Scott Wilson, AIA

Founding Director | Architect

I love designing from a bird’s eye view, and then diving deep into the weeds-working out every nuanced detail. Do it over and over again and the results are truly satisfying on every level. Make these back and forth trips with your clients, and the wide and close-in perspective gets even better. Without such an approach, we designers shall surely miss great opportunity to create timeless experiences.

Scott is a founding partner of Wilson Butler Architects, with a 40 year career focused on the planning and design of award-winning performing arts and entertainment facilities. Clients and users alike respect his ability to lead the architectural planning and design process while connecting all the dots. In WBA’s beginning, Scott, with his partner Scott Butler, developed a unique array of visual tools that allow clients to actively engage in the design process. Scott’s depth of experience includes “out of the box” approaches to stretch existing conditions, coordinate building systems and maximize construction value with thoughtful, smart, creative, often clever and efficient planning and design. With Scott as design leader, no option gets overlooked, no detail forgotten.

As champion of the WBA-brand of “hands-on collaboration”, Scott mentors our growing design staff- infusing their state of the art digital skills with a proven design approach that continues to succeed. Scott has wide-ranging experience in urban design, community realm design, and land-use that integrates performing arts and entertainment into all aspects of a campus and or community plan.

Scott is a registered architect in several states and is a member of the American Institute of Architects, the Boston Society of Architects, and the United States Institute of Theatre Technology. Scott is a self-taught, yet accomplished woodworker. On a Casco Bay (Maine) island, he spends his leisure weekends, woodworking, messing about in boats, and endlessly tinkering with “the cottage” (a 7 year work in progress). He shares this island retreat and their “city home” in Boston with his wife, Celeste, their four grown children and four grandchildren.

Scott Butler, AIA

Founding Director | Architect

Whether accentuating connections to the sea for cruise-ship guests, or the talents of performing artists for patrons, by creating intimate theater spaces, my goal is to create a setting that will stir imaginations, leave lasting memories, and enrich our lives.

Scott is a founding partner, hence the “Butler” of Wilson Butler Architects. He and co-founder Scott Wilson have worked together for more than 25 years designing for arts, entertainment, and higher education. The firm’s many highly successful projects are the result of the innovative and collaborative style that he and Scott Wilson have developed together.

Scott’s creativity and focus defines and refines each of WBA’s projects. Scott brings an inventive approach and well-developed problem-solving skills to each project WBA undertakes. He is a steady rudder to the firm, providing insightful leadership and design direction while promoting an inclusive environment where opinions are encouraged and the next generation’s leaders are empowered to move our team forward.

Scott’s award-winning work includes Celebrity Solstice Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, with The Lawn Club boasting the first real lawn at sea; The Huizenza Pavillion at Broward Center for the Performing Arts, Ft Lauderdale, FL; the Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts, Hartford, CT; Richmond CenterStage, Richmond, VA; and the Center for the Arts at Towson University, Maryland. He is a member of the Society of College and University Planners (SCUP), the Boston Society of Architects and the American Institute of Architects. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania where he received a Master of Architecture degree, he received a Bachelor of Environmental Studies from the University of Manitoba, Canada. Scott is an avid sailor, lives with his wife and 4 children (by the sea), and commutes to work by ferry, thus demonstrating his strong belief that a life lived on land and sea provides the ideal balance.

Tom Hains, AIA

Principal | Architect

Whether it be the revitalization of a near century old performing arts center, a high-tech entertainment venue on a ship or a classroom setting for arts education, it brings great satisfaction knowing that the spaces we create will enrich people’s lives and leave lasting memories of their experiences.

Before the formation of Wilson Butler Architects, Tom was honing his skills as a young architect alongside founding partners Scott Wilson and Scott Butler. When the opportunity came to join a “startup” firm he jumped at the chance. Tom’s career has since grown over the nearly 20-year span, first becoming an Associate and now a Principal at WBA.

During his early years with the firm, Tom was a key team member with the Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises projects. He was actively involved in the development of Studio B, an on-board ice skating venue and signature space for the Royal Caribbean brand. As a Project Architect for the past decade, Tom has worked on the Calderwood Pavilion, Celebrity Solstice, Boston University College of Fine Arts and most recently the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. Tom shows an attention to detail and project management skills that make him a key leader of our office as well as a go-to, trusted resource for our clients. Tom received his Bachelor of Architecture from the Boston Architectural College. He enjoys tinkering in his basement wood shop, seeing live music and spending time outdoors hiking, biking, snowboarding or just whiling away summer days on North Shore beaches with his family. He is also a fervent New England Patriots fan.

