We are Meetinghouse, a full service architecture and design firm. Our practice is built on bold expression, honest communication and a responsibility to our surroundings.
Meetinghouse seeks to rebuild and re-establish residential and commercial architecture in the Valley and surrounding areas. We opened the doors to our 100 year old office (our own renovated church) in 2021.
Our region is populated with established building stock, infrastructure and culture, creating a complex web of constraints for building owners to navigate. Meetinghouse is the partner in that challenge — not only to design new structures — but to respect and reuse the existing ones.
In addition to working with a variety of commercial and residential clients throughout the Valley, we also strive to share resources within our community. Meetinghouse serves as a mentor for design students from the Five Colleges, actively participates in local arts organizations, and regularly accepts worthwhile projects at a sliding scale.
remember, design is for everyone.
Our Process
How we work…
Meetinghouse believes that our services should be transparent, accessible, and flexible. We estimate our anticipated costs according to the typical phases of a project and offer complete contracts for design services as standard. This approach includes Meetinghouse’s full participation in the process, from conceptual design through construction administration, and allows us to fully develop the project.
We see what we are doing as special. When the person you are working with also sees it as special—then we are both enthusiastic and the process becomes that much better. Regardless of scale or complexity, we bring the same level of enthusiasm, effort, and technical expertise to each project—each one matters and each one helps further the mission of Meetinghouse.
Our practice is built on bold expression, honest communication, and a responsibility to our surroundings. These values are inherent in our design process, and allow us to execute unique, collaborative and ethically-built projects.
While keeping within set boundaries, Meetinghouse enjoys creating unconventional solutions for design challenges.
Our multidisciplinary background gives us access to materials and methods unique to our profession.
Using a variety of digital and analog modeling and drawing methods, we tailor our approach to each project.
We utilizing 3D scanning through all phases of work to ensure accuracy and the ultimate use of existing structures.
Regular in-person or digital reviews with quality feedback are essential to our process.
We like to create immersive presentations and work through ideas with our clients in real time.
Sustainability
Guiding clients through approaches that minimize impact
Reduce Impact
Meetinghouse utilizes our knowledge of architectural design, space planning and building science to systematically plan projects, reduce square footage, and lead conversations toward smaller, more efficient buildings.
Reuse Structures
Meetinghouse is committed to the reuse of our region’s robust and unique building stock. We find creative, low-impact strategies to convert existing structures—whether they be factories, commercial buildings, or garages—to fit the needs of our clients.
Recycle Materials
Meetinghouse invests in a cradle-to-cradle philosophy of materials. Our goal is to minimize the use of foam in all construction, champion low-impact and recycled products, and promote energy efficient building practices.
Respond to Community
We understand our work within the context of the community in which we build. Meetinghouse actively seeks out clients and collaborators share our vision and want to invest in the needs of our local community: housing, services, and manufacturing.
Testimonials
Kind words from our clients and collaborators
“Don’t even know where to begin… Sam and Geoff took the time to get to know our business. Easy to work with… Couldn’t be happier.”
“These folks are an increasingly rare mix of smart, humble, creative and community-minded... Absolute pleasure to work with.”
“Meetinghouse Architecture, Inc. ... It's been an amazing collaboration and we're so thankful for you, especially our Architect Geoff (we love you, Geoff), Nick, and Dana.”
“Amazing work! Creative design, great collaborators and pleasure to work with!”
Community Initiatives
Meetinghouse is a proud member of (and contributor to) a number of regional organizations…
Geoff and Nick from Meetinghouse met Holly Martineau (Director of Development) at the United Way of Pioneer Valley/ Franklin County kickoff event at UMass in 2024. Asking how we can help, we agreed to host upcoming events in our restored church. We are particularly impressed with the work they do in conjunction with the hill towns of Hampshire County - a generally overlooked part of our community.
Founder, Geoff Arthur attended an immersive 2 week course with Jersey Devil at Yestermorrow in 2007 and credits his path to licensure to these experiences. Access to architectural education is fraught with inequality at the collegiate level, and we feel should be open to all. Meetinghouse is a regular contributor to the Yestermorrow BIPOC Scholarship Fund and encourages developing professionals to seek out their programs.
The annual Distinguished Gentlemen’s Ride occurs in May, and looks to raise funds and awareness specifically for prostate cancer research and men’s mental health. We donate and participate in the ride, hosted by our friends at Nova Motorcycles in Turner’s Falls. Keep an eye out for well dressed riders coming to a town near you, and ask us how you can support the movement.
Meetinghouse is a member of both the Northeast Sustainable Energy Associates and BuildingEnergy Bottom Lines. We are committed to being a resource and an example in sustainable design and construction here in New England. Our network of professionals includes engineers, fellow architects and contractors in every field, all of us committed to working together to design and build responsibly.
Meetinghouse maintains membership with the Association for Preservation Technology: Northeast Chapter, a group of like minded professionals in architecture, engineering, masonry, woodworking and paint/ textile preservation. Access to this world of preservation and restoration helps maintain our knowledge of technology and best practices - essential to our commitment of buildings and building elements reuse.
Meetinghouse is an active member of the American Institute of Architects: Western Massachusetts Chapter. As the largest design organization in the world, AIA is working to transform the day-to-day practice of architecture to achieve a zero-carbon, resilient, healthy, just, equitable built environment, for everyone.