We wish to convey a point of clarification about your article claiming Rick Mather Architects was “too small” to handle US museum expansion (bdonline May 29).
We were profoundly saddened by Mr Mather’s untimely passing, and enjoyed a productive collaboration with him and his team on the Peabody Essex Museum’s expansion project.
We were continually impressed with his talent, insights and ingenuity. In fact, after an extensive international search process we selected Rick Mather Associates for Mr Mather’s specific vision and his unique approach to contemporary architecture in a historic context.
By the same token, we believed his vision to be absolutely integral to the successful completion of our project. His ideas and plans had not been fully crystallised by the time of his passing, and we felt we still had some distance to go to bring the schematic design phase to fruition.
Without his very special talent, we were compelled to make a very difficult decision. This was in no way intended to be a reflection on his partners nor his team.
The size of the firm was indeed of no consequence in our choices.
April Swieconek
Director of Public Relations
Peabody Essex Museum
Salem, Massachusetts
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