Ruhl Walker Architects is a design-oriented architecture firm, founded in 1996. The practice encompasses a wide variety of project types — product and furniture design, residential, commercial and institutional projects of various sizes and budgets. Common to our work on each project is a commitment to clear and open communication, the careful management of resources, and a fundamental belief that innovative and coherent design is a joyous and essential component of the human experience.
With each project we strive to demonstrate that inventive and elegant design is achievable, even within strict economic parameters, by respectfully listening and responding to the client’s needs and desires, thoroughly understanding the nature of materials and methods of construction, and carefully managing the design and construction processes.
Our portfolio pages attempt to provide examples not only of the general interests of our practice — the use of natural materials, expressive forms, and especially careful attention to light and reflections — but also of the tools we use in the design process — photography, design sketches and study models, scale models, and extremely precise CAD drawings and details. We hope you will Contact Us if there is further information we can provide.
Ruhl Walker Architects are members of the US Green Building Council, working to further the interests of our clients and the larger society in safe, healthful and sustainable buildings and environments.
Ruhl Walker Architects has renewed its commitment to The 1%, a program of Public Architecture, which connects nonprofits with architecture and design firms willing to provide pro bono services to qualified non-profits. If every architecture professional in the U.S. committed 1% of their time to pro bono service, it would add up to 5,000,000 hours annually – the equivalent of a 2,500-person firm, working full-time for the public good.
01/11
Condominium at the Esplanade
Cambridge, MA
Fast-track design and construction administration services for a complete interior renovation of a condominium overlooking the Charles River.
12/10
Chestnut Hill House
Chestnut Hill, MA
Fast-track design and construction administration services for a complete interior renovation of a house near the Chestnut Hill Reservoir.
12/10
Squibnocket House
Martha’s Vineyard, MA
Design and construction administration services for a new house and private art gallery.
11/10
Groves Interiors
Boston, MA
Interior design services for a South End duplex.
09/10
Goldstein House
Provincetown, MA
Design and construction administration services for additions to, and renovations of a cottage.
07/10
Westport River House
Westport, MA
Design and construction administration services for a new house built on an existing foundation and overlooking the Westport River.
06/10
Cartin House
Boston, MA
Design and construction administration services for a complete interior renovation of a South End duplex and its garden.
11/09
Mystic Lake House
Arlington, MA
Design and construction administration services for a new house built on a steeply sloped site overlooking the Lower Mystic River.
10/09
Provincetown Houses
Provincetown, MA
Conceptual design for five contemporary glass and steel houses facing Cape Cod Bay and Provincetown Harbor.
09/09
Houghton Road House
Hyannis Port, MA
Design and construction administration services for substantial renovations of and additions to a house overlooking Hyannis Port Harbor.
09/09
Lincoln House
Lincoln, MA
Design and construction administration services for a new, custom-prefabricated house built on an existing foundation on a wooded lot adjacent to an Audubon Sanctuary.
06/09
Teich / Siewert
Brookline, MA
Design and construction administration services for interior renovations.
05/09
Beacon Hill House
Boston, MA
Fast-track design and construction administration services for a complete interior renovation of an historic five-story townhouse.
05/09
Patrolia House
Spanish Wells, Bahamas
Design of an accessible custom kitchen.
03/09
Conway House
Conway, MA
Design and construction administration services for a substantial addition to a small vacation cabin on a remote, heavily wooded site.
02/09
5 Brown Street
Provincetown, MA
Schematic design for a 3-family condo conversion.
09/08
Harbor Towers Apartment
Boston, MA
Design and construction administration services for a complete renovation of a 2500 SF penthouse apartment overlooking Boston Harbor.
09/08
Fox-Penner House
Little Compton, RI
Design and construction administration services for a new environmentally sensitive home and guest house.
09/08
O’Brien House
Bay Village, OH
Design and construction administration services for a complete renovation of and addition to a contemporary house overlooking Lake Erie.
