In October of 2018 Bild was recognized by the American Institute of Architects as an Emerging Professional Friendly Firm. This award is given to firms who display an exceptional commitment to developing their Emerging Professional staff; Emerging Professionals are any students, recent graduates, or architects licensed within the last 10 years.

The opportunity to be considered for this award was brought to the firm by Audra Wrigley, who made the submission for consideration as well. As an emerging professional herself, it is an honor that Audra considered Bild worthy for consideration.

Bild strives to be a firm where professionals are encouraged to grow to their full potential. We encourage a strong sense of personal empowerment and responsibility.

Introducing the Camber Hut, Bild’s latest design competition entry. The 2018 Maine Mass Timber Design Competition was advertised nationally and brought entries from many parts of the country. A collaborative effort between AIA Maine, Maine Mass Timber Commercialization Center, University of Maine College of Engineering and Architecture, Passivehaus MAINE and Maine Huts and Trails, the competition charge was to create a four-season lodge to provide accommodations and meals in the backcounty of Maine’s Carrabasset Valley.  You can view the presentation boards here.

Kavya has been busy at work on Bild’s new conference room wall! Here’s what the artist had to say about the subject matter: “We wanted to add a mural which was dynamic in its expression, reflecting the complexity of the thought process of every architect. This was achieved by going with a hyperbolic parabaloid form. And what other medium to express it other than String art?!!” Come by our new office at 30 Danforth Street Suite 105 to say hello and view Kavya’s work in person.

Bild Architecture was invited November 27th to participate in a discussion on healthcare and tax reform as it relates to small business. The SBA’s Administrator Linda McMahon was present to hear comments related to the struggles of small businesses in today’s economy. Bild was joined by representatives from Sea Bags, Wayside Publishing, Gelato Fiasco, Black Dinah Chocolatiers, Rising Tide Brewing, Maine Music & Health LLC, Flowfold and Maine Dye & Textiles.

The round table was featured on our local news: HERE

The Portland Press Herald: HERE

And MaineBIZ: HERE

Bild Architecture’s Evan, Sasha, and Kavya recently attended the India Association of Maine’s 2017 Diwali Festival. We were inspired by beautiful traditional dress, traditional Indian performance including dance and martial arts, and were completely stuffed with delicious food! Kavya has been deeply involved in the Diwali celebration committee for a few years now.

Written by Kavya:

Never had I imagined in my life that my training in Architecture, every single lesson learned will come in handy not only for Architecture projects, but the projects not related to architecture at all.

The story goes like this:

Diwali festival (festival of lights) comes once a year around Autumn. India Association of Maine (IAM), which is a non-profit organization run only by volunteers, celebrates this festival in a grand scale by inviting everyone to a social gathering which is a visual treat to watch everyone chatter, laugh, dance, and eat the most delicious homemade food made by the Indian community members.

I was fortunate to be a part of the planning committee at the IAM and I was given a huge responsibility: To paint a backdrop for the stage. The real panic began. I had to paint a larger than life size backdrop; 4 panels measuring 4ftx8ft each.

Design-wise I took an easy route of going symmetrical so that I had to think of only half portion at a time. There are so many shapes geometry offers to designers, but I had to choose a circle infinite, whole, complete. The whole design was an abstract version of Goddess Saraswati – Goddess of education and knowledge, sitting on a lotus, on water with her musical instrument called ‘veena’.

After the initial struggle of drawing a circle almost 7ft in diameter, I had fun breaking all the elements into smaller sections, detail it, get the symmetry right, decide and balance the warm and the cool colors, everything I had learned in my earlier years of architecture.

Fast forwarding to the day of event, the panels were fixed to a wooden framework and my
biggest piece of artwork was shining through. I could not be more proud. I believe that if not for architecture training, I would not have been so successful in making it at all.
The event went smoothly, but, Evan and Sasha joining us with their entire family for the event made it extra special!

Bild recently attended the dedication of Salvation Army’s new dining hall at the Adult Rehab Facility here in Portland, Maine. Bild was honored to work with the Salvation Army and our many talented sub consultants to bring this project to completion. The men of the ARC were all smiles during the inaugural meal in their own brand new dining hall, complete with a state of the art kitchen, and access to green space in the center of our City.

A big thank you to our hard-working team that brought this project to completion just in time for the dedication ceremony.

Benchmark Construction, General Contractor

Ripcord Engineering, Mechanical Engineering

Structural Integrity Consulting Engineers, Structural Engineering

TJM Consulting, Foodservice Consulting and Design

Swiftcurrent Engineering Services, Electrical Engineering

Walsh Engineering Associates, Civil Engineering

The new ARC Dining Hall was featured in a Portland Press Herald article found here.

Written by Kavya

“It doesn’t matter what you had in the past, all that matters is what you choose to be now” from the movie Kungfu Panda is the single most quote that dictates the journey of my life, India to Maine.

Growing up in a family where my mother being an artist and father being a civil engineer, becoming an Architect came naturally to me. The interest in building construction developed in a very early age with my father taking us to every single site of his projects and showing us around explaining to us how it’s made. Over the years, it grew into my passion, and later into my profession. Taking up architecture was an easy choice, and practicing was even more easy.

And then I moved to Maine.

All those years of education and experience in Brick and Mortar, Steel and Concrete construction, had nothing to do with a city filled with wooden construction. With the knowledge only in designing, and a set of software skills, I walked into Bild Architecture. Evan has been my mentor ever since. He taught me so much about construction techniques, materials, practices, answered patiently to all of my queries, helped me gain some practical experience, pushed me out of my comfort zone to try and learn something new every single day. There is still so much more to learn. I am very thankful for all these opportunities life presents to me.

What I was in the past doesn’t matter. What I am now matters.

Bild Architecture and Aceto Landscape Architects were engaged by local developer Ron Gan to help vision an underutilized site in Portland’s Riverside neighborhood. Gan plans to transform a large parcel of open land, creating a dynamic live/work environment. Riverside Innovation would include two-story live/work units, an on-site brewery, restaurant, and a botanical garden. Bild’s Evan Carroll gave comment in a recent Bangor Daily News Article. Portland Press Herald also picked up the story! There is also a Facebook page here.