Paul Vaivoda, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, NCARB

Principal | Architect

On campus, in the audience or onboard: it’s memorable spaces and people that enrich our lives.

Paul provides a new point of view for the firm. He brings extensive experience and a lengthy portfolio of academic work to our team. The combination of his student life experience and WBA’s solid foundation in arts and entertainment is the perfect formula to broaden our expertise in the higher education market. In addition to leading our higher education/student life business development efforts, Paul is active in project design and leadership. Paul holds a Masters of Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania, a Bachelor of Environmental Design from the University of Colorado, and is a registered architect in MA, NY, and PA.

Paul may come across as unassuming, but do not let it fool you, he is a man full of surprises. Born with a passion for travel and music, he was a roadie traveling with the band in a past life. He has been across the globe and through the woods, traveling for weeks in South America, South Africa, and Europe (Asia is next), and the outdoors for hiking, skiing, canoeing, and fly-fishing with family and friends. As a former interior trim carpenter, he has an appreciation for the craft of the details and for the tradespeople who execute his designs.

Robert Levash, AIA

Principal | Architect

Creativity is intelligence having fun – Albert Einstein

Rob thrives in delivering “first of a kind” experiences to our clients. As a Project Manager and Project Architect for over 10 years, he is committed to bringing innovative design ideas into reality. Rob works directly with our clients, manages design, construction administration, and detailing. He is an active leader in the office, mentoring and promoting junior staff, recruiting staff far and wide, and molding the next WBA generation. He even led this new website initiative – doesn’t it look great?

For our clients, he always goes the extra mile, delivering on promises with a fresh eye. A registered architect in both Illinois and Massachusetts, Rob is an active member of both the American Institute of Architects and the Boston Society of Architects. Rob, a native of LaGrangeville, New York, completed his undergraduate and graduate studies at Northeastern University where he completed his Master of Architecture degree. Residing in Boston since 1998, Rob is a diehard Patriots & Bruins fan.

Ben Marcionek, AIA, LEED AP

Principal I Project Manager

You’re gonna need a bigger boat.

Ben joined the team in 2006 and right away began working on several of the firm’s major performing arts and cruise ship projects. Ben wears an assortment of hats and employs multiple tools on a project; from early programming and conceptual design exercises to management of subconsultants, sustainable design, and coordination of construction. Ben is able to create smart design solutions in response to challenges that may seem impossible to others. When combined with his unflappable, “can do, get it done attitude,” this trait makes him the ideal project leader and client collaborator.

An avid softball player and team captain of our bowling team, Ben has boundless energy and cat-herding skills. Consultants and co-workers wave their hands to be picked for his team, on and off the field. As a graduate of UMass Amherst with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Architectural Design, Ben is ingrained with an attention to detail, a strong work ethic, and an enthusiasm that he brings to every project.

Rebecca Durante, NCIDQ, LEED AP, IIDA

Principal | Interior Designer

From the way we work in our studio to the final project outcomes, I always enjoy how our entire process is extremely holistic.

As she began her second semester as a biology major, Rebecca realized something was not right—too much organic chemistry, not enough creativity! After trying to “stick it out,” she made the move to study what she really loved. The perfect balance of creativity and problem solving was found at the New England School of Art and Design at Suffolk University, where she graduated with a B.A. in Interior Design.

Fast forward to today where Rebecca has completed the design for award-winning interiors, one-of-kind, groundbreaking cruise ship experiences for the Celebrity Solstice Class and TUI Mein Schiff series, and intricately detailed historic theater restorations, including the Altria Theater in Richmond, VA. As the senior interior designer at Wilson Butler Architects, clients rely on Rebecca for her thoughtful, researched design decisions and carefully crafted and holistic environments that both seamlessly respond to the space while wowing the user.

Rebecca’s world beyond WBA projects revolves around her husband and her beloved beagle-lab mix. Enjoying hands-on work, they tackle house project after house project. She punctuates projects with occasional beer-brewing, wine-making, attending Bruins games, being a foodie, and going for long walks with the dog.