Stephen Hunter
Founder and Principal
“Architecture was, for me, a calling.”
Stephen spent the majority of his youth in the Washington, D.C. area before moving to Evergreen, Colorado to attend high school. Following his first year in college, Stephen joined the Air Force Reserves. Upon completing his active duty training, he returned to school to finish his degree, then accepted a position in the international logistics industry.
After transferring from Denver to Los Angeles to head up the ocean import operations for a major logistics provider, Stephen began to reconsider his career path. Recalling his three years’ drafting coursework in high school along with his childhood passion for the scale and history of the buildings and monuments in Washington, D.C., Stephen made a change. He returned to Colorado and enrolled in a three and a half year Master of Architecture program at the University of Colorado.
After his first year in the program, Stephen began his internship with 4240 Architecture (formerly Urban Design Group). He continued his studies as a full time architecture student while refining his craft under some of the most talented architects in Colorado.
Upon completion of the NCARB intern development process, Stephen left 4240 to simultaneously begin his then design-build practice and to open his first of two restaurants with a business partner. Stephen’s involvement in the restaurants’ daily business decreased as the operations began to run smoothly, and he turned his full attention to his practice. After running the design-build concept, Stephen decided to focus solely on architecture.
“When anticipating a challenge, I look for its underlying elements, examine each issue carefully, and propose innovative solutions. I believe my broad employment and life experience enables me to both identify and resolve issues effectively.”
While refining his design abilities, Stephen also developed over a decade of experience as a licensed contractor in residential construction. This solid construction background coupled with his eye for design makes Stephen particularly qualified to thoughtfully and thoroughly design the residential projects that compose the bulk of his work. His experience as a restaurateur informs his restaurant design work, and his business management background and degree help the firm run effectively and efficiently.
“My innate love of form, space and order, as well as my travels, continue to influence and guide my work. One of my most inspirational life experiences was viewing in the Arc de Triomphe for the first time from the Place de la Concorde. I was able to appreciate, at both aesthetic and emotional levels, the thoughtfulness of Paris’s exquisite urban planning.”
In addition to his regular architectural work, Stephen has expanded his design skills into other areas. On several projects, he has designed custom furniture and built-in units that optimize the connection between a space and its use while enhancing its aesthetic appeal. He is often consulted by his clients for advice on interior design, fixture selection and finishes, and landscaping projects.
Education
Master of Science, Architecture, University of Colorado, Denver / 2003
Bachelor of Science, Business Administration, University of Colorado, Denver / 1992
Licenses and Accreditations
Architect, Colorado
NCARB
Military Service
United States Air Force Reserves, 1989-1998