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Sep 14
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Business news in the Berkshires and beyond: Pamela Sandler Architect announces key hires

By Press

Berkshire Edge
Written by Monica Bliss
Business Briefs, September 14, 2026

Photos by Sam Backhaus

Stockbridge, Mass. — Pamela Sandler Architect announces the hiring of Barbara Olsen Pascale and Max Kapiloff as Architectural Designers, and Andrew Rota as Director of Interiors and Operations, as it expands its capabilities to offer full-service interior design, creating a seamless, single-source experience for its clients. 

Barbara Olsen Pascale. Courtesy Pamela Sandler Architect.

A veteran construction project manager with professional experience as a cabinet maker and finish carpenter, Barbara Olsen Pascale brings a formidable combination of academic rigor and hands-on craftsmanship to the team. She earned her Bachelor of Architecture from the New York Institute of Technology following a BS in Applied Economics from Cornell University. Her design philosophy is rooted in a love for natural materials, modern forms, and contemporary lines.

Max Kapiloff. Courtesy Pamela Sandler Architect.

Max Kapiloff returns to the Berkshires following a successful seven-year career in New York City, where he collaborated on complex retail, hospitality, and luxury residential projects at top-tier firms including Design Republic and CetraRuddy. Max holds a Master of Architecture from Wentworth Institute of Technology, with international studies in Berlin and Kyoto. His thesis allowed him to immerse himself in Japanese design philosophy, a perspective further enriched by travels through Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. Max’s style is a thoughtful fusion, blending high-tech digital modeling with a physical, tactile approach to design.

Andrew Rota. Courtesy Pamela Sandler Architect

As Pamela Sandler’s son, Andrew Rota was on job sites and at the drafting table long before launching his professional career. He earned his degree in Business/Marketing from Northeastern University, and also holds a Design Certificate degree from Shillington in London. Andrew has spent over a decade leading business strategy, marketing, and design at major technology companies, including Intuit and DoorDash, with a focus on human-centered experiences and clear, thoughtful strategy. Realizing his ideal combination of business, design, and meaningful impact was close to home, Andrew returned to the firm. He believes architecture and interiors can fundamentally shape how people feel and live every day, knowing that the firm’s work is not simply about creating a building.

“We are thrilled to welcome Max, Barbara, and Andrew to the firm,” said Sandler. “Their unique backgrounds, ranging from deep technical construction management to global design philosophies, perfectly complement our commitment to creating spaces that are both beautifully envisioned and meticulously built. As we continue to grow, their diverse skills will be invaluable to our clients and our collaborative process.”

Sep 10
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Aerial view of Elm Court

Developers say Elm Court’s deteriorating wing needs quick action as zoning decision nears

By Press

By Clarence Fanto
The Berkshire Eagle Sep 10, 2026

Aerial view of Elm Court

LENOX — With a zoning board decision several weeks away, Elm Court’s developers are warning that part of the 1886 Cottage Era estate needs urgent restoration as they seek approval to turn the property into a luxury resort.

At a Lenox Zoning Board of Appeals hearing last month, project architect Pam Sandler warned of deterioration at the long-neglected Gilded Age estate on Old Stockbridge Road. Property owner and Vanderbilt Berkshires Estate lead investor Linda Law and her team acquired it in December 2022 for $8 million.

Pam Sandler

Elm Court project architect Pam Sandler, addressing the Lenox Zoning Board of Appeals and town residents last month, said the butlers’ wing of the 1886 Gilded Age mansion is “in dire need of immediate restoration, safeguards and repair.”
CLARENCE FANTO – THE BERKSHIRE EAGLE

Sandler, a Stockbridge-based historic building specialist who recently restored the town’s Old Town Hall as the new home for Berkshire Waldorf High School, called the Elm Court mansion “exceptional and irreplaceable.”

Although the main floor’s historic public rooms are well-preserved, she said, the butlers’ wing is “in dire need of immediate restoration, safeguards and repair.” Recent stabilization work has propped up the wing, and the building is not in immediate danger of collapsing, she acknowledged.

“I’m begging you to help us to make sure we don’t lose this treasure of a building,” Sandler told the board.

The developers propose a 112-unit resort, with 26 guest rooms in the manor house, 48 in four detached lodges and up to 38 single-family residences in a condominium association. Plans also include a 60-seat fine-dining restaurant open to the public and a 15,000-square-foot spa.

