Jesse Thompsonhe/him
CPHC®, LEED AP BD+C
Architecture
- 27 Year Career
About
Jesse Thompson designs for ecology, change, and equity. Through industry leadership, individual mentorship, and high-performance architecture expertise, he inspires others to rise to the challenge of creating spaces that are beautiful, sustainable, and attainable.
Jesse Thompson is co-founder and Principal of Kaplan Thompson Architects and BrightBuilt Home, and has become a national leader in green design, building science, and affordable housing. He is a Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Connecticut Licensed Architect, AIA member, LEED Accredited Professional, and the first architect in northern New England to become a Certified Passive House Consultant. Jesse has served as the former President Elect of the Maine Chapter of the AIA, a Board member of the Portland Society for Architecture, and a founding member of Passivhaus Maine.
His team has more proven experience developing LEED Platinum, Net Zero Energy, Passive House, and Living Building Challenge projects than any other in the State of Maine.
Experience
Building Types
- Residential: Affordable Multi Family
- Residential: Multi-family
- Mixed Use
- Education: Higher Ed
- Education K-12
Achieved Project Certifications
- PHIUS
- LEED
- Living Building Challenge
- ENERGY STAR
- Living Building Challenge Petal Certification
- ILFI Zero Energy Certification
- ILFI Zero Carbon Certification
- PHI
Awards
Select Awards and Recognition for Multifamily and Institutional Projects
- 2023 | Woodworks Sustainable Wood Design Award
- 2022 | Rethinking the Future Sustainable Project of the Year
- 2022 | Rethinking the Future Second Award - Institutional
- 2022 | Multifamily Executive Awards Mixed-income Merit Winner
- 2021 | MEREDA Magnificent Seven Honorable Mention
- 2018 | Maine Environmental Education Association Environmental Ally of the Year
- 2013 | Lowering the Cost of Housing Competition Winner
Phius Awards
- 2022 | Phius Passive Projects Design Competition: Honorable Mention for Low-rise Multifamily
- 2018 | Best Affordable Housing Award
- 2018 | Best Single Family Award
GrowSmart Maine's Smart Growth Awards
- 2023 | Exemplary Smart Growth Development
- 2019 | Outstanding Project
AIA New England Design Awards
- 2020 | Multifamily Honor Award
- 2017 | Multifamily Citation Award
- 2013 | Multifamily Merit Award
AIA Maine Design Awards
- 2023 | Multifamily Detail Award
- 2022 | Institutional Honor Award
- 2020 | Multifamily Honor Award
AIA COTE Awards
- 2015 | Multifamily Merit Award
ARCHITECT 50
- 2018 and 2019 | To 50 Firms in Sustainability
LEED Awards
- 2013 | Outstanding Single Family LEED for Homes Award
- 2009 | LEED for Homes
Other Notable Achievements
- Founding member of PassivhausMAINE | 2011
- First Certified Passive House Consultant architect in northern New England | 2011
- Kaplan Thompson Architects is first company in Maine to get a JUST label | 2018 to present
- AIA 2030 Commitment signatory, Kaplan Thompson Architects successfully meets targets for emissions reductions for fifth consecutive year in 2022 | 2011 to present
- Kaplan Thompson Architect receives EcoMaine Eco-Excellence Business Award | 2020