My First 40 Years
I joined SMRT in 1984, after my first year of architecture school in New York City. Having spent my childhood summers in Maine, it seemed like a good idea to get out of the big city and find a summer internship in Portland. The founding partners of SMRT, Paul Stevens, Dana Morton, Duane Rose, and Arthur Thompson were all actively engaged with the firm. Arthur and Paul focused on architecture and getting work in the door, Dana served as our jack-of-all-trades engineer, and Duane ran the survey operation. It was a small crew with little to no support staff. Arthur vacuumed; Paul made the coffee. We briefly had a receptionist, but on her first day, she went out to lunch and never came back!
SMRT was 100 years old when I started my tenure with the firm. Now, 40 years later, I’m able to reflect on its transformation from an eight-person generalist firm to a 140-person, multidiscipline, multi market firm with four staffed offices across the northeast. The evolution of SMRT parallels that of the design/construction industry over these years. At the beginning, we were designing and documenting projects entirely by hand drafting and using typewriters for contracts and specifications. I turned on our first computer, developed our first set of drawings using Computer Aided Drafting (CAD), and produced our first contract using a word processor. The introduction of the fax machine was a memorable day, speeding up our response time to field questions. Today, all our projects are developed using Building Information Modeling (BIM). The pace of production is vastly accelerated, as are client and contractor expectations for response times.
My SMRT career falls into four chapters as follows:
The Learning Years – Early Projects 1984-1990
As with many small architecture/engineering firms, we were generalists, working in multiple markets across all project phases—from securing the work to early programming, design, and construction administration. My exposure as an emerging architect was extremely broad. I was well served with Paul and Arthur always encouraging me to take on “stretch” projects and responsibilities outside my comfort zone but usually within a distant reach.
A turning point for me was in 1989 when SMRT was awarded a major expansion project at Southern Maine Medical Center (SMMC) in Biddeford for ambulatory care services. I was assigned to the project and began working closely with the SMMC project manager who would remain my client until he retired in 2018. Thus began my career-long commitment to building relationships of trust and respect with clients and contractors. The project also allowed me to develop a deep appreciation for the importance of designing patient-care spaces that were both highly functional and efficient for staff while providing an optimal patient and family experience.
The “Doing” Years – 1990-2004
I became a licensed architect in 1990 and for the next 15 years, my growth and the firm’s growth were on parallel tracks. Our healthcare portfolio was expanding with signature projects including the Eastern Maine Medical Center Pediatrics Unit and the St. Mary’s Women’s Pavilion. We teamed with firms “from away” to grow from “nexperts” to “experts,” and were on our way to becoming the “go-to” firm in Maine for healthcare design services.
My expertise in healthcare programming and planning was developing and our internal team was expanding, allowing us to take on more projects. In 1992, I was named an Associate and became a full principal in 1996. As with many young professionals, my years of accelerated career growth and maximum project production overlapped with starting my own family. These were the “blur” years of raising two boys and taking on leadership positions within the firm.
The Leadership Years – 2004-2024
I stepped into the role of SMRT president in 2004 at a time when the firm was growing more and more confident. In addition to healthcare, we had subject matter experts in multiple markets including science and technology, justice, education, and government. At 60-plus employees, we were able to take on sizable projects. The firm had expanded into Massachusetts and New York, and later we would open an office in Bangor.
Taking on the role of President was the ultimate “stretch” position of my career. With no formal leadership training, I relied on instinct and was guided by capable colleagues and mentors. Together, we shaped a strategic vision for growth focusing on primary market sectors, led by designated market sector leaders.
The signature project from this period was the MaineGeneral Alfond Center for Health. This was a new hospital that reshaped how healthcare was delivered in the region with a real focus on a positive patient experience and shaping an environment where caregivers could do their best work. We executed this project under an Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) contract, a first in the northeast, pioneering the ultimate level of collaboration amongst the owner, design, and construction team.
The focus of the firm has continued to evolve along with the industry. We’ve invested in a vibrant workspace in Portland for our headquarters and today, more than ever, are focused on design excellence, sustainability, and decarbonization. We are able to execute large, complex projects that require a truly integrated, high-caliber team. Recently, we’ve expanded our practice areas to include workplace and are exploring new markets, including hospitality and housing.
Looking back on the last 40 years, it’s been an incredible journey. We’ve never wavered from our commitment to being a full-service firm using design to better our world. We have always had a growth mindset providing opportunities for our employees to shape their careers here using their strengths to advance the firm.
The Giving Back Years – 2024 and beyond
In January 2024, Bradley Hodges, PE, took over the role of SMRT president. This allowed me to pursue a deeper engagement with clients and project work, as well as support organizations external to SMRT, including Maine & Company, the UMaine Board of Visitors, and E2Tech. I continue to serve on SMRT’s board of directors and mentor folks on project teams and on firm-wide initiatives.
I am beyond grateful for all the colleagues, clients, contractors, and business partners who have been at my side throughout the many years of growth and change.
