Al Spagnolo
Title: Founding Partner, Spagnolo Gisness & Assoc.
Age: 64
Experience: 40 years
This is a month of milestones for Spagnolo Gisness & Assoc. of Boston. Construction begins in Cambridge on the largest project ever designed by the 22-year-old architectural firm, the 540,000-square-foot life science center at 50-60 Binney St. developed by Alexandria Real Estate Equities. Also in August, the 52-employee firm expands outside of Boston for the first time when it opens an office in New York City. While 80 percent of its client work is in Massachusetts, Spagnolo has been taking on more projects in the Fairfield County, Conn. market and corporate interior work in New York City.
Q: How old were you when you first discovered your interest in architecture?
A: I grew up in Providence in the Italian neighborhood about a mile from downtown and didn’t really have interest in architecture until I crossed paths with an amazing middle school teacher, Margaret Wood, who discovered I had artistic talent and an interest in a built environment. I won a transistor radio in a poster contest when I was 13. The next year I won a Saturday scholarship to Rhode Island School of Design. It was a program for high school students, but I was in eighth grade and I entered prior to my freshman year. To be exposed to that was an exciting experience for me and it was transformative. I’d never been to the east side of Providence. Everybody stayed in their own enclaves in Providence. It was very parochial. But thanks to her, that barrier broke down. Fast-forward to 2004 and I’m the architect for the first new high-rise building in Providence in 20 years: GTECH’s global headquarters.
Q: Your firm has worked on some brick-and-beam conversions for tech companies like LogMeIn in the Seaport District. What are the challenges of that type of restoration?
A: It’s very complicated to reposition a historic building. There are seismic issues with the building code, there are infrastructure challenges, but the end result is a fascinating workplace for the user. We had a lot of code-related challenges, [especially] egress; we have one of the most spectacular roof gardens in the Seaport area, so providing safe egress from that level and the stairs, those are challenges. We created a three-story atrium so we had to remove wood timber and replace it with alternatives that meet present code.
Q: Has there been any backlash to collaborative workplaces, with some studies indicating that they can be distracting and hurt productivity?
A: We have a thought leader on our staff, Gable Clarke, who’s been speaking out on the subject quite often. Based on our research and her findings, these environments can be very productive if you balance that with huddle space [and] other ways people can be productive, not just having them on a bench. The balance comes from other mechanisms such as huddle rooms, clash zones, impromptu meeting areas. The reports we’re getting back from our major clients in the Seaport area is that their productivity has increased.
Q: What’s the latest approach to building and site designs to prepare for rising sea levels?
A: Developers are examining that: does it make sense to raise critical infrastructure into a secure zone? The problem is accessibility issues. The results might be more ramping and lift systems, and that impacts costs. We’ll see over the next three to five years some policy that guides that type of development.
Q: What did you think of the Chiofaro Cos.’ new designs for the harbor garage redevelopment with two skyscrapers on the Boston waterfront?
A: I like the evolution of the design. I think (Kohn Pedersen Fox Assoc.) has made some efforts to minimize the impacts on the neighbors, on the park. Obviously the (Boston Redevelopment Authority) will do their due diligence and examine that concept as it advances. But it certainly has been reduced somewhat in its overall density and I think that’s encouraging.n
Spagnolo’s Top 5 Vacation Destinations:
- Egypt
- Tuscany
- Mountains of Colorado
- St. John, Virgin Islands
- Mexico City
