Based in Virginia’s Blue Ridge mountains — with a satellite in Richmond — PFA is a small practice committed to authentic, meaningful design that has a positive effect on people’s lives, while fostering and sustaining a kinship with the natural world.  

My approach entails the creation of buildings, spaces and places that are careful extensions of the native landscape, client-and-site responsive and well-crafted with high quality, sustainable methods and materials.

Underlying this ethos is an abiding faith in the power of “biophilic” design; that is, the belief that deep connections to Nature are essential to human health, well-being and spirit. As such, I strive to create places that are comfortable, healthy, energy and resource-efficient, functional, durable and affordable while responding appropriately to and enhancing their surroundings, with the broader aspiration of elevating human culture. 

A native Virginian, I’ve practiced as a licensed architect in since 1995 and was educated at the University of Virginia, beginning my career in Charlottesville in 1987 with a small downtown firm as a summer intern. My experience encompasses various project types: single and multi-family residential, affordable housing, commercial, cultural/institutional, environmental education, sustainable development, master planning, landscape design, permaculture design, building science, solar energy systems & net-zero-energy building (NZEB) design and alternative/natural building methods, including strawbale/earth plaster. In addition to private clientele, I have served non-profit organizations, municipalities, the federal government, as well as international interests in Haiti, West Africa and Central America. 

An early adopter of “green” design, I strive for architecture that is consonant with the patterns, flows and health of the natural world, as well as the richness of the human and cultural context. I was the first LEED-accredited architect in Central Virginia and, a few years later, lead my firm Watershed Architects as one of the first signatories to the Living Building Challenge — and my efforts to incorporate these systems have included facilitating workshops on integrated, high performance “sustainable” design.

Also a long-time solar advocate, I was certified as a photovoltaic (PV) system designer through Solar Energy International in 2006. The following year, I engineered and installed my own home’s photovoltaic system, which was the first residential grid-tied installation to be activated in Richmond; concurrent to that project, I designed the first commercial grid-tied solar energy system in the City as well. 

Reinforcing my love of and commitment to protecting nature, I am also a Certified Virginia Master Naturalist, which entails voluntary community service and educating the general public around conservation and stewardship of Virginia's natural resources and, as a lifelong tree-lover, I trained as City of Richmond Tree Steward volunteer just prior to the Covid shut-down. I was also instrumental in garnering the City of Richmond’s proclamation as a Biophilic Cities partner in 2019. I also bring a wealth of builder/contractor experience to my process as an architect, having lead a design-build team for nearly a decade in delivering over $15 million worth of construction services. 

  • Patrick Farley, AIA/LEED BD+C

    Education

    • University of Virginia, Master of Architecture, 1993
      Studies focused on environmental ethics, sustainable development, preservation & urban planning

    • University of Virginia, Bachelor of Science, Architecture, 1988

    Practice History

    • Daggett & Grigg Architects, Charlottesville, Va. (1987-94)

    • SMBW Architects, Richmond, Va. (1994-96)

    • jpfStudio, Nelson County, Va. (1996-98)

    • Hugo+Farley Architects, Richmond, Va. (1998 - 2000)

    • Bond Hugo Farley Architects (now 3North), Richmond, Va. (2000-02)

    • Watershed Architects (Founder), Richmond, Va. (2002-16)

    • Sunflower Solar (Principal), Richmond, Va. (2005-15)

    • Patrick Farley Architect, Richmond/Afton (2016-present)

    Registrations / Certifications

    Licensed Architect, Virginia (1995), NCARB Certified

    • Dominion Virginia Power Energy Efficiency & Building Science University (1999)

    • LEED 2.0 Accredited Professional (2001 – 1st accredited architect in central Virginia)

    • American Lung Association, “Health House” certification (2003)

    • Bau-Biologist Training- - International Institute for Bau-Biology and Ecology (2003)

    • Photovoltaic System Designer Certification - - Solar Energy International (2006)

