Congratulations Eric on reaching your
10-year anniversary with CUBE 3!

Congratulations to Eric Samuelson who is celebrating his 10-year work anniversary with us! An integral member of our team, Eric has put time and energy behind so many substantial CUBE 3 projects, and we have been fortunate enough to have him on our team for a decade.

Years in the Profession: 10 years post-graduation

What attracted you to join the CUBE 3 team?
I didn’t know a lot about CUBE 3 while I was in college, but from the moment I interviewed with Doug and Aaron, I loved the way the company approached their professional development. CUBE 3 provided an opportunity for me to create my own career path. It felt like they aligned with the values and opportunity that I was looking for coming out of college. The connection I felt then hasn’t changed in the 10 years I have been here – and the opportunities I have been exposed to have exceeded my expectations.

What is your role at CUBE 3?
Studio Leader

What’s a lesson you have learned that has most benefited you in your career?
There’s a big difference between just doing your work and understanding how what you’re doing satisfies the big picture.

What inspires you?
To always get better at everything that I do. I am very competitive and don’t like being bad at anything.

What area(s) do you specialize in?
I thoroughly enjoy problem solving and believe that trait has carried me through every stage of my career thus far.

What is your favorite C3 project?
My favorite project is The Overlook at St. Gabriel’s, which also happens to be the project I spent over 10,000 hours on. I was involved with that project from the initial test fits and master-planning, all the way through to the final completion and occupancy of the buildings. I cannot begin to outline everything I learned during that project, but it set me up for future success in many ways. Special shout-out to Michele Littlefield who mentored and taught me every step of the way – I couldn’t have done it without you.

What is your favorite C3 memory?
I have a million great memories from my time at CUBE 3 – from the people to the projects, and all of the activities we’ve done over the years. I’ve spent nearly a third of my life here, and CUBE 3 has meant a lot to me.

My favorite anecdote at CUBE 3 is back during entitlements of St. Gabriel’s. We had this massive site model that Michele and I had to lug back and forth from Lawrence for meetings at Boston City Hall (it took two cars to fit it). For one of the presentations, I tried parking closer to the entrance in order to bring the model inside. While getting back to my car, Boston Police rushed into City Hall demanding whose car was parked outside. Me, a naïve shy 25 year old, proceeded to get scolded by Boston Police for parking in Mayor Walsh’s parking space. I think they quickly realized how little of a threat I was.

Favorite quote?
“As the man once said, the harder you work, the luckier you get.” -Ted Lasso

Can you tell us a little about any personal hobbies or activities you are working on or passionate about?
I am very passionate about creating new life experiences – I truly believe life is too short to worry about the small stuff and think things will always work themselves out if you let them. Go on that trip, try that sport, have that beer, eat those tacos. Life is about having fun.

PRINCETON, NJ – May 1, 2023 – CUBE 3, a leading national design firm with headquarters in Lawrence, MA, and additional offices in Boston, MA, and Miami, FL, is excited to announce their move to a new office location in Princeton, NJ. This expansion comes as the company celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2023, and serves as a testament to the firm’s strong planning and strategic growth efforts.

The office space, located at 182 Nassau Street in Princeton, NJ allows for continued growth in the Mid-Atlantic market, allowing for increased staffing and more focused attention across all major market sectors including multifamily, hospitality, healthcare, commercial, and mixed-use projects.

“If you had told me 20 years ago that in 2023, we would be relocating our 4th office, have 130+ employees and thousands of incredibly designed projects behind us, I may not have believed it,” remarked CUBE 3 Founder, Nik Middleton. “Our collective success has been built upon a clear vision for our firm, strategic client relationships, and a team that has continually exceeded our expectations along the way. This new, expanded office location is the next step in our progression”

The growth of the Princeton office highlights the company’s ongoing success and dedication to providing top-notch design services to their clients. CUBE 3 remains committed to delivering exceptional design services while maintaining a focus on innovation, collaboration, and sustainable solutions.

