Thinking about a career in the green or high-performance building space? We sat down to talk shop with Mainers from six different fields: solar, weatherizing and energy auditing, architecture, construction and landscape design. Read on to learn how they got started, their favorite parts of the job, training required and what it might take for you to get there. 

This interview has been edited for length and readability.

Sarah Holland
Holland & Foley Architecture

GHM: How did you get into this line of work?
SH: While completing an internship for a 5-year interior design program in college, I had my first experience working for an architect. I was lucky to have an employer who let me work on all aspects of the design process, from meeting with clients to developing construction drawings. Their specialty was solar, so I learned how design can be both beautiful and energy efficient. I transferred to architecture school (SUNY Buffalo) and then the Boston Architectural Center. After

spending ten years with mainstream architectural firms, I decided to strike out on my own and make “green” design the focus of my practice. Eventually I met David Foley, who had similar interests. We collaborated on a few projects and decided to form a partnership.

GHM: What training is required for the work you do?
SH: To become a licensed architect in Maine you need a Master of Architecture and complete a three-year internship that includes many hours in a variety of specific skill categories. After the internship, you must pass a rigorous licensing exam. Architecture is a very multi-disciplinary field and you need to know a little bit about a lot of different things. Besides the obvious skill of drawing, drafting and the creative process, architects need to understand structure, water management, land use, energy use, materials, methods of construction, codes, mechanical systems, business skills and a surprising amount of psychology.

GHM: What do you like best about your job?
SH: My favorite part is to see the occupants enjoying the completed project as it was meant to be experienced. Whether it’s a child reading a book in a cozy window seat in a library, a patient sitting in a doctor’s waiting room watching an eagle soar over the Machias River or a grandmother knitting in the sunny enclave of her new mother-in-law suite — that is the moment the project feels complete and we can say we did “good work.” I like that every day is different, every project presents new challenges, every set of clients offers a new human connection, and we get to see some beautiful places.

GHM: What challenges do you face on a daily basis in your job?
SH: There’s a constant learning curve in this profession. Codes and regulations change, building materials and systems change, technology changes, computer software changes, the market changes and client expectations change. Furthermore, the challenges facing the planet right now are critical. In order to contribute to meaningful solutions, we need to frequently re-evaluate our design approach and stay informed about how to have the most positive impact.

As with most self-employed people, it can be difficult to balance personal time and workloads. I sometimes hate when I have to work late or on the weekends or take work with me on vacations. We’ve learned it’s important for our health and productivity to take time off and even take a walk in the middle of the day. We call it a vitamin “O” (oxygen) break.

GHM: In what ways is your industry growing, shrinking or changing in Maine?
SH: The demographics and economic realities in Maine are changing — and of course the climate is changing. In response to those changes, we’re generating a series of pre-designed compact energy efficient plans we call “Small Planet Homes” that fit a variety of life circumstances and are suitable for Maine’s climate. Several of these have already been built. It is an exciting time to be in the design field and be a part of all this transformation.

GHM: What advice do you have for anyone starting out in the field?
SH: Attend the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association “Building Energy” Conference in Boston. It’s an amazing event with many workshops, a trade show and building professionals from all over the Northeast who converge to share ideas and information. This group has created a supportive life-long learning network centered on creating sustainable buildings. I would also encourage beginners to get some real-world practical building experience. There are so many specialties and subsets of architectural design that each have their own path, so it’s important to do a bit of exploring before determining what coursework and experience to search for.

GHM: How does this job help you make decisions about your own home?
SH: Actually, I’ll flip this question on its head— the hard decisions I had to make on my own house inform the way I approach suggesting trade-offs for our clients. When I designed a house for myself, I had to wrestle with my design ideas as they slammed against painful budget realities. I had to make trade-offs. I had to realize I was not going to create the “Perfect Green Home.” This was a humbling process that honed my empathy for our clients who must balance their best green intentions and goals with strict financial realities. It’s not a “green and healthy home” if you have to work two jobs to afford the mortgage or you are so stressed out from debt that you get sick, or you have to live in a construction zone for ten years because you are trying to do it all yourself.

GHM: When you aren’t working, how do you spend your time?
SH: I live in Camden with my husband Peter Jones, a potter, photographer and caver. We love to explore Maine on foot or in kayaks and we travel when we get a chance. I have an extensive “bucket list” that pretty much includes the whole world, which I will get to one of these days.

This article first appeared in the Fall 2019/Winter 2020 edition of Green & Healthy Maine HOMES. Subscribe today!