Founded in 2020, West Work is a certified Women Owned Business Enterprise (WBE) led by Katherine Faulkner and Nick Elton. Our talented team brings perspectives from various cultural and international backgrounds.
We are committed to delivering environmentally responsible design within budget, which is best facilitated by providing energy analysis and consulting services as part of our design process.
KATIE FAULKNER (FAIA, RA, LEED AP) has been working for 25 years on spaces and buildings for education, working, living, and healthcare. She received her MArch from Harvard’s Graduate School of Design and an MBA from Boston University. Before West Work, Katie was a Vice President of Design for Katerra, focusing on a mid-rise mass timber housing prototype. She was a founding partner of the firm NADAAA, recognized with notable awards, including the 2014 Holcim Award, an AIA COTE Award, and numerous other accolades. Before NADAAA, Katie was an Associate Principal at Shepley Bulfinch. In 2017 she received the BSA’s Women in Design Award. In 2020 she was named to the American Institute of Architects College of Fellows.
NICK ELTON (RA, LEED AP) has been involved in housing, community, and commercial projects in the Boston and greater Massachusetts area for over 30 years. He received his Master of Architecture degree at M.I.T. in 1977, and pursued community-based design first as Conover-Elton & Associates, then began Elton & Associates in 1986, and merged into a partnership with Bruce Hampton in 2001. Nick has served as principal/project architect on over 90 mixed-income, affordable, elderly, and special needs housing development.
BRUCE HAMPTON (RA) is Principal Emeritus at West Work. He reminds staff, clients, and other principals “when you find yourself in a hole, stop digging”. It is his greatest thrill to exceed his clients’ expectations, as there is nothing better than the surprise of discovering a space to be better than one imagined. Outside work, you can find him with a good book, a great overhead smash, uncut deep powder, and finishing a round with the same ball he started.
MIKE MAROTTA (RA, LEED AP, CPHC) is a Senior Associate at West Work with over 25 years experience in affordable and sustainable architecture. Mike strives to bring the highest achievable sustainable goals to all his projects and is committed to socially responsible architecture. He currently serves on the Belmont Housing Trust advocating for affordable housing. Mike considers the Czech Republic his second home where he met his wife and now brings his two daughters to enjoy the endless streets of Prague.
JAE CHUNG is a Senior Associate at West Work with 24 years of experience in Design, Architecture, and Architectural Engineering. He is a talented designer and a professional problem-solver who enjoys working out challenging issues in all stages of building projects. Born in South Korea and educated in Canada, Jae values his diverse cultural experiences and the histories of eastern and western civilizations. Well-travelled, his ideal day involves hiking an Icelandic glacier, then relaxing in a hot spring to watch the northern lights with his artistic wife and cheerful daughter.
CLAUDE GREENBERG’s role at West Work is to help with the development of tight drawings and specs, as well as to mentor more junior staff. He feels rewarded by the successful coordination of the many project players and assisting the design team in realizing their goals from a technical standpoint. Claude’s passions include travel, taking advantage of what the Boston area has to offer, hiking and exercising, and both playing and listening to music.
HAYDEE CASELLAS (RA) is a registered architect with a B.Arch from Cornell University, experienced in new construction, historic renovations, interiors, and facade design. Committed to creating accessible spaces, she seamlessly blends functionality with aesthetics in her work. She is a sportswoman and avid crafter in her spare time.
LIZ HAUVER (CPHC) is an Associate and the Energy Design Lead at West Work where she applies her knowledge and love for Passive House and building science to all of her projects. She remains driven and enthusiastic that collectively we can overcome the climate crisis, one smart design choice at a time. When she isn’t deep in her Wufi Passive energy models and excel sheets, she can be found hanging out with her chickens while gardening or going for hikes with her partner.
MAXWELL ALTMAN is a Designer at West Work. He finds great satisfaction in equitable beauty through architecture, and finds motivation to provide responsible design through the avenues of sustainable practice, adaptive reuse, and natural materials. In his free time Maxwell enjoys spending time on his road bike, pursuing creative/ artistic endeavors, and searching for yet another thrift store or coffee shop to visit.
