Thomas RC Hartman, FAIA
Architect, Partner
Tom is an agile problem solver, trusted advisor, and systems interpreter. He’s led hundreds of projects and collaborated with a multitude of design teams in various capacities. As a Principal at C&H Architects, his role is not limited to the traditional Architect of Record. He’s also often an Owner’s Design Consultant, expert witness or in collaboration with another architecture firm.
He joined C&H in 1999 and has led innovative high-performance projects throughout the Northeast. These include College of the Atlantic, Hawthorne Valley Farm, the Harris Center of Conservation, and the Bechtel Environmental Classroom. In the past 15 years, he’s routinely worked with Amherst College, Mount Holyoke College, Deerfield Academy, Smith College, Williams College, Colgate University and the University of Massachusetts- Amherst.
Tom’s reliable candor is a desired trait with his best clients. He specializes in construction trailer etiquette and making things happen. He seeks long standing relationships with design and construction partners who are dependable, creative, fun and hard working. As such, he’s developed a deep network of close colleagues with a wide range of capabilities and resources.
Knowing whether the appropriate response to a question has decimal points or should be a range is an essential skill. Tom practices Architect’s Math and has developed construction and energy metrics in his belly – these include schedule, cost, energy use intensity, air infiltration rates and embodied carbon. His communication tools range from colored pencils to detailed spreadsheets, and project types span from mothballing a science center to master planning future campus infrastructure.
He attended Wentworth in Boston and USC in Los Angeles. Prior to college he worked in a family residential construction company as a draftsman and carpenter. During college, he worked as a model builder for DMJM/Keating and 3D construction analyst for a subway construction litigation case for Thelen, Marrin, Johnson & Bridges. Upon graduating in 1995, he moved back to Boston and worked at Cummings Properties and DiMella Shaffer until joining C&H. He is currently the Principal Partner at C&H Architects and an expert witness.