About CUBE 3
Established in 2003, CUBE 3 is well-known nationally as a design industry and innovation leader—providing thoughtful, individualized solutions for a wide range of architectural, interior design and planning challenges. The firm offers expertise in architecture, interior design, and planning services across a range of sectors, including residential, commercial, and mixed-use projects.

Congratulations Brandon on reaching your
10-year anniversary with CUBE 3!

Please join us in congratulating Brandon Eaton on this milestone work anniversary and 10 memorable years with CUBE 3.

Years in the Profession: 13 years

How long have you been at CUBE 3? 10 years. A whole decade!

What attracted you to join the CUBE 3 team?
It was 2012 and I was 3 years into my career working in the Portland, ME area after graduating in 2009. The company that I started working for right out of school had weathered the economic recession through the worst portions but still ended up downsizing and I was among the list of those people who were let go. My then girlfriend (now my wife) and I had just moved into our first apartment together. Every day for 4 weeks, I would wake up like I was going to work, but instead ride my bike to the Portland library and work on my resume, cover letters and applying to every architectural firm I could find. Finally, after weeks of no luck, I reached out to my friend Jason Skidgell to see if he knew of any openings in the Boston area. Thankfully, he did! He was working at CUBE 3 at the time and said it was a great place to work so he recommended that I should apply. I wasn’t anticipating applying for jobs outside of Maine at the time, but the Portland market was super tough so I decided to give it a shot. Jason helped me craft my cover sheet and got it into the hands of Doug and Adam Wagner. I had an interview with Doug and Adam a short time later and they offered me a position on the spot! And the rest, as they say, is history!

C3 Hike Mount Washington October 2014.
From left-to-right: Jake Mercer, Nick Griffin, Brandon Eaton, Michele Quinn Littlefield, Mitchell Littlefield

What is your role at CUBE 3?
My official title is Senior Project Manager. However, I get the most pride and fulfillment out of mentoring others in the office. Whether that be folks who are on my project teams or through the advisor program.

What’s a lesson you have learned that has most benefited you in your career?
Don’t be afraid to ask questions and ask for help when you need it. Asking questions is one of the best way to learn, gain experience and get to know others that you work with. You never know, you may find your own mentor! In terms of asking for help, you often times will never get it until you ask, so don’t let your ego or work ethic get in the way of reaching out to others when you need a helping hand.

What inspires you?
I think this question has likely had a few different answers throughout my career, but now, my first thought would be my kids. It’s been the most challenging point in my life thus far, trying to balance work and personal life with 2 small kids, but I wouldn’t give it up. They give me so much joy and fulfillment. It’s great getting to see the world through their eyes and experience things with them for the first time that are monumental to them but had previously been commonplace to me as an adult. It’s still so surreal that they are their own people with their own personalities. They help me center myself and focus on what’s important.

How did you get here? What were you doing before, and what made you decide to go into Architecture?
I grew up in Maine and always had a passion for drawing/art, building things (like models) and history, especially classical Greek/Roman and Egyptian architecture. I thought my path would take me into illustration or something like that but, was inspired by others to check out Architecture which, sort of combines the drawing, building and history aspects into one field. Prior to starting school at Wentworth and during, I worked mostly in retail as a product clerk at Hannaford supermarkets.

What area(s) do you specialize in?
I would say that I lean more toward the technical side of things but, I also like the artistic aspect of planning a site or a unit. I like to think that I’m working toward being a jack of all trades, to some extent.

We think this face from 2017 speaks for all of us who were at Gunstock NH that year! We attempted a fun day of ziplining, but Mother Nature had other ideas and chose to bless us with a monsoon instead. High winds and heavy rain kept us off the mountain.

We had a do-over in 2018 and enjoyed a beautiful sun-filled day ziplining above the tree line, exploring the woods on all-terrain Seqways, and on their Aerial Treetop obstacle course.

