Design Lab Architects is a small, employee-owned firm based in New England that focuses on full architectural services, exhibit design, and master planning projects. The firm has 10-25 employees and emphasizes collaboration, equity, and sustainability in its work. Notable projects include the LEED-eligible addition and renovation of the Claire T. Carney Library at UMass Dartmouth and the Living Building Challenge-certified Hitchcock Center for the Environment in Amherst, MA. The firm uses a selective approach to take on projects that fit its philosophy of "critical stewardship" and turn down work that does not meet its standards.

1. Firm Analysis
Zeenah, Rebecca, Pedram, Cameron

2. Firm Background: Size, Makeup, Type of Firm
● Mainly New England Market
● Deliberately small firm
● 10 - 22 employees based on the
economy
● Their ideal is in the range of 15 - 20
(currently 15, Max 25)
● Not keen on hierarchy, they leverage
architects across the spectrum to create
a studio classroom style practice
Ben Youtz Mary Ann Upton Sam Batchelor Kelly Haigh
Source: 4,6

3. Organizational Structure
Source: 4,6

4. Type of Work
Services:
Full Architectural Services, Exhibit design, Master
planning, Feasibility Studies, Graphic Design
(wayfinding)
Source: 4,6

5. Focus on design at a high caliber
and clients that appreciate it.
Turn down “money churners.”
Researched based
development - just
build into the
“brain-bank of work”
and portfolio rather
than turning it down
Often work with a lead architect in a
collaborative and non-hierarchical way.
Builds relationships and expands market.
Corporate Strategy
Source: 4,6

6. Design Approach & Philosophy
1. Consider social, cultural & environmental context as an
integrated whole.
2. Determine essence or what is essential about a place and
establish an interpretive narrative.
3. Balance intent with conserving resources to optimize design
thinking.
4. Consider the embodied energy of each material or resource in
determining value.
5. Identify both material and programmatic failure, and conduct a
critique of performance; address inherited shortcomings.
6. Embrace new technologies; new and old are compatible.
7. Embrace creativity and design.
“Critical Stewardship is an approach to design
based on the universal responsibility to history and
the environment, valued through the lens of
community.”
Source: 4,6

7. Project 1: UMass Dartmouth Claire T. Carney Library | Dartmouth, MA
● Academic Library
● Historic (Paul Rudolph 1973)
● Addition+Renovation (2010-2012)
● $43 million
● 152,000 sf (Existing) + 26,000 sf
(Addition)
● In Collaboration with Austin Architects
● LEED Eligible
Source: 1,4

8. Project 2: Hitchcock Center for the Environment | Amherst, MA
● Built in 2016
● Environmental education center
● Living Building Challenge
● 9,000 SF
● Solar powered, composting toilets,
rainwater collection, on site water
treatment, local materials
● Designed for natural observation
● Creates two microclimate learning areas
outside
● Multiple indoor classrooms
● In 2018 Honor Award for Sustainable
Design, Boston Society for Architecture
● In 2019 Living Building Challenge -
Certified Living Building, ILFI
Source: 2,4

9. Marketing: Women Owned and JUST
Source: 4,6

10. Marketing: Press
Source: 4,6

11. Marketing: Awards
Source: 4,6

12. Employee Recruitment
Ben’s Perspective
● Try to find people that really fit, want to retain
● Use open calls and campus recruitments, but
make an efforts to not discriminate against
universities - i.e. doesn’t exclusively hire GSD
● Referrals through Alumni
● Values Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion
● Summers doing BIPOC internships
Source: 4,6

13. Internal
● “Our mission is to help civic, cultural, and
educational institutions transform and enhance the
communities they serve.”
● Values collaboration and a close-nit studio culture
External
● “The Dream Client”: Education ($$ and vision)
● Participates in various community build projects
around New england
● Members the studio have taught in numerous
design schools across New England, such as
Northeastern University, Wentworth Institute of
Technology, & RISD.
● Occasionally does pro bono work
Social Equity
Yestermorrow school,
Waitsfield, VT
carter school bus shelter,
Boston, MA
Source: 4,6

14. “You win some, you lose more”
● Uses traditional methods
○ Ideally a return client, but rare with the types of projects they do
○ Most work found through RFP and RFQ
○ Generally try to avoid competitions
■ May consider competing in a feasibility study, knowing another project could be on the
horizon
■ Put your foot in the door to make a strong impression
CARNEY LIBRARY
MID-CENTURY
EXPERIENCE
DESIGN EXCELLENCE
PROGRAM
Project Procurement
Source: 4,6

15. C. A Practice Centered, Strong Service Firm
Key Evidence:
● Major goal is to serve others. Care about how
they feel about what they are doing
○ Critical Stewardship
○ Selective with projects
● Desire to attract and maintain key talent for the
long-term
● Structured as a partnership with group decision
making
● Ownership with many equals
● Broad staff participation in marketing
● New research and method for each project,
depending on project type and needs
Research vs. Conversation w/Ben Youtz
● Generally not surprised - felt that their points of
pride and interests were reflected both in
conversation and online.
Source: 3

16. 1. “Claire T. Carney Library Addition & Renovation.” Architect Magazine, April 2, 2015.
https://www.architectmagazine.com/project-gallery/claire-t-carney-library-addition-renovation.
2. “Hitchcock Center for the Environment.” designLAB architects. Accessed October 2, 2022.
https://www.designlabarch.com/hitchcock-center-for-the-environment
3. “Charting Your Course: Master Strategies for Organizing and Managing Architecture Firms”
4. Design Lab Architects Website, https://www.designlabarch.com/
5. “UMass Dartmouth - Claire T. Carney Library Renovation and Addition.” Mass.gov. Accessed October 2, 2022.
https://www.mass.gov/service-details/umass-dartmouth-claire-t-carney-library-renovation-and-addition.
6. Ben Youtz & Andrew Brookes Interview
Sources