Boston, MA ARC/Architectural Resources Cambridge is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Founded in 1969, ARC has consistently applied a collaborative approach to architecture, one based on a tradition of design, service, and relationships.

“We congratulate ARC on the firm’s 50th anniversary milestone,” said Dan Borque, vice president of facilities at Boston College. “B.C. and ARC have a 30-year relationship that endures because of their ability to design in collaborative, creative ways that make the process enjoyable.”

From Harvard Sq. startup to Back Bay industry leader
Launched in a compact office at 102 Mount Auburn St. in Harvard Sq., ARC was founded by six colleagues who worked together at Benjamin Thompson and Associates and at The Architects Collaborative prior to that.  Early clients included Tufts University, Abbott Academy (now part of Phillips Academy), and Harvard’s JFK School of Government, where ARC designed the first of more than 50 projects for Harvard University and Harvard Medical School. Noteworthy local designs include the Genzyme Building on Soldiers Field Rd., the Boston University Boathouse on Memorial Dr., and the vertical expansion of the Tufts University School of Dental Medicine in Boston’s South End neighborhood. 

“We like to describe ARC as a team that equally values great design and each client’s distinctive community,” said Philip Laird, FAIA, LEED BD+C, president of ARC. “Today’s clients bring so much to the design process, from their knowledge of the distinct culture and vision within their organizations to specific aspirations for each project. We integrate these important elements into our thinking and our work. The highest compliment is when we hear clients say how much they enjoy working with us.”

Sustainability legacy continues
One of the enduring values of ARC is a firmwide commitment to sustainable design and healthy buildings. Architect Magazine, the journal of the American Institute of Architects, recognized ARC’s sustainable design achievements with the recent selection to their annual Top 50 Firms in Sustainability listing.  These achievements include design for the new LEED Platinum-certified Bentley University multipurpose arena, the first standalone ice arena to meet the Platinum standard. As one element of the 50th anniversary celebration, ARC will co-host a multiple speaker symposium, “Crisis-A New Paradigm for Sustainable Practice,” on April 25th at the Boston Society of Architects on Atlantic Wharf.