Principal Tom Lane has been a member of the Whitten Architects team since 2017. Tom has always appreciated the power of listening, observing, and drawing, skills he honed as an art student and further developed during his studies abroad in South America and Europe. As an architect, he employs these skills to understand and realize his clients' goals, finding joy in the process of translating their aspirations into reality.

Growing up in Massachusetts, Tom came to Maine every summer with family and friends. These fond memories now serve as a wellspring of inspiration for his design work. His background in fine arts, culminating in a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, instilled in him a deep appreciation for the creative process and the allied arts. This artistic foundation, combined with his architectural training, allows Tom to bring a unique perspective to his work, which often finds inspiration in film, poetry, and the collaborative opportunities they present within architecture.

At the University of Utah, where Tom earned his Master of Architecture and was awarded the school's highest design honor, he developed a keen interest in the relationship between architecture and its surrounding context. Tom's studies informed his belief in the importance of understanding a site's unique characteristics and the need for sustainable, context-sensitive design. 

After graduate school, Tom practiced in offices in Boston and Salt Lake City, working on a variety of project types including art museums, libraries, and custom residential designs. This diverse experience allowed him to develop a versatile approach to architecture, adapting to different scales and contexts.

Since joining Whitten Architects, Tom’s position has evolved from architect to associate to now principal. He has been instrumental in developing the team's expertise in building science, fostering industry relationships with experts like Building Science Corp. His interest in building science is not merely as a technical discipline but as a means to create architecture that engages with nature while also being a resilient and healthy shelter. 

Tom finds joy in creating homes that are a reflection of his clients, rather than a reflection of any singular style. His journey in architecture is rooted in a deep appreciation for art, nature, and the creative process.

Tom is a licensed architect in Maine and a member of the American Institute of Architects. He is active in the Custom Residential Architects Network (CRAN), a knowledge community of the AIA, and has served terms as a board member and president of the Portland Society for Architecture. His contributions have helped Whitten Architects earn multiple awards from AIA Maine and AIA New England. Tom's expertise extends beyond practice into academia and publishing. He regularly serves on design juries at the University of Maine Augusta and has been a guest critic at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and the University of Utah. As an author and illustrator, his work is published in the "Architect's Guidebook to Structures" textbook, and he has shared his insights on the "Genius Loci" or spirit of place in an article published by Maine Home+Design magazine.

When he's not drawing or designing, Tom enjoys spending time outdoors. He's an enthusiastic amateur skier, hiker (summiting Mount Katahdin in 2021), and you can often find him on the network of Portland Trails. His passion for art and community engagement is evident in his support of the Maine Outdoor Film Festival and his past experience as a docent for the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. Tom is actively involved in his community, having volunteered at the Portland Immigrant Welcome Center and served as a member of the Architectural and Engineering Design Advisory Committee at Southern Maine Community College.

Tom lives in Portland with his wife and their two daughters. As a family, they enjoy skiing in the mountains and playing on the local lakes and beaches, embodying the essence of the Maine lifestyle that Tom invites with his architectural designs.