As part of a class focus on the business side of architecture, me and three other teammates got to research, select, and role play as active members of the DIMELLA SHAFFER company, and present our RFP response.

1. ACTON HOUSING AUTHORITY RFP

3. -3-
November 30th, 2022
Francesca Arsenault, Select Board Liaison
Robert Whittlesey, Chair
Bernice Baran
Nancy Kolb
Peter J. Berry
Melissa Wingfield
Acton Housing Authority,
68 Windsor Avenue
Acton, MA 01720-0681
Dear Acton Housing Authority:
This is a very exciting time for Acton. With solid plans set in motion for the future of the
town that seek to create the best possible life for its residents of today and tomorrow. We
are eager to aid in this endeavor to provide quality housing for your aging residents as well
as a new gateway to the charming historic and planned downtown areas of Acton.
After carefully reviewing your plans for the future of the town, we at DiMella Shaffer
believe that we would be a good fit to serve your needs. A charming town like Acton will
need a designer that understands the art of balance. The service that our firm provides is:
The design of enduring structures that reflect the vision of the client, the need to be
conscious of the environment they sit in, and serve the people who will call these quality
spaces home.
The balance of cutting edge thought and pragmatism derived from years of service.
A commitment to environmental stewardship that will implement smarter uses of material
and technology
Our attached proposal will show how we can best serve your community with our wealth
of knowledge in effective and comforting senior living facilities, environmental technology,
and charming style. spelling
We are excited to share our expertise with your vision for the future of Acton and look
forward to the opportunity of working alongside the Acton Housing Authority as partners
properly equipped to achieve success.
Thank you for your time and consideration,
Philippe Saad, AIA, LEED AP
Principal in Charge
DiMella Shaffer
-22-
DiMella Shaffer is a firm that believes in the art of balance. We use pragmatic thought in
order to best serve our clients, as well as bringing cutting edge design ideas and sustainable
technique to the table. Our team and consultants bring years of wisdom in interdisciplinary
talent to your project in order to create a gateway that fits this historic town of Acton.
Our advanced knowledge in senior living facilities ensures a quality space for the aging
of Acton to reside and to thrive. We understand how important it is to keep the people
who have called your town home the longest to be kept engaged with the community. As
you have seen from the selections of our catalog, when it comes to senior housing, we
strive to think about the many aspects of senior life that often get overlooked and seek to
improve those areas. Serving the town and the residents thereof is our number one priority,
therefore we aim to design a senior living facility of renown quality and help Acton reach its
goals.
Because of our frequent work in historic structures, DiMella Shaffer will be able to respect
and capture the charm that is the essence of Acton. Drawing from the style of the historic
farm town, we will produce a work that looks like it belongs in Acton and maintains
its heritage. Also utilizing our consultants extensive knowledge on the ecosystems of
Massachusetts and sustainable design, we will produce a green space that provides ample
area for tranquility and the extensive programming for the residents of the building and
pedestrians. Our sustainable design will also allow for a high performance building to serve
as a model for the future of Acton, while keeping operational costs to a minimum. This will
make a pairing of environmental and economic sustainability feasible as well.
Through thorough water management design, this site can not only perform as a gateway
to Acton but also as a protective barrier for it against the toxins in highway runoff. This can
help more water make it to the aquifers and reservoirs of freshwater under the town, while
preserving its quality by filtering out the chemicals that can leach in.
We at DiMella Shaffer hope that we can provide Acton with our quality services and our
wealth of expertise. We are excited to have the opportunity to help Acton realize its plans
and help provide for a high quality of life for the aging community.

