Anne Fontaine

AIA, LEED AP

Architect

At SMMA

  • Anne focuses on corporate and commercial design and participates in all phases of projects, from early schematic design to construction administration 
  • Excels at translating and communicating ideas to clients so that they see the value of good design, including how it can solve specific problems and deliver quantifiable benefits 
  • Contributes to SMMA’s design technology initiatives to discover ways to streamline communication and facilitate information sharing 
  • Combines her positive, energetic personality with organizational and prioritization skills to ensure that tasks are completed on time, projects are successful, and client relationships are strengthened

Technological Collaboration 

Anne enjoys collaborating with the different disciplines within SMMA and sees how this integrative approach directly benefits clients. One notable example is the Burbank Street project, for which architects and engineers used new technology to extract data from the 3D model, coordinate clash detection, and verify that all systems worked in the tight, complex building. 

“Not only did information modeling inform our architectural design choices,” Anne says. “It helped save the engineers on our team a lot of time. Best of all, it was a great way for us all to work together and try out a new, highly effective technology.” 

Focus on Function

An avid painter, Anne appreciates the core tenants of art and design: color, form, value, texture. In her work as an architect, however, she believes the success of a design is measured by its functionality.

“A beautiful building isn’t enough,” she explains. “It has to work for the people using it. This means creating a design that will deliver the desired feelings, hopes and experiences. Clients often point out small problems that need to be solved or share a wish list; it’s our job to understand the big picture and deliver on a design that addresses their aspirations.”