excited that Dave has achieved his LEED accreditation and demonstrated his commitment to green design,” said Chris Horner, principal at HH Architecture. “We are continually looking for new ways incorporate sustainable design into our work; Dave earning his LEED AP means he is an important resource to our clients and staff.”

Carey was recently promoted to project manager and has been with the firm since 2007. He is the project designer for the Raleigh Senior Center, a City of Raleigh project pursuing LEED Silver rating. Other notable projects include the Sanderford Road Neighborhood Center for the City of Raleigh Department of Parks and Recreation and the Classroom & Bookstore Redevelopment at Fayetteville Technical Community College.

“I’m thrilled to be part of a team that is so committed to green concepts and design,” said Carey. “It makes my work all the more meaningful to know I’m creating spaces that will benefit the community and promote environmental design.”

Carey earned his Bachelor of Environmental Design in Architecture from North Carolina State University and is a member of the US Green Building Council.

About HH Architecture:

HH Architecture is a design firm focused on creating spaces that promote learning, wellness, and recreation. We are committed to improving the community through conscientious, responsible design. We are accredited professionals in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), and have extensive experience with design that minimizes waste and uses resources wisely.

Visit www.hh-arch.com

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