WHO WE ARE

Ann Beha Architects seeks a dynamic discourse between heritage and the future. Based in Boston, our work includes planning, design, and historic preservation for clients throughout the United States and abroad. Our work is equally dedicated to contemporary architectural expression and the revitalization of historic resources. Our projects shape and strengthen community life, establishing new directions, identities, and settings for education, the arts, and the civic realm. Founded as a women-owned business and now a registered minority-owned business in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, ABA is dedicated to diversity and equity in design and the workplace.

EQUITY, DIVERSITY
AND INCLUSION

SUSTAINABILITY

AWARDS

CLIENTS

EQUITY, DIVERSITY,
AND INCLUSION

Across our studio and in our work, we strive to create an inclusive and welcoming environment. Our studio members come from diverse backgrounds, enriching our culture and bringing valuable perspectives to our projects. In all our work, we are dedicated to partnering with minority- and women-owned businesses, as well creating opportunities for other disadvantaged business enterprises.

ABA is committed to giving back to the communities where we live and work, supporting education and preservation in neighborhoods through pro bono work in the Boston area. We participate in advocacy and leadership groups dedicated to creating a diverse group of designers and practitioners, and we offer support for both informal and formal exploration of current issues in design, identity, and diversity. In addition to serving on local preservation and design review boards, we organize volunteer opportunities for our studio, encouraging staff to donate their time to projects that have a meaningful impact on their neighborhoods. Supporting local food drives, providing construction labor on affordable housing projects, and offering planning and design services to local organizations or institutions, studio members follow their passions to invest in their neighbors and neighborhoods.

ABA is committed to being actively anti-racist, pro-women, and pro-LGTBQ by promoting a greater level of inclusivity across the firm. Our studio-wide advocacy and leadership groups seek to bring together a diverse group of designers and practitioners, and we offer opportunities for both informal and formal exploration of current issues in design, identity, and diversity. Our commitment to the principle of equal employment opportunity is reflected in our policies and practices, which support the recruitment, hiring, training, compensation, and promotion of every qualified individual without regard to race, age, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, military service/veteran’s status, or genetics.

Statement on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

ABA condemns racial discrimination and the injustices that have persisted in our systems and communities for generations. We recognize our responsibility to advocate for a built environment that supports Black people through a practice that promotes equity, diversity, and inclusion. We extend this fight for equity and justice to members of the LGBTQ+, Asian-American, and other minority communities, committing to the dismantling of systemic discrimination in the places we live and work.

As architects whose work seeks to balance American heritage with contemporary life, we pledge to think critically about the history our work represents. As people, we will engage with one another in meaningful conversations about race to create pathways for mutual respect and understanding. With humility and compassion, our studio promises to listen, learn, and work toward true equality.

SUSTAINABILITY

Sustainability has been a model of practice for ABA for more than 30 years. Combining a respect for the past with a progressive vision of the future, ABA's projects seek to conserve and maximize material, energy, and cultural significance for generations to come. ABA believes that the most sustainable project is one that achieves high standards for technical and operational performance while successfully meeting the needs of the users — now and long into the future.

ABA is a member of the US Green Building Council and a signatory to AIA’s 2030 Commitment to reduce energy consumption in the built environment. ABA has more than 20 LEED Accredited Professionals on staff and has designed LEED Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Certified projects.

AWARDS

ABA has been recognized with numerous national and regional design awards from the American Institute of Architects and its chapters; awards for campus design and planning from the Society for College and University Planning; adaptive reuse awards from the National Trust for Historic Preservation; and accolades from regional, state, and historical commissions and organizations. Our projects have been cited for excellence in both historic preservation and design for additions and new construction.

