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BKSK Architects LLP

Designs that Educate


BKSK Architects has worked closely with the Picture Earth and Emerge Studio team to create a sustainable traveling exhibit for the United States production and tour of Earth From Above.

 

BKSK was established in 1985 and is now a six-partner, thirty-four-person firm headquartered in New York City. As both architects and scholars of the built environment that surrounds them, they believe that great design has meaning and consequence - that questions of what is built, how it is built, and how it is used, matter. They are specialists in socially-engaging, contextually-appropriate, and environmentally-conscious design.

 

BKSK's goal is to create buildings and public spaces that demonstrate principles of environmental stewardship, while heightening awareness of the natural world. Their Queens Botanical Garden Visitor Center is an exemplar of that goal. As the first USGBC LEED platinum-rated public building in New York City, it serves as a touchstone for the future of sustainable design not only in New York, but also around the country. The Center was opened by Mayor Michael Bloomberg in 2007, who praised it as a prototype for future buildings and an important asset in the development of PlaNYC 2030. The project has received numerous awards including a National AIA Committee on the Environment Top Ten Green Projects Award, the "Best in NY State" Award and the Award of Excellence from NY State AIA, and the "Excellence in Green Design" Award from New York City. It has been profiled in the New York Times, Metropolis Magazine, GreenSource, and Metropolitan Home.

 

BKSK has a number of high profile projects designed for and seeking USGBC LEED certification, including the 52nd Street Theater Project (Gold/Platinum), Mamaroneck Public Library (Gold), Washington Square Park Comfort Station (Platinum), Olmsted Center (Silver), and Harsen House (certified). In addition, BKSK has designed a new "eco-convent" for the Community of the Holy Spirit, inspired by the nun's desire to connect more profoundly with the natural world and live in a more sustainable manner.

 

BKSK's partner-in-charge, Joan Krevlin, collaborated with associate David Kubik and sustainability coordinator Jennifer Preston to develop the exhibit design. All three are committed educators, and welcomed this opportunity to support the Earth From Above message of global awareness.

 

Joan Krevlin, FAIA, LEED AP - Partner-in-Charge

Joan Krevlin has been involved in all aspects of project design and management since joining BKSK Architects in 1992. Through her work as the partner-in-charge for a number of highly successful projects with New York City’s Department of Design and Construction, including the Queens Botanical Garden and the New York Hall of Science, Joan has developed an expertise in educational environments. She is closely involved with many of NYC’s cultural and service institutions. Joan emphasizes the seamless integration of architecture and interpretive content in her work, whether she is working on a project like the New York Hall of Science Teaching Park or the recently opened Sept. 11 Tribute Center at the World Trade Center site.

 

She currently teaches an undergraduate design studio at City College. She holds a Master of Architecture from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, where she was named a Distinguished Alumnus in 2003, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Art History (Magna Cum Laude). She serves on the Board of Trustees for the Bronx Museum and on the Mayor's NYC Green Codes Task Force.


David Kubik, AIA, LEED AP - Project Designer

David Kubik joined BKSK in 2003, and was named an Associate in January 2008. He plays a strong role in the design of civic, institutional and educational projects, and is currently managing the construction of the 100,000 square foot Sephardic Community Center in Brooklyn, NY.

 

He teaches a design studio in the Architectural Technology program at the City University of New York. David graduated from the University of Maryland with a Master of Architecture and a Bachelor of Science in Architecture. He has received an Award for Excellence in Design and Fellowships at both the Graduate and Baccalaureate levels, as well as a Thesis Citation.


Jennifer Preston, LEED AP - Sustainability Coordinator

Jennifer leads the research and development of sustainable architectural solutions for BKSK projects. She supports their in-house collaborative integration of intelligent research, thoughtful design, and environmental stewardship. Prior to joining BKSK, Jennifer worked as a high-performance design consultant where she implemented sustainable strategies for numerous projects seeking LEED certification. She balances her professional practice with academic endeavors as an assistant professor of design studio at Columbia University's Graduate School of Architecture Planning and Preservation.Jennifer holds a Master of Architecture from Columbia University in New York City, 2008 and a Bachelor of Environmental Design from the University of Colorado in Boulder, 2000.

Press

Images from previous exhibits

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Inspiration

What is Cradle to Cradle?

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