We are in the process of finishing a large renovation with Lauren, and are happy to report on our experience. Cutting straight to the point: we highly recommend, with zero reservations. Lauren was everything we hoped for in an architect. The overwhelming process of planning a major redesign on a fixed budget was systematically broken down into countless manageable steps. She was forever cognizant of budget, and never pressured us to stretch our means. She was patient with our dithering, and provided gentle redirection with some of our more outlandish ideas. Despite managing multiple projects, she was always readily available, and somehow made us feel like we were her only clients. Her constant references to prior projects, describing designs/materials/products that did and didn’t work, conveyed her experience in a way that was comforting and reassuring. Finally, her dry sense of humor and unfiltered opinions were refreshing. Choosing an architect is a bit of a crapshoot, but working together over the last year was an absolute pleasure!Read More
Reiter Architecture & Design
Meet the Designer
RESUME
Lauren J. Reiter, Registered Architect, LEED™ Accredited Professional 6 South Street Portland, Maine 04101 tel.917.502.2225 laurenjreiter@yahoo.com
Introduction
Lauren J. Reiter, AIA has more than thirty years experience in the practice of architecture and more than twelve years in educational practice at the university level. Her tenure as Senior Vice President with Croxton Collaborative Architects PC in New York City, one of the pioneering ‘green architecture’ firms in America, helped launch the art and practice of a new approach to design and construction – one that minimizes energy use, conserves resources, preserves and restores habitat, and eliminates much of the toxicity endemic to modern construction. As a LEED accredited professional, Ms. Reiter was instrumental in guiding several Croxton Collaborative projects to LEED (or LEED comparable) certification.
Based on the seminal work of Croxton Collaborative, Ms. Reiter was invited to teach at New York University in 1994 and retained her position as an adjunct professor at NYU until leaving NYC in 2006. Additionally, Ms. Reiter taught an annual seminar for design professionals at Harvard University and has lectured at multiple universities and public fora.
Upon moving to Maine in 2006, Ms. Reiter opened a small firm – Reiter Architecture & Design – providing both design and consulting for institutions such as George Stevens Academy and Brooklin Town Offices, as well as consulting as the Lead Professional on LEED applications. Now based in Portland, Maine RAD's work includes multiple project types, from residences to restaurants to science labs. She also works as the lead architect for a local Design-Build firm, with work spanning from multi-unit residential buildings to complex renovations of historic houses. All of RAD's work is characterized by high performance and sensitive, client-specific design.
Education 1982 University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA Master of Architecture 1978 Brown University, Providence, RI Bachelor of Arts, Magna Cum Laude
Selected Teaching Experience New York University, Adjunct professor, 1994–2006. 'Environmental/Sustainable Issues in Urban Design', 'Architectural Drawing'. Harvard University Design School, Lecturer 2004--06: Architecture & Sustainability: Integrating Built & Natural Environments' Yale Univ./Cooper Union/Delaware Valley Green Building Council/NYC Green Building Council, Lecturer
Professional Highlights
Police Dept. Forensic Science Center, Philadelphia, PA. New state-of-the-art forensics laboratory & model for future sustainable projects for the City of Philadelphia. Housed in a 1920's former public school, some of its many 'green' features include precise mapping of areas requiring 100% outside air to minimize HVAC loads and rooftop PVs. In 2006, this project was awarded the highest environmental award given in the US: the AIA Committee on the Environment’s “TOP 10 Green Buildings in America” award.
World Trade Center, New York, NY. Immediately after 9/11, the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey assembled an international design & engineering team to create design guidelines for the redevelopment of the site. Work included writing the Program for the whole site, and the first-ever green guidelines for the development of a multi-building/multi-use site.
National Audubon Society Headquarters, New York, NY. Project Architect for nationally recognized, environmental/sustainable renovation of 100,000 sq. ft., 100 year old building. This project is often credited as the first full spectrum environmental project in the US and was presented at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1994, as well as being included as a case study in several seminal ‘green’ texts.
Natural Resources Defense Council Headquarters, New York, NY. Design of headquarters offices for one of the leading environmental advocacy organizations in the world; work has spanned a period of more than fifteen years, initiated with a project that was deemed the most ’Energy Efficient building in America” when completed in 1988, and since expanded to additional floors in the same century-old building.
Save The Bay, Providence, RI. New administrative headquarters/program space for leading New England environmental group. Located on a Narragansett Bay brown-field, the project includes habitat restoration, methane capture, & re-introduction of Indigenous vegetation including a vegetated roof.
Rutgers University, Institute For The Environment, New Brunswick, NJ. Rutgers' new 200,000 sf multi-departmental teaching/research lab building, intended to be exemplar green model for future building at Rutgers, in a building that brings together multiple disciplines to solve complex environmental issues on university, state & federal levels.
Architectural Registrations / Memberships Licensed in New York State & Maine; member of National Council of Architectural Registration Board; LEED AP
Community Service Brooklin Affordable Housing Initiative, chair of Design-Build committee; Founder: “Brooklin Strides” Annual Breast Cancer Fund Raising Walk; volunteer at Las Terrenas International School (Dominican Republic); volunteer with Portland public school to create outdoor classrooms during Covid.