Team

Frank Shirley was educated at the University of Cincinnati, where he received his degree in architecture. He began his career as a designer at Moshe Safdie & Associates, working on large-scale civic and institutional projects. From there Frank became a project manager at Design Associates, Inc., where he led the restoration of the Corbin-Norton residence on Martha’s Vineyard, which received the Boston Society of Architects’ award for “Excellence in Architecture.” He was also the project architect for homes featured on the PBS television series, This Old House. In 2000, he launched Frank Shirley Architects in Cambridge, MA. In 2007, Frank won the Traditional Building Challenge–a competition among architects nationwide to design a home in the spirit of its Cape Cod setting. Among many other recognitions, Frank Shirley Architects received the prestigious Bulfinch Award in 2012, 2014, and 2017, a Dream Home Award in 2010, and was named Best of Boston® Home in 2008 and 2011, for Restoration Architect and Historic Renovation Architect, respectfully. Frank is also a serious architectural photographer. Fifteen of his photographs have been chosen for the calendars published by the American Institute of Architects, one winning first place. In 2007, Frank’s book, New Rooms for Old Houses: Beautiful Additions for the Traditional Home, was published under the imprimatur of the National Trust for Historic Preservation by Taunton Press and distributed by Random House. This beautiful volume systematically presents Frank’s approach to the issues owners encounter when adding to their historical homes.