Critical Stewardship lies at the intersection of environmentally conscious design and historic preservation, with a focus on creativity & human-centered decision making. The panel is intended to inspire attendees to join a movement and take action: to be aware of Critical Stewardship and be compelled to use it in their own work. Sam Batchelor AIA and Mary Ann Upton AIA, both partners at designLAB architects, will display the power of Critical Stewardship through case-studies. The processes and outcomes will illustrate how conscientious design prevailed over dogmatic requirements or technical mandates for rich outcomes and community benefit. You’ll leave inspired -- join the movement!

A partner at designLAB architects, director of the MassArt Community/Build Studio, and former President of the Board of the Community Design Resource Center of Boston, Sam Batchelor works primarily with educational and non-profit institutions with a focus on sustainability, education, and the arts. Sam received his Masters of Architecture from The University of Washington, and his BA from Yale University. He currently sits on the Editorial Board for ArchitectureBoston and is VP for Membership at the BSA.

As a practicing architect, Sam has worked with a wide range of clients with a focus on education and advocacy. Sam was the partner in charge for the Hitchcock Center for the Environment, a non-profit institution developing programs and curricula to promote environmental literacy in children, youth, and adults throughout western Massachusetts; this project was the 23rd building internationally to achieve a Living Building Certification -- the highest standard in the world for sustainable building. Sam’s other projects include the Eliot School for Fine and Applied Arts, Walnut Hill School for the Arts, and The MIT Music and Theater Arts department.

Mary Ann Upton is an architect and partner at designLAB, currently overseeing the plans to renovate Dartmouth College’s iconic Dartmouth Hall and the transformation of the Providence Public Library (PPL). Mary Ann’s practice focus is “Critical Stewardship” - projects which leverage historic context in a way that recognizes legacy yet welcomes the future. She believes it is not possible to separate preservation and innovation.

Mary Ann earned her Bachelor of Architecture degree from Rice University. She brings a depth of experience to the studio from her time working in Memphis, Houston, and New York City. While at designLAB, Mary Ann has overseen design of the Worcester Historic Museum, the award-winning Whitin Observatory and Schneider Center at Wellesley College, and the Cape Ann Museum. She has supported planning for the West Branch Library, Carney Library and the expansion of the Concord Museum. Mary Ann is former chair of the Membership Committee at the BSA and most recently spoke on Critical Stewardship at the National AIA Conference in Las Vegas (A’19).

1.5 LU AIA credits are available.