Maugel DeStefano Architects celebrates 30th anniversary

Harvard, MA Maugel DeStefano Architects has marked its 30^th anniversary this year by celebrating the firm’s continued growth under the new ownership team and by maintaining a laser focus on solving design challenges through innovation and creativity for its clients in fast-changing environments.

Here are some key milestones of the firm’s 30-year journey:

• In 2019, Maugel Architects acquired DeStefano Architects of Portsmouth, NH. The acquisition accelerated the firms’ growth trajectories by immediately expanding market position and geographical reach throughout New England.

• Lisa DeStefano was named a principal of Maugel Architects, and DeStefano Architects was renamed DeStefano Maugel Architects.

• In April 2022, the firm changed its corporate name to Maugel DeStefano Architects. The new name unified its corporate brand identity and honored the legacies of both firms.  

• In late 2022, principals Jonathan Cocker, Mike Kunz, and Mark Pelletier became equal majority shareholders and assumed daily operations of the firm. The roles of principals Dan Barton and Lisa DeStefano remained unchanged.

• At the start of 2023, founder Brent Maugel assumed the title of principal emeritus and fully transitioned to an advisory role as a design influencer on major projects. 

Founded in 1993 in Melrose, Mass., as Maugel Architects with only two employees, Maugel DeStefano Architects has now grown to a staff of about 40 professionals, with offices in both Massachusetts and New Hampshire. The award-winning firm is recognized for its expertise in strategic planning, architecture and interior design, new builds, and asset repositioning across various sectors, including healthcare, industrial, science & advanced technology, multifamily, commercial and custom residential.

“What has enabled our growth and strong reputation in the marketplace today comes from our expertise and ability to solve the space challenges faced by small-to-large companies in fast-changing economic and technological environments,” said Mark pelletier, principal at Maugel DeStefano Architects. “We understand how design choices impact our clients’ potential growth, ROI and future planning. Our team of experts has mastered the art of problem solving, creativity, innovation and speedy delivery of projects on budget and on time.”

Over the years, Maugel DeStefano Architects has designed over 30 million s/f of world-class space for clients ranging from real estate developers to direct users in a wide range of industries, such as life sciences, medical devices, biopharma, biomanufacturing, manufacturing, multifamily, commercial, as well as corporate interiors.

“We grew organically for 25 years and then acquired DeStefano Architects in 2019. During our journey, we kept adapting to the latest technologies, tools and needs of our client,” said Jonathan Cocker, principal and healthcare lead at Maugel DeStefano Architects. “One thing that distinguishes us from other firms is our passion for excellence in design and problem solving. We take a focused but flexible approach to design, and when it comes to serving our clients to the best of our abilities, we remain open-minded and agile.”

“Throughout these years, we have stayed focused on our clients in a collaborative way, with a deep passion to make their vision a reality,” said Mike Kunz, principal and commercial/industrial lead at Maugel DeStefano Architects. “We always strive to bring a unique perspective to not only deliver what our clients want, but we also provide other ways to exceed their goals.”

Other tenets of Maugel DeStefano include a commitment to client advocacy and a focus on big ideas.

“We’re very machine-like, process-oriented, but with a creative bent and an immense ability to foresee challenges in design ahead of time,” said Pelletier.

So, what is next for Maugel DeStefano Architects?

“As we look forward to the next 30 years and beyond, we are going to be faithful to our innovative design approach, client advocacy, and adapting to technological and design changes,” said Cocker. “We’re already embracing the latest design technologies. We want to stay at the forefront of innovation and creativity to bring the very best solutions to our clients, always.”

In 2018, Maugel DeStefano celebrated the firm’s 25^th anniversary and set a course for sustained long-term growth by naming Daniel Barton, Jonathan Cocker, Mike Kunz, and Mark Pelletier as principals alongside Brent Maugel.