The past builds who we are. The future demonstrates what we can accomplish.

When a tragic fire destroyed the Quisenberry’s lake home, Dave’s family turned to him to design and rebuild it. Dave’s father offered to pay him to leave his architecture job and focus on the lake house project, and Dave accepted. The deep appreciation for the value of trust that he gained from this unique experience shaped his moral code, as well as the foundation for Dave’s future business philosophy. 

After securing many design projects from lakeside neighbors who admired Dave’s rebuilt lakehouse, he opened his first architectural business in Marlborough, CT to provide both architecture and construction management services.

Paragon Design is divided into two separate firms. Paragon would focus on high-quality architectural services, and a new entity named Clermont Construction Corporation would specialize in construction services. 

Seeking greater creative freedom and a chance to merge his talents and passions, Tom teamed up with Dave Quisenberry and the firm became Quisenberry Arcari (QA) Architects. Combining Dave’s proven architectural success with Tom’s knowledge of residential and capital improvement projects including municipal, recreation, commercial, healthcare, and multi-family/senior housing brought greater service strength to clients, and broader opportunity for the firm.

QA hires Andrew Tarpill as the firm’s first official employee and soon adds several more professionals to the team. Their move to bigger office space supported their growth, and offered extra space for future expansion.

As the firm acquired more projects and hired more professionals, it quickly outgrew its space. QA decided to purchase and renovate 318 Main Street in Farmington. Initially the plan was to house QA as well as rent space to other businesses, but very soon QA occupied the entire space.

Their first joint project on a space with such unique and specialized usage, Tom and Dave bring Monarca Place to life in Middletown, CT, one of a few of its kind in the country, and the first of its kind in Connecticut.  Monarca Place offers one and two bedroom housing units for hearing impaired elderly residents, and supports their ability  to live independently.

Emerging from a high-profile, 20+ year career underscored by a series of nationally recognized successes, Rusty’s restless entrepreneurial spirit compelled him to pursue something more.  He walked into Dave’s office one day and said he would love to take part in what QA Architects was doing. The addition of Rusty’s design acumen for education projects combined with Dave and Tom’s expertise, secured their foothold in the Connecticut market as a strong architectural force. 

With Rusty’s knowledge and project leadership, QA provides a comprehensive, 255,000-SF “like-new” renovation to Wethersfield High School, addressing the community’s educational program requirements and energy conservation needs. As QA’s first school project of this magnitude, the firm proves their unparalleled expertise in education design and construction.

As their project list and team of highly talented passionate individuals steadily grew, the firm knew it was time to create a unique space of their own. This 10,000 SF Farmington studio is alive with color, natural light, and creative energy. It’s a creative home to the firm, and an invigorating destination for partners and clients who want a part in shaping innovative, meaningful design solutions.

To acknowledge and celebrate Rusty Malik’s contributions to the value and growth of the firm, the letter “M” from Malik is added with a plus sign to the initials QA, to create the unified name of QA+M Architecture. 

For decades, Smith Edwards McCoy Architects was recognized in Connecticut for its impressive architectural work in education design, adaptive reuse and preservation of Connecticut’s architectural heritage of civic buildings, schools, museums, and performing arts facilities. The decision to join firms was driven by their shared passion for preservation, and a long-standing collaborative relationship. Smith Edwards McCoy strengthened QA+M’s credentials, and expanded its team of award-winning designers.

For 40 years, Moser Pilon Nelson built a world-class architectural legacy. QA+M admired and respected their work and  team of highly regarded design professionals. In conversations between the two firms’ principals, their alignment of vision, ambition and workstyle was evident. Both firms recognized the value they could provide to each other. The merger re-energized and preserved Moser Pilan and Nelson’s history, and increased QA+M’s overall strength and support for their clients and communities.