AATMAN MODI is a Designer and Energy Modeler at West Work, where he juggles architecture, energy modeling, and the occasional IT hiccup. Driven by a passion for creating sustainable designs that make a real difference, he combines his background in architecture, interior design, and energy modeling to turn “invisible” design choices into impactful moments. When he’s not optimizing energy models or strategizing designs, Aatman can be found reading, writing, hiking around Boston, finding architectural details, or indulging in his love for building intricate Lego creations.
SHANICE LAM (CPHC) is a Designer on both Architecture and Energy Design projects at West Work. She has a particular interest in making housing affordable and sustainable, and solving urban issues related to transit and access to green space. On weekends, you will typically find her baking, playing with her dog, and hoping to go to a petting zoo.
RYAN MULLEN (CPHC) is a Designer and a Certified Passive House Consultant at West Work. He has a passion for adaptive reuse and community-focused design. Outside of work, Ryan enjoys spending time with family and friends on Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire.
MIKE BOVA’s job responsibilities include all Business Finance, Accounting & Administration for West Work. He’s passionate about supporting West Work LLC, its ownership, and employees to be as successful as their talents will allow. His outside of work interests include supporting his 5 grandchildren’s various personal endeavors as they continue to grow and learn.
PACO our emotional support intern loves to be a part of every project, overseeing all in-person and virtual meetings.
Entry Level Designer: Energy & Sustainability
Our Energy & Sustainability Designers are responsible for developing green building assemblies and systems to practically and cost-effectively improve the performance, health and durability of new buildings and renovations. Applicants should have technical architectural and mechanical competency to understand the phases of project delivery and the tectonics of a building envelope.
The Energy & Sustainability Designer will work with experienced Project Managers at West Work to ensure that high-performance strategies are reflected in reports and energy modeling. Other duties include massing studies, planning, assisting with Feasibility Studies for Passive House Certification and energy modeling for Mass Save reimbursement program. The primary focus of this work is at the building level, specifically on multifamily housing in New England.
SPECIFIC TASKS MAY INCLUDE:
- Develop/review architectural designs through 3D digital and 2D graphic exploration to determine energy saving approaches and recommendations
- Produce plans and building programs that increase building efficiency
- Investigate construction materials and building products to ensure compliance with relevant certification goals and building energy code
- Evaluate and document existing buildings
- Create client presentations and information graphics
- Attend project meetings
- Support client focused design charrettes
- Participate in construction administration
- Support application for grant funding and/or rebates. Write memos, draft meeting minutes, and file rebate forms
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Professional Degree in Architecture, Mechanical Engineering, or related field
- Working knowledge of SketchUp Pro, Revit, AutoCAD, Rhino, Adobe Creative Suite, Power Point, Microsoft Word and Excel
- A strong interest in building science and technology
- A commitment to learning sustainable design techniques
- Ability to communicate visually and verbally
BONUS QUALIFICATIONS:
- Working knowledge of WUFI Passive, THERM, EC3 Tool, and Tally.
- LEED, WELL, IFLI, CPHC Certifications
Project Architect
West Work is seeking a senior team member who is passionate about beautiful design, elegant details, and low carbon construction. Ours is a collaborative and energetic learning environment, because we are certain that a company’s success relies upon the continued growth of its individuals. Interested candidates should have an open mind, be hard working and self-motivated; they can expect to be involved in all aspects of projects. West Work seeks engagement with the public realm, with an agenda for net-zero and passive house construction for housing, higher ed, and civic buildings. Salary commensurate with experience. Send materials and a letter of interest to contact@west-work.com.
QUALIFICATIONS
- 10+ years experience in the field
- Passion for design within the context of environmental stewardship
- A successful track record of leading projects and working in a professional office
- Architectural licensure (preferred)
- LEED or Passive House Consultant Certification (preferred)
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively
- Proficiency in Revit, AutoCAD, Adobe Creative Suite, Excel
- A working knowledge of Sketchup, Rhino, Bluebeam
- Knowledge of building science, sustainable technologies
- Understanding of construction methods, building code, and zoning principles
- Strong communication, interpersonal, and presentation skills
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Lead Design Teams
- Produce schematic, design development and construction documents in collaboration with project team
- Manage teams, drawings and BIM modeling efforts in Revit
- Communicate visually and verbally with clients
- Coordinate project documentation, execution, construction plans and details, and consultant team while ensuring quality control and completion
- Review shop drawings, material samples and CDs for conformance with design
- Perform construction administration duties (e.g., RFIs, change orders, etc.)