Nicholas Ames

Designer

Nick joined Ai3 in early 2022 after a successful experience as an intern with the firm in 2019. At Norwich University, Nick earned the 2021 AIA Vermont Thesis Award for his research and case for adaptive re-use of existing buildings. Nick’s education, research, and technical experience make him a valued member of Ai3.

Lucas Armstrong

Construction Administrator

Lucas is a 2016 graduate of Wentworth Institute of Technology, where he earned his B.S. in Architecture.  He provides over six years of experience designing high-end boutique spaces for both private and large corporate clients in the most competitive markets throughout the United States.  While based in Los Angeles, he operated and led architectural design projects in both ground-up and Class-A commercial buildings throughout Southern California and in other cities such as Chicago, San Antonio, and Philadelphia.  Lucas has extensive experience in the construction industry on the East Coast, focused on mixed-use and multi-family residential projects.  He assisted with the development of construction teams and practices for multiple general contractors looking to expand into different market sectors.  Lucas provided construction management and estimating services to Owners in Boston, Providence, and Miami, and has built lasting relationships with Owners and General Contractors alike.

Kristen Baker

Principal | Office Manager

Kristen joined Ai3 in 2004, a month after graduating with a degree in Business Administration from the University of New Hampshire. Still unsure of what career would be the right fit for her, she accepted the position of Administrative Assistant with no expectations, never imagining that she had not only landed her dream job, but a lifelong and satisfying career. In the more than 18 years she has worked at Ai3, Kristen has quickly risen from Administrative Assistant to Principal. She serves as the Office Manager of Ai3, a constantly evolving role with myriad responsibilities. Aside from the actual designing of schools, there isn’t a task that has come Ai3’s way in which Kristen hasn’t had some form of involvement. She is extremely organized and detail-oriented and attributes a lot of her success at Ai3 to a strong work ethic and positive attitude, as well as a flexibility and willingness to be a “team player” and assist with any task no matter how challenging or tedious.

Zachary Chartrand

Designer

Zach joined Ai3 in 2023 as a Designer. He brings experience and understanding of design and construction from five years of prior work in commercial design for large-scale retail partners.  His design philosophy is informed by his knowledge of construction and his belief that form should respond to the function of a space.  In addition, Zach brings a focused interest in design that integrates with the landscape and promotes sustainability. Zach received a BS in Architectural Engineering Technology from the University of Hartford in 2018.

Brian Contois

Intern-Architect

Brian is a designer who joined Ai3 in 2022 after receiving a Master’s in Architecture from Northeastern University. With a diverse professional background as an economic analyst, teacher’s assistant, and pantry chef before making the transition to architecture, Brian brings a depth of perspective and a unique knowledge to every project. His skills, experience, and lifelong passion for design make Brian a valuable team member. His eye for bold, forward-thinking design and his dedication to creating sustainable, intelligent, and memorable spaces benefit project teams and clients. Brian’s ambition to discover new opportunities and overcome challenges fits seamlessly into the culture of Ai3 as both he and the firm continue to strive for excellence and growth.

Victoria (Tori) Coviello, AIA, NCARB

PROJECT ARCHITECT

Tori joined Ai3 in 2018 and is a core member of the Interior Design team. Tori received a BFA in Design Studies from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2016 and a Master of Architecture from Roger Williams University in 2018. Tori plays a significant role in developing Revit standards and leading in-office training sessions. She focuses on creating timeless, dynamic interiors and experiences that positively impact students and educators. She values the collaborative and interdisciplinary nature of educational projects and enjoys incorporating a client’s perspective and experiences into a unified design solution.

Andrew Cunneen, RA, LEED AP BD+C, NCARB

Associate | Project Architect

Andrew joined Ai3 in 2018 with more than 12 years of design, detailing, and coordination experience. Andrew believes that each project has a unique set of challenges and that the fundamentals of good design and detailing are constant. Andrew is passionate about his craft and thrives on solving complex design challenges with creative, well-coordinated details and enthusiasm. Andrew is known for his thoughtfulness, personable attitude, and strong work ethic. He engages effortlessly with clients, contractors, and coworkers. Andrew received his Bachelor of Architecture from Syracuse University in 2006 and is a registered architect in the Commonwealths of Virginia and Massachusetts, a LEED Accredited Professional, and a member of the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB).

