January 2016

January 19, 2016 Teresa Todd

Teresa was the Chair of the New Building committee for St Margaret's Church, where we recently completed a 15,000 sf Education wing to the Church Parish Hall. The new wing hosts 10 classrooms, a large fellowship hall, toilets, elevator, and offices for both the Day School and the Formation Program Leaders. The project took over 3 years and involved almost 100 parishioners in various roles, plus several professionals. Despite a wet, rainy winter, It came in less than 3% over budget and on schedule, and is a Silver LEED Certified building. This month we were told the project is a finalist for the USGBC Wintergreen Awards for a sustainable non-profit award!

A Little About Teresa

“Good design is enjoyed and appreciated, but not always conscious to the user.”

“I get most of my clients by referral. It’s nice to know that people are enjoying their houses and want their friends to have the same positive experience they did.”

“Homeowners do not often speak in architectural terminology. I listen to what they are saying, and not saying. I help them define their goals, and then we move on to architectural solutions.”

“I like getting to know my clients and helping them accomplish their dreams.”

“Bigger is not always better.”

“I often suggest the owner’s talk about lighting once the framing is up, as then they can stand in the space. Often they will comment, ‘Oh, there could be a sconce up on that part of the wall…’ whereas they could not imagine this by looking at the plans.”

“The client’s budget is just as important a consideration as their space needs. All the pieces must fit together to make the ‘dream come true.’ “

“I feel honored that people build what I have designed, live in the spaces, and they are happy.”

“The wife may begin the initial consultation with, ‘Well, we need a bigger dining room.’ The husband looks at her in amazement and says, ‘That’s not what we talked about!’ They are flustered, and I laugh, as this happens all the time.”