News

06.2008
Morrissey sits on steering committee
James Morrissey is active as a 2008 alumni member of the Philadelphia University Golf Invitational Steering Committee. The 7th Annual Invitational will be held on Wednesday, June 18th to support the athletic programs at Philadelphia University. Morrissey is a 2000 graduate of the school. For more information, visit www.philau.edu/alumni/schedule.html.

05.2008
SVA to sponsor two events in May
Stephen Varenhorst Architects will again sponsor the 2008 "Night of Broadway Stars" to benefit Covenant House PA. The event will be held May 13th at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia to raise money and awareness for the Covenant House organization. Dedicated to providing immediate and ongoing services to homeless, runaway, and at-risk youth, Covenant House sheltered nearly 400 kids at its Philadelphia Crisis Center last year. SVA is proud of its ongoing involvement with the organization, including design of its Community Center and Crisis Center, and current design development for a new facility for the Rights of Passage program (rendering pictured at left).

SVA also is proud to be one of the sponsors of this year's Phil Martelli Golf Classic to support the Developmental Enterprises Corporation (DEC). DEC is Montgomery County's largest provider of vocational and habilitation services to the developmentally disabled. The Golf Classic is the organization's largest annual fundraiser, to be held this year on May 20th at the ACE Club in Lafayette Hill. For more information about DEC or the Golf Classic, visit www.decmc.org.

04.2008
Dopkin earns LEED^® AP
Cathie Dopkin, RA, has passed the exam to earn LEED Accredited Professional designation. The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Professional Accreditation distinguishes building professionals who demonstrate understanding of green building practices and principles as well as knowledge of the LEED Rating System and Certification process. Congratulations, Cathie.

Varenhorst attends Boys and Girls Clubs Gala
Stephen Varenhorst attended the 2008 "Touching a Life" Gala fundraiser held by the Boys and Girls Clubs of Philadelphia at the Ritz-Carlton Philadelphia Hotel on Saturday, April 5th. The mission of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Philadelphia is to enable all young people to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Stephen has been a board member of the organization since 2007. For more information, or to view a wish list of items needed for the 13 club sites in our region, visit www.bgcphila.org.

01.2008
Philadelphia Home Magazine features Ragavan Residence
The home of Dr. Vanaja Ragavan is featured in the article "Natural Selection" in the Winter 2008 issue of Philadelphia Home. The seven-page feature by writer Caroline Tiger describes SVA's use of light and natural materials to highlight the homeowner's collection of artwork from around the world. Click to read more about the Ragavan Residence.

10.2007
Contemporary Stone + Tile Design highlights Ragavan Residence
The Master Bathroom of the Ragavan Residence is featured in the article Broadening the Design of Living Spaces in the Fall 2007 issue of Contemporary Stone + Tile Design magazine. The article features several tile and stone projects, and describes the SVA project's use of Persian Red travertine and Jerusalem Bone marble as "making a dramatic statement." The Ragavan Master Bathroom was redesigned as part of a complete house renovation in Bryn Mawr. Click here to view the article. Click to read more about the Ragavan Residence.

09.2007
Two SVA projects win 2007 PA SARA Awards
Two SVA projects won awards in the Pennsylvania Society of American Registered Architects Fourth Annual Design Awards Program. The Covenant House PA Rights of Passage Facility was given an Award of Honor. The Venice One Development earned a Merit Award. Both projects were entered in the Unbuilt Projects Category. Awards will be formally presented at a banquet in October.

Jack Burns rejoins SVA
Jack Burns rejoined the staff of SVA in September. He previously worked for the firm from 1999-2004. Jack holds degrees from the University of Pittsburgh and Drexel University. Jack has completed his IDP and will soon sit for the final architectural registration exam. Click to view Jack's bio.

07.2007
Dream Homes of Greater Philadelphia debuts
Dream Homes of Greater Philadelphia, a new coffee table lifestyle book featuring profiles and projects of more than 40 regional designers is now available in bookstores. SVA is highlighted in an 8-page spread in the book; one of the firm's projects is also pictured on the book's inside front page. The Dream Homes series, published by Panache Partners, includes architecture and interior design books for specific regions of the country. The Philadelphia book was written by SVA PR Consultant, Amanda Weko. For more information, or to order a copy, visit www.panache.com.

SVA is pleased to announce that Matthew Michetti has joined the staff. Matthew recently graduated from Temple University, where he earned a Bachelor of Architecture degree. Click to view Matthew's bio.

06.2007
Varenhorst joins board of Boys and Girls Clubs
Stephen Varenhorst is now a Board Member for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Philadelphia. His position was made official in a presentation on June 26th. Stephen will work to advance the organization's goals of providing stewardship, vision, direction, and commitment to position the Club as a Positive Place for Kids, ensuring the youth of our community receive opportunities to develop their full potential.

04.2007
Two projects win awards
SVA is proud to announce the Ragavan Residence Kitchen in Bryn Mawr , PA , has been awarded a Builder/Custom Home 2007 Watermark Grand Award for Best kitchen in a single-family detached, remodeled home. The project is featured in Builder magazine’s May 2007 issue. As part of a full-house renovation, the Ragavan Residence Kitchen project opened the room to the rest of the home and to the landscape, and created a clean, contemporary environment suitable for cooking and entertaining. Highlights of the new space include a south-facing wall of windows and glass doors, an angled ceiling with clerestory window, sleek Bulthaup cabinetry system, and colorful orange and red accents.

Another SVA project, the adaptive reuse of the former Board of Education Administration Building on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway , was presented with this year’s AIA Philadelphia Landmark Building Award at the 14th Annual Preservation Achievement Awards luncheon held May 2, 2007. The award was created to call attention to a noteworthy structure. As part of the adaptive reuse, some of the historic interiors will be preserved.

03.2007
SVA Sponsors Covenant House Annual Fundraiser
SVA was proud to be a Patron Sponsor of Covenant House Pennsylvania's annual fundraiser "A Night of Broadway Stars." Held at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts on March 29, the event raised money and awareness for the Covenant House organization.

01.2007
Kmetz rejoins SVA
Drew Kmetz rejoined SVA after a semester study-abroad program in Copenhagen, Denmark. Drew is an Intern Architect working at SVA while attending Drexel University's Architecture co-op program in the evenings.

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