3 Walker Opening in Seacoastonline
Winter Holben's new home in Kittery features art gallery, apartments
KITTERY, Maine — After breaking ground a year ago, Winter Holben Architecture + Design has officially completed construction and moved into its new mixed-use headquarters at 3 Walker Street in the Kittery Foreside. Designed and developed by the firm itself, the project marks a major milestone in Winter Holben’s tenth year in business and reflects its commitment to design excellence, sustainability, and community connection.
The new three-story building brings together the firm’s studio headquarters, 3 Walker Contemporary — a ground-floor art and design gallery — and three apartments, including both market-rate and affordable units.
Says firm co-founder and principal Elisa Winter Holben, “This ambitious new project unites everything we value: thoughtful design, community impact, and sustainability. 3 Walker isn’t just a building — it’s a creative anchor and a long-term investment in the place we’re proud to call home.”
As both the owners and architects, Elisa Winter Holben and Brandon Holben saw the project as a rare opportunity to design a ground-up building in the center of the neighborhood they love. Says co-founder and principal architect Brandon Holben, “Our goal was to honor Kittery’s historic context while pushing forward contemporary design and sustainability.”
The design features dramatic corner storefront windows, nearly panoramic views of the Foreside, and a roof deck bordered by a green roof system that reduces the heat island effect and manages stormwater. Inside, the first floor hosts a large conference and event space, alongside the 3 Walker Contemporary gallery, which will feature rotating art and design exhibitions that reflect the firm’s creative values.
The Gallery
The inaugural exhibition highlights the work of abstract painter Rose Umerlik from Dover, New Hampshire, whose layered graphite and color works explore the human experience. Umerlik has exhibited widely across New England and beyond, with solo shows, publications, and critical acclaim in Art New England and Artscope. A gallery open house is scheduled for October 16, 2025 from 5-8pm. The public is invited to attend and tour the new space.
Sustainable Design
Brandon Holben says the building itself embodies the firm’s sustainability ethos. It is fossil-fuel-free, powered by all-electric heating and cooling systems, and built with a high-performance envelope that includes R66 roofing, R34 walls, and carbon-negative insulation made in Maine from residual wood chips. Locally sourced thermally modified pine siding, Corten steel panels, and low-emitting finishes throughout the interior complete the material palette. “Every material choice reflects our values,” says Holben. “We wanted the building to be a living example of what we do best — designing spaces that inspire, elevate, and connect communities.”
The firm’s multidisciplinary team — including the principals along with architect Adam Holmes, architectural designers Glen Lambert and Patrick Gould, interior designer Emily Strong, experiential graphic designer Jenni Corbett, and operations manager Marissa Yeaton — have moved into the new headquarters. Elisa Winter Holben added, “Celebrating ten years in business is a major milestone and we’re grateful to our clients, collaborators, and community — and excited for what’s next.”
The general contractor for 3 Walker Street was Bridgeside Building Co. of Kittery, ME.
For more information about the firm and 3 Walker Contemporary’s upcoming programming, visit www.WinterHolben.com.