4. -4- -21-
THE TEAM
Founded in 1965, DiMella Schaffer is a Boston and Seattle
based architecture and planning firm whose mission is to create
innovative, inspiring designs for institutional, residential, and
commercial clients. Our work is thoughtfully and sustainably
sustainably
designed
designed respecting the environment and enhancing the lives
of those who work and dwell within them. The firm has been
a pioneer in successful, affordable, and accessible senior
a pioneer in successful, affordable, and accessible senior
living design
living design throughout Massachusetts and the New England
area. We prioritize a pragmatic approach to design focusing
on teamwork, strong management leadership, and innovative
thinking to ensure our architectural vision meets client needs,
goals, and budget.
We are proposing the use of a cool roof
cool roof, Action Item
2.3.3.4 from the Community Plan, to provide a low-
cost solution for reduced energy costs for the facility.
Once, cool roofs had to be white and highly reflective to
work effectively, but as building materials continue to
advance, a wider array of materials and colors of roofing
can now be used. We know of many tasteful options
that can reflect heat while reflecting the charming
look of Acton. Using these will not only implement
sustainable design, but further the vernacular style that
Acton will be remembered for.
One project that exemplifies DiMella Shaffer’s ability
to incorporate these sustainability goals would be the
Vassar Street Residence Hall at the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology in Cambridge, MA. This
residence hall, completed in 2021, is certified LEED
Platinum, the highest level of LEED construction. It
implements a cool roof in the form of a green roof,
with a layer of earth and plants as well as the use of
white roofing membrane. Energy usage is cut down
with high efficiency heating and cooling, bolstered by
a high performance building envelope
a high performance building envelope. The spaces are
also fitted with high efficiency lighting and appliances
One of the most prominent of Acton’s sustainability
goals is to protect the quality and quantity of water
quality and quantity of water
in the town. As of now the water quality, drawn up
by wells, is of high quality. It will be of the utmost
importance to protect it and keep it that way for the
future. One way mentioned to protect the Acton
water supply is by strict management of the town’s
wastewater, storm water runoff, and sewage. The Vassar
Street Residence Hall manages storm water through
underground retention beds and porous lawn and
planted areas. This type of water management could be
implemented on the building site of the senior center
as well as the open recreation and planted site located
next to route 2. This area will be extremely important
for storm water management, as water running off
of the highway can contain toxins that leach into the
towns freshwater supply. As for water conservation,
this building was fitted with low-flow, efficient, water
fixtures, cutting down the unnecessary amount of water
that residents can use when operating less efficient
fixtures.

5. 20- -5-
GOAL 5
SUSTAINABLE DESIGN
We have reviewed the Acton 2020 Comprehensive Community Plan and believe
that this new senior housing facility can serve as a model for Acton’s future
a model for Acton’s future
sustainability efforts
sustainability efforts. By implementing strategies to protect the water quality of
Acton, conserving open green spaces on the site for biodiversity and recreation,
and reducing energy costs through design, we will create a facility at the
forefront of environmental design.
PROJECT APPROACH
Vassar Street Residence Hall
Cambridge, MA
Photos all
Principal in Charge
Project Manager
Design Leader
Sustainability Leader
Philippe has been part of DiMella
Shaffer since 2005 and has
focused his career on community-
community-
based projects in senior living
based projects in senior living
and multi-family residential
and multi-family residential
markets
markets. Philippe has been the
lead for several senior living
projects and has always been
transparent with planning and
design discussions with clients
leading to collaborative and
successful project outcomes.
He has also spoken at numerous
events such as Leading Age
national conferences and the
Global Aging Network. In 2021,
the principal was also named a
designchampionbyEnvironments
designchampionbyEnvironments
for Aging
for Aging.
.
Rob is a thoughtful designer,
carefully understanding and
considering client needs and all
aspects of the design process.
He enjoys working through the
creative process and is highly
skillful in solving complex design
challenges. Rob served as lead
of construction administration
for Fox Hill, Benfield Farms, and
Benfield Farms, and
Sitkowski School
Sitkowski School.
.
Diane brings over thirty years
of experience using a client-
centered approach to design. Her
expertise in both senior living
both senior living
and residential projects
and residential projects has led
her to solving the most complex
design challenges. Diane prides
herself on creating a pleasant
environment ofcollaboration
environment ofcollaboration with
clients, consultants, contractors,
and communitymembers. She also
currently serves as the co-chair to
the Boston Society of Architects’
Design for Aging Committee.
Laurenbringsextensiveknowledge
and experience in environmental,
environmental,
social sustainability, and resiliency
social sustainability, and resiliency
issues to the practice. She is the
lead to our sustainability working
group guiding us through research
and firm-wide initiates related to
lower embodied carbon strategy
and passive house principles.
She will be an asset to the
project prioritizing environmental
sustainability into the building
complex.
PHILIPPE SAAD
AIA, LEED AP
ROB SHEARER
DIANE DOOLEY
AIA, LEED AP
LAUREN GUNTHER
AIA, CPHC, CDT
01
03
02
04
01
03
02
04