Christopher Flynn

Project Assistant

Chris joined Ai3 in 2019 with a Master of Architecture degree from Roger Williams University. He has worked on new school projects including East Providence High School, Cunniff Elementary School, and Somerset Middle School. Chris brings creativity and a strong work ethic to the design of educational spaces. He is particularly interested in community-based architecture and designing spaces that foster collaboration and engagement while balancing security and other specialized needs. Chris seeks to gain knowledge and experience in all phases of design and construction as he works towards his architectural license.

Angelica (Angie) Franco

Interior Designer

Angie joined Ai3 in early 2022 as an interior designer. Her prior experience in diverse markets includes hospitality, small and large business customers, education, government, and healthcare, with clients including Disney, NBC Universal, Hilton, Saint John’s Hospital, UCLA, and USC. Her decision to focus on K-12 educational facilities is driven by her interest in creating spaces that are perfectly attuned to changing learning environments. She strives to ensure that each space is not only functional, but is also creative, inspiring, and inviting. Angie graduated from California State University, Northridge with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Interior Design.

John Jordan

Principal | Director of Technology

John leads the technology design and implementation for all of Ai3’s PK-12 school projects. As Director of Technology and Principal at Ai3 for more than 20 years, he is instrumental in achieving seamless, innovative, and forward-thinking technology systems for the schools we design.

Prior to Ai3, John was involved in design and manufacturing for Avidyne, a private market leader in avionics systems. John began his career in the New York Air National Guard, attaining the highest level of leadership. During his 25 years with the National Guard, John was involved with physical and information security systems, and maintained advanced avionics systems and the base network control center. He retired from the Air National Guard in 2009 as a Chief Master Sergeant.

John is dedicated to the advancement of integrated technology in the learning environment and is responsible for all facets of technology systems, including educational technology, technology infrastructure, voice communications, wireless network infrastructure and devices, public address systems, digital video distribution systems and digital signage, audio distribution systems, access control systems, intrusion detection systems, and video surveillance. John collaborates closely with school districts to design security and technology systems. His work often requires close collaboration with the Police and Fire Departments. John leads the coordination with electrical engineers, and his oversight during the construction phase ensures Ai3’s technology and security systems not only meet the needs of the district’s technology and security plan but are highly integrated and user-friendly.

Joan Kang

Construction Administrator

Joan graduated from Mount Holyoke College with a B.A. in Architectural Studies and Sociology.  She has developed her previous professional experiences under the guidance of sustainable architecture leaders in the Western Massachusetts area, working on Net-Zero and Passive Haus designs on small teams that have allowed her to develop a familiarity with construction and project management processes along the way.  Having a background in residential design, she is excited to apply her skills towards larger-scale projects in the educational architecture field.  She brings an understanding of sustainable design principles, strong sense of collaboration, and eagerness for learning into her work as Construction Administrator at Ai3.

Kristen Kendall, AIA, LEED AP

Associate | Project Architect

At a young age, Kristen turned a love of art and engineering into a passion for architecture. Her career included designing healthcare, science and technology, and higher education facilities before she discovered a passion for designing inspiring and efficient spaces for K-12 clients and creating engaging experiences for her two young children.

Kristen is an in-depth thinker and problem solver and brings a tremendous amount of energy and dedication to the projects she leads. Kristen thrives on working with a talented team of professionals to ensure everyone feels engaged, valued, and more knowledgeable with each project. With more than 20 years of experience, Kristen enjoys developing innovative solutions to complex problems. She recently completed a district-wide masterplan for Central Falls, Rhode Island, evaluating the conditions of the city’s six existing schools and outlining a path of grade-level reconfiguration to a PK-8 system for the district. She relishes opportunities to develop meaningful changes and lasting improvements in underprivileged communities, making a real difference for an entire community through educational design.

Nick Lamson, AIA, NCARB

Project Architect

Nick joined Ai3 in 2019 as a designer. He received a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies from Norwich University in 2018 and completed his Master of Architecture from Norwich University in 2019. Nick gained early experience as a designer in a firm that specialized in mixed-use commercial renovations and industrial processing plants. During his time at Ai3, Nick has developed detailed public bidding documents for both interior and exterior school designs. Most recently, he has taken on a more prominent role in the design and development of the highly efficient exterior envelope for a new innovative, LEED Gold middle school. Nick enjoys the opportunities exterior envelope design provides for energy efficiency and sustainability, building tectonics, and the creative use of materials to achieve aesthetic and functional goals. Nick values strong collaboration between the design team and client to create innovative, functional, and inspiring spaces that benefit students and teachers.

