About Our Firm

Stephanie Bassler

Partner, Technical Director

An expert in sustainable and green building design and a Certified Passive House Consultant, Stephanie brings a whole-systems approach to every project, with a particular interest in emerging high-performance building technologies and the challenges of adaptive reuse of historic structures. Her work as North River’s principal Architect has included large-scale master planning and development projects, numerous net-zero and Passive House residential designs, the Passive House-certified Women’s Leadership Center at the Omega Institute, and a LEED-Certified multi-floor renovation for Eileen Fisher, Inc. in New York City.  Stephanie is on the board of the Passive House Alliance – Hudson Valley chapter. After practicing architecture for a decade in NYC, Stephanie moved to the Hudson Valley in 2006 with her family to focus on energy-efficient design. Stephanie earned her Bachelor of Architecture from Rice University and is licensed to practice architecture in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Massachusetts.

Peter Reynolds

Partner, Design Director

Peter has 30 years of experience in the field. He has been the lead designer of many local and community design, construction, and planning projects, including a number of new dormitory and academic buildings on the Bard College campus and at the Omega Institute. Working closely and collaboratively with contractors, engineers and owners, Peter has earned a reputation as a local expert in modern sustainable design with a sensitivity to local context and affordability — recently extended by his own design-build home project with North River, the Accord, NY Passive House. Throughout his extensive design career, Peter has produced distinguished residences, commercial offices and institutional projects throughout the Hudson Valley, New York City, New England, California, and the Caribbean. He has been a consultant on sustainable master plan and renewable energy strategy for public sector and corporate clients.

Peter is a Harvard University graduate, and began his career as a self-taught designer-builder trained in the Pattern Language tradition of Christopher Alexander.

Christopher Ruel

Partner, Operating Director

Combining his personal interest in construction and woodworking with 15 years of award-winning design experience in architecture, Chris is North River’s authority on environmentally-conscious construction methods. He started his career in mixed-use commercial redevelopment, hospitality and high-end residential projects in the New York City metro area after receiving his Bachelors of Architecture from New Jersey Institute of Technology. In 2015, Chris joined the North River team in an effort to re-engage the single-family market and apply his passion for craft and detail to mid- and high-end residential projects.

Madeline Russo

Office Manager + Human Resources

Lenore Elbrecht

Business Manager

Rebecca Bates

Business Administrator/Accounts

Samantha Roesemann

Director of Construction Operations

Tim Smith

Draftsperson

Jessica Van Houten-Kenny

Associate Operations Manager

William Dunwoody

Project Manager

Miles Dandrew

Project Manager

Samuel Hauspurg

Assistant Project Manager

Matthew Millham

Assistant Project Manager

Chris Hughes

Carpenter

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