Posted by Holly Kelton on Thu, Aug 12, 2010 @ 02:21 PM
August 12, 2010 - MIDDLEBURY, VERMONT
Middlebury, VT–August, 2010: Connor Homes is pleased to announce the hiring of Amy Beaupre to Sales Advisor. Ms. Beaupre will be responsible for sales inquiry calls and activity, customer assistance, working with the design and marketing team to ensure a seamless client journey, as well as developing a network of builders, vendors and other allied companies. Ms. Beaupre will be reporting to Gail Rice, Connor Homes’ Director of Business Development. “We’re thrilled to have Amy on board with us,” says Ms. Rice. “Her background in art history and her own significant history having grown up in a Connor Home are great assets, and she’s already a very valuable member of our team.”
“Working at Connor Homes is really a return home for me,” says Ms. Beaupre, who earned a Master’s degree in art history from Williams College. “Connor Homes’ innovative mill-built process is inspiring, and their attention to architectural detail is unparalleled.” After studying the history of American vernacular architecture, working in the museum and gallery field for a number of years, Ms. Beaupre says “I feel like in many ways, all my interests are coming full-circle, particularly given that Connor Homes has recently been granted an exclusive license to design a line of homes endorsed by the Winterthur Museum in Delaware – it’s really exciting!”
Ms. Beaupre actually grew up in a Connor Home, right here in Middlebury, VT. Connor Homes’ founder and CEO, Mike Connor was hired by Ms. Beaupre’s parents to build a traditional New England home that would fit in perfectly with their surroundings. The home was a Moses Reed House (page 60 of Connor Homes’ catalog), a New England Cape style home with two dormers on the front, and the beginning of a career in art and architecture for Ms. Beaupre.
“Growing up in a Connor really inspired my passion for art and architecture,” says Ms. Beaupre. “My family was always looking at real estate, touring historic homes, and building houses, so from a very young age it was always an interest for me and for my sister, who actually became an architect. And our Connor Homes house in Middlebury always felt like our real home – very cozy, very comfortable, and timeless. Visitors to that house fall in love with it.”
Posted by Holly Kelton on Fri, Jul 16, 2010 @ 10:12 AM
July 16, 2010 - MIDDLEBURY, VERMONT - Connor Homes will be joining hundreds of other exhibitors at the 29th Annual Maine Antiques Festival on August 13 and 14. For the second consecutive year Connor Homes will be on site to answer questions on Mill-built architecture and to provide resources and information. The festival is held at the fairgrounds in Union, Maine and further information is available at www.MaineAntiqueFest.com. The three day festival contains exhibits and sales of antiques, restoration, reproduction, art and crafts. Connor Homes will be in a special section of the Maine Antiques Festival known as TRADITIONS which features nationally renowned restorers, renovators and preservationists.
If you would like further information please feel free to contact us. We will be on hand Friday and Saturday to answer any questions. It is a wonderful time of year in Maine and this is a great excuse to take a trip in the heart of lobster season!
Posted by Tabby Connor on Thu, Jun 10, 2010 @ 03:34 PM
Connor Homes is proud to announce that Tabitha (Tabby) Connor, Sales Associate at Connor Homes' Leesburg, VA office, has been accepted into Columbia University's exclusive
Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation in New York City, to earn a
Masters of Science in Real Estate Development degree. "Building, development and architecture are in my blood," says Tabby Connor, whose father Mike Connor, founded Connor Homes. "Columbia's program will allow me to expand my knowledge to help the company further their goals throughout the northeast and the rest of the country - that's something I'm really excited about."
Given her studies, the Leesburg, VA office of Connor Homes, which was managed exclusively by Ms. Connor, will be closing. All business from this branch will be handled by Connor Homes' headquarters in Middlebury, VT. However, Ms. Connor is planning on remaining with Connor Homes in a part-time position, and will continue to help develop sales in the mid-Atlantic region as well as other regional sales activities. Mike Connor emphasizes that "our stay here has allowed us to establish a solid foothold in the area, and our company has every intention of building on that success."
For press or media inquiries, please contact Amber Rouleau or Scott Rouleau at Redstone Communications at 860-677-0560 or via email at amber@redstonecomm.com or scott@redstonecomm.com.
Posted by Holly Kelton on Thu, Apr 08, 2010 @ 12:49 PM
April 4, 2009 - MIDDLEBURY, VERMONT - Connor Homes of Middlebury, Vermont is pleased to announce that it has recently been granted the exclusive license to produce a line of homes to be endorsed by Winterthur, the museum, garden, and library that is the former home of Henry Francis du Pont. The design inspiration for this new line of historically authentic, architecturally detailed homes comes from the museum's extensive archives as well as interpretations and adaptations of existing architecture presently found on the Winterthur estate.