Samantha Lane, AIA, NCARB

Project Architect

Samantha is a project architect with Bachelor of Science and Master of Architecture degrees from Wentworth Institute of Technology. She joined Ai3 in 2017 and is a team leader and licensed architect. Samantha is passionate about adaptive and efficient design. Her professional career includes working with a team to develop affordable housing units constructed of recycled materials in Shanghai, China and a school in Haiti that uses passive systems throughout the design. Her experience with sustainable design continues at Ai3 as a team member on Net Zero Energy elementary school and Net Zero Energy, LEED Platinum high school projects.

Heather Martins, NCIDQ

Senior Associate | Senior Interior Designer

Heather graduated from Wentworth Institute of Technology with a degree in Interior Design. The opportunity to design diverse spaces that have meaningful and direct impact on occupants drew her to educational design. She joined Ai3 in 2011 and is currently an NCIDQ certified Senior Interior Designer.

Heather carefully considers all aspects of a design challenge and creates spaces that addresses user needs both functionally and aesthetically. She believes design is in the details and that the technical documentation of an idea is as important as the idea itself. She is one of the founders of Ai3’s Revit standards group “The Hive”, committed to continually enhancing the firm’s graphic and modeling standards as they pertain to the architectural design process.

Encouraging her teammates to find their strengths and grow more confident in their work is important to Heather. She is an enthusiastic mentor to new employees.

Michael Murphey

Technology Designer

Mike joined Ai3 as a Technology Designer in 2021. Pivoting his career from plumbing and fire protection engineering, his design philosophy focuses on integration of technology and coordination between trades, as well as security and implementing interactive technology to meet the client’s vision and goals.

Jonathan Quell

Associate | Project Manager

Jonathan joined Ai3 in 2014 as an intern-architect. His unwavering positive attitude, design talent, artistic vision, dedication to developing project teams, and passion for realizing clients’ educational visions contributed to his rise to a leadership role at Ai3. Currently serving as an Associate and Project Manager, he pushes the boundaries of design in the educational market, resulting in innovative, thoughtful, progressive school projects.

Jonathan’s role in the firm and his ability to lead, teach, encourage, and support his peers is mirrored in his day-to-day communication and collaboration with school districts. With endless energy, honesty, and integrity, he contributes to design that exceeds clients’ expectations.

Molly Rice

Intern-Architect

Molly is an intern-architect with a BFA in Architectural Design from Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt). Her studies provided a unique perspective on architecture as an art form and the opportunity to focus on the technical side of the design process. At Mass Art, her studio work included the design of educational facilities, large-scale residential complexes, and sustainable shopping plazas, with the goal of improving the quality of life for surrounding communities and preserving the integrity of the natural environment. Molly served as Treasurer of the American Institute of Architecture Students chapter.

Colby Richford

Job Captain

Colby enthusiastically joined Ai3 in 2018 after completing a Master of Architecture at Norwich University. Colby’s experience as a substitute teacher during her college career provides a unique perspective to her school design work. As a detail-oriented designer, Colby pays attention to the way the subtleties in design can efficiently and effectively realize the design intent. Colby is one of the leading contributors to enhancing the firm’s Revit and visualization platform. She is hardworking, motivated, and dedicated, and strives to grow with the firm – gaining experience, leadership opportunities, and new understanding from each project.

Julie Rivera, AIA, NCARB, LEED GA

Senior Associate | Project Architect

As an architect with passions for both design of experience and detail, Julie is skilled in translating a district’s vision into a living building. She is a creative problem solver who references her unique experiences from travel as well as her previous work in the higher education and custom residential markets. Julie designs with efficiency in mind, whether that be true in the building’s layout, form, or systems. Her capabilities stretch across all project phases, including conceptual design, interior finish selection, and construction administration. Julie has developed a broad skillset at Ai3, including the technical knowledge to complete existing conditions studies and for Net-Zero Energy Buildings, having led the project team for Ai3’s first ZNE school and as a presenter for the MSBA’s 2021 seminar Demystifying Net Zero.

