Quinn Evans Promotes Two New Principals

Quinn Evans, a leading national design firm, has promoted Alexis Cecil and Michelle Smay to principal.

Alexis Cecil, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, combines technical expertise in both historic preservation and sustainable design, consistently delivering innovative solutions that honor architectural heritage while meeting modern performance requirements and increasing resilience. She has contributed to projects for monumental historic buildings such as the rehabilitation and expansion of the National Academy of Sciences and the restoration of the Colorado State Capitol’s gilded dome, as well as buildings from the more recent past—including the renovation of the Rosa Parks Federal Building in Detroit and a conservation master plan for the Stata Center at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Alexis holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Cornell University. She is a member of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Ann Arbor 2030 District.

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Michelle Smay, AIA, has more than 30 years of experience in historic preservation, including a long history of projects for the National Park Service. Among a portfolio of award-winning restoration, rehabilitation, and preservation planning work, Michelle has a particular focus on the documentation and treatment of historic lighthouses; she has prepared historic structure reports for 13 light stations around the Great Lakes and has presented widely on the topic of preserving maritime heritage resources. She is currently working on projects at the Charlevoix South Pier Lighthouse in Michigan and Cape Hatteras Light Station in North Carolina.

Michelle holds a Master of Architecture and Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the University of Michigan. She is a member of the Michigan Historic Preservation Network, for which she has served in multiple board positions; the Association for Preservation Technology; and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

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Alexis and Michelle practice at the cutting edge of preservation; they sensitively renew historic and cherished places to help communities thrive. Their service-oriented leadership empowers our teams to create unexpected but fitting solutions with positive impacts locally and globally.