Year in Review 2025
Design, Innovation & Community in New England
As 2025 comes to a close, Portsmouth Architects reflects on a year defined by growth, innovation, and collaboration. From micro-housing to adaptive reuse and community living, our work this year continued to explore how architecture shapes human connection — not only in how spaces are built, but in how they are lived.
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A Year of Growth for a Portsmouth Architecture Firm
Based in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Portsmouth Architects (formerly McHenry Architecture) continues to shape the built environment throughout New England. Our 2025 projects highlight a balance of craftsmanship, sustainability, and community — spanning commercial, residential, and historic renovation work across the Seacoast and beyond.
Completed Projects: New Approaches to Urban Living
Portsmouth Micro-Housing
Portsmouth, NH
Small-Scale Seacoast Living
This first-of-its-kind project in Portsmouth challenged our team to rethink what urban living can look like on the Seacoast. The 19,100-square-foot, 21-unit micro-housing development was designed to make every inch count — fitting as many thoughtfully planned 500-square-foot (or smaller) units as possible, each with its own bedroom and ample natural light.
The project required careful coordination to meet zoning, parking, and spatial efficiency goals while maintaining livability and openness. The result is a model for compact housing that feels comfortable, connected, and distinctly Portsmouth — proof that small-scale design can have a big community impact.
🔗 Read more → Team: SJM Construction Management, Haley Ward Engineering, JSN Engineering
📸 Photography by David Murray, ClearEyePhoto
99 / 95 Daniel Street
Portsmouth, NH
Two historic downtown properties — totaling 4,300 square feet — were restored in collaboration with Alden Builders and Port Home Interiors to meet Portsmouth’s live-work designation, allowing residents to both inhabit and engage with the city’s vibrant center.
At 95 Daniel Street, once home to John’s Barber Shop, the design team transformed this Historic District single-family residence while preserving its 19th-century character. The original entry door, Gothic-style windows, and intricate trim and molding were carefully restored to their original craftsmanship. The result is a home that feels both timeless and contemporary — a seamless blend of modern living within the architectural fabric of downtown Portsmouth.
99 Daniel Street complements its neighbor, balancing adaptive reuse with subtle modern interventions that enhance light, function, and comfort while respecting the integrity of the original structure.
📸 Photography by David Murray, ClearEyePhoto
🔗 Explore the project →
Projects Under Construction: Designing for Modern Lifestyles
2059 Lafayette
Portsmouth, NH
This 20,800-square-foot residential project introduces eight contemporary apartments with open layouts, natural light, and integrated home offices — blending work and life in a post-pandemic world.
Team: Ricci Construction, Altus Engineering, JSN Engineering
Shaw Road Residence
Portsmouth, NH
Currently underway with Alden Builders and Port Home Interiors, this 4,100-square-foot single-family home captures views of the river through a vaulted great room, uniting vernacular forms with modern spatial flow and proportion.
The Cove at Highland Lake
Windham, ME
In partnership with Stiletto Construction and StilHill Development, this 60-unit 55+ community reflects an architectural approach to aging in place — rooted in comfort, accessibility, and connection. Phase 1 includes four completed buildings, with a clubhouse and five additional residences under construction.
🔗 Learn more →
Woof Play Eat
Portland, ME
This 14,900-square-foot project transforms the concept of shared space — merging an indoor dog park, daycare, and restaurant to create an entirely new typology of community-centered design.
Team: M&M Construction
Traene Fitness Center
Dover, NH
In collaboration with Careno Construction and Cuoco Black Design, this 62,400-square-foot wellness facility integrates indoor pickleball, functional training areas, and recovery amenities, including saunas and cold plunges — a reflection of holistic, experience-based design.
On the Boards: Projects in Progress
Our studio continues to explore the intersections of housing, healthcare, and adaptive reuse through a diverse portfolio of work now in design:
Newmarket Multifamily
Portsmouth Single-Family Home & Accessory Dwelling Unit
York Hospital Urology Interior Renovation
Three Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Projects
Portsmouth Multifamily
Each represents an opportunity to refine how people live, work, and connect within built environments.
Team Growth: Welcoming Michaela Maloney
This year, Michaela Maloney joined our team as an Architectural Designer after earning her Master of Architecture from Northeastern University. Michaela’s passion lies in how architecture fosters connection — an outlook that led her to create connections to Extended Learning Opportunities at local high schools, inviting students to shadow our team and experience architecture firsthand. Her work embodies our belief that design begins with curiosity and community.
Technology & Process: Matterport Pro3 Integration
Precision and visualization took a leap forward this year with our acquisition of the Matterport Pro3 3D Lidar Scanner.
This technology allows us to capture detailed point-cloud data and generate immersive virtual models of existing conditions. Beyond improving accuracy and speed in documentation, it enhances collaboration with clients and design team members.
Community Engagement: Investing in the Next Generation
Architecture thrives when it’s rooted in community. This year, we were proud to sponsor Portsmouth High School Lacrosse and Soul Models’ So(ul) Powerful Fundraiser, supporting youth development and mentorship on the Seacoast.
Our team also stayed connected to the larger architectural community — attending the AIA National Conference in Boston, joining colleagues at the Pella Golf Tournament, and cheering together at a Red Sox game.
We continue to contribute to the profession through leadership and education — with Richard Desjardins volunteering with NCARB to help write questions for the Architectural Registration Exam, and teaching Architectural Representation at Wentworth Institute of Technology.
Looking Ahead to 2026
As we look toward 2026, we remain grounded in what defines our work: architecture that honors context, celebrates craft, and strengthens community.
We’re grateful to our clients, collaborators, and contractors who help bring that vision to life every day.
About Portsmouth Architects
Portsmouth Architects is an award-winning architecture firm based in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Serving clients throughout New England, our team specializes in commercial architecture, residential design, and historic preservation — creating spaces that balance innovation, sustainability, and a sense of place.