Montpelier Vermont
Hot off the Press: we have just developed a Community Engagement Tool Kit that allows a facilitator to find a community's priorities for public space improvements. Developed with the Midtown Greenway Coalition in Minneapolis, this Tool Kit will be used to determine the neighborhood's priorities for a Shared Street Demonstration project
Public places are vessels for building our capacity to work together and they are the spaces that define our communities. All communities, regardless of scale, benefit by strengthening social connections between their citizens. Social resilience is as important today as economic or environmental resilience as it creates the foundation for stronger communities. Tactical Urbanism mobilizes community-based resources and builds social capitol in the process.
Site Diagram and photos of existing conditions allow community members to understand the site as we discuss the challenges out there on the street, and the spots at offer opportunities for public space improvements illustrated in the other 3 Idea Boards
Board 2 of a Community Tool Kit developed for engaging a diverse community around a Shared Street project in Minneapolis. These boards allow a facilitator to discuss priorities selected by folks gathered to talk about a street in need of community driven improvements - creative placemaking
Board 3
Board 4
Built on an empty lot in downtown Montpelier. Awarded an Open Space Design Award from Vermont Chapter of the ASLA
Design & built with students at Vermont Technical College. This public space was donated to the City of Montpelier
Transformation of a street in Montpelier into a public arts space. This project was managed by Ward Joyce Design
Designed to be a public festival space along the Winooski River in Montpelier. This project was not built but won an Open Space Design Award from the Vermont Chapter of the ASLA in 2008
Currently in design, this pocket park one block off Main Street in Randolph will feature activities for all ages, including raised planters designed so they are easy for elders to work on, a sand area for little kids with adjacent seating for moms and dads, a shade pergola and interactive games. We also hope to incorporate solar panels to power LED lights and to provide a location for a food truck to park.
Whether you're starting with an undeveloped lot or buying an old house that needs inspiration, we will help you create a space that is exciting and energy efficient, while being a solid investment in the long run. Check out this selection of projects that vary greatly in scale and character.
This custom house was built on Vancouver Island, British Columbia as a slab on grade with radiant floors. The clients desired an animated facade treatment with distinct materials on each volume.
3D rendering of early version of house built for Susan and David in Vancouver. The house was to feature green roofs and lifted roofs over the first floor volumes
Artist's house and studio constructed with S.I.P. panels and a post and beam interior structure. Built by Watershed Construction
This custom designed passive solar house was built by our team. The house achieved a 5 Star Energy Star Rating from Efficiency Vermont. It features 2x8 modern framed walls, and 18" thick roof, both with dense pack cellulose insulation. The floors as radiant slabs and the house has triple and double glazed windows depending on the solar gain potential of their orientation.
This off-grid house features passive and active solar systems for electricity and warmth. Located 1/2 mile off the nearest road, it was impractical to bring in power. A 1,500 s.f. house for two.
Straw bale construction of a duplex for seniors right on the Canadian border. Commissioned by Rural Edge Development as subsidized housing, this building was a prototype for low cost rural housing. We collaborated with New Frameworks on the straw bale and plastering details.
The design of this house was largely by a Danish architect-friend of the owners. WJD served as the local architect in charge of the drawings, permitting and envelope design.
House for a single woman, this compact building has a feature space, the 1/2 octagonal living room that looks out over the entire valley. The gable portion of the house is just 16' wide, which works fine with the bonus space on the main level for entertaining.
This house was a run down house with seven attached coal sheds and a second floor 1/2 as big as it is today. We flipped the house layout by bringing the kitchen and living spaces upstairs and designing bedrooms on the ground level. This provides fabulous views and light from the social spaces. The detailing of this house was inspired by the regional vernacular of low-Victorian homes in Colorado.
The gable on the right was an existing run down camp. We redesigned its facade and added the wing and porch to the left to transform this camp into a lovely three bedroom home.
Side view of new wing and porch additions
Addition of a second floor to this little cape. Interior design and massing by WJD and modern siding touches on new exterior with the ingenuity of Rogen Design/build.
This study of Susan's house tests the lighting at a specific time of day in the south facing living room. 3D modeling allows you to spin around a building and test the day lighting conditions at any time of any day of the year
3d model of a house showing the shadows at a specific time of day.
Open main volume of house designed to feel like a cross between an artist's loft and a renovated Vermont school house.
Kitchen and loft details on house designed and build by WJD. House was awarded a 5 Star Energy Rating from Efficiency Vermont's Energy Star Program.
Passive solar design heating super insulated radiant slab
With ample experience with small and energy efficient homes, we are launching a Tiny House Initiative this winter. We currently have two < 1,000 s.q. foot house design projects that we plan on executing in a design/build delivery. Stay tuned!