What is your favorite C3 project?
My favorite in terms of memorable, would-be Acadia on the Charles in Waltham, MA. This was my very first project when I started at CUBE 3 and I got to see, learn and experience so much with that project right out of the gate. I still reference it quite often when chatting with my advisees or folks I’m mentoring, who are going through similar experiences in their own careers.

My favorite project in terms of accomplishment, would be The Cove in Hingham, MA. This project was one I worked on from the earliest sketches all the way through construction. It was one of my first projects leading a full team so, it was challenging through all phases of the project but, was another project which helped me grow so much. I shaped my management style and worked with folks who have now become great friends. The passion, pride, connection and accomplishment were heightened when it was awarded Gold 2020 PRISM Award for Best Universal Design by Builders and Remodelers Association of Greater Boston.

What is your favorite C3 memory? (The good, the bad, and the ugly?)
Many of my favorite memories are from the group events like the Holiday parties or Gunstock. However, a few of my most favorite are late night studio fun and playing music with other folks back before you could work remote. When it would be just me and Jason Skidgell in the office late at night, we’d crank some Wild Child by Brett Dennen. When it was just me and Justin Pelland, it was always Stevie Wonder.

What is a skill you would like to learn and why?
I am always working on learning when to accept something as good enough for the task at hand, instead of trying to be perfect.

C3 Hike Mount Moosilauke NH December 2015

Favorite quote?
Strive for perfection but settle for happiness. I take this as don’t be afraid to go after the big accomplishments and dreams, but try to be present in the now and know that happiness is found in the everyday life moments. So don’t let the destination cloud the beauty of the journey to get there.

What is something you are most proud of?
Working here for a decade! Being able to give back everything that I have learned to others coming up in their careers.

Can you tell us a little about any personal hobbies or activities you are working on or passionate about?
I love to be outside and now that my wife and I have kids, we basically live outside with them when the weather is nice. I like to hike, bike, walk, ski and just explore. So it’s great to see these likes starting to develop in my kids. I like building things and have built furniture, a chicken coop/run and some other miscellaneous things. Mostly, though, the trick is finishing what I start in terms of those projects. My wife’s least favorite phrase from me is, “I can build that” because, I never have enough time to do it.

At work, I’m part of the Sustainability Committee. I’ve always had a passion for recycling and protecting the environment that I love to be in. So, helping to make Architecture a tool for aiding in that goal is important.

Congratulations Doug on reaching your
15-year anniversary with CUBE 3!

Please join us in congratulating Doug Carr on this milestone work anniversary and 15 memorable years with CUBE 3. Both Nik Middleton and Brian Oconnor, who had worked with Doug in the past, insisted he bring his talents to CUBE 3 where he would inevitably help shape the character and path of the company. Doug’s infectious positive attitude and seasoned business acumen make him a priceless asset to our organization. From his unwavering support of all our sports teams, to the help provided while guiding us through the Covid minefield — and everything in between — we can’t even imagine what C3 would be like without him. If you ever need to know what the best restaurant in Lisbon is, or how to find an excellent organic red, or who won Best Picture in 2014, Doug is your man.

Years in the Profession: 30

How long have you been at CUBE 3? 15 years as of June of this year.

What attracted you to join the CUBE 3 team? Nik and I worked well together when we were both at ADD Inc together two decades ago. We worked great as a team to fast track the design and construction of the CVS Headquarters/Store Support Center in Woonsocket, RI. The CA was so intense that I ended up living down in RI during the week for more than a year so I could maximize my on-site time and solve problems faster. I left ADD a few years later, but even then, I knew Nik was going to open his own shop and that it would be successful. He called me when he needed a real PM to join the firm (to oversee the Roger Williams’ Frat Boys that made up most of CUBE3 at the time). The rest is history.

What is your role at CUBE 3? It has evolved a lot over the years, as CUBE3 has evolved. I arrived as one of only a handful of PMs. As the company grew, we realized that there was a structure needed and I gradually got into the business and operations side of CUBE3. I am still involved in a few projects at the very earliest conceptual level, but I hand them off to PXs and PMs as soon as possible. I mostly am involved in running the company – looking at clients and contractors over many years to see how we did in terms of finances and the overall relationship; I am deeply involved in hiring and looking at strategies to grow and improve CUBE3.

