Sundra Hines

Owner, Architect & Interior Design

My love of the built environment, both Interior Design & Architecture, began at young age. During high school I was employed at an Interior Design firm, where I learned about the coordination of color, placement of objects, and client interaction. In college, I acquired an Interior Design degree at Marymount University.

While there I continued working in various interior design firms, was elected President of the American Society Interior Design student chapter, and graduated Suma Cum Laude. Upon graduation, I decided that the manipulation of Interior spaces wasn’t enough; I needed to create space by using exterior planes. I applied and was accepted to the University of Florida Master of Architecture program. This program gave me an in depth knowledge of Structure, Architectural Theory, and the nuts and bolts of how materials are put together. I had the opportunity to teach as a Graduate Assistant and travel Europe to understand Architectural context and history. After 4 years of working as an architectural intern in Denver and Fort Collins, I moved to the Western Slope of Colorado and established Hines Designs in 2005. To date, work efforts have focused on residential and commercial commissions.

My design approach is to listen to the wants and needs of the client/s and meld them with the topography of the site. I am reluctant to use a design “style” that is not first developed with the understanding of the owner’s vision and time spent at the site. What grows of this relationship is a truly unique piece of architecture that brings the built environment to the natural one. I am an active member of the Ridgway community by sitting on the Planning and Zoning commission, teaching mountain biking to children, and parenting the activities of my own two children. It is not only the beautiful surroundings of the San Juan Mountains that draws people to our area, but the connections to the people made in these small communities of the Western Slope. The architecture of the area is as varied as those that live here, and as a designer I continue to grow and change with it.

I believe in environmental stewardship. My buildings employ passive and sometimes active solar systems. Passive solar means are a simple energy efficient design solution, by tracking the sun’s path on site and carefully choreographing the daily activities of the client. This approach also helps to determine the form of the building both in plan and elevation. We then take a critical look at the budget and any site restraint, and employ the most energy efficient building envelope possible. It is my common practice to use Structural Insulated Panels, Insulated Concrete Forms, and cutting edge technologies to strengthen efficiency and performance of the building. In this harsh environment, maintenance free materials and quality design details are a must. I feel that proper planning of the building envelope and its surface is money saved by the client in the future. I also believe in honest and open communication. This candid relationship allows for beautiful, well-crafted structures and long lasting friendships.

Adam joined Hines Designs in 2018 after he and his family relocated to Ridgway from Wisconsin. He is an Architect with 15 years of experience in both the design and construction of a wide range of projects. Adam specializes in 3d modeling and has a passion for design and problem solving. He is also LEED (Green Building) Certified and a member of the American Institute of Architects.

Adam and his family are originally from Wisconsin and moved to Colorado in the summer of 2018. Along with his wife Candace and two kids Kayla and Nick they embarked on an adventure they will never forget. At the beginning of the summer they sold their house and many of their belongings and loaded what was left into a camper. They knew they wanted to live in Colorado but weren’t sure where to settle down. They spent most of the summer traveling Colorado and enjoying all the wonderful outdoor activities the state has to offer. Along the way they had planned to spend two days at Ridgway State Park but ended up loving the area so much they stayed for two weeks. After that they were hooked and managed to find a place to rent in Ridgway, not an easy thing to do. Adam and his family like to spend their free time enjoying the outdoors by camping, hiking, skiing and exploring all the area has to offer.  

Adam Anderson, AIA

Architect