Whitten Architects Celebrates 35+ Years with Leadership Expansion

For over three and a half decades, Whitten Architects has been crafting thoughtfully designed homes across New England. Our Portland-based firm is now strengthening its foundation for the future with an important leadership announcement.

We're proud to appoint Tom Lane as principal, joining founder Rob Whitten and principal Russ Tyson in guiding our firm's vision. Tom, who has been with us since 2017, brings a wealth of experience and a passion for nature-inspired design to his new leadership role.

Tom's architectural philosophy was formed by his unique background. Growing up on Massachusetts' South Shore instilled in him a deep connection to the ocean and New England's distinctive character. His Master of Architecture studies at the University of Utah developed his understanding of the relationship between architecture and landscape—a perspective that aligns perfectly with our approach to site-responsive design.

Before joining Whitten Architects, Tom gained diverse experience in Salt Lake City and Boston, working on projects ranging from art museums and libraries to custom residential designs. Tom is a licensed architect in Maine, a member of the American Institute of Architects, and active in the Custom Residential Architects Network. His community involvement includes service as both board member and president of the Portland Society for Architecture.

His contributions have helped us earn multiple awards from AIA Maine and AIA New England. Tom regularly serves as a design jury member at the University of Maine Augusta and as a guest critic at other universities. His writing on "Genius Loci" or spirit of place has been published in Maine Home+Design magazine.

Since our founding, we've maintained an exclusive focus on residential design, creating everything from camps and cottages to modern homes and historic renovations. Our award-winning work has been nationally published in numerous residential design publications.

Our design philosophy centers on the belief that a home should reflect its occupants, with designs that develop from a deep understanding of context. This approach has guided us for over 35 years and, with our strengthened leadership team, will continue to shape our future success.