Kaplan Thompson Architects

Kaplan Thompson Architects Beautiful Sustainable Attainable BEAUTIFUL, SUSTAINABLE & ATTAINABLE architecture and design

Associate and Architect Cara Bionde graduated from Montana State University in 2018 with a Masters of Architecture and a...
03/05/2026

Associate and Architect Cara Bionde graduated from Montana State University in 2018 with a Masters of Architecture and a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Design. Cara embraces design as a mechanism for strengthening communities and as a Living Future-accredited professional, has demonstrated a commitment to and an understanding of the most advanced and holistic metrics for sustainability currently available.

Learn more at https://www.kaplanthompson.com/team-member/cara-bionde/

We are over the moon to announce that Adam Wallace, AIA - who has contributed stunning design innovation, unmatched con...
01/06/2026

We are over the moon to announce that Adam Wallace, AIA - who has contributed stunning design innovation, unmatched construction know-how, and plenty of actually funny dad jokes to the firm over the last ten years - has become Kaplan Thompson Architects’ fourth Principal! We always strive for our team, our clients, and our builders to be in alignment, and have absolutely no doubts that everyone will agree this transition is incredibly well-deserved and a long time coming.

Since joining us in 2015, Adam has been an essential part of our team’s mission to design beautiful, high-performance buildings that put people and the planet first. With a background in custom cabinet-making and a deep knowledge of how buildings are actually built, Adam brings a unique, hands-on perspective to every project—from fine woodworking details to large-scale mass timber innovations.

Founding Principal Phil Kaplan says it best: “Adam’s passion for design and his deep knowledge... have made him an indispensable part of our team. Even as a Principal, I have learned so much from Adam”.

When he’s not mentoring our team or leading award-winning projects like Beaver Lodge Lookout and Parris Terraces, you can find him sailing, skiing, or restoring his vintage wood-hulled trawler. We are quite convinced there is nothing he cannot do, but promise to let you know if ever we learn of something (highly unlikely)!

Curious about who might work on your project? Get to know the professionals at Kaplan Thompson Architects. Photos by Win...
01/06/2026

Curious about who might work on your project? Get to know the professionals at Kaplan Thompson Architects.

Photos by Winky Lewis.

Construction is nearly complete on the third cabin of our Pitches Among Pines project.This two-story building introduce...
12/12/2025

Construction is nearly complete on the third cabin of our Pitches Among Pines project.

This two-story building introduces pine- and mahogany-clad gathering spaces on the lower level with a full kitchen, breakfast bar, powder room, and laundry. An expansive screened porch will keep bugs and rain at bay and accommodate the entire family for outdoor dining. A second story bunkhouse, sleeping eight, recalls a treehouse with branched rafters and integrated climbing elements. A lofted play area suspends a cargo net hangout space overhead. Exiting from either the second or third levels is nearly instant using a fire pole that deposits you directly outdoors!

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Spark Side Passive House was recently featured as a case study by exploring “why a New Hampshire couple skipped a renov...
12/10/2025

Spark Side Passive House was recently featured as a case study by exploring “why a New Hampshire couple skipped a renovation and built a Net-Zero Passive House instead”.

The Story at a Glance:

The homeowners prioritized sustainability, leading to a custom design that maximized passive solar gain and energy efficiency.

Site challenges, including slope and orientation, were addressed through detailed analysis that optimized performance.

The home features a striking cantilevered loft, locally sourced materials, and a low-maintenance landscape that blends aesthetics with functionality.

Advanced building envelope strategies, including triple-glazed windows and extensive insulation, contributed to achieving Passive House certification.

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Maine Audubon is the largest and oldest non-profit conservation organization in the state, working to preserve Maine’s w...
12/05/2025

Maine Audubon is the largest and oldest non-profit conservation organization in the state, working to preserve Maine’s wildlife and habitats by engaging the public in education and active stewardship. In 2022, Audubon requested a Master Plan for development that would serve its mission and growing programs into the future, as well as provide a better visitor experience, improve working conditions for its employees, and enhance the natural habitats at four of its eight sanctuaries.

Phase I of the completed Master Plan for Maine Audubon is under construction and prioritizes improvements to the organization’s headquarters at Gilsland Farm and establishes a foundation that future work – including developments at other sanctuaries, fundraising efforts, and ongoing community engagement – can build upon.

