Springboard Design News

Paul Rosenblatt AIA and Matt Fineout AIA Announce Formation of ‘Museum Architecture Team’ (M.A.T.) with Offices in New York and Pittsburgh

Award-Winning Architects Create New Museum Programming, Planning and Design Division of SPRINGBOARD

Pittsburgh, Pa. (May 1, 2009) – Two of Pennsylvania’s leading architects, Paul Rosenblatt AIA and Matt Fineout AIA have announced the formation of a new division of SPRINGBOARD Design. The division, called ‘Museum Architecture Team’ (M.A.T.), is a strategic design consultancy focused on the programming, planning, and design of growing museums worldwide.

The Museum Architecture Team (M.A.T.) has offices in New York at 18 West 18^th Street, 9^th Floor, 10011, and Pittsburgh, 24 Terminal Way, 15219. Co-Director Paul Rosenblatt can be reached at both offices by calling 412 855-6901.

“Our collaboration creates a wonderful synergy,” said Paul Rosenblatt AIA, Co-Director of M.A.T. and Founding Principal of SPRINGBOARD. “Matt’s strong background in museum design and development will enhance SPRINGBOARD’s drive to become one of the nation’s leading designers of sustainable museums and cultural facilities such as libraries, community centers, concert halls, multimedia centers and other tourist attractions.”

Architecture is a cultural product and a reflection of a project’s place and time. SPRINGBOARD Architecture Communication Design LLC was formed to stimulate, inspire, create and produce new architecture, clear communication, and innovative design. SPRINGBOARD’s mission is to serve as a catalyst to ‘springboard’ our client’s visions and help them to realize their strategic goals. For more information on SPRINGBOARD, visit www.springboarddesign.net.

Mr. Fineout, who is best known for his work on Frank Gehry’s Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao Spain, comes to this alliance with a wealth of relevant experience and expertise.  Immediately prior to announcing this collaboration with SPRINGBOARD, he worked as a Principal and Partner at EDGE Studio. In that role, he was involved in the design efforts for several award-winning cultural facilities including the New Hazlett Theater, the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh Service Building, and the Main Branch of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. Mr. Fineout earned his Masters of Architecture from Southern California Institute of Architecture, and his Bachelor of Fine Art from University of Michigan.

Mr. Rosenblatt is best known for having established SPRINGBOARD as one of the regions’ most innovative architectural firms focused on the design of sustainable museums and cultural facilities. Currently, he is designing a $23 million expansion of the National Aviary in Pittsburgh, the world’s first LEED certified aviary. Other notable cultural clients include The Maridon Museum, The Carnegie Museum of Art, The Children’s Museum Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University, the A.E. Backus Museum, and the Davis Museum and Cultural Center at Wellesley College. He is a recipient of the distinguished Orville Lance Prize for Architecture from the National Academy of Design in New York. Mr. Rosenblatt earned both his Masters of Architecture and Bachelor of Art degrees from Yale University.

“I am extremely interested in the M.A.T. strategy and it’s potential to provide unique design solutions within the museum and cultural institution communities,” said Mr. Fineout. “I believe this is a great opportunity to collaborate with Paul and his SPRINGBOARD team to provide design services to the cultural community. I think the experience and knowledge that Paul and I bring to cultural projects is uniquely suited to provide solutions to the issues and challenges that face these institutions today. I look forward to my continuing collaboration with Paul and SPRINGBOARD with a commitment to providing the highest level of service to these institutions.”

SPRINGBOARD celebrates and advances the development of cultural facilities, places for the creation, production and dissemination of culture. SPRINGBOARD was founded as a Limited Liability Corporation in 2001 and is a full-service architectural firm focused on museum planning, exhibitions, and cultural facility development.

Herman Miller, Inc., the international home and office furnishing leader, has invited SPRINGBOARD’s Paul Rosenblatt AIA to serve on their ‘Office Expert Panel.’

Paul Rosenblatt’s office design expertise dates back 22 years to his work on the the award-winning Jennifer Reed Showroom and Offices with Margaret Helfand Architects. This fashion headquarters recieved an AIA NYC Architectural Design Award, and was published in such magazines as Interiors and I.D. The late Ms. Helfand wrote that, “As Project Designer for the Jennifer Reed Showroom, Paul Rosenblatt carried major responsibility for developing all phases of the project.” Since then, Mr. Rosenblatt has designed many other offices and workplaces, including SPRINGBOARD’s. In 2002, SPRINGBOARD was retained as a design consultant to Herman Miller to explore new workplace systems and concepts.

Herman Miller’s website describes their mission as working “for a better world around you. We do this by designing furnishings and related services that improve the human experience wherever people work, heal, learn, and live. Our curiosity, ingenuity, and design excellence create award-winning products and services. These, along with our innovative business practices and a commitment to responsible leadership, have established us as an admired global company. ”

More information about Herman Miller, Inc. may be found at http://www.hermanmiller.com/About-Us.

AIGA Pittsburgh is featuring SPRINGBOARD’s innovative workplace on its annual ‘[x]posed Studio Tour.’ AIGA’s mission, “to advance designing as a professional craft, strategic tool and vital cultural force,” meshes well with SPRINGBOARD’s activist, interdisciplinary focus.

On October 29, 2009, SPRINGBOARD Design is opening its space up to the local design community as part of AIGA Pittsburgh’s annual ‘[x]posed  Studio Tour.’ Registration for the tour is limited to allow for more interactions between SPRINGBOARD’s Leadership Team and visitors.  To sign up, visit the AIGA Pittsburgh Website at http://pittsburgh.aiga.org/registration/index.php?event_id=34734662.

John DeGore, a board member of AIGA Pittsburgh, has said that, “Through their involvement in the ‘[x]posed  Studio Tour,’ SPRINGBOARD will be fulfilling one of AIGA Pittsburgh’s missions: demonstrating the value of design in our region. By [x]posing many of Pittsburgh’s unique design opportunities, young professionals will see that Pittsburgh can be the perfect place for them to live and work.”

From the AIGA Website: “AIGA, the professional association for design, is the place design professionals turn to first to exchange ideas and information, participate in critical analysis and research and advance education and ethical practice. AIGA sets the national agenda for the role of design in its economic, social, political, cultural and creative contexts. AIGA is the oldest and largest membership association for professionals engaged in the discipline, practice and culture of designing. Founded as the American Institute of Graphic Arts in 1914 as a small, exclusive club, AIGA now represents more than 21,000 designers through national activities and local programs developed by more than 55 chapters and 200 student groups.”