04/08
Wong House
Wayland, MA
Design and construction administration services for a renovation of a vintage modern house on a wooded site.
12/07
Chestnut Hill House
Chestnut Hill, MA
Design study for a substantial renovation of an existing modern house.
10/07
Palestrant House
Newton, MA
Design and construction administration services for a substantial renovation of an existing contemporary house.
09/07
South End Loft
Boston, MA
Design study for a residential loft at Wilkes Passage.
03/07
Hualalai House
Hualalai Resort, Kailua-Kona, HI
Design and construction documentation services for a 9000 SF new house in collaboration with Rhoady Lee Architecture & Design.
12/06
Beacon Hill Apartment
Boston, MA
Design and construction administration services for an apartment overlooking the Boston Common.
10/06
Urban Living XXL
Boston, MA
Design and construction administration services for a multiple-story residential loft.
09/06
North Kingstown House
North Kingston, RI
Design and construction administration services for a substantial renovation of an existing house.
06/06
Orleans House
Orleans, MA
Design and construction administration services for an addition to a 60′s modern oceanfront vacation house.
05/06
Jamaica Plain House
Jamaica Plain, MA
Restoration, renovation, and conversion of a large late-19th century house into 3 apartments, and renovation of a carriage house into a single family residence.
04/06
Keller House
Stratton, VT
Design study for a renovation of and winterized addition to an existing cabin on Stratton Mountain.
03/06
Beacon Hill Row House
Boston, MA
Design and construction administration services for a substantial renovation of an 18th century row house converting 5 floors of separate apartments to a single family house.
12/05
Twin House
Asheville, NC
Design and construction administration services for a new private residence on a wooded site within The Ramble in Biltmore Forest.
09/05
Modular House
New Canaan, CT
Design and construction administration services for a new multi-generational private residence alongside the Silvermine River, prefabricated in a factory in Pennsylvania.
08/05
eBay House
Southborough, MA
Design and construction administration services for an affordable contemporary private residence on a wooded site.
01/05
Weston House
Weston, MA
Design and construction administration services for a substantial renovation of a large suburban house.
01/05
Truro Dune House
Truro, MA
Design study for a new ocean front home in the shadow of Edward Hopper’s house and studio.
01/05
Rye House
Rye, NH
Design and construction administration services for a new house built on an existing foundation overlooking Rye harbor.
12/04
Channel Center Loft
Boston, MA
Design and construction administration services for a residential loft in the Channel Center.
09/04
Cambridge Apartment
Cambridge, MA
Design and construction administration services for the complete reconfiguration of an apartment in a mid-20th century building.
06/04
Brown Loft
Boston, MA
Design and construction administration services for a residential loft in the Channel Center.
05/04
Cambridge House
Cambridge, MA
Design and construction administration services for a substantial renovation of and addition to a mid-20th century modern house.
04/04
Shoys House
St. Croix, USVI
Design services for a 4000 SF private residence and guest house overlooking the Caribbean Sea, in collaboration with Renee D’Adamo.
03/04
Cook House
Duxbury, MA
Design and construction administration services for a substantial renovation of and addition to an 18th century house.
02/04
Bridge House
Cape Cod, MA
Design services for a private residence facing Cape Cod Bay.
08/03
Kittery Point House
Kittery Point, ME
Schematic design services for renovations and additions to a modern seaside house.
05/03
Sargent’s Wharf Loft
Boston, MA
Schematic design services for a residential apartment overlooking Boston Harbor.
05/03
49-51 Commonwealth Avenue
Boston, MA
Design services for a four-story 10,000 SF apartment.
01/03
Wilkes Passage Loft
Boston, MA
Design and construction services for a residential loft, including custom furniture and extensive cabinetry.
12/02
Unwrapped / Rewrapped House
Concord, MA
Design services for the transformation of a 1960′s Deck house.