The project would cost an estimated $110 million to $120 million, including $70 million to $80 million for mansion restoration, Law told The Eagle at a previous meeting. If approved, she predicted, the resort would open by 2030.

All but three acres of the 89-acre site are in Stockbridge, where the Select Board approved the project in April. But the main entrance and road frontage are in Lenox, giving its zoning board authority over whether the development proceeds, Chairman Robert Fuster has said.

At the Aug. 19 hearing, Law also argued that the Berkshires is losing luxury travelers to New York’s Hudson Valley.

She asserted that the neighboring region has 11 high-end luxury resorts, compared with none in the Berkshires, and put the resulting loss in revenue at $30 million over the past decade.

“We need a five-star hotel really strongly and not be so naive as to rest on our laurels,” she said. “Hudson Valley is capturing the luxury travelers — and the millions they spend — that once belonged to the Berkshires.”

Access, traffic and the project’s effect on neighbors remain part of the board’s review.

The northern entrance would serve the manor house hotel and lodges, while the southern entrance would accommodate homeowners and deliveries, said Steven Mack, president and principal engineer of Foresight Land Services in Pittsfield. A loop road would connect the property, primarily for emergency services.

The project would also include new water and sewer lines serving the resort and the Old Stockbridge Road neighborhood from Hawthorne Street to Elm Court, Mack said. The developer would pay for the upgrades.

Elm Court estate owner and lead investor Linda Law told the Lenox ZBA and residents last month that without a five-star resort like the one she hopes to develop on Old Stockbridge Road, the Berkshires’ hospitality industry is losing out to the Hudson Valley’s high-end resorts.
CLARENCE FANTO – THE BERKSHIRE EAGLE

A traffic study projected a maximum of 44 additional vehicle trips during the weekday morning peak hour, 55 during the afternoon peak hour and 52 during the Saturday peak hour, said Katherine O’Shea, senior transportation engineer with Fuss & O’Neill in Springfield.

The study indicated minimal traffic delays or accident risks, she said. The Lenox Land Use Department has commissioned a peer review by Tighe & Bond in Westfield, to be presented at the next hearing.

If approved, the resort’s grounds would be open to the public, said the developers’ attorney, Jonathan Silverstein.

During public comment, neighbor Nair Revilla called the project too large, with too many negative effects on Lenox and too few benefits.

Abutter Michael Lucia contended that the developers are neglecting basic maintenance at the mansion.

Stockbridge greenlights major Elm Court resort and residential project

He also said “it changes the nature of the neighborhood to have a private housing development that’s in Stockbridge, but in the Lenox neighborhood.”

Of the letters and emails received at Town Hall and posted on the ZBA website, 21 oppose the project and nine support it, including several from area business owners.

The board will resume its in-person-only public hearing Sept. 16 at 7 p.m. in the Town Hall auditorium. A final decision meeting is expected Oct. 7 at the same time and location.

Oct 08
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8 Stylish New Bedrooms with Inspiring Design Details

By Press

Verdant Calm
BY Mitchell Parker
Photo by John Gruen
Originally published in Houzz on September 19, 2025

Designer: Pamela Sandler Architect
Location: West Stockbridge, Massachusetts
Size: 263 square feet (24 square meters)

Homeowners’ request. “The clients wanted a restful yet inspiring bedroom,” architect Pamela Sandler says. “The house is nestled in the verdant Berkshire mountains, so they asked that their bedroom be open to the lush views. They wanted to be able to see the sun rise and set from their bed. They requested the furnishings be comfortable, relaxed and have some curves to soften the linear architecture of the room.”

Special features. “We painted the walls and trim a custom mixed green with just a hint of gray to make it feel ethereal and calming,” Sandler says. “We kept the wood tones light and the window treatments simple and practical. The intent was that the outside views would inspire the interior materials and color selections.”

Designer tip. “We played with the scale of the furniture and lighting,” Sandler says. “Deciding to use just a few pieces to furnish the room, we wanted to make the selections bold but proportionate. Nothing too refined or fussy.”

“Uh-oh” moment. “We first installed a much larger paper lantern,” Sandler says. “So large that the clients hit it when they were getting in and out of bed. Whoops.”

Bed: Wyller, Arhaus; nightstands: Alora, RH; lamps: Gaios, Visual Comfort; paper lantern: Akari, Noguchi; rug: Cambridge Season, Rugs Direct

Read entire article >

Oct 01
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To-Dos: Your October Home Checklist

By Press

Cover or store outdoor furniture and grills, and get your home ready for more time spent indoors

BY Laura Gaskill
Originally published in Houzz on October 1, 2024.

