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Each November, we present this sponsored section, where we invite highly accomplished architects of the Chesapeake Region to feature a home they have designed and a profile about their work and firm. Our purpose is to benefit those homeowners who are considering hiring an architect. The principals of these firms are licensed architects and have won professional awards in juried competitions or have been featured in regional and national design magazines, including Annapolis Home Magazine.
All of these architects have many years of experience, and we are confident they are serious about giving you their best work. If you are considering hiring an architect to design or remodel your home in greater Annapolis, the Eastern Shore, or the metropolitan D.C. area, you will find on the following pages exceptional architects worthy of your consideration.
Initially established as Alt Breeding Schwarz Architects in 1996, ABS Architects is an office with extensive and award winning experience in residential, institutional, commercial, and interior design projects, as well as expertise in sustainable design for all project types.
Since their opening, ABS has completed billions of dollars in new construction and adaptive re-use projects which have received many design, construction and preservation awards in addition to much published recognition. Each project is assigned to a team from a collected staff of talented architects and designers with the unique set of skills to match the house or building type. In collaboration with our client, we develop and produce a diverse range of design solutions as well as offering comprehensive project services.
Jay Schwarz is now the Managing Principal of ABS Architects and will continue to provide the primary lead on residential and commercial/institutional work as well as the burgeoning sustainable green design movement. Associate Principals Angela Phelan, AIA and Bill Williams, RA provide the additional design expertise and management skill set to maintain and expand ABS’s award winning portfolio. In partnership with our clients, ABS creates beautiful work; everything from exquisitely detailed elegant homes and waterfront estates, to successful commercial developments and green design.
A dynamic blend of talent and teamwork continues to drive ABS Architects to garner the respect and the recognition afforded the highest level of architectural design in the mid-Atlantic region—as well as meeting and surpassing client expectations.
Jay Schwarz, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP
Angela Phelan, AIA
Bill Williams, RA
410.268.1213 | absarchitects.com
BarnesVanze Architects creates architecture of beauty and authenticity for clients who share the same aspiration for excellence.
Based in Washington, D.C.’s historic Georgetown, the 25-member firm consists of six principals and a talented studio team who together create sophisticated architecture in a range of contexts, climates, and historical traditions. The firm’s portfolio of expertly designed residential, commercial, institutional, and ecclesiastic projects can be found nationwide and in six other countries, from Canada to the Caribbean.
Anthony “Ankie” Barnes, FAIA, LEED AP
Stephen J. Vanze FAIA, LEED AP
Wayne R. Adams
Melanie B. Giordano, AIA
Ellen Hatton, AIA
Michael Patrick, AIA, LEED AP
202.337.7255 | barnesvanze.com
Easton-based Christine M. Dayton Architect, P.A. has earned a reputation for artful design, thoughtful attention to detail, and a highly collaborative working style. Staying fully engaged with her clients and their builder from start to finish is key. “There are no design musts,” says Dayton. Each project is an embodiment of her clients’ wants and dreams.
This project, a redesign of a dated family summer home, artfully houses two branches of the next generation. Public and private spaces are masterfully contained within the 6,000 sf expanse, ensuring lasting memories for years to come.
Christine M. Dayton
410.822.3130 | cdaytonarchitect.com
Fred Sieracki has led his Annapolis-based architecture practice since 1996, specializing in custom homes. By creating buildings that are beautiful as well as functional and energy-efficient, he helps clients build their dream house while reducing their carbon footprint. As a sole practitioner, Fred gives each client his personal attention as he guides them through every stage of the process, from design through construction. Clients appreciate his use of historical elements and natural materials that reflect the Chesapeake region—not to mention his attention to detail, which has earned him local and state awards for his designs.
The clients for this project wanted a French country-style house. The hipped roofs, stucco and stone walls, and other traditional elements pair with modern energy efficiency for a home that’s as practical as it is charming.
Photographer: David Burroughs
Fred Sieracki, AIA
410.570.2985 | fredsierackiarchitect.com
Hansen Architects specializes in maximizing the creative potential of the most highly regulated waterfront sites in Maryland. Marta Hansen has built 175+ waterfront residences along the Chesapeake Bay and has won numerous awards from the American Institute of Architects. Her work is regularly featured in regional and national publications. Hansen Architects is scaled to ensure that each client receives her personal attention at every stage of development, yielding both a highly unified design vision and the highest quality product. Hansen is noted for blending construction and engineering expertise with a deep background in Fine Arts. This enables her to fluently compose hand sketches to visually convey the best in architectural design.
Marta Hansen, AIA, LEED AP
410.212.7970 | hansenarchitects.net
The addition of a pool and pool house to this classic property could have been approached from a variety of design philosophies. JTAD’s design creates a unique, modern pool house that combines 1930s style with features and amenities from the 21st century. Accordion doors and an expansive skylight flood the interior with light and dramatic connection with the outdoors.
