Artist Biography
Maren Found is an Interior Architecture Major with a Minor in Graphic Design. Throughout her time at Endicott, Maren has made an impact across campus, serving as a member of the Student Government Association and Campus Sustainability Committee, an Orientation Leader, a Resident Assistant, and the President of ECAD – Endicott’s Architecture and Design Club. She is a member of the Kappa Pi Art Honors Society, as well as Endicott’s Chapter of Mortar Board.
Within the design world specifically, Maren has made her mark as a Kravet Design of Distinction Award Nominee her freshman year, the IFDA NE Student Designer of the Year in 2023, the Third Place Winner of the IES Illumination Awards Student Design Contest in 2025, and most recently was named the IIDA NE Student Member of the Year, which she will be recognized for at their upcoming Building Leaders Breakfast. Maren has interned at a wide array of firms throughout her time at Endicott, such as Centerline Design and Build, SMRT and Bergmeyer, and her post-grad plans entail searching for work at a commercial design firm in Boston.
Thesis Abstract
As the cost of living continues to increase, while wages remain unfit to provide a decent quality of life, the lack of affordable housing is becoming more prevalent and the government systems in place are proving to be unsuccessful in finding a solution. The current systems foster distinct social divides and stigmas that are harmful to society, preventing progress from occurring. With a growing number of individuals falling into the category of low income, it is becoming increasingly difficult for those who were already of low income to support themselves, let alone a family. Through the exploration of the programs and housing offerings currently in place for low income families, the concept of sustainable development can be applied to the context of affordable housing, serving as a solution to an environment in which parents are stressed and struggling to provide for both themselves and their children, while fostering a strong sense of community.
The Hive is an affordable housing complex and community center for families striving to bring a welcoming, educational and productive environment not only to its residents, but all members of the adjoining neighborhoods and area, regardless of income. The first two floors of the building host the community center, providing a wide array of resources such as a recreational sports area, playground, gym, daycare, cafe, retail pop-ups, workspaces and a community garden, where children, parents, general community members and professionals such as government officials and nonprofit workers can come together, make change, find employment, and meet their needs so they can not only survive, but thrive. The second two floors host the residences, which are a mix of 2- and 3-bedroom apartments, with a unique communal space on each floor – a community teaching kitchen on the third floor, and a community lounge on the fourth floor.