The leaves are falling, pumpkins are showing up at market, and the cozy comforts of home beckon — it must be October. Make the most of this month’s bountiful harvest, get some exercise raking leaves in the brisk air, and button down your house in preparation for winter. Then sit back, relax and warm your hands around a mug of hot apple cider. Fall is here.

Things to Check Off Your List in an Hour or Less

1. Neaten up the mudroom. The flurry of activity this time of year can leave the mudroom looking a little worse for the wear. Take some time to regain sanity — sort through papers and put away stray summer items. Clean the floors and invest in a new doormat if needed. Keep a recycling basket near the entrance to make sorting mail and school papers easier, and dedicate a tote or bin for items that need to go out.

2. Keep seasonal decorating low-key with natural finds. Pumpkins, gourds, fresh heirloom apples, quinces, pomegranates, figs and fall foliage make wonderfully simple decor. Bring in cut branches from your yard, stop by a pick-your-own farm, or scoop up fall’s bounty at a farm stand.

3. Vacuum radiators, baseboard heaters and heating grates. Prepare for heating season by vacuuming up dust from radiators, baseboard heaters and heating grates. If you have radiators with covers, remove the covers and vacuum beneath them before replacing.

4. Check safety devices. Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in the house, replacing batteries as needed. Check the expiration date on the kitchen fire extinguisher and replace it if needed.

5. Start a gift list. It may seem as though the holidays are a long way off, but that’s why it pays to start getting organized now. Start a list of everyone you plan to give gifts to this year, and as ideas strike, jot them down on your list. You can also use your list to keep track of a holiday gifting budget. And if you want to make any gifts by hand, October is a great time to get started — handmade gifts always seem to take longer to make than expected.

Tackle These Tasks Over a Weekend

6. Rake leaves. To make quicker work of collecting leaves from a large lawn, rake the fallen foliage onto a large plastic tarp. Then bag it or add it to your compost pile.

 

Read entire article >

Jul 03
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The Architect’s Way

By Blog

I turned 65 in December 2023, and I really started to think about what that means. I’d been doing succession planning and having conversations with other business owners, especially in my Women Presidents Organization chapter, and realized that I do not want to retire. I love what I do, and I don’t want to phase out or sunset. In fact, I want to do just the opposite. 

I’ve been calling 2024 “the year of Pam.” I know that sounds weird, self-absorbed, and probably not the right way to say it. I think what I really mean is that I want to continue to grow in all the expansive ways. I still want to learn all the time. That’s what is at the core of everything for me. That includes learning about me. 

At the end of last year, there was a lot happening in my personal life. I felt…stuck. I started to really dive into Transcendental Meditation. Well, not dive, it’s too simple to call it diving. But simple does not mean easy. Not at first. My mind would wander to literally every other place than in the moment, and so it took, and continues to take, practice. With TM, you’re not clearing your thoughts from your mind. Instead, you focus on a mantra (a word or phrase that becomes the object of your attention) and for 20 minutes, you direct your consciousness to that mantra. Every day. It becomes a practice. And an emptying. It’s something I look forward to most days. 

On the heels of venturing into meditation, I signed up for a women’s yoga retreat to Costa Rica. I hate yoga. Or that’s what I’d convinced myself of. What I hated was the stillness and the breathing. I am a die-hard fitness junkie, always moving, always going hard. That’s not what happens with yoga. And the retreat, which was led by Ilana Siegal of Lifeworks Studio, was so much more than yoga. It was deep healing and I wanted to continue that journey after the plane landed back in the states. 

After several people recommended it to me, and because I had such a transformative experience in Costa Rica, I decided to take a 13-week course, “Get Out of Your Own Damn Way” (perfect title, let me tell you), that Ilana also teaches. The entire course is based on The Artist’s Way, by Julia Cameron.  Through the course, I started journaling. 

I’m going to say that again. I, Pam Sandler, started journaling. 

Let me tell you, writing was something I never did. I avoided it at all costs. This time though, I was spilling all over the page (and “spilling” is my nice way of saying emotional vomiting and other splattering). I wanted to write. I WANT to write, so I do. No editing as I go, just writing. 

