Process


We take the time to understand how our clients live, what inspires them, and how they envision using their space. From there, we guide the design through a carefully considered process that includes digital modeling, material exploration, and close collaboration with builders and craftspeople.

This approach allows us to translate ideas into spaces that are both thoughtfully designed and carefully executed.

Community

Designing on Martha’s Vineyard comes with a deep respect for the island’s landscape, history, and architectural traditions. Our work seeks to honor that context while bringing a fresh perspective to each project. As a result, spaces feel connected to their surroundings—rooted in place, and distinctly personal.

750+

Homes
Built

Meet the Team

  • William C. Sullivan, AIA

    Principal

    Chuck's early career inspiration was working for his family's construction business. He went on to pursue and receive his Bachelor of Architecture from the Boston Architectural College. Prior to establishing sullivan + associates, Chuck worked with firms in Santa Fe and Boston.

    At home in Oak Bluffs, Chuck and his wife, their twin boys, and a beloved rescue dog enjoy tending their seasonal vegetable garden and entertaining generations of extended family. Adventuring off-island, they share a love of travel and learning about the people, history, food, art, and architecture of other cultures.

    Chuck greatly appreciates the works of Charles Rennie Mackintosh, Antoni Gaudi, and Tadao Ando.

  • Peter Gearhart

    Senior Project Manager

    Hailing from Colorado, Peter graduated University of Arizona's School of Architecture with an emphasis in historic structures. This academic focus led him to the cobbled-stoned streets of Cambridge, MA, where he began his 40+ year career in architecture and construction-related projects primarily on existing buildings.

    Peter is active in community preservation and conservation of the Island's built environment.

    He's got a long list of architectural favorites — Gaudi, Goff, and Gehry for uniqueness; Bulfinch and McIntire for details; Wright, Kahn, and Pei for geometry.

  • Morgan W. Shaw

    Architect

    Morgan was born and raised outside of Boston, and received her Bachelor of Architecture, with a minor in Visual Communication, from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York.

    For the past decade, Morgan has lived and designed homes on Martha's Vineyard. She finds inspiration in the designs of SHoP Architects and Rick Joy Architects, and looks to the work of Emily Grandstaff-Rice as a mentor for women in architecture. 

    Away from the office, Morgan, along with her husband and children, enjoys the great outdoors, including hiking, paddle boarding, and shellfishing.

  • Nelson Giannakopoulos

    Architect

    Nelson has been designing residences on-island for over a decade. He holds a Master of Architecture from Norwich University, where he was inspired by the work of Spanish architect, Santiago Calatrava.

    Nelson enjoys the process of learning how clients live and use their homes, and believes inspired architectural design enhances our lifestyles and the choices we make. On a theoretical level, his interest tends toward examining the parallels between architecture and the human body: framing to skeleton ("good bones"), and joinery to muscles, for example.

     He lives with his family in Vineyard Haven.

  • Avery Hazell

    Director of Interiors, Allied ASID

    Avery was born in the Caribbean and moved to Martha’s Vineyard with her family at a young age. After graduating from Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School, she went on to earn a B.F.A. in Interior Design from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD).

    Driven by a passion for interior architecture and a meticulous eye for detail, Avery is committed to keeping projects organized and moving seamlessly from concept through completion. Her work focuses on creating spaces that are both functional and visually inspiring, while thoughtfully pushing creative boundaries.

    Avery’s life is deeply shaped by her love of art, design, fashion, and the natural world. Her current influences include Pierre Yovanovitch, Piet Oudolf, and Clements Design.

  • Marisa Higham Burt

    Intern Architect

    Marisa is an Island native and graduate of the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High school . She attended University of Notre Dame, where she studied and graduated from their School of Architecture. During her tenure there she spent a year abroad studying architecture and design in Rome.

    She is inspired by the historical works of McKim, Mead & White, Mies van der Rohe, Antoni Gaudi, and H.H. Richardson. When Marisa's not behind the desk working on blueprints, she enjoys a good book, British television, and knitting.

    She lives with her family in Oak Bluffs.

  • Michelle Brescia

    Executive Office Manager

    Originally from Connecticut, Michelle has lived on Martha's Vineyard since the early 1990s. With twenty years of experience at the firm, she plays a key role in managing day-to-day operations.

    A lifelong interest in travel and design led Michelle to earn a degree in travel and tourism, a field that continues to inspire her personal style and approach to life. She also  received a Certificate in Interior Design from the New York Institute of Art and Design.

    Michelle and her husband are co-owners of the Miner Family Gallery in Vineyard Haven.

  • Simon Singel

    Project Designer

    A German native, Simon holds a Bachelor’s in Industrial Design from the University of Applied Sciences and Arts in Hannover. After a decade of practicing Industrial Design in diverse environments in Europe and Asia, Simon moved to the States to apply his design expertise in the field of architecture.

    Shaped by northern European design sensibilities of minimalism and functionalism, Simon approaches projects focusing on innovative materials and elevated experiences of intended spaces.

  • Guinn Plante

    Project Designer

    Having spent a dozen summers working on-island, Quinn is thrilled to finally call Martha’s Vineyard home year-round. Originally from Connecticut, he earned a Bachelor's  Degree from Lafayette College and his Master of Architecture from Northeastern University. 

    Quinn thrives on collaborating with colleagues and clients, and is passionate about creating spaces that enhance the lives of those who live and work in them.

    He deeply admires the work of such architectural icons as Antoni Gaudí, Frank Lloyd Wright, Louis Kahn, and Eileen Gray.

  • Liz Geyer

    Project Designer

    Originally from the island of Nantucket, Liz lived in Scotland, New York, and California before moving to Martha's Vineyard. She received her B.A. from Columbia University, and has a background in visual arts, furniture design, and architecture. 

    Nature is one of Liz's main sources of design inspiration. In her free time, she enjoys biking, beach walks, and photography.

     She is inspired by a diverse list of designers, including favorites Olson Kundig, Tadao Ando, and Cutler Anderson Architects.