Located just north of Wilmington, Delaware, Winterthur is situated on 1,000 acres and is the repository of one of the most extensive and important collections of early American decorative arts in the country. There are 175 rooms in the house, containing approximately 85,000 objects. Tours and special exhibitions highlight aspects of the collection, which includes furniture, ceramics, metals, and textiles as well as fine art. The estate is also world renowned for its extensive naturalistic garden, a legacy of H. F. du Pont's horticultural knowledge and design skill.
Connor Homes has earned a national reputation for the design and manufacture of historic American architecture through a process it calls "Mill-Built Architecture." Michael Connor, company founder and CEO said the company is thrilled and honored by this one-of-a-kind opportunity to participate in the endeavor with Winterthur. He notes that it is a tribute to the years of research and development by the Connor Homes team that has earned it the reputation for an expertise uniquely suited for such an undertaking. "Our job will be to create floor plans and living environments that transcend the needs and requirements that motivated the original floor layouts, so that we can create new layouts suited to the present era, while preserving the architectural integrity and charm of a former time. Our company has demonstrated through its existing portfolio of home designs that it has the appropriate sensitivity to historic architecture that enables us to harmoniously meld the revered architectural elements of the past with the living requirements of the present."
The Vermont company points to an additional interesting connection between itself and Winterthur: Electra Havemeyer Webb, founder of Vermont's own Shelburne Museum and friend to H. F. du Pont, was among the first to interest him in American art and antiques. On a visit to the Webbs' home in 1923, du Pont was taken with the color combination of a pine cupboard holding pink Staffordshire dishes. That inspirational cupboard-a gift of the Webb family-with the original ceramics, is now prominently displayed at Winterthur.
"All of us at Winterthur are truly excited about this agreement-it's a perfect partnership," says Kristin L. DeMesse, director of Winterthur Licensed Products. "Connor Homes' dedication to early American architecture and attention to detail is unsurpassed, and we know their Winterthur designs will be exceptional."
Work on the design venture will begin this spring when a team of designers from Connor Homes will begin researching the many historic house plans and photos in the museum's extensive archives. First plans and home offerings are expected in the summer and fall of this year.
For more information on Winterthur, including their extensive collection, programs, events, and exhibitions, please visit them online at http://www.winterthur.org/ or call 800-448-3883.
For press or media inquiries, please contact Amber Rouleau or Scott Rouleau at Redstone Communications at 860-677-0560 or via email at amber@redstonecomm.com or scott@redstonecomm.com.
Posted by Holly Kelton on Wed, Mar 31, 2010 @ 11:34 AM
March 31, 2009 - MIDDLEBURY, VERMONT - Connor Homes of Middlebury, Vermont is honored to be featured in a new book by renowned author
Sheri Koones. Entitled
Prefabulous + Sustainable, the book details some of the best prefabricated green homes in the country, and includes a passionate foreword by environmentalist, actor and director Robert Redford. The book is published by Abrams, and has just been released.
"Prefabulous + Sustainable offers many wonderful examples of houses that have been built requiring minimum energy from nonrenewable sources," says Mr. Redford in his foreword. "The houses in this book show that beautiful houses can be built that will be kinder and gentler to the environment and reduce water consumption and energy."
Working closely with the author, two of the company's homes are shown in the book as well as photos of its millshops.
The Rebecca Leland Farmhouse, earned its own chapter, featured on pages 104 - 111 and showcases a 3,258 square foot Connor Homes residence in Chatham, NY with an Energy Star rating. This home was designed and manufactured at Connor Homes' Middlebury, VT facility and then shipped and assembled in sections on-site, allowing for highly efficient material usage and minimal waste.
In addition to the extensive green benefits the Connor Homes' mill-built manufacturing process provides, this exceptional home is chock full of green features that include a photovoltaic solar system, no-VOC paints, reclaimed wood floors, high-efficiency boiler, locally harvested cherry wood for the cabinets and many more. Homeowners Sarah and Thomas Crowell both worked for environmental companies, and wanted a home that would be an expression of their beliefs. "Working with the Crowell's on their home was inspiring," says Connor Homes' CEO, Mike Connor. "This home truly embodies Connor Homes' mantra of the ‘new old home' - you really can have the best of both worlds - classic design with modern environmental benefits."
Another design by John Connell, Director of Design at Connor Homes (designed via his design and architecture studio, 2Morrow Studio), featured on pages 208-217, is also featured in this wonderful book. This 1,834 square foot home has a 5-star Energy Star rating.
For press or media inquiries, please contact Amber Rouleau or Scott Rouleau at Redstone Communications at 860-677-0560 or via email at amber@redstonecomm.com or scott@redstonecomm.com.
