Building Tour: Powerhouse Arts with Cross Learning Alliance and AIA Brooklyn

Calling all emerging professionals in Manhattan and Brooklyn! Join the Cross Learning Alliance and AIA Brooklyn Emerging Professionals (BKEP) for a building tour of the newly completed Powerhouse Arts, by PBDW Architects and Buro Happold. We will be joined by the design and MEP teams to take in-depth look at the design strategies as well as the engineering aspects of this project. The tour will also touch upon the appropriate reuse of an historic building and the unique challenges that come with this typology. After the tour, we plan to explore this upcoming Brooklyn neighborhood—join us to grab some food and mingle!

Speakers:
Melanie Chamberland, Associate Principal, Buro Happold
Victoria Cuddy, Associate, PBDW Architects

About the Speakers:
Melanie Chamberland is an accomplished Associate Principal at Buro Happold, bringing her wealth of expertise to the firm since 2017. With a passion for pioneering electrical engineering solutions, Melanie has consistently steered the design of electrical systems for iconic projects spanning diverse sectors. Her areas of specialization encompass higher education, cultural institutions, and commercial developments. One of her standout achievements includes spearheading the MEP team for the Powerhouse Workshop project, a prime example of adaptive re-use architecture, transforming spaces into vibrant workshops and event venues. Melanie's proficiency extends to the intricate realm of electrical system design, where she has excelled in coordinating and leading multidisciplinary teams, ensuring seamless project execution, and fostering exceptional client relationships. Melanie's career began with a strong foundation in energy research, emphasizing sustainable development and innovative energy storage solutions. She remains fervently committed to conservation and engineering breakthroughs that reduce environmental impact and energy consumption. Melanie's unwavering dedication to engineering excellence and sustainability underscores her role as a distinguished leader in her field.

Victoria Cuddy is an Associate at PBDW Architects where she has worked since 2011 and proven her leadership on increasingly complex projects, finding a special expertise within new design and adaptive reuse projects. Most recently, she served as project manager for the adaptive reuse of the Brooklyn Rapid Transit power station for Powerhouse Arts, a new facility for the fabrication of large scale works of art along the Gowanus Canal. Ms. Cuddy has also worked for many years with the Park Avenue Armory on the restoration and adaptive reuse of this city and national landmark to create a cultural and performing arts venue. She has completed several commercial and hospitality projects for The Beacon Hotel and Equinox Fitness Clubs (including their flagship club and spa) and is currently working on the design and adaptive reuse of an historic home into a boutique hotel in Connecticut. Ms. Cuddy received her Bachelor of Arts from Amherst College and her Master of Architecture from Parsons New School for Design. She has provided pro-bono services for the Hispanic Resource Center in Mamaroneck and has served as Alumni Vice President and Reunion Chair for her alma mater, where she has also volunteered as a panel speaker at their annual Architectural Studies Symposium. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the AIA WHV.