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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 >

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!
Jan 29
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Big Sur in the Berkshires

By Blog, Press

Originally published in Berkshire Magazine’s 2020 Winter Issue

PHOTOS: Lisa Vollmer

The Seibert’s

Fred Seibert and Robin Sloane Seibert stumbled upon their Stockbridge home quite by accident. Robin grew to love the mountains while a student at UVM, but Vermont was too far from their residence in Manhattan, and ocean-front homes on Long Island felt too elitist. The couple stopped in the Berkshires on a whim, after dropping their son at college in Maine. They traveled with a shortlist of wishes for a second home: a vista location while avoiding isolation; a house with an open living space; access to a good, local bookstore; and a place within close range of Tanglewood.

They liked the very first house realtor Tim Lovett showed them, which had a few of the sought-after elements but needed some major changes. Then they met architect Pam Sandler. “If we do this house correctly, we can grow old here,” Robin remembers seeing it. And that’s what they did. After an 18-month renovation, their wishes became reality. The home was transformed into a sanctuary to harbor their creative pursuits, where they could take time away from the city and immerse themselves in the beauty of nature.

The House

The house, a 1970s post and beam, was incredibly dark. Every column and ceiling board on the first floor was stripped to expose the natural knotty pine. Sandler then turned her attention to

moving walls to create more openness, reminiscent of her clients’ loft in the city. Robin, an avid cook, wanted the kitchen open to the rest of the living area, and Sandler created a proper entrance—one that precluded guests having to navigate a dark mudroom-turned-laundry area. Perhaps the pièce de résistance is the spa-like master suite, an addition that hinges upon a seamless connection between inside and outside spaces. Sandler calls it, “feeling at one with nature,” which is entirely evident through expansive glass on two walls. In fact, the remodel effectively resembles a cabin in Big Sur, where Robin and Fred eloped 25 years ago—a feel Robin was striving for all along.
A key factor in designing spaces for her clients is not only listening to what they want, but also getting to know them and their personalities. “I find Robin and Fred so down to earth,” says Sandler, who opened her architectural business in the Berkshires 30 years ago. “They are not pretentious; they are humble people, and the house had to feel that way.”

Sandler configured the clean, soaring space—effectively combining elements of wood, glass and metal—to include large, open living areas with several intimate niches. The house contains thousands of books, and Fred has a particular affinity for the library niche. (They are also in close proximity to one of their favorite places, The Bookstore in Lenox.) When she is not tackling a culinary feat, Robin gravitates toward her grand piano, a rebuilt Steinway from Flynn Pianos, that takes center stage in the living room.

Backstory

Robin was in the rock-and-roll business for two decades, including a ten-year stint at Geffen Records as creative director. While at Elektra Records, she directed the Cars’ video, “You Might Think” which went on to receive the very first MTV Video of the Year award in 1984. She retired 20 years ago to raise the couple’s two sons—and her timing was spot on. “It’s a changing business,” she recalls. “Rap was coming in, and I wasn’t relating to rap.” Robin promptly switched gears to pursue classical piano and creative writing—regularly attending BSO open rehearsals and recitals in Ozawa Hall, both at nearby Tanglewood.

red has been referred to as the “cartoon king.” He was president of Hanna-Barbera’s cartoon studios in the 1990s. He is credited with discovering Seth MacFarlane, the creator of the TV series “Family Guy,” fresh from college, when he hired him to work on Hanna-Barbera cartoons. Seibert’s biggest audience is online through his Channel Frederator network. Cartoons run on YouTube, but his network promotes them, sells ads and distributes the proceeds to some 2,000 of his video makers. He still serves as executive producer of “The Fairly Odd Parents,” a TV series he began producing in 1998.

