Born by Design
The love of architecture did not come by accident for me. My vocation is born from a plan that I have been working on since I could hold crayons.
My father was an established builder in beautiful midcoast Maine and would often cart me along to his job sites. I was fascinated by the building process as he coaxed a structure to life, either on Maine farmland or the coastal properties where he worked.
From the age of 6, I could often be found with my ruler, pencils and paper, sketching away to represent buildings the way my little eyes saw them.
I was hooked on architecture and would so deeply immerse myself into “my project” and I sometimes paid no heed to my mother’s warnings to get down to the school bus. I couldn’t possibly go to school until I had finished my “work.”
Training My Talent
I never stopped drawing, sketching and admiring buildings and decided early on that I was going to be an architect.
I was one of 75 or so students accepted into that year’s Architecture Program at Wentworth Institute of Technology. (WIT’s architectural program has been ranked as the 4th best in the nation by College Factual.)
Boston is full of amazing colonial, coastal, industrial, commercial and residential architecture. It was at WIT that I began to understand my design vernacular and desire to use my technical skills to connect drawings and structures to the lives of my clients
Developing My Design Vernacular
Following the amazing and intense 5-year honors program at WIT, I worked at several firms (Bernard & Priestley Architecture, Port City Architecture, Morris/Switzer Associates, Inc, protégé to William M. Thompson) and dove into exploring all types of projects from commercial to residential. The internships provided opportunities to dabble in architectural design ranging from high-end residential to extensive hospital renovations and additions (Pen Bay Medical Center and Maine Medical Center). I have fond memories of working with William M. Thompson, a renowned architect with a distinct appreciation and dedication to historical architecture. It was during this time that a love and keen eye for historical details was cultivated. William’s projects stretched along the East Coast from Maine to Florida, resulting in fun job site visits and design reviews. I believe my fondness for coastal, historically-influenced architecture was deep rooted, fostered from childhood and vibrant in my work today.
Owning It
In 2011 the unique opportunity presented itself to do what I love while learning the entrepreneurial skills of running my own business. As a woman in an industry heavily populated by men, I have enjoyed the opportunity to explore the juxtaposition of technical skills I’ve honed and the artistic, nature-influenced flair that growing up in and around the beautiful Maine coast has afforded me.
Stoneboat Architectural Design continues to grow and explore opportunities to fit our design perspective. We have a commitment to design in a way that both reflects our clients’ lifestyle and complements the incredible palette woven into Maine property by nature itself.
See Our Process