Studio

Steve Smith

Partner

Stephen Smith cofounded SAS in 1993 and currently serves as President of the firm. He is actively involved with most of our projects as a design critic and also acts as Project Architect for certain projects, responsible for all aspects of the work from design through construction.

He has a particular interest in sustainable, contextual design and was the Principal-In-Charge for the first two LEED Platinum projects in Vermont; the Environmental Studies Center at Middlebury College and the Forest Center at Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historic Park.

Many of Steve’s projects involve the restoration and adaptive reuse of historic buildings. For the past twenty years, he has worked closely with Shelburne Farms, a National Historic Landmark, to restore their priceless buildings and adapt them for contemporary use. More recently, Steve was part of the team that designed HULA, the 14-acre tech campus on the Burlington Waterfront.

Steve’s formal architectural education was supplemented by his years of construction experience, including ownership of a seasonal construction company.

Bren Alvarez

Partner

Bren Alvarez cofounded SAS in 1993. Bren is typically involved with most projects in their initial programming and design phases, providing alternatives and insight from conception through the development of a design direction. Through the course of a project, Bren’s involvement is focused on design development, detailing, and ensuring that architectural integrity is maintained as building systems and technologies are integrated.

In addition to her work at SAS, Bren has been an integral part of the redevelopment of several historic blocks of buildings in Burlington’s Downtown Core, as well as in the South End Arts District.

In 1999, Bren cofounded FLYNNDOG, an alternative exhibition space for the contemporary arts in Burlington where exhibitions are organized as inspiration and schedule allow. The gallery space has become a renowned venue for local and international artists.

Marty Sienkiewycz

Partner

Marty Sienkiewycz cofounded SAS in 1993 and currently serves as Vice-President of the firm. He is actively involved in most projects during the construction documents and construction phases and serves as project architect managing all aspects of many projects. A LEED accredited professional, Marty has a keen interest in sustainable architecture and reducing the impact of construction on our environment. Marty’s involvement with ECHO contributed to the first LEED-certified building of Vermont.

Marty has been working closely with the Vermont Army National Guard completing multiple projects each year for the past 21 years.

Marty also has practical hands-on experience working in the construction industry as well as building cabinets, furniture and other fine woodwork.

Tricia Roy

Project Architect

Tricia Roy began at SAS in 1996 after completing her architectural degree at Cornell University. Tricia has been Project Architect on a wide range of projects for the firm.

Tricia is responsible for projects from the existing conditions and schematic design phases through construction documents and construction administration for institutional, renovation and restoration projects. Tricia is also often involved with feasibility studies and code compliance reviews, presentation drawings and three- dimensional modeling.

Tricia has worked on a number of historic renovation/restoration projects with SAS, including multiple projects at Shelburne Farms, Middlebury College, Green Mountain College, Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historic Park, and for the Woodstock Resort Corporation. Tricia appreciates the challenge of adaptive reuse of historic buildings to fulfil modern uses and infusing new life into these buildings.

Tricia is a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Accredited Professional, and was Project Architect for the first two LEED Platinum projects in Vermont. She has been responsible for guiding a number of SAS projects through the LEED certification process.

Sherry Libby

Project Architect

Sherry Libby has been an integral part of SAS since it’s inception in 1993. She is now responsible for many of the Construction Documents sets produced by the firm.

Sherry’s current role in the firm is Project Architect. She is responsible for projects from Existing Conditions and Design through Construction Documents. Sherry has also taken on a critical role in the Construction Administration phase, providing support to the firm’s Principals throughout construction.

In her over 30 years of architectural experience in Vermont, Sherry has been involved in a wide array of projects ranging from large institutional to small residential. Her experience includes numerous historic renovation and restoration projects, including the Lamoille County Courthouse in Hyde Park, Vermont.

Stephanie Lynch

Project Architect

Stephanie Lynch began at SAS in 2002 after settling in Vermont. Prior to joining SAS, Stephanie worked in Boston and Texas, and with Freeman French Freeman where she had similar responsibilities. Her current role is Project Architect.

Stephanie is responsible for projects from existing conditions and code reviews through design/construction documents to construction administration. She has been involved in a wide range of interior renovation projects including office space, laboratories, and residential and medical facilities. She has also been involved in several additions and new construction projects.

Stephanie has provided project support on many projects through detailing and product integration. She works well both individually on small projects and as part of a team on larger projects.

Cheryl Dowling

Project Architect

Cheryl Dowling joined SAS in 2000 when she settled in Vermont, bringing with her experience from firms in Massachusetts, Philadelphia, and New York City where she previously practiced architecture as an intern.

In her current role as Project Architect, she is responsible for projects from the existing conditions, code review, and schematic design phases through construction documents and construction administration. Over the past 20 years she has worked on projects ranging from small interior renovations to university dormitory renovations to new construction of large institutional buildings.

Cheryl shares the firm’s commitment to sustainable design. She has been an integral part of the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) design and documentation process for multiple projects in the office.

Owen Smith

Architect

Owen Smith joined SAS in 2018. He completed his architectural degree at Cornell University and worked for a number of firms in Vermont and New York before settling back in Vermont.

He specializes in conceptual design, construction documents, graphic presentations, existing conditions documentation, 3D models and physical models.

Owen also worked construction on residential scale projects of all types throughout and after college. He started as a carpenter and then later became a project manager for small high-end building companies in Vermont and New York.

Mona Boutin

Office Manager

Mona has been the heart, soul and engine of our little office for more than two decades.

She is head of our accounting, business management, procurement, special projects, IT and personnel departments.  She sometimes reminds us that the primary foundation of her expertise in managing all non-architectural things at SAS was running a daycare that she founded in 1986 and ran for 5 years. She is provider of all good things, from paychecks to birthday celebrations to hugs, whether they are needed or not.

Time off is spent at her country homestead that she and her husband built from scratch where she can ride her horse, Dusty, on wooded trails and hang out with two growing-like-weeds grandsons.  Her landscape photography, including the deer, geese, ducks, beaver and otters that share their pond is stunning and always a reminder that our downtown office is really in Vermont.