What made you decide to go into Architecture? I was always drawing and building things as a kid, first with Legos, but then with whatever I could get my hands on. In High School, in lieu of a boring English paper, I asked my teacher if I could build a model of Shakespeare’s Globe Theater in London, which was a lot of fun to research and construct. About three decades later, I had the privilege of attending Anthony & Cleopatra at the reconstructed Globe Theater, which was a thrill. To be an Architect, you must have Architecture in your DNA.

That time we filled Doug’s office with balloons for his birthday (2015) ?

Doug has been a loyal supporter and participant in the many CUBE 3 sports teams over the years

What area(s) do you specialize in? I am a generalist. I know just enough about everything to be dangerous.

What is your favorite C3 project? The next one.

What is your favorite C3 memory? One of the most satisfying things I have experienced is the official grand opening of a project. When you came up with the original layout and concept for a building and have shepherded it through Entitlements, Design, Construction Documents and Construction Administration, sometimes over a several years or more, when you literally drew and helped build every piece of the project and you finally get to see the finished product, the sense of ownership and pride is immeasurable. It’s one of the most satisfying feelings in the world.

Favorite quote? I have two, not necessarily my favorite, but ones that come to mind now and then that I am fond of: “One War at a Time” – Abraham Lincoln, in reference to how he managed the Civil War in the US over his entire presidency while also managing to avoid war with both England and France, which was a real threat at the time and would have been fatal to the US effort. The quote is about keeping perspective on what you are doing, keeping focused on the main goal and not doing anything that would undermine that goal.

The other quote is: “You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.” by Mae West.

“The Dougs” That time we dressed up as Doug for Halloween (2019)

Can you tell us a little about any personal hobbies or activities you are working on or passionate about? Committees, boards, groups you are involved with? Any other personal accomplishments you would like to mention?

Most of my volunteer work has been in service to the city where I grew up and still live in: Medford, MA.

I have served on the Board of Directors for the Medford-Brooks Estate Land Trust (M-BELT) since its creation in 1998. https://brooksestate.org/ The goal is the restoration of the 50-acre Brooks Estate and historic buildings for public use. I have specialized in planning and managing the many preservation and restoration projects for the Shepherd Brooks Manor, an 1880 Peabody & Stearns Queen Anne Manor and Carriage House, both on the National Register of Historic Places. I was also the primary author of the M-BELT Master Plan for the Brooks Estate, which summarized 15 years of planning and completed projects and looks ahead for the next 20 years at the Estate. I have become pretty knowledgeable about the challenges and details of historic preservation along the way.

I also serve on the Medford Historical Commission (MHC) since 2013. During the last 5+ years, the City of Medford has seen an explosion of new building, and an increasing number of tear-downs as well, some of which have resulted in new houses that are incompatible with the scale and character of the their respective neighborhoods. The MHC has pushed back and put demo delays on numerous properties that we deemed Significant and Preferably Preserved. On occasion, I have used my architecture and planning experience to show owners the potential of their property through additions and alterations vs. a straight demo.

I serve on the Medford Community Preservation Committee (CPC) which evaluates and awards funds raised through a 1% tax surcharge that can be used for Affordable Housing, Open Space and Recreation, and Historic Preservation. Over the past four years, the CPC has funded 70 projects with over $7m in funds. It is a very satisfying job to hand out money to worthy projects that directly improve the community!

Last, and certainly not least, I serve on the local chapter of the NAACP, which encompasses the communities of Medford, Malden, Winchester, Arlington, Everett & Woburn. In addition to fighting for the ongoing struggles of civil and voting rights, the NAACP are advocates for criminal justice reform, political action, and social justice. I joined the NAACP in 2014 and their mission has never been more important given the assault on voting and other rights by extremists who do not believe in democracy or the Constitution.

Doug and wife Donna at CUBE 3 Masquerade Ball 2018