6. -6- -19-
Development
Development Civil/ Structural Engineering
Civil/ Structural Engineering
Development Guild DDI
Development Guild DDI
Location:
Location: Boston, MA
Year:
Year: 1978
C O N S U LT A N T S
Meridian Associates
Meridian Associates
Location:
Location: Beverly, MA
Year:
Year: 1990
Role:
Role: They will work on providing
low-income housing tax credits and
other forms of affordable financing
and funding through their extensive
fundraising services.
Role:
Role: The civil engineering will aid in
preparing construction documents,
budgeting, and project planning.
Benfield Farms | Carlisle, MA
Expertise:
Expertise: Former DiMella Shaffer
consultant who worked on Benfield
Benfield
Farms
Farms project and was the lead
role in obtaining local and state
permits including Chapter 40B
Comprehensive Permit needed for
the project.
Expertise:
Expertise: DDI is a local development
consultant whose mission is to
create affordable senior housing
affordable senior housing
with a mission to support equity,
diversity, and inclusion. The firm
has direct experience working
with MA Department of Housing
and Community Development and
achieving low-income housing
low-income housing
tax credits
tax credits for their various senior
housing projects.
Ourconsultants offertheirrich expertise to support the project from all disciplines. Manyof ourconsultants
have collaborated with Dimella Shaffer on previous projects and are local to our office and to Acton. This
allows us to support a rich, collaborative environment to innovate new solutions for our project with Acton
Housing Community.
GOAL 4
ACT AS A GATEWAY TO HISTORIC
ACTON CENTER
This site will be the first thing that anyone exiting off of route 2,
onto route 27, into Acton will see, so it will be the gateway to
the town. Naturally then, the green space and recreation area as
well as the building and building site must adhere to a stylistic
a stylistic
vernacular
vernacular defined by the history of this farming town. This way it
can create an honest introduction to Acton
introduction to Acton prior to people seeing
the historic houses, town hall, or Memorial Library of Main Street.
This site will continue to become more and more important as
the years pass. The future plans for the nearby Kelley’s Corner,
the new walkable town center filled with local businesses
and more dense housing, will be only a short drive, bike ride,
or MinuteVan ride away. Ideally, this site will help develop a
connection between Kelley’s Corner and the surrounding area,
funneling people to the new forum for civic engagement.
Since they are a large and important part of Acton’s population,
it is important that the aging residents aren’t tucked away or
hidden in a corner of the town. The front and center location
of the site will provide a valuable spot for the aging community
where access to the outdoors, public transit, excellent
programming, and elder services will be available. This gateway
will allow the elderly to continue to e
engage with the town they
ngage with the town they
have called home
have called home for the longest time and grant them access
to the new downtown of Acton.
Isaac Davis Monument
Acton Center
Photo top right

