Joan Heaton Architects

Joan Heaton Architects is an award-winning architecture firm specializing in residential design. We take pride in designing purposeful and well-crafted architecture that responds to each client's needs and desires. We provide comprehensive design services with a personalized approach; we listen to your wishes, communicate clearly, and create meaningful space for you and your family.

As a small, full-service, architecture firm, we work closely with our clients from conception to completion. We believe that all aspects of a home should be coordinated and well-integrated, inside and out, and we often work with landscape architects and interior designers. We recognize that the success of a project depends on teamwork. Since 1996, we have collaborated with consultants, local contractors, and talented craftspeople to create enduring homes.

Our Team

Joan Heaton brings over 30 years of professional experience to the practice. Joan worked in Rome, Italy, and at several firms in Vermont before opening her own firm in 1996. She is a licensed architect in Vermont and New York, a graduate of Cornell University's College of Architecture, Art and Planning, and a member of the American Institute of Architects. For several summer seasons, Joan worked as an instructor for the Hurricane Island Outward Bound School in Maine and was on the faculty of Alaska Outward Build, an educational endeavor combining wilderness living, community service, environmental design, and building construction. Joan makes design decisions and material selections with a keen sensitivity to the environment. At the Yestermorrow School in Warren, Vermont, Joan taught courses and developed a curriculum focused on evaluating green building materials. Putting green practices and materials to the test, she has participated in building projects of her own design, including her home. Joan lives at the end of a dirt road with her husband and son in Lincoln, Vermont. Joan is inspired by Vermont's natural landscapes and vernacular structures and stays connected by hiking, cycling, and sculling. An alumnus of the Phillips Academy Andover and Cornell University crew teams, Joan now rows on nearby Lake Dunmore.

Jerilyn Pearson joined Joan Heaton Architects in September 2017. She graduated from Wentworth Institute of Technology, in Boston, and studied abroad in Berlin, Germany. Working in offices in Connecticut, New York, and Vermont, Jerilyn brings over 10 years of experience in light commercial and high-end residential design. With a love for nature, biology, and anything outdoors, Jerilyn believes that architecture becomes timeless when integrated with minimal manipulation of the natural site. She possesses a strong interest in residential architecture and working with clients to design structures that meet their needs. Originally from upstate New York, Jerilyn and her husband moved to Vermont in 2015. They were drawn to Vermont by the natural beauty of the state and the inhabitants' universal appreciation for the outdoors, and they are excited to put down roots and raise their family here. Jerilyn is an outdoor enthusiast, who is often out hiking, paddling, or camping. She can also be found horseback riding, gardening, or planning the next family trip to Nova Scotia, Iceland, or the Grand Tetons.

Viscaya Wagner joined Joan Heaton Architects in November 2020. Born and raised in Vermont, Viscaya attended the University of Vermont and earned a BFA in studio art. After several years of living in Jackson, Wyoming, she moved to New York City. Following a contract with a small design-build firm in Manhattan, Viscaya joined WeWork's interior design team as a Senior Environmental Designer, where she curated, designed artwork, and created custom installations for the company's spaces around the world, including in Tel Aviv, San Francisco, Miami, and Montreal, in addition to many in New York City. Viscaya's role at WeWork also allowed her to make custom pieces and designs for well-established companies such as Facebook, Puma, and Bank of America. Integrating art forms into our everyday spaces and rituals, Viscaya's work ranges from bespoke furniture, functional objects, and spatial design to custom artwork, illustration, and graphic design. With each discipline, she subtly exhibits warmth, tactility, and simplicity of form, emphasizing the dynamic force between discoverability and familiarity.

Sustainable Design

We integrate sustainable design principles and green building practices into all of our projects and seek to make the best possible use of resources by creating energy-efficient, sustainable homes. We achieve this goal by utilizing high-performance insulation, energy-efficient mechanical systems, and materials that are locally sourced, recycled, and sustainable. We also incorporate passive solar design and renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, into our designs. Our commitment to sustainability extends beyond the design phase, as we work closely with our clients and contractors to ensure that the construction process is as sustainable as possible. Through careful planning, coordination, and execution, we strive to create homes that not only minimize their impact on the environment but also provide a healthy and comfortable living space for our clients.