About Santa Fe

Ellis/Browning Architects, based in Santa Fe, New Mexico, was founded by partners Lisette Ellis and Joe Browning in 1986. The majority of the firm’s work has been the design of buildings which serve the public, including schools, libraries, museums and public health clinics. In addition we continue to design numerous single family homes, live-work and infill housing, as well as office, hospitality, historic restoration and adaptive re-use, and interior design projects.

Designed with respect for the powerful and fragile natural landscape and history of the region, and built for durability and to temper the regional climate, most of the firm’s building designs incorporate earth integration, thermal mass, passive solar elements (including modulated daylighting) and natural ventilation. All projects have energy and water conserving features, and, as a LEED accredited professional, partner Joe C. Browning can assist clients with LEED certification.

In addition to patterns of thermal comfort we also look to historic settlement and building patterns in the region, and incorporate plazas, courtyards and portales where appropriate and feasible, as well as other varieties of tempered and habitable outdoor rooms, typically with a contemporary regional expression.