7. -18- -7-
Hamilton Smith Hall Renovation| Durham, NH
GOAL 3
BEAUTIFUL & USABLE LANDSCAPE
We have teamed up with experts at Mikyoung Kim Design
to envision a site design that will support the facility’s rich
programming opportunities while providing tranquil and beautiful
site lines from the apartments. Here we share some of our initial
ideas from our visioning session to show one of many potential
one of many potential
possibilitie
possibilities
s for the design of the site.
PROJECT APPROACH
Through monthly visioning sessions
visioning sessions with the Housing
Authority, community members, and future tenants, we will
imagine, together, a beautiful landscape that will be accessible
and enjoyed by all. We see an opportunity to create two
distinct outdoor spaces. A private courtyard, formed at the
center of the building’s mass, provides all apartments clear
outdoor views while creating a tranquil space
a tranquil space, away from
the noises of the street. A secondary outdoor space can be
created at the building’s setback from the street to provide
a welcoming, beautiful entry
a welcoming, beautiful entry to the building and to Acton.
Raised, accessible planting beds could allow for programming
opportunities, like gardening.
With extensive work in Massachusetts, our team is well-
educated on native planting design and will take cues
from historic landscapes in town to create a sensitive
sensitive
and contextualized planting design
and contextualized planting design that requires minimal
maintenance and provides visual interest year round. We will
also seek plants that can further support Acton’s sustainability
efforts through phytoremediation and cooling.
Overall, the design will look quintessentially Acton, supporting
the site’s role as a gateway to the town. The site has the
opportunity to become, alongside the nearby development of
Kelley’s Corner, a town center for community gathering.
two distinct outdoor spaces
provide varied experiences
for the residents and for the
Photo top left
MEP
MEP
Landscape
Landscape
Fitzemeyer & Tocci Associates, Inc.
Fitzemeyer & Tocci Associates, Inc.
Location:
Location: Woburn, MA
Year:
Year: 1961
Role:
Role: The MEP team will ensure the
design and implementation of cost-
effective and safe HVAC system
solutions, lighting retrofits, and
plumbing systems.
Mikyoung Kim Design
Mikyoung Kim Design
Location:
Location: Boston, MA
Year:
Year: 1994
Role:
Role: MKD will provide landscape
design services for the site, including
the naturalized area near Route 2.
The Pryde | Hyde Park, MA
Expertise:
Expertise: The firm worked with
DiMella Shaffer on The Pryde
The Pryde, a
senior housing facility in which they
beautifully designed a landscaped
courtyard with outdoor seating for
social gathering.
Expertise:
Expertise: The team has experience
working with DiMella Shaffer on
Hamilton Smith Hall Renovation
Hamilton Smith Hall Renovation
and Addition for the University of
University of
New Hampshire.
New Hampshire.

8. -8- -17-
Successful
architecture
balances art and
utility, tradition and
innovation, listening
and challenging,
pragmatism and
magic.
The Gables project in New Hampshire called for
the addition of 400 beds associated with public and
support spaces, including a convenience store, and
the expansion of the existing parking and outdoor
recreation areas to strengthen the existing Gables 600-
bed community. In this 160,000 SF project, appearance
was important to reflect an evolving campus rather
than a completely foreign addition. Hence, the team
took inspiration from the existing buildings’ pleasant
inspiration from the existing buildings’ pleasant
combination of Georgian and Gothic elements
combination of Georgian and Gothic elements that
became a point of departure for the new architectural
design. Themes of detailing such as brick textures, cast
stone and arches make the new buildings part of their
larger context.
Additionally, our team identified that a new quad
could be created to provide a green gathering and play
space that did not exist in the original Gables due to
its location in the woods. This was achieved without
clearing any more trees which was important to the
University.
Another project was the 1927 Renaissance Revival
mansion transformed into the McMullen Museum of Art
and University Conference Center in 2016.
Historically, the mansion was a statement home, a
symbol of Boston Catholicism. The project restored
23,000 SF of the mansion, and added 7,000 SF to the
original.
The implementation consisted of studying both
technical and aesthetic functions. The addition includes
five flexible meeting and conference spaces of varying
sizes with direct access to an outdoor plaza and
formal lawn. The dedicated new entrance and lobby
are added in a way that complements the history. The
transparent double-height lobby and open stairwell
offer beautiful views back to campus and beyond. The
overall accessibility is enhanced through three distinct
entrances. The new entrance to the museum utilizes
a ramp approach. A side door at the main, historic
entrance was revitalized and complemented with a lift
on the interior. And on the south side, sloped walkways
seamlessly integrate into the landscape and plaza design
to accommodate visitors. Finally, the addition of a
rooftop terrace overlooks surrounding woods, lawns and
the city of Boston. Now both people from the institution
and the greater community have a place to use the
building in a new and innovative ways.