09/02
Loft House
un-built project
Featured in Seattle Case Study Homes, published in October 2002.
09/02
Modern Affordable Homes
Boston, MA
Competition sponsored by the BSA and Habitat for Humanity.
05/02
Gaskill Loft
Cambridge, MA
Schematic design services for a residential loft.
04/02
Lawner Loft
Boston, MA
Design and construction services for a residential loft in Wilkes Passage.
04/02
Squirrel Hill
Wayland, MA
Design services for renovations and additions to a private residence.
03/01
Wellesley House
Wellesley, MA
Renovations of and additions to an 1890′s house.
03/01
Bay Village House
Boston, MA
Design and construction services for a residential loft in Bay Village.
02/01
Wellesley House
Wellesley, MA
Design and construction services for additions to a 1920′s stucco house.
06/00
Berg Loft
Providence, RI
Design and construction administration services for a loft for art collectors and their collection.
05/00
Dover House
Dover, MA
Design of a new 4000 SF house on a rural site with dramatic views of the Boston skyline.
03/00
Penrose House
Wayland, MA
Reorganization of a suburban house.
01/00
B Loft
Boston, MA
Design and consruction services for a residential loft in Laconia Lofts.
10/98
Loft with Translucent Panels
Boston, MA
Design and construction services for a residential loft in Laconia Lofts.
07/98
Basta House
Hyannis, MA
Design and construction services for a new waterfront house facing Hyannis Port Harbor.
07/98
Loft with Open Arcs
Boston, MA
Design and construction services for a residential loft in the South End of Boston.
07/98
Dratch House
Lexington, MA
Design and construction services for the addition of a gallery for glass artworks and a new glass tiled master bathroom.
04/98
Loft with Tilted Planes
Boston, MA
Design and construction services for a residential loft in Laconia Lofts.
09/97
Pilot Hill House
Vineyard Haven, MA
Design, site planning, and construction administration services for an addition to and renovation of a shingle house on Vineyard Sound.
09/97
Concord House
Concord, MA
Renovations to a rural Deck House.
08/97
Melvin/Sullivan House
Boston, MA
Design for renovations to a duplex condominium in an historic row house.
05/97
Wellesley House
Wellesley, MA
Architectural services for additions and renovations to a single family 1940′s house.
07/10
St. Mark’s Faculty House
Southborough, MA
Design and construction administration services for two units of custom-prefabricated faculty housing at the St. Mark’s School
02/10
The White Mountain School Master Plan
Bethlehem, NH
Master Planning services for a 300 acre private boarding school, including comprehensive landscaping, a new Arts Center, a new 28-bed dorm, and a 16-bed addition to an existing dorm
11/09
Brand Content
Boston, MA
Fast track design and construction administration services for the complete renovation of an 8,000 square foot Ad Agency
06/08
St. Mark’s Dormitory
Southborough, MA
Design proposal for a new dormitory at a private secondary school outside of Boston.
12/07
Signature Breads
Chelsea, MA
Design study for a new facade and retail space for an existing commercial bakery.
06/07
St. Mark’s Faculty Housing
Southborough, MA
Design and construction administration services for six units of faculty housing at a private boarding school outside Boston.
11/06
Rimadesio
Boston, MA
Design services for a showroom of Italian doors, closet systems, and furniture.
09/06
Hawai’i Wildlife Center
Halaula, HI
Design of a new center for the care of injured and endangered Hawaiian birds.
08/05
Allston Planning Storefront
Cambridge, MA
Renovation of storefront display at the Holyoke Center for Harvard University.
12/04
Uniform
Boston, MA
Design Services for a men’s fashion and accessories store.
10/03
Ruhl Walker Architects
South Boston, MA
Architects’ own studio space.
09/03
South End Police Station
Boston, MA
Adaptive re-use design proposal for the conversion of a Police Station to a mix of affordable and market-rate condominiums.
08/02
Holyoke Center Upgrades, Harvard University
Cambridge, MA
Re-design of public lobby and exterior courtyard.