I also started to sketch again. You’d think that, as an architect, I’d be sketching all the time. But I mean sketching for the sake of sketching. You just start. Every morning, I sketch for six minutes. At first, that was a nightmare. A lot of those early sketches ended up in the trash because I didn’t like them. They weren’t perfect. But I realized, the whole point is not to perfect, but to process. To be in those six minutes, just performing the act of sketching and enjoying it for what it is. I’ve also rediscovered the joy of exploring art, painting, and color. Even in my presentations to clients, I’ve gotten more creative with how the presentation conveys not just the aesthetic and design of the project, but the artistic energy of it. I want to help them feel it as much as I want them to see it. I recently met with a young couple about a project. They have a child, just a baby, and as we were talking through ideas for the space, I was able to see, thanks to my own 65 years on the planet, more than 35 of those years in the industry and nearly as many years raising my own children, how the plan needed to grow with the family. A lot of the conversation was “Have you thought about…?” 

In my home life, I’ve made some of my own adjustments. I got rid of my TV. Instead of picking up dinner on my way home from the office and eating it in front of the television, I get home, put on music that I like and cook something nice for myself – very simple cuisine right now. My friends wouldn’t have believed that if my life depended on it! – set my own place at the table and enjoy my simple cuisine. 

These small steps have led to something bigger. They’ve set me free to do anything I want. It sounds hokie, and it is, but this is a new beginning for me. I’ve been able to really home in on causes and organizations that I’m passionate about and want to support in meaningful ways. I’m able to be a mentor to the young people in my firm, and to my sons, and anyone who asks for advice or guidance. I feel the purpose of that in my life. 

Not surprisingly, this week’s theme in The Artist’s Way series was all about enthusiasm. I’m going to Iceland in the fall to see the Northern Lights. How’s that for enthusiastic? 

 

May 13
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The Berkshire Edge: A minimalist condo with maximum light

By Blog, Press

We often referred to this project as the “house of glass” because there is glass everywhere.

BY PAMELA SANDLER
Originally published in The Berkshire Edge on May 10, 2024.

Condominiums are tough. When I was just starting out in the Berkshires, one of my earliest jobs was a condo back when condos were not “a thing” here. Obviously, a lot has changed since then. But what hasn’t changed is the limitations of condominiums, and this one was no exception. It was very chopped up, typical late 1980s design. We couldn’t make any structural changes to the exterior, so we had to utilize the space we already had. That included the screened-in porch, which we brought into the square footage of the house, enclosed it, and it became the main living space. Multiple French doors—French doors everywhere, really–and angled windows (all custom, and cut flush with the roof line) opened the space up tremendously. That was one of the main goals our client had. Even when you are inside the living room, you feel like you are outside because of all the glass and light.

In fact, we often referred to this project as the “house of glass” because there is glass everywhere. The windows, the doors, those are the obvious features. But then there is all the glass detail. Tiny, tiny glass tiles in the kitchen, concave and convex glass tiles in the bathroom, plexiglass stairs and glass risers, frosted glass cabinets; no view inside or out is obstructed. In fact, glass is the true “canvas” for our client’s expansive art collection. So expansive, that we catalogued the art before we began the build and afterwards hired someone specifically to hang the art.

Everything is custom built. Everything. Glass shelves are backlit and filled with sculpture and other art. We made light boxes for specific pieces, and when younger, more curious guests would come (the kind who can really do some damage to glass), we designed wooden panels to cover the light boxes…just in case. Every corner of this house is a curation. A vignette that you discover as you wander through. And, of course, the stairs, which are central to the entire space. We’ve started calling them the “Pam stairs,” as they have turned up in subsequent projects. (I am mildly obsessed with stairs. My team and my kids might argue more than mildly.)
During the build, the grandchildren started arriving, and the space needed to take those curious visitors into consideration. And it needed to be fun! The loft area is one of my favorites. Everything is multi-functional. The L-shaped seating area transforms into a bed and the coffee table surface can be flipped over and used as snack trays. There are drawers built into the steps leading up to the loft that are used for extra storage. The office off the first-floor bedroom—the headboard and adjustable lamps as well as the closet behind it all custom—is still called the “baby’s room” even though the babies are all grown up. With our client’s feedback through every step of this project, we were able to achieve a modern space that would allow for growth—with the art, the grandkids, and the changing needs of our client.
Ironically, the more limitations we have, the easier it is to be creative and to allow for a vision to come into focus. Inspiration comes directly from the needs and desires of the client, and the functionality of the space. That’s why I sit and observe my clients in their home. It’s part of the process because with architecture, the end user is always right!
Nov 30
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Mama Mia! An architect journeys to Venice and Milan

By Blog

Forty-two years ago, I was in Venice…for one night. At the time, I was a student and couldn’t afford to spend an entire day there. It was a gift that my dad had given me as a college graduation present – six weeks to travel around Europe.