Commercial, Educational and Industrial design experience include VTC's Dining Hall Renovations, a new 20 classroom school in Guatemala, a factory Control Room, and several Cafe Designs. and working with a team on the VSAC headquarters in Winooski Vermont
Local kids holding a poster of their school that will be built later that year on land adjacent to their homes.
This images shows the first of 4 wings of a new school designed for a foundation providing education for children in Guatemala. Since this photo, two additional wings have been constructed on this school that I designed while working as the Construction Manager and Architect for Common Hope from 2003-2005. Play ground within school yards with covered sporting field seen behind
As part of Omya's Control Room renovations, we were asked to design a showcase for Omya's products as part of their visito tour. The client asked for a Star Ship Enterprise-like space, and these images show the solution. A curved marble wall has interior lit jewel boxes displaying the steps of manufacturing, the multi color ceiling glows, and a 3D sign is lit by LED tracks. The door at the end of the space automatically slides open to reveal the Control Room beyond.
This project was designed while at Freeman French Freeman Architects.
This space is accessed via the Display Hall in previous image and forms the conclusion of the visitor tour.
We worked with Sodexo Food Services and their kitchen consultants to coordinate the layout, materials and colors for the complete renovations to the only dining hall at VTC. Done with Arocordis Design: Steve Frey
Kitchen dining counter: colors and lighting design
Design of 40 new work stations for the Hardgoods team at Burton Snowboards' headquarters in Burlington. We utilized some existing furniture hardware with new elements custom built by Homer Wells and Fine Lines Cabinetry to create a work environment that fits with Burton's famously casual work culture. This project done while at Truex Cullins & Partners.
Design/build cafe in Minneapolis. This project was one of three cafes we designed and then built. We custom designed and built all the counters, lighting, signage, colors, etc.
New commercial building in core of Winooski. Designed while at Truex Cullins & Partners
3D modeling and rendering while working on design team while at Truex Cullins & Partners
Design and construction oversight of Vermont Technical College's training roof for solar installations. Shown here in action, this roof is accessible and provides a setting for instruction in the installation and weather sealing of solar panels on a typical roof.
Custom built entry porch on yurt. This piece done with Jacob Rogen Design/build as a gift to the school.
Though the body of the school is mostly concrete block, ribbons of brick and introduction of limited fields of colored stucco gave the school a refinement that allowed it to feel appropriate within a community of concrete block houses.
Steel stairway to second level of school
Project managed the design and construction of a yurt classroom for OVWS
Kitchen designs and renovations provide the greatest opportunity to express your passion for design and details
Design/Build project delivery is where the owner manages only one contract with a single point of responsibility; designer and contractor are on the same team, providing unified recommendations. Changes are addressed by design/build team, not used as excuses by the builder, who is a third party. For the projects shown here, Ward Joyce Design was responsible, with others, for the construction of the projects. See image below from the Design/Build Industry of America
This house was added to over the course of 15 years. This cape saw a dozen improvements including the tower and eye brow dormer, the passive solar bay window and arched deck.
Designed and built in 2008, this house was given Five Stars from Efficiency Vermont's Energy Star Program. It features radiant concrete floors, extensive south glass, 2x8 walls and an 18" thick roof with cellulose insulation, and triple glazed windows. The house was designed and built by Ward Joyce Design
One of three cafes that we designed and built in Minneapolis. Custom designed elements include the counters, lighting, signage, colors, flooring, and salvaged antiques.
Custom built signage for interior of cafe in Minneapolis
Custom lighting design and construction for Minneapolis cafe
This pergola was built with Rogen Design Build in 2014 alongside a pond just outside Montpelier for the City's Mayor. Built with locally milled hemlock and cedar, this space making piece is dynamic yet stable
Built in 2012 for the owners of a local pizza company, this green roofed outdoor kitchen has a hand built wood oven under the custom pie-shaped roof
This entry porch was modeled after porches typical of Swedish homes where a pair of benches face each other on a covered deck. This porch is attached to a yurt which we also built at the Orchard Valley Waldorf School in 2009
This shade pergola was built over the deck on our house in Montpelier
This pocket park was designed and built with my students at Vermont Technical College and installed in Montpelier in 2015. The project was awarded an Open Space Award from the Vermont Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects.
Design and built at Vermont Technical College with my students in 2104. This public space element was installed and donated to the City of Montpelier.
This piece is unique in that the four posted pergola sits in the middle of an octagonal deck allowing the shade to move around below it and across the deck
In 2016 Ward Joyce Design created and continues to direct a Creative Placemaking in Montpelier that is transform a public street into a Public Arts Space. With a local Steering Committee we commissioned 15 artistic installations all along the street, including a parklet, murals, paintings, photographs, and sculptures. We also helped coordinate a series of community events on the street to bring it to life as a new civic space.
Since 2000, Ward Joyce has been doing pubic artwork and installations
Landscapes and figures
