As founder, principal, and creative director of HDS Architecture, Hans D. Strauch has dedicated 35 years to designing distinctive buildings and communities throughout the US and abroad. With Hans’ vision and leadership, HDS Architecture continues to successfully deliver sophisticated and highly crafted buildings including large scale residential, commercial, retail destination, and medical facilities.
Over the course of his career, Hans has collaborated with leading real estate developers, property owners, and private institutions nationally and internationally. Clients appreciate his expeditious ability to get projects approved by strategically merging regulatory requirements with creative design solutions and economic realities. Hans’ practical experience, along with the talented team of designers and architects at HDS, allows each project to achieve its highest potential.
Hans is Chair of the Board of Trustees at Lesley University in Cambridge, an institution focused on teacher education, counseling and the visual arts. He actively supports several Boston social justice programs including Habitat for Humanity and The Jewish Coalition for Literacy.
Hans received his architecture degree with distinction from Cornell University. With his dedication to environmental sustainability, he endowed the “Strauch Visiting Critic in Sustainable Design” in 2013 in the College of Architecture Art & Planning to advance research and innovative design solutions associated with consequences of global climate change. In 2023, he endowed the “Strauch Early Career Follow” at Cornell to identify, attract and support diverse, talented, early-career educators who contribute fresh ideas and perspectives.
During his free time Hans enjoys playing competitive tennis, reading, and hiking.
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Ben has more than 22 years of experience in construction having served a Fortune 500 global construction firm for more than 10 years. Ben joined the Bentley team in 2017.
With a degree in civil engineering and having spent several years in the design field prior to making the move to construction management, it allows Ben to offer a wealth of knowledge during the pre-construction phase to help steer the project in the correct direction through design modifications, constructability and value engineering and phasing options.
Ben is committed to building partnerships with clients and collaborates with client stakeholders to understand business drivers and integrate them accordingly into their project. Ben will provide leadership and produce a detailed approach and definitive project plan supporting the project team. His relationship with subcontractors provides validation of work plans and estimates to ensure success.
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Tony has more than 20 years of experience in commercial general contracting. His expertise includes ground-up infrastructure, large site development projects. Through effective communication and collaboration, Tony strives to complete tasks with Lean project planning principals.
Tony is committed to building partnerships with clients and collaborates with client stakeholders to understand business drivers and schedules. Tony delivers the highest level of quality while ensuring a safe work environment.
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Interview questions:
Hans Strauch, Owner, HDS Architecture
- Could you provide an overview of the Slade Farm project? Ie. Project details and location. What are some of the amenities?
- In your opinion, what makes this project unique?
- Please walk us through the design planning for this site.
- Slade Farm is a 40B project. Can you talk briefly about that zoning tool and your firm’s experience?
Tony Bartolini, Senior Project Executive, the Bently Companies
- What is the construction status?
- From a construction perspective, Bentley Companies has focused on / experienced XYZ with the project. What has your experience been from the design standpoint?
Ben Hyman, Director of Preconstruction, the Bentley Companies
- From a construction perspective, how do you cost-effectively develop a project like this?
HDS Architecture, a Boston-based architectural design firm with a concentration on sophisticated high-end residential development, alongside developer, J.M. Corcoran, and general contractor, Callahan Construction, have begun construction on The Devon at Weiss Farm, a new residential community in Stoneham, MA.
Located on a 26-acre site at 170 Franklin Street in Stoneham, Weiss Farm will bring 259 units to the community across 9 buildings- ranging from 1, 2, and 3-bedroom units for families, young professionals, and empty nesters alike. Five town home buildings will be constructed along the street, stepping down in scale from the larger multi-unit residences. The development is anchored by a re-imagined barn functioning as the community clubhouse with the surrounding buildings taking on a modern farmhouse aesthetic. The barn pays homage to the site’s previous farm uses and creates a scale and style that takes cues from surrounding homes.
Three five-story residential buildings will be built around the courtyard and exterior amenity spaces towards the other end of the site and close to a serene, wooded area. Unique in their approach – HDS has focused on making individualized homes within the dynamic community. In order to create a cohesive living environment that connects the residents to the natural setting, each building will reflect creative use of textures and materials.
Weiss Farm aims to highlight the various benefits the town of Stoneham has to offer. Only 10 miles to Boston and Cambridge, Stoneham has always been a desired urban-suburban town with proximity to the city’s jobs as well as the idyllic Middlesex Fells reservation. Weiss Farm takes cues from these aspects with a centralized green park onsite, and various connections to the surrounding area. While close to the city, Weiss Farm creates the flexibility for remote and hybrid work options via work spaces and multi-use club rooms.
The project fulfills the state’s goals of creating housing opportunities near MBTA lines. Weiss Farms is less than a mile from MBTA bus lines to the city, as well as the town’s bustling main streets. The project was proposed as a 40 B development. The Devon at Weiss Farm will be a LEED Silver development and is scheduled to be completed in late 2025.
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