08/02
Harvard Real Estate Conference Room
Cambridge, MA
Re-design of a conference room at the Holyoke Center for Harvard University.
06/01
Tenacre Science Building
Wellesley, MA
Renovations and additions to a 1970′s science classroom building at Tenacre Country Day School.
02/01
Rebecca’s Cafes Inc.
Boston, MA and other locations
Conceptual re-design and feasibility studies for various urban cafes and catering facilities.
01/01
Cosmedico Light, Inc.
Weymouth, MA
Re-design and reconfiguration of office space andattendant warehouse.
12/00
Harvard Employment Office
Cambridge, MA
Re-design of public entrance, lobby, and office area for Harvard University facility.
09/00
Fulchino Office Building
Burlington, MA
Strategic re-design of an existing 13,000 SF office building to provide improved visibility, leasability, and required handicapped accessibility.
08/00
Oxygen
Boston, MA
Design and planning for a graphics and identity design company.
07/00
Integrity Interactive
Dedham, MA
Interior design and tenant fit-out for an internet corporation.
07/99
Groundwater Analytical
Bourne, MA
Feasibility study with JK Scanlan Company for 20,000 SF laboratory / office building.
05/99
Cape Cod Health Care
Mashpee, MA
Design and construction administration with JK Scanlan Company (GC) and JG Associates (interior architecture) for 30,000 SF medical center.
04/99
Church Park
Boston, MA
Prototype design work for 400 one-bedroom apartments.
01/99
Bourne Medical Center
Bourne, MA
Feasibility study for 15,000 SF medical center.
10/98
Boyd / Smith, Inc.
Boston, MA
Architectural services for two 2,000 SF urban retail spaces.
09/98
Inkstone
Canton, MA
Architectural design for a 20,000 SF printing facility / office building.
04/98
Accusonics
Falmouth Technology Park, Falmouth, MA
Schematic design for a 40,000 SF manufacturing / office building.
03/98
Economy Hardware
Boston, MA
Architectural design and construction management services for an 8,000 SF urban hardware store.
02/98
Point Information Systems
Wellesley, MA
Interior design and tenant fit-out for a growing software development firm.
03/97
Whitney Development
Bedford, MA
Feasibility study and preliminary design for a 60,000 SF suburban office building.
01/97
IDPR Offices
Boston, MA
Architectural services for offices of Public Relations Firm.
Will co-founded Ruhl Walker Architects in 1996, after 10 years with the award winning and widely published firms Peter Forbes and Associates and Leers Weinzapfel Associates. He received his BA in history / art history / studio art from Duke University and his Masters of Architecture from Yale University, where he studied with the Japanese sensei, Tadao Ando, as well as George Ranalli. Will currently is a Trustee of The White Mountain School in Bethlehem, NH, where he chairs the Capital Facilities Committee as well as the Committee On Trustees. Previous community appointments have included chairing the Design Review Board of the Town of Wellesley for 6 years as well as being a member of the Tenacre Country Day School’s Building and Grounds Committee. Will has designed projects throughout New England as well as Hawai’i, Florida, North Carolina, and St. Croix, USVI.

Brad is a founding principal of Ruhl Walker Architects, and received degrees in architecture from the University of Virginia and Harvard University. His decades of experience have focused on finely detailed and sustainably designed residential and commercial projects, projects that have been appreciated by his clients as well as awards juries and international publications. Brad currently serves as a member of the National Ethics Council of the American Institute of Architects, and is past co-chair of the Boston Society of Architects Ethics Forum. He has also taught architecture at Boston Architectural College, Roger Williams University, Rhode Island School of Design, and Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design.

