As we ring in 2015, the staff at FBA is looking back on the past year and all that happened in and out of the office.
Among the firm’s projects from last year are restoration work at MLK Jr. Park Casino and the Richardson Olmsted Complex Core Project– projects that showcase our Historic Preservation experience. Highlighting the firm’s Building Science expertise is the Academic & Wellness Center at Daemen College, a renovation project currently under construction that will transform the old Snyder YMCA building into expanded space for the Physical Therapy, Athletic Training and Health Care Studies departments.
We had a few events out of the office this year – from our curling event in February to a staff wedding in May and our annual picnic in September. Several of our staff members traveled up to Niagara Falls, Canada to Niagara Falls Curling Club in February and tried their hands at delivering stones and sweeping the stone to the house. We never heard from Team USA before the start of the Sochi Winter Olympics, though. Project Coordinator Courtney Creenan-Chorley got married in May and many of our staff celebrated with the newlyweds at the beautiful Shea’s Performing Arts Center. Finally, in mid-September, in the midst of a huge construction documents push for the Richardson Olmsted Complex Core Project, we took a break and celebrated our annual Flynn Battaglia company picnic with family and friends. Also, in June the firm welcomed its newest employee, Architectural Technician and Planner Mr. Chris Ortloff.
Several of our staff members traveled for various workshops and conferences this year. Nancy Redeye, Assoc. AIA, travelled to Denver, Colorado for an APT (Association for Preservation Technology) Historic Finishes Workshop in June. Mark Wendel, AIA and LaLuce Mitchell, RA attended a conference in Cleveland in June entitled Historic Preservation In America’s Legacy Cities where Mark Wendel, AIA presented on the Genesee Gateway Block Restoration. In July, Ronald Battaglia, FAIA and Christopher Less, AIA attended the National AIA Convention in Chicago. Peter Flynn, AIA, Christopher Less, AIA and Courtney Creenan-Chorley, Assoc. AIA attended the New York State AIA Conference in Saratoga Springs, NY in September. Courtney Creenan-Chorley spoke as part of session at the conference entitled Cross-Profession Practices: Mixing-up the Academy with Industry. In October, Ronald Battaglia, FAIA attended the Association for Preservation Technology conference in Quebec City, Quebec.
We are looking forward to new projects, clients and opportunities in 2015.
(top left – Courtney Creenan-Chorley and Christopher Less work through some ideas in the office, middle left – Nancy Redeye tries her hand at curling, bottom left – Emma Eckert, Lauren Kaufmann and Julia Hagen take a selfie at Courtney’s wedding, top right – FBA Christmas Party 2014 at Oshun Restaurant, bottom right – the groundbreaking at the Richardson Olmsted Complex)