HMFH Architects

Colin Dockrill, AIGA | Promoted to Senior Associate

As HMFH’s Graphic Designer, Colin brings a strong eye for design and intuition for color and texture to the full range of projects he works on. An artist in and out of the office, Colin elevates simple concepts and materials to levels that establish a building’s overall character. Colin also maintains HMFH’s brand identity through the development of graphic standards. Whether he is designing a whimsical cloud motif to make young students feel welcome or illustrating large concepts like strategies for carbon reduction, Colin infuses every visual with both clarity and character.

What was the first architectural design you worked on?
My very first architectural design was for the four bas-relief panels at the cornice of the East Boston Early Education Center. It was a cool opportunity to do something I’d never done before, and made me realize how many opportunities there are for creativity in architecture. 

Tracey Clarke | Promoted to Associate

Behind the scenes of every project, Tracey’s work in financial management keeps everything running smoothly and both on schedule and on budget. With a strong sense of organization and careful attention to detail, she oversees the business side of our firm. Tracey approaches each of her many responsibilities with both positivity and thoughtfulness. Her enthusiasm for her work and leadership in taking on new responsibilities has been integral in supporting HMFH’s growth and continued evolution.

What are some parts of accounting that the average person might not know about?
Project accounting is not just about the numbers for me. Like architecture, there are many components that go into the process of accounting; from reviewing budgets to maintaining client and consultant relationships. I find many of these behind the scene procedures very motivating. 

James Liebman, AIA, LEED AP | Promoted to Associate

In his 22 years in the industry, James has gained a broad range of experience (both programmatically and geographically). Having worked in Philadelphia, New York, and Glasgow before coming to Boston, James brings unique and thoughtful insights from his different experiences in architecture to his project work. His skill in working with different stakeholder groups to identify and achieve clear goals ensures that our design process is open and communicative. In his current work on Chapman Middle School, he has been instrumental in working with community groups to ensure multiple priorities, from sustainable design to educational vision, coalesce into an elegant design.

 What drew you to educational design?
I love that working on schools means designing a wide variety of different spaces: theaters, gyms, cafeterias, makerspaces, science labs, lecture halls, dance studios. I also love working in the public realm on impactful projects that improve a community’s resources for thousands of kids over multiple generations.

Suni Dillard, AIA, LEED AP BD+C | Promoted to Associate

Suni leaves a positive impact on any environment she is a part of. Her passion for sustainability in both design and day-to-day activities help elevate our standards and serve as an example for all those in the office. A leader of the office’s efforts to expand internal areas of expertise, Suni ensures that she and her colleagues are not only aware of the latest strategies and tools in various areas of design, but are making thoughtful contributions to the field. In her current work on Bristol County Agricultural High School, she has been key in the development of the design and in understanding community needs; in a student-focused charette, she facilitated activities that gave students the opportunity to offer insights into qualities they wanted their new spaces to have.

If you could design your dream project, what would it look like?
Bristol County Agricultural School is my current project and I’d say it’s a dream. It has set a lot of goals that are close to my heart and caters to the types of experiences I had growing up in rural Washington state. I feel this way about school projects generally because I love that buildings can influence the way a person learns. I’ve been lucky to have had influential teachers in my life, and working on these projects makes me feel like I’m giving back.

Peter Rust, AIA | Promoted to Associate

With an affinity for problem-solving, Pete views the constraints of a difficult site or an existing building as opportunities that inspire interesting and contextual solutions. His thoughtful approach to such design challenges, along with his enthusiasm for working with clients to ensure the built design is customized to best fit the needs of its users, has recently led to the success of a unique emergency housing project that preserved historical components while introducing elements of high-performance design. Pete’s background in woodworking adds yet another layer of complexity and expertise to his already thoughtful and detail-oriented designs.

If you could design your dream project, what would it look like?
Difficult to say because the form of a building can only be derived from its program.  (I know that’s a real “architect” sort of answer).  I hope it would display an attention to detail, scale, respect for nature and respect for its occupants.

Stephanie MacNeil, AIA, LEED AP BD+C | Promoted to Associate

Stephanie’s wide range of project experience, across both program type and project phase, is a testament to her ability to quickly and smoothly transition between activities, ensuring organized and tactful approaches to each new project. Whether she is contributing to options for the new Arlington High School, or designing the types of quiet, cozy nooks she herself would have loved to study in at the Roeper School Learning Commons, Stephanie brings a practicality and care to her designs that result in spaces that are both achievable and unique. Her commitment to sustainable practices and knowledge of LEED standards, skills in business development, and activity in national organizations including the USGBC, foster HMFH’s culture and growth.

How does your involvement in professional development activities (like the USGBC) inform your work?
In our current time when it’s so important to make sure our buildings are energy-efficient and making as small an impact as possible on the global climate, it’s important to share our ideas and developments throughout the industry, so that all can benefit from the collective knowledge.