Downeast Contemporary Makeover
An inspiring view and a beloved but dated family retreat were the predicate for this Downeast Maine residential renovation. Now nearing completion, the project makes extensive use of the original buildings—a three-bedroom main house and a small guest cottage—while thoroughly modernizing their functional and aesthetic qualities. The main house’s single-level floor plan, with its open kitchen, dining, and living space, remains essentially unchanged. While we replaced all of the bathroom fixtures and finishes, we retained the... July, 2018
Bellwether Farm Nears Completion
With 37 buildings—totaling more than 36,000 square feet—on a 140-acre site, the Episcopal Diocese of Ohio’s Bellwether Farm is one of GO Logic’s largest projects to date. And as the completion date for this environmentally focused camp and retreat center approaches, we’re pleased with both the process and the outcome. A tight budget and the site’s distance from our Belfast, Maine, office presented challenges along the way, but close collaboration among owner, architect, and tradespeople... July, 2018
A Panelized Custom Residential Project
We developed our panelized Passive House construction system specifically for the GO Home line of predesigned houses, but it’s proven efficient and cost-effective on a number of GO Logic custom home projects too. This current project on Cape Cod may be the system’s most challenging application to date, and with the first of two panel installations now complete, we’re very pleased with the results. The site, in the town of Truro, is beautiful, with elevated... July, 2018
Reflections on Wood and Sustainability
It’s been more than a month since the Maine Wood + Sustainability Conference, and it’s still a topic of conversation around the GO Logic studio. Measured in plain numbers, the event was a big success, exceeding its target attendance by 50 percent, and the presentations were enlightening and informative across the … um … board. Among the highlights: Keynote speaker Tom Chung, of Leers Weinzapfel Associates, presented a case study of his acclaimed design for... July, 2018
Pushing the Boundaries of Building Performance
GO Logic partner and principal architect Matt O’Malia addressed a group of New Hampshire AIA members last week, presenting a continuing education course on his firm’s evolving approach to high performance design and construction. Speaking in GO Logic’s recently completed Alnoba retreat center, Matt led the group on a deep dive into the design, detailing, and energy modeling of the very building in which the session took place. A 13,000 square foot, mixed-use structure that... June, 2018
Alnoba Honored with AIA Maine Design Awards
For a sparsely populated state, Maine enjoys a high profile in the architecture world. As Maine-based architects, we’re reminded of that fortunate legacy every two years, when AIA Maine holds is biennial Design Awards program. In addition to giving us a glimpse at the best work of our colleagues across the state, it demonstrates again that Maine architecture is its own thing—alive and evolving, expressing both a contemporary outlook and a deep connection to our... May, 2018
Maine Wood + Sustainability Conference
If wood didn’t exist and someone invented it, the result would be hailed as a wonder material. Trees are renewable and recyclable, provide wildlife habitat, stabilize topsoil, provide cooling shade, and sequester carbon. And the wood they produce—without the need for a factory, and with only solar power—has an enormous range of applications in high performance construction, from structure to insulation to finishes. That range is growing, a trend that GO Logic is proud to... May, 2018
Downtown Renovation
Despite Maine’s rustic image in the outside world, the state is dotted with beautiful, historic red-brick downtowns, islands of urbanism in a predominantly rural landscape. Dating mostly from the 19th century, the buildings that make up these commercial districts have proven as sturdy and adaptable as they are charming. They’re also, generally speaking, energy hogs, a condition that’s much trickier to rectify than it is in newer, freestanding structures. So we are excited to be working... May, 2018
Wellesley Residence is Fine Homebuilding’s 2018 Best New Home
Fine Homebuilding is unique among shelter magazines. As its name implies, it’s a trade publication, geared for people who design and build houses. The magazine’s contributors include architects and builders as well as professional writers, and its content is pitched for professionals who want to pick up practical skills and tips rather than simply admire beautiful houses. How-to stories clipped from Fine Homebuilding are often passed around on job sites and at construction staff meetings.... April, 2018
Maine Coastal Transformation Nears Completion
We’ll admit to flinching a little when we hear the term “tear-down,” but some older houses simply don’t merit the investment required for a major upgrade. That was the case with this GO Logic project near the shore in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. The original 1950s-era house was well sited and appealingly modest in scale, but its light construction, compartmentalized spaces, stingy windows, and generally rough condition made it a poor candidate for remodeling. So we... April, 2018
Matthew O’Malia to Deliver Design Norumbega Lecture
GO Logic partner and principal architect Matthew O’Malia will deliver the Design Norumbega lecture Thu., March 29th, at the Alamo Theatre in Bucksport, Maine. Entitled “The Quiet Place Between the Rapids,” the talk will cover GO Logic’s roots as a climate-focused design/build firm, its problem-solving approach to building performance, and the current outlook for sustainable… Read more »
Alnoba on Maine Public Television
Maine Public TV is scheduled to broadcast Of Stone, Wood, and Glass: Alnoba, a film about the groundbreaking Passive House retreat center we completed last year in New Hampshire. Our friends at Compass Light Productions made this excellent 30-minute documentary, which highlights not just the project’s unique architectural and technical features, but also the highly… Read more »
Waterville’s Downtown Revitalization Picks up Steam
Colby College is in the midst of a major effort to revitalize Waterville’s historic urban core. Working with the city, private donors, and other public groups, the college has developed an impressive slate of projects aimed at boosting the local economy and creating links between the downtown and Colby’s campus and programs. The Portland Press… Read more »
Flight Plan
At GO Logic we are constantly on the hunt for new technology that can improve the function and performance of our buildings. We’re equally keen on developments that will make our practice more efficient. When designer Michael Bailey flew out to Ohio last week to inspect two of our current projects, he used a sophisticated,… Read more »
New Cornerspring Montessori School Building Commended for Energy Efficiency
Cornerspring Montessori School has been celebrated by Efficiency Maine for its new high performance school building in Belfast. At an open house on Feb. 10, Efficiency Maine Business Program Manager Rick Meinking presented the school with a plaque recognizing Cornerspring and its new building for “leadership in energy efficient design and construction.” Designed and built… Read more »