9. -16- -9-
GOAL 2
MAINTAIN HERITAGE
DiMella Shaffer has shown its sensitivity and care when it comes to respecting
the historic identity of its projects. The three examples below embody this.
DiMella Shaffer has shown extensive sensitivity and care when it comes to
respecting the historic identity of its projects. The design and material always
keep in character
keep in character with the nearby historic towns we work in.
PROJECT APPROACH
Acton Memorial Library
Acton, MA
Photo top left
UNH - The Gables
Durham, NH
Photo bottom left
McMullen Museum
Chestnut Hill, MA
Photo right
Method
Method
D E L I V E R Y M E T H O D
General Contractor
General Contractor
Firm:
Firm: Kaplan Construction
Location:
Location: Brookline, MA
Year:
Year: 1976
KC is considered one of Boston’s
largest family-owned and women-
family-owned and women-
owned
owned businesses by the Boston
Business Journal. Driven by their
ability to get to know clients, they
become a part of their team, and
address any project or construction-
related issues swiftly and without
delay.
Kaplan is experienced in the Design/
Build delivery method, and received
excellence in Construction, Eagle
Award, 2021. They are currently
completing a Passive House
Passive House
and LEED certifiable
and LEED certifiable project
in Dorchester. Their office is in
proximity with ours and the project
to ensure efficient communication
throughout the process.
We see design/build as the optimal
wayto provide qualitydesigns forour
clients by engaging our contractors
in early-stage problem solving
early-stage problem solving.
.
This allows us to create high-value
projects that uses our client’s money
inthemostefficientwaypossible.We
have extensive experience with this
delivery method as demonstrated by
$200 million of projects in the past
ten years.
We understand that publicly funded
projects can experience long delays
from funding approval challenges.
With Design/Build, we work to
expedite delivery with fewer
fewer
construction delays
construction delays to make up for
some of this lost time.

10. -10- -15-
Team meets
with town
town
officials
officials and
conducts
environmental
and market
studies.
MONTHS
6-9
MONTHS
9-40
MONTHS
40-50
MONTHS
9-16
MONTHS
40
MONTHS
50
Team
collaborates
with community
community
and Acton
and Acton
Housing
Housing
Authority
Authority to
develop design.
Team performs
construction
administration
tasks to ensure
high quality
project delivery.
Team files for
and obtained
Chapter 40B
Chapter 40B
and, in the fall,
for DHCD State
Funding while
continuing
design.
Construction
on Acton
site begins
seamlessly
without delays
for bidding.
Senior Housing
is complete and
residents move
off the wait list
and occupy
new apartment
spaces.
PLANNING AND STUDY
PLANNING AND STUDY
DESIGN DEVELOPMENT
DESIGN DEVELOPMENT
CONSTRUCTION START
PERMIT AND FUNDING
PERMIT AND FUNDING
DOCUMENT COMPLETION
COMPLETION/OCCUPANCY
01
03
05
02
04
06
DELIVERY
mo 9: file w/town for site & a friendly Chapter 40B permit
mo 14: files pre-application with DHCD for State
We support the various elderly community programs
Acton advocates for and have plans to incorporate space
for these activities in the design of the housing complex.
We understand the importance of stakeholder outreach
stakeholder outreach
during design and will take every measure to ensure this
need is met. AHA’s Family Self Sufficiency and Tenant
Services Coordinator will assist us with current elderly
programmatic needs and activities to best cater the
building’s layout/ design to incoming residents.
Additionally, we will consult the Council on Aging’s
Senior Center and Minuteman Senior Services as a large
percentage of Acton’s elderly population is supported
by them. This will allow us to learn about their current
services and how we can better integrate these into the
programming of the senior complex
programming of the senior complex.
.
The Pryde is one of the many projects we have pursued
in affordable senior and accessible housing. The project
is New England’s first LGBTQ- friendly affordable
senior housing development that is an adaptive-reuse
building.
The building includes 74 universally designed units
and more than 10,000 square feet of community space
where multi-generational LGBTQ programming can
occur. The building was entirely preserved and adapted
to be accessible for the elderly through various design
decisions.
Two main elevators were strategically placed in the
courtyard space to reduce the distance that seniors
need to walk to enter and exit the building from their
unit. The auditorium on the second floor was preserved,
serving as a communal space for residents. We also
added a small kitchen in the auditorium for food events
based on community needs. Additionally, the fourth
floor of the residential wing included built-in tiered
seating which was converted into a resident cinema
space for movie nights. Thus, the project offers an array
of residential and accessible services for the elderly
and forging positive relationships with the Hyde Park
community.