PORTLAND ART MUSEUM

Portland, OR

CAMBRIDGE PUBLIC LIBRARY

Cambridge, MA

THE LIBERTY HOTEL

Boston, MA

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
EMBASSY OF THE UNITED STATES, ATHENS

Athens, Greece

SHELBURNE MUSEUM
PIZZAGALLI CENTER FOR ART AND EDUCATION

Shelburne, VT

MARY BAKER EDDY LIBRARY

Boston, MA

Harvard Divinity School, Swartz Hall
AN Best of Design Honorable Mention for Building Renovation

Phillips Academy, Andover, Oliver Wendell Holmes Library
Preservation Massachusetts Robert H. Kuehn, Jr. Award
Illuminating Engineering Society Section Award

Newberry Library
AIA Illinois Crombie Taylor Honor Award
Chicago Building Congress Renovation and Adaptive Reuse Award

Brooks School, Center for the Arts
Boston Society of Architects Educational Facilities Award

Yale University, Center for the Humanities
AGC Build CT Award
SCUP Excellence in Planning Merit Award

Washington University in St. Louis, John M. Olin Library
AIA St. Louis Merit Award

Springfield Technical Community College, Student Learning Commons
AIA New England Citation Award
SCUP Excellence in Architecture Honorable Mention
Preservation Massachusetts Robert K. Kuehn, Jr. Award
Building Design and Construction Reconstruction Award
SCUP Excellence in Planning Honor Award

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Simons Building for Mathematics
SCUP/AIA-CAE Excellence in Architecture Award
Cambridge Historical Commission Preservation Award

St. Paul’s School, Arts and Community Center
AIA New Hampshire Merit Award for Excellence in Architecture

Cornell University Law School, Academic Center
Boston Society of Architects Educational Facilities Design Award
AIA Southern New York Design Award
SCUP/AIA-CAE Excellence in Architecture Award

University of Chicago, Saieh Hall for Economics
SCUP/AIA-CAE Excellence in Architecture Merit Award
AIA Illinois Frank Lloyd Wright Award
AIA New England Honor Award
Building Design + Construction Reconstruction Award
Chicago Building Congress Merit Awards
Boston Society of Architects Honor Award for Design Excellence
SCUP Honor Award for Excellence in Planning
SEAOI Excellence in Structural Engineering

The Pennsylvania State University, Old Main
Preservation Pennsylvania Historic Preservation Award

Shelburne Museum, Pizzagalli Center for Art and Education
Boston Society of Architects Honor Award for Design Excellence
Illuminating Engineering Society Award of Merit
AIA Vermont Merit Award

Princeton University, Carl A. Fields Center
Boston Society of Architects Education Facilities Design Award
AIA New England Design Award
AIA New Jersey Honor Award
Boston Society of Architects Honor Award Citation

The Wheeler School, Nulman Lewis Student Center
Boston Society of Architects Education Facilities Design Award
AIA New England Award
Boston Society of Architects Honor Award

The Wheeler School, Gilder Center for the Arts
AIA Rhode Island Design Award
Illuminating Engineering Society Award of Merit

The University of Pennsylvania, Music Building
SCUP/AIA-CAE Excellence in Architecture Addition or Renovation Merit Award
Boston Society of Architects Honor Award Citation
Preservation Pennsylvania Historic Preservation Award
Pennsylvania Preservation Achievement Award

Wellesley College, Diana Chapman Walsh Alumnae Hall
Massachusetts Historical Commission Preservation Award for Rehabilitation & Restoration
Preservation Massachusetts, Paul E. Tsongas Award

Cambridge Public Library (w/ William Rawn Associates)
American Institute of Architects Honor Award for Architecture
Boston Society of Architects Harleston Parker Medal
Massachusetts Historical Commission Preservation Award for Rehabilitation & Restoration
Cambridge Historical Commission Annual Preservation Award
Boston Society of Architects Sustainable Design: Building Enclosure Design Honor Award
Boston Society of Architects Interior Architecture/Interior Design Award
AIA New England Honor Award for Design Excellence
Congress for New Urbanism Charter Award
US Green Building Council Innovation in Green Design Award

Currier Museum of Art
Boston Society of Architects Honor Award Citation
AIA New England Merit Award for Design Excellence
AIA New Hampshire Architecture Award

The Liberty Hotel
Preservation Massachusetts Paul E. Tsongas Award
Victorian Society in American Preservation Award
Massachusetts Historical Commission Preservation Award for Adaptive Reuse
Boston Preservation Alliance Preservation Achievement Award
Masonry Construction Magazine Project of the Year Award

New Britain Museum of American Art
Boston Society of Architects Award for Design
AIA New England Merit Award for Design Excellence

