William Rawn & Associates is committed to designing buildings, especially in the civic or public realm. The firm believes that successful architecture through active engagement of its civic context fosters the values of diversity, meritocracy and participation that are fundamental to the American democratic experience. The main focus of these master architects is the enhancement to community or student life through new or renovated architecture, particularly in the city of Boston, Massachusetts. Some of their major projects include: · Center for Theater and Dance at Williams College · Studzinski Recital Hall at Bowdoin College · Alice Paul and David Kemp Residence Halls at Swarthmore College · Pritzker Science Center at Milton Academy · Temple Beth and Bason Chapel · Resorts of Carneros Inn in the tranquil spa residing in the beautiful Napa Valley · New multi-use residence hall for Berklee College of Music · New home for performing arts, health and wellness at The Winsor School · Fine and Performing Arts Center at Pittsburg State · The Cedar Rapids Federal Courthouse · W Boston Hotel William Rawn & Associates is renowned for transforming old to new, and combining the best of the contemporary with the finest of the traditional.

Concerned with the vulnerability of U.S. civilian and military personnel to terrorist bombing attacks, the U.S. Congress directed the Department of Defense to undertake a comprehensive research and testing program aimed at protecting people in buildings from such attacks. The Blast Mitigation for Structures Program (BMSP) was initiated in 1997 and has produced a large volume of experimental and analytical data that will permit the design of new, more robust buildings as well as the development of methods to retrofit a large number of vulnerable existing structures. This report reviews the BMSP program and investigates a process that would use existing institutional infrastructures (i.e., building code and standards-writing organizations, professional and technical organizations, universities, and research centers) to disseminate knowledge.