Studio

Exterior view of ARCove Architecture's office located in a historic building in downtown Portsmouth, NH

Design-Centric

A small, collaborative firm means that everyone has a chance to provide input on all phases of our projects. Creativity is encouraged and those who can wear many hats are valued.

Community-Inspired

The ARCove studio is nestled in the creative West End district of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, where arts and culture thrive. The office is in a prominent building overlooking the historic mills, retail, and arts district. Our high ceilings & big windows bring in ample daylighting with views to the surrounding activities.

ARCove proudly supports our community by donating 1 percent of our time and resources to local non-profits. We are honored to contribute our skills to the worthy causes that help make our neighborhoods a better place for all.

Interior view of ARCove Architecture's office located in a historic building in downtown Portsmouth, NH

Flora, Fauna, and Technology-Friendly

ARCove provides a comfortable and happy workplace, providing large computer monitors, shared graphics for visual communication, and adjustable ergonomic workstations. Beyond that, our office canines and our growing collection of lush plants keep us healthy and smiling.

Work/Life Balance

From Friday happy hours to hybrid connections and flexibility, ARCove is respectful of employees’ time inside and outside of the office. Join us for office field trips, foodie events, and local concerts in a town consistently ranked in “Best Places to Live” lists.

Diverse & Inclusive

We strive to foster belonging and empowerment at work. ARCove is a woman-owned architecture firm with a team strengthened by a broad range of experiences. We listen and engage with our communities, and we value teamwork.

Team

Tracy Kozak

Founding Principal, AIA

Tracy Kozak, founding principal at Arcove Architects in Portsmouth NH, is a leading advocate for innovative design, historic preservation and high-performance sustainability initiatives. During her 30 year career, Kozak has managed award-winning mixed-use, healthcare, education, multifamily and senior living projects with specific focus on historic renovation and high performance sustainability.

Originally from Nashua NH, Tracy grew up building wooden playhouses for friends, drawing and painting. Those interests coalesced through a pre-professional program at RISD, an architecture degree from Cornell University, preservation carpentry apprenticeship at Strawbery Banke Museum, heavy timber off-site manufacturing and design in Seattle, followed by 2+ decades as architect and principal at JSA Design. In 2021, Tracy branched off to launch Arcove Architects in Portsmouth NH, specializing in high performance sustainable design and historic preservation.

Tracy's professional involvements include past president of AIA New Hampshire, vice chair of the Portsmouth Historic District Commission, board director of the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance and Currier Museum of Art, and current chairman of AIA-NH's Committee on the Environment. Her work, as well as her involvement in the community, earned Kozak the distinction as one of six Outstanding Women in Business as feted by NH Business Review for 2020.

Hussein Alsalih

Project Architect

"I love creating design ideas to make our built environment a healthy place for living."

Hussein leads projects efficiently from the first step to completion. He combines creative problem solving with in-depth knowledge of code requirements and technical material properties to achieve comprehensive design solutions. Hussein brings specialized focus to projects using passive design strategies, LEED and other sustainability benchmarks to design efficient buildings that are less harmful to the environment through reduced CO2 emissions and energy consumption. A graduate of University of Arizona and University of Mosul, he has received numerous awards and accolades for his sustainable designs and research publications. With expertise grounded in 8 years of international experience throughout the United States and Middle East, his projects have ranged from single family homes to large scale commercial, civic and multifamily developments.

Andrew Hall

Project Architect

“I became an architect to improve the future for all of us and for the next generations. I like finding better ways to build using healthier materials and new technologies which can positively affect large groups of people - both at home and abroad.”

Andrew melds sharp technical savvy with a creative passion for breathing new life into our built environment. A graduate of Boston Architectural College, Andrew's diversified skills include master planning of educational and healthcare facilities, fine details for new custom homes and multifamily residences, and mixed-use historic rehabilitation. His forensic understanding of building envelope performance ensures a thorough approach to designing beautiful high-performance buildings.

Kayla Keeler

Architectural Designer

“I live for creating experiences and helping others. Architecture is my passion. Through my travels in Europe and South America, I have seen how easily architecture can either be a safe haven or a liability. My goal is to create architecture that can be beautiful, structurally sound, and provide for those that reside in it. Architecture can make change environmentally as well as socially, to give people hope. I want to propel architecture forward to build a better future.”

Kayla brings creative energy and practical solutions to each project. An architecture graduate of Roger Williams University with specialized studies in Architectural History, Kayla’s work embodies the understanding that architecture is about people and their experiences within their surroundings. Her knowledge and appreciation for historic buildings informs a sensitive approach to adaptive reuse and restoration projects. When not in the studio, Kayla enjoys honing her welding skills and performing as an avid singer-songwriter musician.

Doug Reitmeyer

Project Manager/Quality Assurance Director

Doug brings 20 years of professional experience to ARCove specializing in integrated design-build, off-site construction technologies, mass timber frame, and CLT construction. With a concentration in sustainable high-performance strategies, Doug uses BIM coordination to ensure the design integrity of each project. His architectural expertise is further enhanced by a background in historic restoration and fine arts.

Lisa Giannelli

Chief Financial Officer

Lisa has her bachelor’s degree in accounting from University of Massachusetts Boston and a master’s degree in Leadership and Human Resources from Franklin Pierce University. Lisa brings a diverse background to ARCove with over 30 years of industry experience including daily accounting, payroll, auditing, budgets, mergers and acquisitions and more.

Hannah Haytko-Desalvo

“I studied architecture and sustainable design to create buildings that benefit people and the planet. I'm passionate about combining building technology with design creativity to make spaces which strengthen communities and support environmental resilience.”

Hannah, a recent honors graduate from Carnegie Mellon University’s graduate and undergraduate Architecture and Sustainable Design programs, brings insight and enthusiasm to ARCove’s sustainability studio. Hannah’s precocious track record already includes the Carnegie Mellon Capstone Award for Sustainable Design for her thesis research on Self-Healing Bacterial Concrete. She codirected “Freedom by Design”, a grass roots effort raising funds to assemble and distribute home weatherization kits throughout the Pittsburgh community. She helped build community pergolas, assisted in professional research for community solar projects, and organized educational AIA trade events. In her spare time, Hannah enjoys oil painting and glass blowing.