11. -14- -11-
GOAL 1
ADHERE SUPPORT TO ELDERLY/
ACCESSIBLE HOUSING
Senior housing that is both accessible and affordable is a large portion of the
work we pursue. The design team has led numerous senior housing projects and
their design experience will be a key asset to the project. Thus, DiMella Shaffer
is committed to developing a more age-friendly environment
age-friendly environment for the growing
older population of Acton. Our extensive project expertise in designing elderly/
accessible housing will allow us to anticipate challenges prior to their arrival and
guarantee successful design solutions.
PROJECT APPROACH
The Pryde
LGBTQ-friendly Senior Housing
Hyde Park, MA
Phillipe Saad
Photos all
Key Personnel
COMMUNITY
HOME VISION
ACTON
A P P R O A C H / V I S I O N I N G
A C T O N P R O J E C T S I T E
We at DiMella Shaffer listen energetically
listen energetically to craft solutions with our
clients. We live by our ideology, The Art of Balance, in which we balance
complex and interwoven project needs to find the right balance of
balance of
beauty, on time, and on budget design
beauty, on time, and on budget design. As we make discoveries in the
field, we bring the innovation on to our projects.
We look forward to the opportunity to collaborate with Acton Housing
Authority to design the best fit solution for the town of Acton.
COMMUNITY
COMMUNITY
The project will engage residents as integrated community members in
Acton. It will connect the site to town centers, like Kelley’s Corner while
serving as a gateway to Acton.
HOME
HOME
Environmental quality, serene views, accessibility, and engaging activity,
this complex will truly be a home.
VISION
VISION
This residential community will embody goals, such as those in Acton’s
2020 plan, to forge a path for future sustainable development and
heritage-focused design.

12. -12- -13-
MARY D. STONE APARTMENTS | Auburn, MA
SITKOWSKI APARTMENTS | Webster, MA
BENFIELD FARMS | Carlisle, MA
01 01
02
03
02
Theaffordableseniorcommunity
affordableseniorcommunityprojectsitsona45-acreparcelproviding
a range of rental housing for various incomes. The design uses vernacular
vernacular
architecture
architecture that is consistent with the community. The building is
oriented to maximize solar radiation and includes a well-insulated and
air-sealed envelope. The landscape is accessible to all residents and units
are accessible for people with disabilities.
Key Personnel:
Key Personnel: Principle Philippe Saad; Principle Frank Valdes; Associate
Rob Shearer
Awards:
Awards: Design for Aging Review, 13th Edition; National Association of
Home Builders - Gold Award
The adaptive reuse + addition project falls under the Massachusetts
Massachusetts
40B
40B developments providing affordable senior housing to the town
of Auburn. The addition uses material complimentary to the historic
building creating a seamless connection of old and new on the facade.
The former classrooms have been converted to spacious one-bedrooms
that includes a generous pouring of natural light for residents.
Key Personnel:
Key Personnel: Principal Philippe Saad; Senior Associate Demiss
Shiferaw; Designer Chistian Roidt
The historic high school was converted into affordable senior housing
affordable senior housing
but still captures the essence of the historic building.The project includes
66 units with various amenities including a senior center. A mezzanine
on the gym floor creates the center having a separate entrance to be
accessible for all residents wanting to partake in community activities
community activities
without exiting the building.
Key Personnel:
Key Personnel: Principal Frank Valdes; Associate Rob Shearer; Senior
Associate + Director of Interiors Nicole Hathaway
03
P R O J E C T E X P E R T I S E