by Ross Cann AIA RA | Apr 8, 2026 | Architectural Design, Articles, Guide, Newport Spotlight, Professional
One of the biggest challenges for people who have not undertaken a renovation or new construction project before is figuring out how to get started. Some are tempted to skip the design process and just hire a contractor, but starting a construction project without a...
by Ross Cann AIA RA | Mar 25, 2026 | Architectural Design, Articles, Guide, Newport Spotlight, Professional
When planning a building project, whether a new home, a commercial space, or a significant renovation, the temptation of an owner to skip the architect and go straight to a contractor is understandable. Architects cost money, and budgets are tight, but this logic is...
by Ross Cann AIA RA | Nov 24, 2025 | Architectural Design, Architectural Historian Spotlight, Articles, Guide, Professional
Sprague Hall (Yale University) Once a year, during the homecoming weekend, Yale University hosts its annual Alumni Assembly and Convocation. This is the gathering of alumni volunteers and leaders from around the world, from all of the various graduate schools and...
by Ross Cann AIA RA | Nov 17, 2025 | Architectural Design, Articles, Guide, Newport Architect Spotlight, Professional
The construction industry is built on contracts, but when an owner fails to pay for services rendered, a crucial legal instrument protects the interests of contractors, subcontractors, and architects: the mechanics lien (sometimes called a construction lien or...
by Ross Cann AIA RA | Nov 12, 2025 | Architectural Design, Architectural Historian Spotlight, Historical, Newport Architect Spotlight, Newport Spotlight, Professional
After a five-year hiatus, the Newport Symposium, a longstanding scholarly tradition for the Preservation Society of Newport County (PSNC) since 1993, returned to the community this past spring with a one-day session focusing on the Italian influence on the mansions of...
by Ross Cann AIA RA | Nov 4, 2025 | Architectural Design, Architectural Historian Spotlight, Historical, Newport Architect Spotlight, Newport Spotlight, Professional, Urban Planning
Long Wharf, Newport, RI (A4 Architecture Renovation Project) In the complex calculus of real estate, desirability countless factors contribute to a property’s ultimate valuation—from square footage and material quality to proximity to major transit routes. Yet, an...