    • Virginia Class A Contractor (2010 – present, via Sunflower Development, LLC)

    • Certified Virginia Master Naturalist (2019-present)

    • Richmond Tree Stewards trainee (2020)

    Memberships/Activities

    • Charlottesville Area Association of Realtors (CAAR) pre-license training, “The Principles of Real Estate”, 1990

    • U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), 2000 – present

    • Founder, Healthy Communities Forum, Richmond, Va. (2001)

    • Founding member & Past Vice Chair, James River Chapter of USGBC (2003 - 2008)

    • Past Treasurer & Vice Chairman, Virginia Sustainable Building Network (2003 – present)

    • Advisory Board, VSBN SMART Building Directory (2008 - )

    • Board of Directors, Virginia Solar Energy Association (2007 - present)

    • James River Association, Presquile National Wildlife Education Center Task Force (2008 - 2012)

    • Universal Design consultant, Virginia Housing Development Authority (2008 - )

    • International Sustainable Development, Inc., Advisory Board member (2008 - )

    • Member, Science Museum of Virginia, Rice House Design Team, (2008 - 2016)

    • American Institute of Architects, Virginia Society, James River Chapter

    • American Institute of Architects, Committee On The Environment (COTE), 1995 - present

    • American Solar Energy Society (ASES), 2000 - present

    • Energy and Environmental Building Association (EEBA), 2001 - present

    • Wintergreen Nature Foundation, Wintergreen, Va., Building Committee, 1996-99

    • Chesapeake Bay Foundation, 1993 - present

    • Waterkeeper Alliance, 2004 - present

    • James River Association, 2000 - present

    • Rainforest Alliance, 2000 - present

    • The Nature Conservancy, 1995 – present

    • Sierra Club, 2006 - present

    • Richmond Waldorf School Board of Trustees, 2000 – 2004

    • Children & Nature Network, 2007 – present

    • Virginia Society AIA, Honors Committee, 2010 – 2012

    • Modern Richmond co-founder & board member, 2008 - 2018

    • City of Richmond, Green City Commission (chair, Energy Committee), 2012 – 2014

    • BiophilicRVa Steering Committee (2017-present)

    • Virginia Native Plant Society, 2017 – present

    • James River Park Invasive Plants Task Force (2019-present)

    Leadership

    • Habitat for Humanity, ‘Christmas In April’, Charlottesville, VA., Job Captain, 1992

    • Organizer/Facilitator, Norfolk Environmental Commission/Ernie Morgan Environmental Action Center’s Integrated Design Workshop, 2004

    • Co-developer/Co-facilitator, City of Dayton, Ohio, Green Design Workshop (in collaboration with E-Squared, Inc. + Siteworks Studio, Charlottesville, Virginia), 2004

    • Member, Virginia Sustainable Future Forum (2004 – present)

    • Advisor + Juror, Alliance For The Chesapeake Bay’s Green Roofs Grant Challenge (2005)

    • Steering Committee, Virginia’s Sustainable Future III Summit 2005, Richmond, Virginia

    • Creator/Facilitator, Virginia’s Sustainable Future III 2005 Symposium, “Living Architecture: Green Roofs and Human Habitats”

    • Sustainable Community Design Program Steering/Development Committee, Virginia Commonwealth University, 2006 - present

    • Speaker, “Shades of Green”, Sierra Club, Falls Of The James Chapter, November 2006

    • “Shades of Green” Lecture to Richmond area high school students/future architects, February 2006

    • “Design in the New Age of Ecology” Lecture, Tuckahoe Library community education lecture series, June 2006

    • “Design as Manifestation of Human Intention” Lecture, International Furnishings & Design Association, March 2007

    • Co-Developer and Moderator, “Re-Nature By Design” Symposium, Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens, September 2007

    • Public Lecture, “Solar 101: Harnessing the Power of the Sun”, Richmond Vegetarian Society, October 2007