Lafayette College, David Bishop Skillman Library
AIA / ALA Library Building Award
American Institute of Architects Interior Architecture Award
Boston Society of Architects Honor Award for Design Excellence
Boston Society of Architects Educational Facilities Award

Bard College at Simon's Rock, Daniel Arts Center
Chicago Athenaeum American Architecture Award
AIA New England Award
United States Institute for Theatre Technology Merit Award
Boston Society of Architects Honor Award

Portland Art Museum
AIA Northwest and Pacific Region Award
Boston Society of Architects Award for Design Excellence
AIA Portland Merit Award

Mary Baker Eddy Library
Boston Preservation Alliance Achievement Award

Portland Museum of Art, Maine
National Trust for Historic Preservation Honor Award

Buckingham Browne & Nichols School, Almy House
Cambridge Historical Commission Preservation Award

Franklin & Marshall College, Hensel Hall
Boston Society of Architects Honor Award
United States Institute for Theatre Technology Merit Award

Phillips Andover Academy, Cochran Chapel
Faith & Form Religious Art & Architecture Design Award
Massachusetts Historical Commission Award

First Baptist Church
Cambridge Historical Commission Preservation Award

New England Conservatory of Music, Jordan Hall
Boston Society of Architects Honor Award
National Trust for Historic Preservation Award
Massachusetts Historical Commission Award
Victorian Society in America Preservation Commendation
Boston Preservation Alliance Preservation Award

Blithewold Mansion, Gardens and Arboretum
Rhode Island Rhody Award for Preservation Planning

Nantucket Athenaeum
Massachusetts Historical Commission Preservation Award

CLIENTS

AMERICAN CAMPUS

Colleges & Universities

  • Bates College
  • Brown University
  • Colby College
  • Cornell University Law School
  • Drexel University
  • Hamilton College
  • Harvard Divinity School
  • Harvard University
  • Johns Hopkins University
  • Lafayette College
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • New England College of Optometry
  • New England Conservatory of Music
  • Northwestern University
  • Princeton University
  • Springfield Technical Community College
  • The Pennsylvania State University
  • University of Chicago
  • University of North Carolina
  • University of Pennsylvania
  • University of Vermont
  • Wellesley College
  • Williams College
  • Yale University

Independent Schools

  • Belmont Hill School
  • Brooks School
  • Phillips Academy
  • Phillips Exeter Academy 
  • St. Mark's School
  • St. Paul's School
  • The Masters School
  • The Wheeler School
  • Worcester Academy 

Academic Libraries

  • Bowdoin College
  • Haverford College
  • Lafayette College
  • Williams College
  • Phillips Exeter Academy
  • University of Pennsylvania
  • Washington University in St. Louis

ARTS & CULTURE

Museums

  • Blithewold Mansion, Gardens and Arboretum
  • Currier Museum of Art
  • Danforth Museum of Art
  • Historic Deerfield
  • Historic Newton
  • Huntington Library and Art Collections and Botanical Gardens
  • Kalamazoo Institute of Arts
  • Mattatuck Museum
  • Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
  • New Britain Museum of American Art
  • Norman Rockwell Museum
  • Portland Art Museum
  • Portland Museum of Art
  • Shelburne Museum
  • Smithsonian Institution
  • State Museum of Pennsylvania
  • Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art
  • Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Cloisters

Performing Arts

  • Bard College at Simon’s Rock
  • Boston Symphony Orchestra
  • Franklin & Marshall College
  • New England Conservatory of Music
  • The Wheeler School
  • Wellesley College
  • Williams College 

Specialty Libraries and Archives

  • Clark Art Institute
  • Mary Baker Eddy Library
  • Massachusetts Historical Society
  • Nantucket Atheneum Library
  • Newberry Library
  • The Grolier Club

PUBLIC REALM

Public Clients

  • City of Boston
  • Commonwealth of Massachusetts
  • The Emerald Necklace Conservancy
  • Fort Adams Trust
  • National Park Service
  • United States Department of State
  • US General Services Administration
  • National Park Service 

Public Libraries

  • Boston Public Library System
  • Cambridge Public Library
  • Crandall Public Library
  • Montgomery County Public Library System
  • Needham Free Public Library
  • Newark and Jersey City Public Libraries
  • Peterborough Library
  • Providence Public Libraries