Julie joined Ai3 in 2014 after earning a BS and a Master’s Degree in Architecture from Wentworth Institute of Technology. There, she received the AIA Henry Adams Certificate for academic excellence. She is a licensed architect, a LEED Green Associate, and an active member of the American Institute of Architects.

Elinor Gefen-Rotstein

Senior Designer

Born and raised in Israel, Elinor received her Bachelor of Architecture degree in 2008 from the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology.

Her experience in Israel included designing upscale medical and residential projects, sustainable homes following the ILGBC standards, and high-rise urban complex in Tel-Aviv.

In the United States, Elinor worked in the Greater Boston area on a wide array of commercial and residential projects, appreciating traditional New England design and adding her own unique layer of multicultural style.

Elinor expanded her architectural experience to interior design projects, event design, and custom-made furniture design, and she shares her knowledge and esthetics in a design blog she writes.

Her passion to create memorable places combined with extensive experience in maximizing space utilization makes her an expert in reading a space and tailoring a creative solution to match each client’s needs.

Marina Schuttel

Intern-Architect

Marina is an intern-architect with a background in architectural studies from Brazil, the United States, and Spain. She brings a worldly view and creative energy to Ai3’s projects. Marina is passionate about spaces that bring people together and add value to a community. She finds tremendous joy in having the opportunity to dive deeper into the design of educational spaces and the problem-solving associated with thoughtful, creative, and functional solutions.

Alexandra (Alex) Sieving, RA, NCARB

Project Architect

Alex joined Ai3 in 2018. She began her career with a degree in Urban Studies and Planning from MIT and worked for several years at a nationally recognized firm focusing on infrastructure management. She transitioned into leading nuclear regulatory compliance and quality assurance implementation at her family’s business, which developed high-reliability and proprietary computers for safety and data-critical applications. Returning to the design profession, she obtained her Master of Architecture from Roger Williams University. Since joining Ai3, she enjoys bringing prior career skills to the design of schools, where urban context presents rich opportunities for community building and place-making. With years of experience working with stringent regulations in the nuclear field, she enjoys the challenges of meeting codes and regulations with buildings that are not only safe and equitable, but also push the boundaries of how the built environment can support and stimulate innovation in education.

Marissa Teixeira

Designer

Marissa joined Ai3 in 2023 as a Designer after her experience with the firm as an intern in 2022.  Marissa received a Bachelor of Architecture at Virginia Tech in 2023.  She is interested in designing for the community and contributing to its well-being.  Marissa is a dedicated and dependable team member who is eager to gain more knowledge and experience in design and construction.  She has worked on projects including Phillips Administration Building, Central Falls High School, and Martin Middle School.

Justin Thibeault, AIA, NCARB, MCPPO

Principal | Project Architect

Justin joined Ai3 in 2011, became a Registered Architect in 2014, and was promoted to Principal in 2021. He plays key roles in a wide range of educational projects of varying sizes and grade-level configurations. He participates in all project phases including initial analysis and programming, design and documentation, construction and closeout. Justin applies his breadth of knowledge and diverse skills to every project in which he is involved. As a hands-on leader, he mentors and advises Ai3’s talented teams to ensure projects are not only on time and on budget, but more importantly that they support the client’s educational vision and goals.

Justin enjoys understanding the needs and complexities of each client engagement and finding tailored solutions that support an educational vision. He believes that students and educators flourish when their built environment supports the curriculum and pedagogy. He treats every project as an opportunity to enrich lives and communities.

Nathaniel (Nate) Williams

Intern-Architect

While pursuing a degree in architecture, Nate worked in construction, acquiring valuable hands-on experience and learning building tectonics in the field. His construction experience included exterior envelopes, rough carpentry, structural framing, and finish carpentry. As an intern-architect and construction administration assistant at Ai3, Nate applies his technical knowledge to assist with preparing construction bid documents, conducting exterior envelope technical reviews, and performing building systems coordination. Nate is detail-oriented, able to visualize solutions in three dimensions, and think critically at both micro and macro levels. Nate is a valued colleague who develops trust and accountability with OPMs, owners, contractors, consultants, and Ai3 team members.