JTAD offers a creative, comprehensive, and exciting design experience to homeowners who want to infuse their properties with timeless elegance, customized to embrace and enhance the way they live, work, and play. John Toates and partner Mark L. Hoffman have more than 50 years of combined experience in residential design, making them ideal experts to guide you through the experience of a custom-designed home, renovation, addition, or outbuilding.
Photographer: Andrew Frasz
John Toates, RA
Mark L. Hoffman, RA
484.725.7978 | toatesarchitecture.com
SPIRE Architecture is a firm driven to create authentic living spaces through intentional design. Principals Kurt Shepard and Craig Martin bring nearly 40 years of experience to work on behalf of clients up and down the Chesapeake Bay. “Our process goes beyond active listening,” Martin says, “because SPIRE melds our client’s vision with a realistic budget, assists in hiring the appropriate builder, and observes the construction process from beginning to end.” The integration of the architectural design, construction team, and comprehensive client service sets SPIRE apart.
This project, on the south side of the South River overlooking the Riva Road Bridge, perfectly exemplifies SPIRE’s comprehensive approach. These clients asked for a place to feel comfortable, to create a multigenerational family space, and to have a cozy experience with a modern flair. “Our team worked with the client’s dreams to develop a modern design aesthetic integrating their vision with the contractor’s process and pricing for a complete bespoke experience,” explains Shepard. “Once we had the concept, we formulated a practical budget, finalized the design, and worked hand-in-hand with the builder to produce the high-quality home that will fit our clients’ lifestyle for years to come.”
The building team is Tim Ball from Annapolis on the Level, and interior design services are from Kate Lindsay, Melissa McLay Interiors.
Founded in 2013, SPIRE has created some of the most noteworthy custom homes and renovations in the region. Its projects have appeared in numerous publications, and they have been named the ‘Best of Annapolis’ Architecture Firm three years in a row. Both principals are adjunct faculty members for architecture at a local college and are active members of the American Institute of Architects, Chesapeake Bay Chapter. Martin currently serves on the Eastport Civic Association’s architectural review committee.
Kurt Shepard, AIA
Craig Martin, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP
410.212.6790 | spirearch.com
Steve Terhune has a straightforward philosophy when it comes to architecture: He wants his clients and their visitors to say, “I really like that, and I’ve never seen it before.” The goal is always to be unique but comfortably familiar. And that resonates with his clients. He has unanimous 5-star ratings on Houzz, with testimonials praising his creativity and the way he listens to people’s needs. With diverse experience in everything from large institutional healthcare projects to small residential remodeling, Terhune is most proud that he has many repeat clients.
One homeowner remarks: “Steve has done 3 major projects for us over the past 15 years. The result has always been surprising and amazing whether the project is in Maryland or the mountains of Utah.”
His background as a construction manager for a national development company makes him unique among architects, giving him practical field experience and an understanding of what things cost. He works closely with builders early in the project to keep an eye on his client’s pocketbook.
Steve Terhune
443.994.6100 | steveterhune.com
The design of a home is infinitely more than architecture. It is a personal reflection of how each client wants to live. For this new, custom home on the West River, architect Bob Berry with Three B Architecture seamlessly integrates the owner’s desire for maximum indoor-outdoor living space while navigating complex critical area requirements. Re-positioning the new home on the site permitted an open floorplan that maximizes river views and enabled a waterfront pool and spa, also with spectacular views. Waterfront decks on both the ground and upper levels, combined with a wrap-around porch, perfectly met the owner’s desire for highly integrated indoor-outdoor living spaces. Capitalizing on more than 23 years of global award-winning residential and commercial experience, Three B Architecture is perfectly positioned to balance each client’s values and vision with contextual sensitivity for each site. Like this home, the result is an elegant, refined solution that merges modern living with sustainable design.
Photographer: Geoffrey Hodgdon
Bob Berry, AIA
443.791.6193 | threebarchitecture.com
Wiedemann Architects is a full-service architectural firm with over 30 years of award-winning design experience ranging from new homes, estates, and residential additions to large institutional and commercial projects. The firm’s portfolio encompasses new work, both traditional and modern in design, and includes seamless residential additions, sympathetic to older structures: “additions so seamless they look as if they have always been there.” In addition to all normal architectural services, the firm offers services in feasibility studies, programming, site planning, master planning, urban design, and interiors. Wiedemann Architects LLC brings a breadth of experience and a standard of excellence in design, as demonstrated by the firm’s numerous architectural awards.
Gregory Wiedemann, FAIA
301.652.4022 | wiedemannarchitects.com
© Annapolis Home Magazine
Vol. 13, No. 6 2022