Skip to Content

About ArchitectureBoston

ArchitectureBoston, a quarterly publication of the Boston Society of Architects, explores the ways architecture influences and is influenced by our environment and our society.

A benefit of membership in the BSA, ArchitectureBoston is also distributed to AIA members throughout New England as well as to allied professionals (engineers, landscape architects, interior designers, lawyers), members of the construction industry, community and business leaders, politicians and policy makers, design schools, public libraries, media representatives, and subscribers.

Total circulation is approximately 15,000 and the magazine (both print and online) accepts advertising.

Advertising

For a media kit and advertising information: sales@architects.org or 800-996-3863.

Masthead

Editor Renée Loth

Associate Editors Gretchen Schneider Rabinkin AIA, Virginia Quinn

Creative Director Jon Akland

Contributing Photographers Steve Rosenthal, Peter Vanderwarker

Contributing Writers Conor MacDonald, Karen Moser-Booth

Contributing Editors Matthew Bronski Assoc. AIA, Shauna Gillies-Smith, Matthew Kiefer, David Luberoff, Hubert Murray FAIA, RIBA

Editorial board Steven Brittan, Sho-Ping Chin FAIA, Richard Garver, Sarah Williams Goldhagen, Chris Grimley, David Hacin FAIA, Dan Hisel, Aseem Inam, Michael Jonas, Mikyoung Kim, Drew Leff, Mimi Love, Patrick McCafferty PE, Ryan McClain, Anthony Piermarini AIA, Kelly Sherman, Julie Michaels Spence, Pratap Talwar, Frano Violich FAIA

Art direction, design and production Clifford Stoltze/Stoltze Design, Katherine Hughes, Kyle Nelson, Joanna Michalowski

Executive Director, Publisher Margaret Wigglesworth, Boston Society of Architects

Communications Director Pamela de Oliveira-Smith, Boston Society of Architects

Advertising Chris Gibson, Steve Headly, Brian Keefe, Richard Vendola: 800-996-3863

Site comments, questions, suggestions or corrections: architectureboston@architects.org

Submissions

ArchitectureBoston is a themed “ideas” magazine. Unlike many other architecture publications, we do not typically feature individual projects. 

We welcome stories that connect architecture to social, cultural, political, environmental, economic, or business trends. We avoid stories that are primarily self-promotional or “advertorials.” Provocative ideas, original thinking, fresh observations, and even a touch of irreverence are our goal.

Proposals for articles, opinion pieces, and reviews (books and other media) are always welcome. Our contributors are not necessarily architects, and in the past have included politicians, social workers, ministers, engineers, lawyers, photographers, students, and academics. Some stories are specifically about Boston or the New England region, but many stories are of general interest. Story pitches from contributors in other regions are welcome.

As in pitching stories to any publication, read and analyze a few issues to understand our style, audience, and format. The best approach is to query the editor with a story idea, which allows us to help shape the story and saves you from wasting time on a speculative article that may not meet our editorial needs. If you haven't written for us, please include non-returnable writing samples and a short résumé.  Letters with e-mail addresses will receive more timely responses. Query letters may be sent to: Renée Loth, Editor, ArchitectureBoston, 290 Congress Street, Suite 200, Boston, MA 02210-1038. E-mailed submissions are preferred.

Writers' Guidelines (for assigned articles)

Writing style

  • Articles should have the clarity and accessibility of good general-interest magazines, such as The New Yorker, Harper's, and The Atlantic.
  • Avoid technical, theoretical, and academic jargon.
  • Avoid unnecessarily gendered pronouns, including awkward phrasing such as “s/he,” “his/her,” alternating feminine and masculine pronouns, or using only feminine pronouns. (The simplest solutions: rewrite, or convert to the plural form. Example: “Architects should work with their clients.”)
  • Define all acronyms, including those for associations and trade groups. Example: “The consultant will mail an RFP (Request for Proposals).”
  • Avoid blatant self-promotion.
  • We encourage feistiness, passion, and appropriate displays of wit.

Illustrations

  • The magazine will be responsible for securing images and rights, but if you have any suggestions for appropriate photos or drawings, please let us know as soon as possible.

Submission of assigned articles

  • E-mail directly to the editor. Attached files may be in Word or Wordperfect format.
  • Include a proposed story title (subject to change by the editor) and byline (your name as you would like it to appear).
  • Keep formatting simple: single-spaced, Times Roman 11, left-justified, double-space between paragraphs.
  • Please include a brief (approximately 10 words) bio-blurb at the end of the article; additional brief material that establishes your credentials for the article is appropriate.
  • Deadlines are critical.

Rights

  • Articles and reviews: We buy First North American Serial Rights and the right to publish your article on our website, including our electronic archives and online databases. All other rights of reuse and resale revert to you. Book reviews are typically compensated in the form of a review copy.
  • Roundtables and interviews: The magazine retains all rights to the material, including future anthologies; use by participants can be arranged.

Editorial process

  • Your article will be edited for clarity, style, content, and length. The revised draft — which may include questions or comments — will be returned for your review. Please respond as quickly as possible; timing is frequently tight at this stage of production. Please inform the editor as soon as possible if you know you will be unavailable in the weeks after your deadline.
  • Your article may be edited again during production stage. Minor changes will be made at the editor’s discretion, but we will discuss any substantive changes with you.

Thank you for your interest in ArchitectureBoston!

© 2012 The Boston Society of Architects. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Views expressed are not necessarily those of the editorial staff, the Boston Society of Architects, or Stoltze Design.