Our Team

---

 Don has over 40 years of continuous experience as an architect, working on educational, governmental, & residential Projects. He received his Bachelor of Architecture degree from The University of Texas at Austin in 1974 and is currently licensed to practice architecture in Colorado, Texas and New Mexico. Don has deep and varied experience in master planning large to small scale architectural projects and is especially skilled in managing and facilitating the programming and design process with Client groups, committee’s and stakeholders. He is very proficient in leading the architectural and engineering team design process in service to the clients. Don’s primary focus and responsibility is to the Client, and the delivery of solutions that best meet the Client’s desired design goals and budgets. 

In addition to his active professional role in the firm as Architect Partner-in Charge, he proudly serves as President of the Board of Trustees for the Southern Colorado Developmental Disabilities Agency, and the Las Animas County Rehabilitation Center. Don enjoys and takes an active daily role in assisting younger staff to excel, and working towards the transition of ownership of Spencer Architecture Studio to the next generation. 

Andrea is a New Jersey native and graduate of Villanova University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing. After a long career in Health Care, she shifted to utilizing her right brain and entered the retail arena and purchased a custom picture framing shop. There she cultivated her love for art and developed marketing skills to create a successful business. At Spencer Architecture Studio, Andrea is part of a team that provides creative ideas and design solutions for the large rural areas it serves. Andrea loves camping, cooking, travel, snow-shoeing and taking walks with her husband, Don.

Andréa received her Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the University of Idaho in 2015. After graduating and interning for a summer at a design firm in Idaho, she came to the San Luis Valley through a volunteer program, working with a local non-profit in Alamosa doing river restoration. She loved the environmental work, but missed architecture and had also fallen in love with the area's beauty and access to the outdoors - she wasn't ready to leave.  In summer 2017,  Andréa joined the SAS team. As an associate, she is very attentive to each client, being sure their voice is heard throughout the design process.  Andréa provides valuable insight into design and programming, does the firm's 3D modeling and drafting, and aids Don in project management.  She is also involved in the community as chair for the local Historic Preservation Board.  When she's away from her desk, you'll find Andréa in the mountains exploring on her mountain bike.

  Ruth was born and raised in Hico, Texas and graduated from Hico High School in 2019. She is a fourth-year student at Texas A&M University majoring in Environmental Design and is on track to graduate in May of 2023. She then plans to continue her education to obtain a Master's Degree in Architecture. Ruth is involved in a few organizations on campus such as Aggies for Truth, Christian Architecture Leaders, ENDS Mentorship Program, and CityLap Mentorship Program. She had the opportunity to study abroad in Tuscany Italy for the Fall 2021 semester. Ruth joined the SAS team in May 2021 as a summer intern. Although she has always been interested in residential architecture, SAS has allowed her to learn about and work on a variety of projects. SAS has helped Ruth grasp a better understanding of what the business of architecture really is. While most of her time is spent in the SAS office in Hico, she is occasionally at the main office in Alamosa. Ruth loves running, working out, hanging out with her sisters, and of course, attending Texas Aggie football games.   

Originally born in Eastland, Texas, Sawyer now calls Plainview, Texas home. Sawyer graduated from Texas A&M University in the spring of 2022 with a bachelors in Environmental Design with a minor in Art with an emphasis in new media. Sawyer will be continuing her education at Texas A&M to receive her Master’s in Architecture beginning in the fall of 2023. Sawyer joined the SAS team in May of 2022 as a summer intern. In her free time Sawyer enjoys being with friends and family, traveling, and baking.