A new threshold and sense of arrival for the sanctuary will welcome and orient visitors. The existing historic farmhouse serves as the starting point for a series of new buildings of varied character, whose form and scale reflect the uses within and significantly grow the organization’s ability to host gatherings and activities. A new Stewardship Annex will serve the organization’s Properties and Conservation departments with much needed space to work and store the maintenance equipment used in sanctuaries throughout the state. Both departments will operate out of the nearby farmhouse, which will undergo a careful, budget-conscious renovation to create a healthier, energy-efficient, and modern workspace. A new barn will provide additional storage with a primary function of hosting educational programming. New construction and renovation-work alike will embrace inclusive design to maximize the accessibility and enjoyment of the Farm for all.

Clover Terraces will join a burgeoning residential campus at 35 Seavey Street in Westbrook, adding 45 new units of condo...
12/02/2025

Clover Terraces will join a burgeoning residential campus at 35 Seavey Street in Westbrook, adding 45 new units of condominium housing. The development - led by Domus, a partnership between developer Jack Soley, non-profit affordable housing leader Avesta, and Hebert Construction - targets first-time and middle-income homebuyers.

The condos will be available as sunny, energy-efficient 1- or 2- bedroom floor plans ranging from 500 to 650 square feet. Each home enjoys in-unit laundry and a private deck or patio, as well as dedicated parking. Units on the top floor boast a second-story sleeping loft accessed via a compact spiral staircase…. we imagine cats will especially enjoy this element of the pet-friendly building!

Breaking ground, not the bank, in Westbrook! That’s what Clover Terraces endeavors to do as Domus development group’s fi...
11/25/2025

Breaking ground, not the bank, in Westbrook! That’s what Clover Terraces endeavors to do as Domus development group’s first condo project for middle-income and first-time homebuyers.

On November 12th, we joined Domus - a partnership between developer Jack Soley, non-profit affordable housing leader Avesta, and Hebert Construction - at 35 Seavey Street to kick-off construction on the third and newest addition to a residential campus near Westbrook’s downtown.

Clover Terraces will offer 45 condominium units, with 25% at market rate and 75% at “workforce housing” prices to target buyers who earn between 80% and 120% of the area median income. This bracket does not qualify for subsidized housing but also struggles to gain a foothold in Maine’s skyrocketing real estate market, representing an essential demographic that must be able to afford to live where they work.

The condos will be compact in footprint - ranging between 500 and 650 square feet - but offer high ceilings, balconies, and energy efficient design.

Now thats what we call a gut renovation!Built in 1900, this South Portland home has weathered more than a century of Mai...
11/20/2025

Now thats what we call a gut renovation!

Built in 1900, this South Portland home has weathered more than a century of Maine winters and coastal storms… looking at the dryness and condition of its wood framing, you would never guess! During demolition, the crew from found evidence of old remodels and repairs, as well the occasional patch of fiberglass insulation.

Our team reimagined the building inside and out with a deep energy retrofit, full interior renovation, and a significant addition. The original garage was demolished and rebuilt closer to the house, connected via a mudroom and new entry sequence with an elevator. Above it, a primary suite occupies the second story while a covered roof deck rounds out the third.

The walls of the completed structure will be insulated with with dense-packed cellulose and outfit with triple-glazed Marvin windows. Heating and cooling will be provided by air source heat pumps and with energy recovery ventilation. The all-electric home will require 80% less energy to operate than the baseline EUI for a single-family home - and a far greater reduction from its previous Energy Use Intensity as a largely uninsulated building. A solar array maximizing the available rooftop area will offset the majority of the occupants’ electric consumption.

On 10 hilltop acres in Vermont, our clients tend to fields of native grasses, their honeybee hives, and a new custom hom...
11/18/2025

On 10 hilltop acres in Vermont, our clients tend to fields of native grasses, their honeybee hives, and a new custom home. Designed to Passive House-standards of airtightness and outfit with a 13.3kW photovoltaic array, the building endeavors to be as much a steward of the land as its owners.

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What clads your home is just as important as what goes inside it! We proposed a trio of natural stone and wood exterior ...
11/14/2025

What clads your home is just as important as what goes inside it! We proposed a trio of natural stone and wood exterior palettes - aptly named Ledge, Block, and Rubble - to our client to consider for this custom coastal home. Which would you choose?

Address

102 Exchange Street, Fl 2nd
Portland, ME
04101

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 5:30pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 5:30pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5:30pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5:30pm
Friday 8:30am - 5:30pm

Telephone

+12078422888

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