Local Architect Appointed As Massachusetts Licensing Adviser to National Council

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Kerry Bartini, the principal architect at Berkshire Design, was appointed to be the American Institute of Architects' Massachusetts licensing adviser to the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards on Jan. 10.

In her new role, Bartini, who has been a licensing adviser since 2016, will continue to work directly with architectural licensing candidates, but will have more direct contact with AIA branches, firms and schools across the commonwealth, as well as the licensing board. Licensing advisers work with NCARB and are part of a community that helps foster licensing and certification.

"The path to licensure can sometimes be daunting, challenging and overwhelming. Licensing advisors serve to help candidates navigate the path to becoming a licensed architect through education, experience and examination, followed by licensure and certification," Bartini said. "I am extremely excited to continue this work in a new capacity."

Founded in 1919, the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards, based in Washington, D.C., is a nonprofit corporation comprising the legally constituted architectural registration boards of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands as its members.



"While I did take the traditional path to licensure, it took longer than I would have liked to become licensed. As a working mother, licensing felt elusive to me for many years, but it was always my goal," Bartini said. "If licensing is a goal for a candidate, I want to help take the mystery out of the path because licensing can be formidable even under the best of circumstances. Good mentorship plays a vital role in keeping candidates on the path to licensure. There is always someone you can learn from and there is always someone you can lend a hand to. Licensing advisers help foster this pipeline."

Bartini joined Berkshire Design in 2018 as principle and architect with more than 16 years of architectural design experience. Her experience encompasses all phases of design, from existing conditions through construction administration, including programming, schematic design, concept presentations and structural systems. She is involved in and oversees projects at all levels of design, management and production.

She was appointed to the National Council of Architectural Registration Board's Think Tank in 2016, served as Think Tank chair from 2018 to 2019, and is an executive board member of the Western Mass chapter of the AIA. Bartini is an alumni ambassador for Roger Williams University, a 2019 graduate of 1Berkshire’s Berkshire Leadership Program, and serves on the 1Berkshire Leadership Program Steering Committee.

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MassDOT Project Will Affect Traffic Near BMC

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Prepare for traffic impacts around Berkshire Medical Center through May for a state Department of Transportation project to improve situations and intersections on North Street and First Street.

Because of this, traffic will be reduced to one lane of travel on First Street (U.S. Route 7) and North Street between Burbank Street and Abbott Street from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday through at least May 6.

BMC and Medical Arts Complex parking areas remain open and detours may be in place at certain times. The city will provide additional updates on changes to traffic patterns in the area as construction progresses.

The project has been a few years in the making, with a public hearing dating back to 2021. It aims to increase safety for all modes of transportation and improve intersection operation.

It consists of intersection widening and signalization improvements at First and Tyler streets, the conversion of North Street between Tyler and Stoddard Avenue to serve one-way southbound traffic only, intersection improvements at Charles Street and North Street, intersection improvements at Springside Avenue and North Street, and the construction of a roundabout at the intersection of First Street, North Street, Stoddard Avenue, and the Berkshire Medical Center entrance.

Work also includes the construction of 5-foot bike lanes and 5-foot sidewalks with ADA-compliant curb ramps.  

Last year, the City Council approved multiple orders for the state project: five orders of takings for intersection and signal improvements at First Street and North Street. 

The total amount identified for permanent and temporary takings is $397,200, with $200,000 allocated by the council and the additional monies coming from carryover Chapter 90 funding. The state Transportation Improvement Plan is paying for the project and the city is responsible for 20 percent of the design cost and rights-of-way takings.

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