Profile

I am a sole-proprietor architect with over 40 years of experience, with the past 15 years as principal of Sheldon Richard Kostelecky Architect, a classically inspired residential design firm based in Charlottesville, Virginia. I have a passion for “new-old” traditional residential architecture, whether restoring or renovating first period historic houses, adding a sympathetic addition to a more recent period house, or designing a brand new authentically detailed traditional home in a variety of 19^th and early 20^th century historic styles.

I have taught traditional residential design and classical architecture as an adjunct professor at the Boston Architectural College (BAC) in Boston, Massachusetts as well as taught classical coursework at the Institute of Classical Architecture in New York City. I have developed my appreciation for historic architecture while at some of the top architectural firms in Boston, including The Classic Group and Dell Mitchell Architects, before striking out on my own in 2007 after completing post-graduate studies in classical architecture at the University of Notre Dame.

I am a registered architect in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York, with my Virginia license pending. A long-time active member of the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art (ICAA), I co-founded its New England Chapter, served as its chapter president, and is currently a Fellow of the national organization and a member of the Education Committee. I received my Bachelor of Architecture degree from North Dakota State University and Masters degrees from Harvard University Graduate School of Design (GSD) and the University of Notre Dame School of Architecture, where I spent a semester studying classical architecture abroad at the school’s Rome Studies Program.

My work and articles have been featured in such periodicals as Traditional Building, Period Homes, Design New England, North Shore, and New Old House. My portfolio includes projects designed in a variety of historic and regional vernacular styles in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, South Carolina, Minnesota, Wyoming, Montana, and Virginia.

I bring award-winning design, drawing and rendering skills (by hand and via computer), decades of project management and construction experience, along with extensive knowledge of authentic historic period styles from travel in 46 states and throughout Europe (including the “Grand Tour”). In addition, I have designed traditional renovations, additions, and new traditional homes, ranging in budget from $250K through $10M. Purposely remaining a sole-proprietor, I provide complete and personalized “soup-to-nuts” architectural services to my clients from initial design sketches to project construction closeout; working collaboratively and closely with my clients throughout the process and always being mindful of the budget to achieve their goals is my greatest joy.