Sandra is a Registered Architect and LEED Accredited Professional with an undergraduate degree in architecture from the University of Virginia and a Masters of Architecture degree from MIT. She joined Ruhl Walker in 2007, after having previously served in the office as a summer intern. She also has several years of experience on finely detailed single- and multi-family residential, commercial, and dormitory projects in New York City and Boston. As our senior associate, Sandra manages and helps design many of our office’s projects and also directs technology integration in our practice.

Nerijus grew up in Lithuania, where he studied sculpture and painting. He has a BA in business administration from Worcester State College, a Masters of Architecture degree from the University of Pennsylvania, and is accredited as a LEED Green Associate by the US Green Building Council. Prior to joining Ruhl Walker Architects in 2010, Nerijus worked for over 3 years at Machado + Silvetti, Office DA, and Howeler + Yoon on award winning residential and commercial projects, installations, exhibitions and master plans. In addition, Nerijus has several years of experience working as a carpenter on houses on Nantucket. He is highly skilled with 3D modeling, animation and other computer design tools.

Keith received his BA from Middlebury College in the History of Art and Architecture and his Masters of Architecture from MIT in 2010 where he was awarded the prestigious Alpha Rho Chi Medal. While at MIT, Keith was involved in several digital design and fabrication installations as well as more conventional design/build projects in El Salvador and in Cambridge. After internships in Vermont and at Todd Williams Billie Tsien Architects in New York City, he spent two years at Scott Simons Architects in Portland, Maine, working on projects that ranged from residential additions to academic and institutional buildings. Keith joined our studio in 2010, and is accredited as a LEED Green Associate by the US Green Building Council.


Paul joined the Ruhl Walker studio in 2010 after completing his first year at the Boston Architectural College. Prior to beginning his studies in architecture, Paul received his BS in business administration from the University of New Hampshire and worked as a marketing and business development manager for an executive education network and Gensler, both in Washington DC. Today Paul is involved with a number of cross-functional activities in the studio while pursuing his graduate degree in architecture.

We are very grateful for the contributions over the years of our collaborators:
Mark Bandzak
Samuel Batchelor
Tom Chung
Christopher Dial
Lucy Fang
Juliet Hernandez
Simi Hoque
Anne Snelling Lee
Taehoon Lee
Nick Lewis
Chee Keong Lin
Giancarlo Mangone
Hillary Mateev
Mark McGlothlin
Peter Minosh
Matt Ostrow
Marc Perras
Gregory Pinter
Nick Radesky
Grant Scott

Housing Design Award
Boston Society of Architects / New York AIA, 2010
Residential Architect Design Award
On the Boards
Residential Architecture Magazine, 2009
Chrysalis Kitchen Remodel Award
Chrysalis Awards for Remodeling Excellence, 2009
Alan J Rothman Award
American Institute of Architects and US Department of Housing and Urban Development, 2008
Housing Award for Special Housing
American Institute of Architects, 2007
Honor Award
Accessible Design in Private Residential Architecture
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Public Safety Architectural Access Board / 2005
Housing Design Award
Boston Society of Architects / New York AIA, 2002
Honor Award
Interior Architecture / Interior Design
Boston Society of Architects, IIDA/ASID, 2002
Honor Award for Excellence in Architecture
American Institute of Architects, New England, 2001
Housing Design Award
Boston Society of Architects, 1998
Project Design Team, Peter Forbes and Associates, Inc.:
Special Award for Unbuilt Architecture
Boston Society of Architects, 1991
Design Award
New England Regional Council AIA, 1991
with Peter Forbes and Associates
Honorable Mention
Clemson University Design Competition, 1989
We are always eager to meet enthusiastic, detail-oriented designers who would like to talk with us; excellent graphic abilities, strong 2D and 3D computer skills, and previous office experience (2-7 years is ideal) is preferred.
You are welcome to submit your resume:
Please send letter and resume, along with non-returnable samples of work as well as salary expectations to:
WILLIAM T. RUHL
RUHL WALKER ARCHITECTS
60 K STREET
BOSTON, MA 02127
(hard copy correspondence is preferred)