Whitten Architects, an award-winning architectural firm in Maine, celebrates a 30-plus year history with an expansion of its leadership team, citing year-over-year success in residential design and a vision for the future. Joining founder Rob Whitten as a principal is Russ Tyson, who has been a member of the Whitten team since 2007, as well as Jessie Carroll who joins the leadership team as associate principal after more than five years with the firm.
"We began in 1986, one of just a handful of firms in town," says Whitten, a resident of Portland. "With each home we designed, I envisioned building a design team that could sustain and stay relevant through the years. Russ and Jessie are exemplary leaders within our studio, as well as the architecture community, and having them alongside me is truly a vision realized."
Tyson has served a significant role in the maturation of Whitten Architects over the last 10 years and has strategically contributed to its continued success. He is a graduate of the School of Architecture, Art & Design at Andrews University, where his beliefs in "real and lasting" architecture were formed. Tyson is also a member of the American Institute of Architects and on the board of the Portland Society for Architecture.
"Living and working in Maine has provided the opportunity to put my core design beliefs into practice: that a well-conceived home is first informed by careful evaluation and stewardship of its site," says Tyson. "It has been an honor to work with Rob. We're all excited about the future of our firm as it continues to evolve and provide an exceptional level of service to our clients."
Carroll is a licensed architect in Maine and an adjunct faculty member at University of Maine Augusta, and on the American Institute of Architects Maine Board of Directors. She earned both undergraduate and graduate degrees in architecture at Northeastern University where she was formally recognized with the highest Design Achievement Award for her graduate thesis work. Prior to joining Whitten, she worked as a designer at several Boston-based firms, where she became well versed in the world of architecture in an urban context. Carroll's experience includes serving as a project manager for a residential construction company in Cape Cod in Massachusetts. As project architect at Whitten Architects, Carroll was recently awarded the Merit Award for Excellence in Architecture by AIA Maine and nationally recognized with an Integrity Windows & Doors 2017 Red Diamond Achiever Award.
"Practicing in New England, a region native to me, has provided the opportunity to engage in client-focused, collaborative projects in a stunning environment I love," says Carroll. "As someone whose passion for architecture goes far beyond the walls of my office, I continue to be profoundly satisfied by the quality of work Whitten represents. As associate principal, I'm committed to upholding the firm's established excellence in architecture for years to come."
Over the last 30 years, Whitten has been designing thoughtfully considered homes in New England. With a focus exclusively on residential design, the firm has designed a range of project types from camps to cottages, modern homes to historic renovations. The Portland-based firm has won a number of awards over the years and has been nationally published in a variety of residential home design books and magazines. The design team collectively offers decades of hands-on residential design and construction experience, as well as a common ethos that a home should reflect its occupants, and its design should first develop from an appreciation for and an understanding of its context.
About Whitten Architects:
Whitten Architects is an architectural firm based in Portland, Maine. Founded in 1986, the firm focuses exclusively on residential design, from camps to cottages, modern homes to historic renovations. The firm's work has won a number of awards over the years and has been nationally published in a variety of residential design books and magazines. For more information, please visit: www.whittenarchitects.com and follow the firm on Instagram: @whittenarchitects
