2026 Ones to Watch - Rising Stars: Michele Quinn Littlefield, CUBE 3 Architects

“Michele’s contributions are hard to capture in a paragraph. Over 14 years with the firm, she’s been a cornerstone of success bringing exceptional project management and technical expertise plus strong mentorship and leadership. She consistently elevates those around her, strengthens our culture, fosters collaboration, sets an exemplary standard for excellence, and is respected by colleagues and clients alike. It’s a privilege to work alongside her and witness her ongoing growth and influence.”

What inspired you to pursue a career in your industry, and what path brought you to your current role? The project-based approach to solving design challenges drew me to architecture. In my interview, CUBE 3’s CEO asked if I saw myself as a designer or technician – I said both, and that still holds true. I’ve built my career here, gaining new responsibilities, relationships, and perspectives. In my role as Senior Associate Principal and Studio Executive, I help shape strategy, support team development, and collaborate daily with clients and colleagues. I’m driven by curiosity and a commitment to improving the design process and creating a meaningful built environment.

What accomplishment or project so far in your career are you most proud of? I have been working on a 22-acre master plan with Northland Investment Corporation in Newton for over 10 years. The program for the site has shifted, adapted, and evolved through changes in the market, but the vision has maintained its vibrancy, its holistic encompassing of a village, its beauty in the details, and its collaborative complexity. I hope to continue collaborating on this project for the next 10 years with the same passion and purpose that it brought early in my career.

Who has been a mentor or influential figure in your career, and what is the most valuable advice they have shared with you? During my sophomore year design studio, I worked through the weekend on a design challenge. At my desk crit on Monday afternoon, I talked my Studio Professor, Eric Weyant, through my logic. I felt stuck and I wanted advice. His feedback was the most frustrating and inspiring two-word sentence of my career. He said, “keep going” got up and walked to the next desk. He gave me the fuel and the reminder that the problem was mine to solve. Problem solving has become my go-to, on my own work, to help clients resolve issues, and to help guide team members in their professional growth.

What trends or opportunities do you see shaping the future of your industry? As we face some global macroeconomic challenges right now that have slowed development, the positivity in me sees this as an opportunity to reshape the current development sector in a few ways. Reducing quantity can help improve quality; targeting reduced operations improves the likelihood of sustainable choices; higher costs improve our thoughtfulness behind investments to enhance outcomes. Less can be more in many many ways and I hope that being pressed to focus on efficacy of better choices could serve our built environment in the long run.