Sofia Mojadidi Paine is an architect licensed in the states of New York and Montana.
Sofia M. Paine is a professional specializing in historic renovations and adaptive reuse. She has provided services from feasibility and design to construction documentation and administration. She is currently working on the preservation and rehabilitation of a historic Pea Cannery in Montana programed to be reused as a foundation for art.
Sofia M. Paine began her apprenticeship under Benjamin Van Dusen AIA of the award winning design firm, Van Dusen Architects (VDA), in Washington, DC. Van Dusen Architects is a small studio specializing in design in the historic landmark residential district. VDA provides services from preliminary design to construction administration. Sofia attributes her overview philosophy of design and historic service to the professional and artful mentorship she received with Ben.
Next, she practiced in New York City and worked under Senior Associate, Austin Harris, AIA at Gruzen Samton. As a design associate and job captain, Sofia worked on several institutional projects such as the Thurgood Marshall Academy in Harlem and the Staten Island Zoo Addition. After completing the Architectural Experience Program (AXP) credits, she worked as a design consultant to Meghan L. McDermott at Robert AM Stern Architects. In addition to her practice, she was a visiting assistant professor for two years in the Foundations department at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY.
Sofia received her Masters of Architecture from the University of Florida and also attended the Vicenza Institute of Architecture program in Italy studying under architect Mario Gooden AIA and the late Dr. Diana Bitz. Sofia went on to complete a Master’s thesis project winning her the Silver Medal in Academic Achievement. She also holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of North Florida where she studied under printmaker and mentor Louise Freshman Brown. Sofia received the Florida Foundation for Architecture Award, and the First Year Graduate Core Architecture Award “in recognition of outstanding achievement and consistent performance in the architectural design studio.” She graduated with the Silver Medal in Academic Achievement “upon the second highest Master of Architecture degree candidate graduating with a record of general excellence in architecture.”
Sofia shares a limited liability company practice with her sculptor husband, Roxy Paine. Her husband is an active partner in all of her projects providing material, construction and logistical support. When not in the office, field or classroom, she is reading, hiking, skiing and being a mom.