About the book:
Prefabulous + Sustainable: Building and Customizing an Affordable, Energy-Efficient Home
By Sheri Koones
Foreword by Robert Redford
ISBN: 978-0-8109-8483-7
Abrams; April 2010
U.S. $25.00/CAN $32.50/ 15.99 UK
Hardcover; 9" x 10"
200 full-color illustrations
Buy Book on Amazon
About the Author:
Sheri Koones is a widely respected author who helps readers understand that getting the house of their dreams can be done in an ecologically responsible way. Her book, Prefabulous, explored the variety, beauty and eco-friendly benefits of prefab homes and recently won the prestigious Gold Award in the 2008 Robert Bruss Real Estate Book Awards from NAREE. Sheri is a member of the National Association of Real Estate Editors, the Sustainable Building Industry Council, and the American Society of Journalists and Authors. Sheri is also a columnist for Home Resource Guide and a freelance writer and speaker. She lives in Connecticut.
Posted by Holly Kelton on Sat, Nov 14, 2009 @ 10:52 AM
November 11, 2009 - MIDDLEBURY, VERMONT - - Connor Homes received a national home building accolade, capturing the three award(s) or honorable mention(s) in the 2010 BSC Excellence in Home Design and Marketing Awards program. The honor was awarded by the Building Systems Councils (BSC) of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)-a trade association that represents the concrete, log, modular, and panelized building system industries-at their annual awards program on November 2, 2009.
Sponsored by the NAHB Building Systems Councils, the BSC Excellence in Marketing and Home Design Awards has promoted excellence in the systems-built housing industry for more than ten years. All winners were announced at an awards luncheon in Marco Island, Fla., held in conjunction with the BSC SHOWCASE event-the leading trade show and conference based centered on the systems-built housing industry. Home manufacturers, builders and industry associates were among the groups recognized.
"This year's award winners like Connor Homes prove that even in a slow housing market, the systems-built industry is raising the bar in residential marketing and home design concepts," said BSC Chairman Michael H. Weber with Lancaster Redevelopment Corp. "Our award winners are adding credibility to their businesses and shedding a positive light on the building systems industry as a whole."
The annual BSC Excellence Awards are judged by a panel of industry experts and companies like Connor Homes were given praise for the quality of their submittals.
"It is truly an honor to receive the BSC Excellence Award for three homes in the Excellence in Home Design categories," said Michael C. Connor, CEO. "At Connor Homes, we strive to provide innovative, practical housing solutions using Mill-built technologies and traditional architectural design and detailing. This award shows the hard work and vision of the Connor Homes' dedicated employees.
Awards received by Connor Homes were:
- Winner - Excellence in Home Design: Panelized Home 4,000 plus square feet for a shingle style home built in Richmond, Massachusetts.
- Winner - Excellence in Home Design: Panelized Home 2,301-4,000 square feet for a Colonial Revival home built in Panton, Vermont.
- Honorable Mention - Excellence in Home Design: Panelized Home under 2,301 square feet for a Barn-inspired Cottage in Ferrisburg, Vermont.
For a complete list of winning companies and projects, including Connor Homes, visit www.nahb.org/2010bscawardwinners. For slide shows of these homes please CLICK HERE. Award winners were announced to a crowd of nearly 300 systems-built industry professionals at the awards luncheon. Winners received plaques to commemorate their efforts. They will be featured in upcoming editions of NAHB's e-newspaper, Nation's Building News. These projects will also be on display on the BSC Awards Wall at the 2010 International Builders' Show in Las Vegas.
ABOUT THE BSC: The Building Systems Councils of the National Association of Home Builders is made up of manufacturing, builder, and associate members who advocate building with systems. Systems-built homes are constructed with concrete, log, modular, or panelized systems. They are constructed to the same code standards and reflect the same, and often enhanced, quality levels as any site-built construction. The advantage of systems-building is it's done in a fraction of the time, with a fraction of the waste, reducing costly weather exposure. Many systems-built homes are inherently "green," adding an environmentally friendly label to the product.
ABOUT NAHB:The National Association of Home Builders is a Washington, D.C.-based trade association representing more than 200,000 members involved in home building, remodeling, multifamily construction, property management, subcontracting, design, housing finance, building product manufacturing and other aspects of residential and light commercial construction. Known as "the voice of the housing industry," NAHB is affiliated with more than 800 state and local home builders associations around the country. NAHB's builder members will construct about 80 percent of the new housing units projected for 2009.
Posted by Holly Kelton on Wed, Oct 28, 2009 @ 01:20 PM
October 28, 2009 - MIDDLEBURY, VERMONT - On Wednesday, October 21, 2009 the 32nd Annual Home Builders and Remodelers Association of Northern Vermont's (HBRANV) Better Homes Award Banquet was held at the Sheraton Hotel and Conference in Burlington. This banquet, known as the "Academy Awards" for the Home Building Industry, highlights builders for projects that they submit to the program.