Of course, I always wanted to go back. I honestly didn’t think it would take me this long! My son (the same son who convinced me that he needed to study photography in Venice for two months when he was 20 years old), Andrew, along with his wonderful partner, Cody, planned the whole trip which also included four days in Milan.

 

Venice (Venezia)

In Venice, the buildings have been settling for decades, and the only way to really travel is by boat taxi and by foot. There is, understandably, always construction happening in that sinking city, and you can see that there is yellow tape and huge drapings around many of the buildings. This is Venice, after all, and they will never not focus on aesthetics and beauty. It still must be beautiful.

Venice is tiny, and full of tourists, but the locals are dedicated to trying to keep their space. There is a feeling of joy at every moment and every new day was a new experience.

We went on a few tours. One of them was a three-hour food tour lead by a woman who seemed like a typical, eccentric tour guide. She was incredibly knowledgeable about the food and the history of the city. We started drinking at noon. We did some digging later (via Instagram, naturally) and discovered that our tour guide had some other unique identities, not the least of which was as a fetishist who had a thing for painted-on latex dresses.

We toured the Doge’s Palace, an impressive work of Gothic architecture that is a layering of constructions and ornamentation spanning from 1340 onwards. We also took in several architecture exhibits through the Venice Biennale, a yearly celebration of the city’s art and architecture that includes performances and installations. We walked the entire city, and ate, and walked some more, each of us falling in love with the place.

On our last day, I had the mother of all pastries. The sfogliatelle, otherwise known as the “lobster tail” stateside. I needed a nap! But that didn’t stop me from devouring it. I ate my way through this trip because that is how you experience Italy.

 

 

 

 

 

Milan (Milano)

We took a Leonardo da Vinci tour, touring all over Sforzecso Castle, the largest citadel in Europe. We learned about da Vinci’s unique journey and his major impact on Milan. We found out about a Leonardo da Vinci exhibit at the Biblioteca Ambrosiana. It was incredible. The library (Codex Atlanticus Leonardo da Vinci – Veneranda Biblioteca Ambrosiana) had everything, including da Vinci’s notebooks, which were astonishing. His brilliance was particularly evident at the Milan Cathedral, the Duomo, where construction began in the late 1300s. Leonardo da Vinci was one of a long succession of architects at the head of this ongoing project, and at the end of the 15th century was given the Herculean task of designing the tiburio, the polygonal lantern tower that rises above the four arms of the cruciform. It was spectacular.

In fact, every detail was. Cody is an illustrator, and he and I really got off on the mosaics. They were everywhere. Built into the city as a necessity, not a luxury.

We enjoyed a roof tour, walking through the archways and seeing all the gorgeous pink marble up close. What looks like buttresses are just ornamental. They used a very porous marble which means that they are always replacing and doing renovations. There are hundreds, maybe thousands, of individual sculptures throughout Milan, none repeating, including Mussolini and Napoleon and other controversial figures who, it seems, will remain there until they crumble.

We shopped at vintage clothing stores and peeked into high-end retail spaces like Gucci, Prada, Louis Vuitton. I got in a little bit of trouble –mostly disapproving looks– because I was apparently underdressed for some of the shops! The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is a pedestrian mall housed within a four-story double arcade and consists of two glass-vaulted arcades intersecting in an octagon covering the street with an arching glass and cast-iron roof. The Galleria is teaming with high-end couture shops and home to some of the oldest shop spaces and eateries in Milan. We treated ourselves to a visit to Café Aperol, one of the oldest cafes in the city.

Do you know what was really cool? Europeans still shop. It was wonderful to see people out on a weekday, having lunch, shopping. They really enjoy it. Americans don’t shop like that. Not since the pandemic, and not even before that. We’ve lost that culture, or we never really had it.

Italians also don’t take huge breakfasts, but there are always pastries and every pastry I had was better than the previous, and every cup of coffee, too.

The Mama

Young people are so much fun to be with. Several times I’d be taking pictures and it felt like Andrew and Cody were the grown-ups, and I was the kid. We also discovered that the password in Italy is “mama.”

“They’re gonna let the mama pay for dinner!”

“Bring out extra limoncello for the mama!”

I felt like I was put on a pedestal. It was weird, but I did just fine with it. There are very few places in the world that make you feel like Italy does.