Archive for the ‘Green Design’ Category

Two months to opening day and, like the Yankees and Red Sox, we are working hard to get ready.   Last week we poured the concrete in the loading dock area and beer coolers – we had to wait until all of the geothermal and electrical lines were run and pressure checked.  And we finished laying the floor in the retail area and loft.   This week (and it’s only Tuesday) we’ve installed the beer cooler doors, built the stairs to the loft, installed two of the space heating units, and are continuing to install the lights.   Take a look:

Soon we’ll be back outside.  It’s been a long winter and we still have to finish laying the permeable pavers for the parking lot and sidewalks, top coat the asphalt, and finish the landscaping.  Once that’s all done we’ll move the existing inventory into the new store and get ready to open.

There will be a Grand Opening and a chance to tour the building.   If you are interested in coming please send us an email.  We will notify the owners and make sure that you’re invited.

Cheers!

Watch the recent NBC News Channel 10 report     GOING GREEN: PACKAGE STORE

The design and construction of the  Charlestown Package Store has been featured in recent front page articles in the Providence Journal and the Westerly Sun.

Read the articles –  GEOTHERMAL IN CHARLESTOWN and   DESTINATION PACKAGE STORE

Oyster Works has been featured in three recent Providence Business News articles.

MOYNIHAN TO AIA BOARD and   SUCCESS OF MARRIED CO-OWNERS and   GEOTHERMAL

Candelabra and Timber Frame

Geothermal Equipment

Oiled Beams

We are taking advantage of the wide open spaces – no wine racks or display cabinets, to paint the walls and oil the beams.  The beams are vertical grain  Douglas Fir and we are giving them a coat of Danish woodworkers oil to help protect wood.

The candelabra provides light and a soothing atmosphere for  Larry from Somers Painting as he applies the oil to the beams.

Larry from Somers Painting

Granite Curbs and Gravel Base

The inside is being painted and soon we’ll be laying the WarmBoard, installing the radiant heat, and laying the floor.   But for now…most of the action is outback.

As part of our eco-friendly design we are installing permeable paving stones for all of the parking areas. This will allow the rain water to drain naturally back into the ground and reduce the need for underground drainage and retention ponds. Permeable pavers are initially more expensive than asphalt, but have a much longer life span and can be less expensive over the life of a building.

Preparation is difficult work – the grades must be perfect, the gravel well compacted, and the granite curbs set to exacting tolerances. We are fortunate to be working with Morrone Excavation and Grandscapes on the site work and landscaping.

Candelabras…In keeping with our blend of tradition, green design, and energy efficiency, we are using computer controlled energy saving LED lighting and candelabras that are made from from oak wine barrel staves.  Take a look!

Sean & Mark of Grandscapes setting the granite curb

Mike Morrone and Brendan Friend setting the grades.

Wine Barrel Candelabras

Grandscapes' Stone Masons Mark & Sean

The Charlestown Package Store marries traditional forms with energy efficient technologies and building systems.  Grandscapes’ stone masons Mark & Sean are building a stone wall along Old Post Road with native field stone and granite columns salvaged from the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.

Oyster Works’ commitment to environmentally friendly design began with how we understood the site.   Landscape architect Jenn Judge developed a plan utilizing non-invasive native landscaping, permeable paving stones, and natural stone walls.   We are very pleased to have a Charlestown based company, Grandscapes, doing all the landscaping, building the stone walls, and laying the permeable paving stones.

The store is being sided with NuCedar, a Leed eligible recycled PVC product that is factory finished with a solar reflective ceramic coating.   Painted to our specifications and installed by Charlestown’s T & J Construction, NuCedar is a new product that promises to be virtually maintenance free.

Stone Walls and Recycled Siding