Connor Homes received Best Single Family Home under 2,000 Square Feet for its Stewart Hamil Cottage in Ferrisburg, Vermont. This award is judged on building design, efficient utilization of space, innovative use of materials, products and practices, compatibility with existing environment and craftsmanship.
The 1,832 sq ft house was Mill-built at the Connor Homes Middlebury millshops and revolves around a barn-like design. Exterior finishes included natural eastern white cedar shingles on the facade and custom built sliding barn doors of solid pine with a flared shield above to protect the entry from snow and ice. The main living space is open and the porch runs the entire length of the back of the house. While a light wash finish has been applied to all interior woodwork, the porch has a natural look. White cedar shingles are used for the porch interior wall finish, matching the exterior facade shingles. The Connor Homes farmhouse-style inset cabinets with their beadboard fronts are painted a clean white, offset by the custom mahogany counter top, also built in the Connor Homes cabinet shop. The house was general contracted by Matt Laberge Builders out of Hinesburg, Vermont. This house also won honorable mention for the Excellence in Home Design under 2,300 sq ft awarded by the Building Systems Council of the National Association of Homebuilders.
The Home Builders and Remodelers Association of Northern Vermont is a trade association, comprised of 500 members, whom build, remodel homes, or supply products and services to the home building industry.
Posted by Holly Kelton on Mon, Aug 24, 2009 @ 05:31 AM
August 24, 2009 - MIDDLEBURY, VERMONT - Connor Homes new Shaker Kitchen replicates the utility and grace of the Shaker's precise casework, simple finishes and profiles in a new kitchen line designed to enhance our "Simple Classics" collection of homes. Like the Simple Classics Homes, the Shaker Kitchen is built by the same craftsmen as our Catalog and Custom Homes and uses the same high quality materials but is priced substantially lower. The savings is achieved by pre-designing the kitchens for each house ahead of time so that the design costs are spread among multiple users. The Shaker Kitchen style is also available to all customers as an additional choice for their kitchen, bath vanities and other built-ins throughout the house.
For more information CLICK HERE.
Posted by Holly Kelton on Mon, Jul 06, 2009 @ 06:07 PM
July 6, 2009 - MIDDLEBURY, VERMONT - Connor Homes is pleased to announce that John Connell has joined the Connor Homes senior management team as Design Director. John has a deep and respected place in the architectural and sustainable design/build community. A undergraduate of the University of Pennsylvania in Art and Architecture, with a masters in Architecture from Yale, John studied under such notables as Louis Kahn, Cesar Pelli, Robert Engmann and Charles Moore. Since graduation John has spent his entire professional career focused on environmentally enlighted residential architecture and green homes.
John is the founder of Yestermorrow Design/Build School in Warren, Vermont, an entity which promotes the creation of sustainable vernacular and owner-built homes. Graduating hundreds of non-professional students each year, the curriculum presents energy-conserving and environmentally-enlightened design/build methods as the standard for residential construction.
John comes to us most recently from his own design/build firm - 2morrow Studio - in Warren, Vermont. This design/build firm was created to deliver custom, green architectural design at moderate cost through the use of systems building.
Previously, John sat on the AIA National Housing Committee's Advisory Group where they started the Custom Residential Architects Network (CRAN). He is the founder and ED of Vermont's chapter of the Congress of Residential Architects (CORA). Besides his ongoing work in progressive residential architecture, John was a leader in the creation of sustainable treehouse prototypes for children confined to wheelchairs. He taught and created the life drawing curriculum at Norwich College of Architecture and is a former faculty member at Yale and Ball State University.
In his spare time this licensed architect is an author (Homing Instinct: McGraw Hill, Creating the Inspired House: Taunton Press, plus various magazines), a frustrated animator, a skilled lecturer and lifelong learner.
Connor Homes is proud to welcome John Connell to the team.
Posted by Holly Kelton on Wed, Jun 24, 2009 @ 06:03 PM
June 24, 2009 - MIDDLEBURY, VERMONT - Steve Haskell, Project Designer at Connor Homes has been awarded the LEED AP (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional) accreditation after recently sitting for the exam. Steve joins team members John Connell and Doug Williamson at Connor Homes with this honor.
LEED Professional Accreditation distinguishes building professionals with the knowledge and skills to successfully steward the LEED certification process. LEED Accredited Professionals (LEED APs) have demonstrated a thorough understanding of green building practices and principles and the LEED Rating System. More than 75,000 people have earned the credential since the Professional Accreditation program was launched in 2001.