places for people
profile:
Mark A. Hallee
Architect
With 30 years of architectural experience, Mark has contributed to numerous award-winning projects across New England. His work spans a wide range of project types and scales, all characterized by a commitment to meticulous, detail-oriented design. Mark brings energy, positivity, and passion to every endeavor. He is known for being thoughtful, responsive, and dedicated, with a strong enthusiasm for delivering high-quality architecture.
​
After earning his Bachelor of Architecture from Roger Williams University in 1995, Mark has focused primarily on institutional, educational, and commercial projects, while also developing expertise in multi-family residential housing. His experience covers the full spectrum of project phases—including master planning, new construction, additions and renovations, adaptive reuse, and historic restoration. He is involved in every stage of the design process, from early concept development through complex construction administration.
​
Over the years, Mark has had the privilege of working with several outstanding firms. He began his career with the residential design-build firm Williams & Frehsee in Vermont. He then joined HMFH Architects in Cambridge, where he specialized in K–12 educational projects, notably the award-winning Beaver Country Day School Performing Arts Center, which earned the BSA’s Excellence in K–12 Educational Facilities Award. More recently, at LLB Architects in Rhode Island, Mark contributed to the University of Rhode Island Hillside Residence Hall, which received the 2012 AIA Rhode Island Award for Best Institutional Building Design. In 2016 Mark established Up Architecture working as a sole proprietor. Mark is NCARB certified and licensed to practice in both Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
​
philosophy:
Each built project holds the opportunity—and responsibility—to be meaningful and inspiring in its own way. Architecture should always strive to create something unique, enduring, uplifting, and energizing. At its core, good design fosters a strong sense of place, rooted deeply in its context. Buildings and spaces shape the environments where learning, creativity, and innovation flourish.
​
It’s widely recognized that buildings consume significant energy and resources. Therefore, every project should prioritize sustainable design—emphasizing energy efficiency, thoughtful orientation to the sun, environmentally responsible materials, and a focus on the health and well-being of occupants. Spaces should be filled with natural light and maintain strong connections to the natural world. Successful architecture also embraces informal, flexible areas that encourage interaction and communication.
​
Up Architecture is a practice grounded in exploration, discovery, and creation. There are no fixed expectations about what a project should look like—the process begins with something simple, and evolves naturally through context and collaboration. At the heart of Up Architecture is a commitment to positivity. Every project should be inspiring and distinctive. The ultimate goal is to develop solutions that are functional, beautiful, human-centered, and full of life!
​
process:
Every project is unique, and getting started can often feel overwhelming. Clients are frequently unsure of where to begin or how to navigate the path toward a successful outcome. Balancing design, budget, and timeline can create a stop-and-start workflow, especially in the early stages when questions far outnumber answers. Projects typically require approvals from key stakeholders at various milestones, and coordinating these voices can be a major challenge.
​
For Up Architecture, a healthy, collaborative process is considered essential to producing great architecture. Experience shows that clearly communicating design ideas early on helps bring a project into focus. Many clients may not initially know what they want—or what’s possible. It is the architect’s role to guide these conversations and help shape a shared vision. This often involves a complex interplay of questions, decisions, and approvals that depend on strong collaboration.
​
The American Institute of Architects outlines five key phases of architectural services: schematic design, design development, construction documents, bidding/negotiation, and construction administration. However, in practice, projects rarely follow a perfectly linear path. That’s why alignment on priorities from the outset is so important. Up Architecture partners closely with every client to define a clear roadmap, ask meaningful questions, shape the project’s vision, explore options, and move forward together toward a successful result.
contact:
Mark A. Hallee, AIA, NCARB
​
30 Brenton Avenue
Providence, RI. 02906
(401) 680 - 0777
​
MA Registration: 20239
RI Registration: 4839
​
​
Connect :
Contact Form:
Areas of Expertise:
-
Commercial
-
Higher Education
-
Multi-Family Residential
-
Retail
-
Sustainable Design
-
Single Family Residential
-
Accessibility
-
Educational (K-12)
-
Non-Profit
​
​