Sustainable School Design: How Hamilton + Aitken Architects Maximize Natural Light Using Vectorworks

“When we started out, our goal was to change the world, to do something that would really make a difference to the lives of people,” said Chad Hamilton, AIA LEED AP BD+C, Principal Architect of Hamilton + Aitken Architects (H+AA). “And education is one of the things that really determines how people live the rest of their lives. “So, for us it’s just a wonderful feeling, to improve kids’ educational spaces.”

Whether working on schools, civic buildings, higher education, or other projects, the award-winning, San Francisco-based firm focuses on how each of these buildings will be used to enhance and enrich the lives of others.

Sustainable design also plays a major role in the projects H+AA undertakes. One of their most recent projects was the renovation for the Burlingame Intermediate School, south of San Francisco. The new additions support this school district’s concept for delivering education and resolves the physical challenges of a sprawling campus.

Read the complete article and watch the video at –

Site Visit to Maritime Center

This video documents a visit to the Maritime Center during the renovation of this historic building - it shows the 1943 building lifted up off the ground to allow workers to install a new foundation, shows the "secret exit" for children to slide down from the second floor, and reviews the history and original design thinking about the Maritime Center.