FOUNDING PRINCIPAL

In 2020, Jessie Carroll was the first female architect in Maine to be recognized by the 5 Under 40 regional award for design excellence by New England Home Magazine. Her design work has been recognized locally through AIA Maine design awards with national jurists in 2021 and 2018. In 2017, Jessie was recognized nationally with the Red Diamond Achievement Award for Family Farmhouse. Upon earning her Master of Architecture degree, Jessie received the highest design honor at Northeastern University in 2010.

Prior to establishing JCA, Jessie Carroll served as an associate Principal at Whitten Architects based in Portland, Maine. There she designed custom homes across New England for 8 years. Before moving to Maine, she managed residential construction in Cape Cod Massachusetts. She also practiced in Boston-based firms including Utile, HMFH, and Cannon Design.

Jessie has given back to the architectural community through her involvement in professional organizations, teaching, and speaking engagements. She taught at University of Maine Augusta as adjunct faculty and is President of AIA Maine.

DESIGNER

Growing up in Minnesota, Tanner was greeted with a variety of opportunities that helped shape his career in architecture. As a young adult, he worked alongside his family constructing homes in the suburbs of Minneapolis and developing an appreciation for design. This led to a degree in architecture from Dunwoody College of Technology.

At JCA, his technical background enables him to efficiently translate design concepts into concrete results. Possessing a profound enthusiasm for design and a thorough understanding of architectural principles, he supports the firm through all stages of the design process, employing a range of architectural tools.

Beyond his professional endeavors, Tanner engages in a variety of recreational activities, including surfing along the Maine coastline, playing basketball, spending time with his family and friends, and exploring new places.

DESIGNER

Born in Washington, DC, Alec developed an early interest in the built environment, which led him to pursue his studies at the Syracuse University School of Architecture. During his time there, he broadened his architectural perspective through study-abroad programs in England, Spain, and Italy.

Prior to joining JCA, Alec spent eight years in Brooklyn, where he contributed to large-scale commercial projects in Manhattan as well as high-end residential work in the Hamptons. A recent Maine transplant, he traded the concrete jungle of New York for the rocky coast to focus on more personal residential design, emphasizing vernacular styles, contextual relationships, and the specific needs of each client.

Alec enjoys exploring Maine’s landscapes alongside his wife, Alison, who is also a practicing architect. He is additionally passionate about travel sketching, watercolor, and photography, always seeking new ways to capture the places that inspire him.

DESIGN INTERN

Raised on the coast of Southern Maine, Tanner’s creative practice is rooted in the ocean and inspired by his late father, a chef, builder, and photographer. Childhood visits to unfinished homes sparked a fascination with tradespeople, raw materials, and New England landscapes.

Tanner graduated from Colby College in 2019 with a BA in Biology and STS (Science, Technology, and Society). He then joined DSO Creative Fabrication in Saco, Maine, working four years as an architectural fabricator, sculptor, installation lead, and product designer—delivering bespoke works for many of New England’s top architects. Now pursuing a Master of Architecture at Northeastern University, Tanner balances full-time study with work as a model-making and fabrication consultant.

Outside of work/school, he builds furniture, lighting objects, and surfcraft, and enjoys surfing, skiing, painting, playing shows with his band, and exploring New England with his partner, Julia.