    • Guest Speaker, Richmond Chapter of NARI, January 2008

    • Guest Speaker, “Design for the Ecological Age”, Science Museum of Virginia, February 2008

    • Guest Speaker, “Grasping Green”, Sustainable Design Educators’ Workshop, Virginia Center for Architecture, May 2008

    • Speaker, “Healthful Historic Preservation”, Conserve Historic Henrico workshop series, October 2008

    • Speaker, “21st Century Architecture - - Toward Living Buildings”, Science Museum of Virginia, October 2008

    • Speaker/panelist, “Living With The Planet” series, Alternative Energy, The Wintergreen Nature Foundation, March 2009

    • Speaker/panelist, “Green Design for Buildings, Exhibits and Landscapes”, Virginia Association of Museums Conference, March 2009

    • Guest panelist, WRIR radio program, Quid Pro Quo, “Sustainability in the Workplace”, March 2009

    • Speaker, James River Green Building Council, CityGreen Luncheon Series, “Walking the Walk: Sustainability Through Design Practice”, March 2010

    • Speaker/panelist, Environmental Film Festival, “Biophilic Cities”, Richmond, Va., February 2020

    Teaching

    • Lecturer, VCU Interior Design Department, Sustainable Design, September 2007 - 2014

    • Lecturer. VCU Graphic Design Department, Sustainable Business/Design, September 2007 - 2016

    • Design Juror, Virginia Tech School of Architecture, 3rd year studio: Environmental Education Center for Chesapeake Bay Foundation, spring 2011

    • Lecturer, “Green Building 101”, Chesterfield Technical Center, March 2009 + 2010

    • Lecturer, “Green Building 101”, John Tyler Community College, October 2008

    • Lecturer, Governors School students, Virginia Center for Architecture, Green Architecture, February 2008

    • Design Juror, Introduction to sustainable architecture/design, Maggie Walker Governor’s School, 2007

    • Lecturer, Math & Science Center (5th + 6th graders), Green Architecture, June 2007

    • Natural building and solar energy, Richmond Waldorf School (3rd grade) Spring 2006

    • Lecturer, VCU Art Department, Sustainable Design, April 2006

    • Teaching Assistant, “Building Systems & Construction”, UVA, 1992

    • Teaching Assistant, 4th Year Architectural Design, UVA, 1991-93;

    Publications

    • New Technology: New Architecture by William & Thomas Zuk, contributed conceptual sketch work for book of futurist technological speculation, 1991

    • Virginia Department of Historic Resources Newsletter, guest columnist - green building & preservation, summer 2004 issue

    • Virginia Review, “Responsible Government – Stewardship through the ‘Greening’ of Public Assets and Services”, 2004

    • Virginia Review, “Building Heritage – Enhancing Stewardship through the ‘Greening’ of our Tourism Infrastructure”, 2004

    • Columnist, R-Home Magazine, “Eco-Living”, 2009

    Awards

    • Henry David Thoreau Environmental Conservator Award (Better Housing Coalition), 2011

    • Alliance to Conserve Old Richmond Neighborhoods (ACORN) “Green Hammer Award”, Kendler-Miller Residence, November 2010.

    • AIA, Richmond Chapter Honor Award for Design Excellence, Rappahannock House, Deltaville, Va. 2008

    • Muse Awards Finalist, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, 2008

    • Go Green Merit Award, James River Green Building Council, Littlemore (residence), 2007

    • Virginia Green Innovation Award - - “Top Green Designer”, Virginia Sustainable Building Network, 2006

    • Go Green Merit Award, James River Green Building Council, Ernie Morgan Environmental Action Center, 2005

    • AIA, James River Chapter Merit Award for Design Excellence, Ernie Morgan Environmental Action Center, Norfolk, Va., 2005

    • AIA, James River Chapter Honor Award for Design Excellence (while at SMBW Architects), Wheat Innsbrook Center, Glen Allen, Va., 1998