Sofia M. Paine began her apprenticeship under Benjamin Van Dusen AIA of the award winning design firm, Van Dusen Architects (VDA), in Washington, DC. Van Dusen Architects is a small studio specializing in new residential design and historic preservation providing services from preliminary design to construction administration. Sofia attributes her overview philosophy of design service, from schematics to construction administration, to the professional and artful mentorship she received with Ben Van Dusen.
In 2001 she began practicing in New York City and worked under Senior Associate, Austin Harris, AIA at Gruzen Samton. As a design associate and job captain, she worked on several institutional projects such as the Thurgood Marshall Academy in Harlem and the Staten Island Zoo Addition. In 2004 she worked as a designer to principal Gwendolyn Conners, AIA at Conner Crawley Architects, a small residential and commercial architecture office.
After completing the Architectural Experience Program (AXP) certification, she worked as a professional design consultant at Robert AM Stern Architects and Skidmore Owings and Merrill providing schematic, design development and construction document services.
Sofia received her Masters of Architecture from the University of Florida under chairperson, Kim Tanzer, Architect Emerita, and attended the Vicenza Institute of Architecture program in Italy. She graduated with the Silver Medal in Academic Achievement “upon the second highest Master of Architecture degree candidate graduating with a record of general excellence in architecture.” She also received the Florida Foundation for Architecture Award, and the First Year Graduate Core Architecture Award “in recognition of outstanding achievement and consistent performance in the architectural design studio.”
Sofia is an Associate Member of the American Institute of Architects. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in drawing and painting from the University of North Florida where she studied under printmaker and painter Louise Freshman Brown. Sofia is currently working towards licensure as a National Council of Architectural Registration Board candidate.
Sofia M. Paine shares a studio in Maspeth, Queens with her sculptor husband, Roxy Paine. In addition to her practice, she was a visiting assistant professor at Pratt Institute in New York. When not in the office, field or classroom, she is reading, hiking, skiing and being a mom.