(“Text as taken from the website”)
Practice Ideology
OPAL was founded in 2008 as the architecture division of a groundbreaking design/build company and became an independent architecture firm in 2019. Based in Belfast, on the coast of Maine, the firm maintains an unwavering focus on design excellence while continually striving to achieve the highest standards of building performance, occupant comfort, and well-being.
Unlike its professional peers, OPAL designs buildings exclusively according to Passive House principles. The firm established its leadership role in the Passive House movement in North America through a series of landmark projects, including the first Passive House certified residence in Maine, the first Passive House certified college residence hall (for Unity College in Unity, ME), and the first Passive House certified research laboratory (for the University of Chicago). OPAL is currently one of only fifteen firms nationwide to meet AIA’s 2030 Challenge, which requires an 80% reduction of operational carbon from baseline across all projects.
With its national reputation, OPAL has attracted top design talent from across the United States and beyond—professionals who share the firm’s vision of creating buildings that improve the world. The architectural team continues to advance that vision, applying its expertise in design and building performance to institutional, commercial, and residential projects of every scope and scale.
