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FRANZISKA AMACHER FAIA LEED NCARB WBE

Franziska Amacher, the firm’s founder, has over 25 years' experience in all aspects of the building process. That includes design development, zoning analysis, team building, budget development, project approval, schedule setting, contractor negotiations.

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She has served as Co-Chair of “The Committee on the Environment” at the Boston Society of Architects. Ms. Amacher, Adjunct Professor, taught courses in Sustainable Architecture and Design at Wentworth Institute of Technology and at the Boston Architectural College. She is a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects and is a LEED accredited professional.

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Ms. Amacher received her Masters Degree in Architecture from the Harvard Graduate School of Design. She is a native of Switzerland and fluent in several languages. With a BA in Sociology from the University of Geneva in Switzerland, she worked as a policy researcher, before becoming an architect.

AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS​​​

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  • Elected a Fellow By the American Institute of Architects

  • Award from the NORTH EAST SUSTAINABLE ENERGY ASSOCIATION (NESEA) for the design of a Net Zero Building

  • Award from Lynn Historical Society for the Renovation of a Mixed-use Building on Main Street

  • Award for Design of 50 feet long sculpture “Resource Time Tunnel” at BGF, City Hall Plaza

  • Green Initiative Leadership Award by the Foundation for a Green Future

  • TV Our design of Ring House featured in Renovation Nation

  • TV Pilot program on the design and construction of a Green Renovation in Newton

  • https://www.homebuilderdigest.com/the-best-residential-architects-in-cambridge-massachusetts/

 

TALKS

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  • Panelist at the 5th Annual Water Forum

  • UN World Energy Forum 2016: "Energy in Architecture"

  • Boston Society of Architects (BSA) 2016: "Evolution of a Career with Green Project Designs"

  • Boston Greenfest (BGF) 2014, Architects, Designers and Planners for Social Responsibility: "Presenting the Mumford Award"

  • BSA 2013 CultureNOW Pecha kucha Speaker at Frames of Reference in 2 Cities Architecture, Building, "Netzero Design"

  • BSA 2013 Sustainability Education Committee Talk: “Lessons form a Net Zero House Design”

  • BSA: Moderator for CultureNOW: Pecha kucha in 3 City Coast to Coast to Coast via video.
    BSA: Committee on the Environment Talk “Why We Need Resiliency, Building a More Resilient Boston”

  • ABX 2018: "4 years of Experience with a Net Zero House"

  • ABX 2013:"Preparing for Risk Mitigation Planning for New England"

  • BSA 2013: "Why We Need Resiliency, Building a More Resilient Boston"

  • American Solar Energy Society 2013 (ASES): “Net Zero, a Two Family”

  • AIA NY 2012 Center for Architecture: CultureNOW Symposium “Boston - Cars Versus People"

  • BSA 2010 The Place Making Committee Talk: “Topography as an Architectural Tool for Place Making” 

  • Mayor Menino’s Sustainable Boston Conference, MIT and NESEA:“Cohousing as a Sustainable Community”

  • Boston City Council and BASEA: "Greening Boston City Hall" http://www.basea.org/GreenBCH.php

  • Harvard School of Public Health: "Quality of Life in Boston"

  • City of Cambridge Community Development Department: “Deep Energy Retrofits by Amacher & Associates”

  • BSA & MDC: “Topography as a Tool for Space Making”

  • New England Women in Energy and the Environment (NEWEE) “Sustainable Buildings”

  • ARC-PEACE, ASF Conference in Stockholm 2011: “ADPSR’s Sustainable Practices” 

 

FREQUENTLY INVITED SPEAKER​

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  • Boston Society of Architects (BSA)

  • Build Boston/ABX

  • Northeast Sustainable Energy Association

  • Boston Area Solar Energy Association

  • MIT​

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ADDITIONAL

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  • Member of Sustainable Education Committee, Urban Design Committee, Committee on the Environment at the BSA

  • Board Member: Architects, Designers and Planners for Social Responsibility (ADPSR)

  • Member of North East Sustainable Energy Association, National Trust for Historic Preservation, The Nature Conservancy

  • Trustee for the PRPT (Riverbend Park)

  • MDC Charles River Basin Plan Advisory Commission

  • Member of Reimagining Cities: www.re-cities.org

  • Former Board member of ARC-Peace

  • Former Board Member of the Association for Public Transportation

  • Current or former Member of: Green America, USGBC MA, National Trust for Historic Preservation

  • Co-producer & production design for the movie “Breaking Symmetry“

​ RECOMMENDATIONS

 

1. Testimonial by Chungha Cha

Owner of Davis House, a NetZero Energy Home in Somerville

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When I bought the 100 year old stick frame, 2 family house in 2011, I knew that I wanted to renovate.  I am in the business of building energy efficiency so I know that I wanted to have a green, sustainable aspect to the renovation.  When I searched for architects in the Boston area, I interviewed many architects.  They all purport to know about sustainable design but found their knowledge was not deep and lacked experience.  Then, I met Franziska Amacher who changed all that.  Franziska knows sustainability and knows it very well and so we worked together on our house.

Well, due to Franziska’s deep knowledge, good design ideas and great track record in Deep Energy Retroifits, we decided to go all the way and renovate the house into a NetZero Energy House with an Energy Star Tier 3 rating and an Indoor Air Quality certification to ensure that the indoor air quality is healthy for people living inside. (Add official name of the Indoor Air Quality certification)  Franziska did such a great job that even the Somerville officials commended her on a job well done ...noting that we need to have more Owners and developers doing more of the same!  We finished the renovation in 2012 and people are now living in it and truly enjoying the net zero energy living experience.  Especially where there are no bills to pay to NSTAR!

We are very happy with the results.  So, if you’re thinking of doing some green homes, I strongly urge you to talk with Franziska. 

Chungha Cha

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2. Testimonial by David Gass

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To Whom it May Concern:

I have worked with FA for 17 years. She designed and supervised the building on Union St.  of a 10-unit, mixed-use, historic, award-wining building that provides affordable housing in Lynn.

She then designed a 14-unit artist live-work community on Green St. and a 31-unit artist live/work conversion of a factory in Central Square.

In non-housing work, she designed a school-based garden that won numerous awards and inspired hundreds of low-income students. She also designed a community garden at a nearby park.

She has been a pleasure to work with, from conception to completion. She listens closely to our physical needs and our budget constraints while making artistic choices that work.

Sincerely,

David Gass
CDC Executive Director
Lynn Investing in Neighborhood Coalition, Inc. (LINC)

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3. Testimonial by Carolyn Fuller

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Franziska Amacher redesigned our 150 year old urban house, turning it into a magical oasis in the middle of a bustling city environment. She opened up the tiny, cramped and dark rooms giving us a feel of spaciousness and light throughout our new home while managing to maintain some of the most charming aspects of the old home. It is a feast for the eyes and soul.

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