Ellen Cassilly

Principal Architect

Ellen Cassilly, FAIA, is the founding principal of Ellen Cassilly Architects and a passionate advocate for elegant, sustainable, and functional live/work/play spaces and vibrant communities. She earned a Bachelor’s in Environmental Design from Texas A&M University (alumnae of the year in 2018,) a Master of Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania, and worked for four years in Paris in the studio of Pritzker Prize-winning architect Christian de Portzamparc.

For more than 30 years Ellen has worked tirelessly and had an outsized impact on our region both within her architectural practice and with her work in the cultural sector.

She is committed to inspiring the best and most creative solutions from her dedicated staff as well as mentoring students and young professionals through the Durham Public Schools, NC State College of Design, and the AIA Women in Architecture programs. She has spent 20+ years dedicated to the designing and nurturing of Durham Central Park, is a co-founder of Cassilhaus, a home-based artist residency and exhibition space in Orange County, and in 2017 was given the rare honor of elevation to The College of Fellows of The American Institute of Architects for her service to society.

Projects

• Cogswell Mitchell House (2023)
• DSSOLVR Taproom (2023)
• Ramseur Street (2018)

Awards and Recognitions

• Fellow of the American Institute of Architects (FAIA) (2017)
• Best Architect in Durham County (2016)
• Best Green Architect (2012)