In The Berkshires

photos by Lisa Vollmer for Berkshire Magazine

In the Berkshires, Fred likes to stay put. “I’m an introvert in an extroverted business. I need a place where I can recharge,” he says. He has a workshop where he continues to feed his lifelong affinity for building. Pieces of his original design punctuate the home, ranging from wood and metal bookshelves to a live-edge desk; the bench, just inside the kitchen entrance, was the first piece he built for the couple’s Berkshire getaway. He also regularly adds to what he calls “an obsessive poster collection,” many of which are on display throughout the house.

“We agreed we would do what it takes to make it the home we wanted,” says Robin of the enormous undertaking that included exterior landscaping. Save for ripping out the ragweed and goldenrod lining the driveway and planting a row of Hemlocks to screen their addition from the neighbors, the Seiberts let the property sit for two years without alteration. Slowly, Robin began landscaping. With the help of Rob Genarri of Glendale Botanicals, the two worked together carving out more lawn, putting in beds, and creating meandering paths.

Above all else, Robin and Fred exude thankfulness—for having met Sandler and for committing to create a home where they can grow old. “We honor each other’s creativity and respect it,” says Robin of her husband. “As did Pam,” Fred chimes in.

Come Christmas, the Seiberts’ two sons will join them in Stockbridge. Joe, 24, is earning a PhD in physics and Jack, 22, a programmer at a video game company, will both make the trip east from California. Holiday traditions include venturing to Seekonk Tree Farm in Great Barrington to select and cut a tree, walks in nature, and skiing for Robin and her sons at Ski Butternut. “It’s fantastic,” says Robin of this cherished time together.

Jun 12
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Pamela Sandler Completes Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program; Brings Special Needs Housing to Berkshire County

By Press

Pamela Sandler Completes Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program; Brings Special Needs Housing to Berkshire County

Pamela Sandler joins local small business owners to create new business opportunity in Berkshire County

Stockbridge, MA (June 12, 2017) – Pamela Sandler, founder of Pamela Sandler Architect, located in Stockbridge, MA, completed the 11 week, 100 plus hour Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses, a national program created to help entrepreneurs develop jobs and economic opportunity by providing greater access to education, capital, and business support services. Ms. Sandler fine-tuned the firm’s business growth plan which, along with her residential and commercial full-service architecture, extends the firm’s reach by teaming with groups that develop appropriate housing for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and special needs adults in the northeast.

“Within seven years 500,000 ASD adults will require special needs housing. Currently, 80 percent of these adults live with their families,” noted Sandler. There are parental organizations, groups and governmental agencies that need expertise in the design and development of appropriate special needs housing. “My goal is to be able to answer the question so many parents with special needs children ask, ‘where will he or she live when I’m gone?’” continues Sandler.

Sandler, a mother of two ASD adults understands professionally as well as personally the residential requirements for special needs adults. “When designing full-time living spaces and communities there are considerations most firms would not naturally consider, such as creating visually calm living areas, sound proof rooms, spacious hallways as well as common areas that promote physical activity. The design should include appropriate ventilation and use all-green, non-toxic products. And of course, we need to create a sense of familiarity and security,” explains Sandler.

“The Goldman Sachs 10,000 small businesses program gave me the tools to learn more about the business side of my firm as well as support my passion to develop housing for ASD adults so that they can lead comfortable and productive adult lives.” Sandler continued, “I’m confident that the three months of work and networking will pay off for my firm’s residential and commercial projects as well benefit the special needs adults in the northeast.”

“We’re proud of our graduates of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Initiative. These entrepreneurs put forth incredible effort to complete this program and we are confident their efforts will continue in growing their businesses. We are excited to watch their many successes,” said Kerry Healey, President of Babson College.

Visit Pamela Sandler Architect for more information regarding Pamela Sandler’s offerings.

For additional information:

Pamela Sandler

Phone: 413.298.4227

Email: Pam@sandleraia.com

Website – www.sandleraia.com

Pamela Sandler accepts Goldman Sachs 10,000 small business certificate from Joy Schaaffe- Lead Faculty- 10,000 small businesses.

Pamela Sandler accepts Goldman Sachs 10,000 small business certificate from Joy Schaaffe- Lead Faculty- 10,000 small businesses.