Senior Architect Deborah Costantini Retires

by hanna_kowal | December 17, 2025 2:01 pm

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Hoffmann Architects + Engineers, a design firm specializing in the rehabilitation of building exteriors, announces the retirement of Deborah J. Costantini, AIA, senior architect.

Her last day with the firm is December 19, 2025, marking twenty years of service. Debbie Costantini joined Hoffmann in 1997 as a project manager, applying her degree in architectural engineering from Roger Williams University to building enclosure rehabilitation projects. After two years, she left her position to care for her two young sons, then returned to Hoffmann in 2007 as project architect. In 2014, in recognition of her leadership and technical knowledge, Costantini was promoted to senior architect. Three years later, founder John J. Hoffmann, FAIA offered Costantini ownership stakes in the company, and she became a shareholder. Since then, she has helped shape the growth and direction of the firm and has become Hoffmann’s senior specialist in roofing, leading project teams and training emerging professionals in the nuances of technical details and forensic investigation.

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“Deb has been a pillar of architectural excellence, sharing her unmatched expertise in roofing solutions and innovative design,” notes Erin L. Kesegi, AIA, co-leader of Hoffmann’s Connecticut office. “With a keen sense of precision and a consistently pleasant approach, she helped create an environment rooted in collaboration. Through her always patient mentoring, Deb has guided countless team members and strengthened our culture in ways that will endure for years to come. Her positive presence in the office will be deeply missed, but as she embarks on retirement, her legacy of knowledge, guidance, and team spirit will continue to inspire.”

Benjamin J. Robinson, AIA, co-leader of the Connecticut office, agrees: “I’ve been fortunate to work alongside Debbie for nearly 20 years. On a technical level, her meticulous attention to detail, deep proficiency, and architectural expertise have been invaluable and will truly be missed. On a personal level, Debbie’s kindness, her willingness to listen, and her thoughtful guidance have left a lasting mark on all of us at Hoffmann. I wish her joy, health, and happiness in her well-deserved retirement.”

Project Milestones

Costantini’s first site visit with Hoffmann was for restoration of the Congregational Church of Naugatuck, designed by McKim, Mead & White. Russell M. Sanders, AIA, who retired in August 2025, was Costantini’s first mentor, and he was impressed by her unflappable demeanor, which cemented her reputation as not only technically savvy, but also able to hold her own in the field. She also partnered with Sanders for her very first project, a plaza survey at 1166 Avenue of the Americas in Manhattan. Celebrated for its interlocking gardens and cascading water feature, the plaza proved an excellent opportunity for Costantini as she honed her condition assessment skills.

Her first independent project was at Yale University School of Medicine, where she oversaw steel testing and coating replacement for the Boyer Hope Brady Pedestrian Bridge. At U.S. Tobacco in Cos Cob, Conn., she had her first taste of roofing work, and she went on to complete her first solo roof projects at the State University of New York (SUNY) Purchase College, where she designed and administered roof replacements for the Performing Arts Center and Campus Center South. From there, she went on to lead more than 80 projects with Hoffmann, building close client relationships with executives from Cushman & Wakefield, ESPN, the State of Connecticut, and many others. Of all her projects, the one she found most interesting was copper roof replacement at Vassar College’s Sanders Classroom building, which encompassed various types of copper construction, along with low-slope assemblies and masonry restoration. Most memorable was working on documents for the restoration of the U.S. Capitol Dome, when she was brought in to train consultant teams on CADD layering standards for the Architect of the Capitol.

Early Years

From childhood, Costantini showed a talent for architecture, sketching plans of her bedroom to rearrange the furniture. By middle school, aptitude tests showed strength in spatial reasoning, and her guidance counselor steered her toward architecture. Costantini took all twelve sections of the Architect Registration Examination (ARE) while seven months pregnant with her first son, then completed her exams while pregnant with her second. She received the final passing results the day before her second child was born. She is now licensed in New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Jersey.

Originally from Massachusetts, Costantini moved to Connecticut in 1987 for her first architecture job, where she found her strength and interest lay in technical details. When she joined Hoffmann in the 1990s, the architecture department was all men. Undaunted, Costantini quickly proved her leadership and architectural capabilities and was tapped to lead the all-male drafting pool. She thrived while immersed in the technical aspects of building enclosure projects and soon became Hoffmann’s go-to roofing expert.

Giving Back to the Industry

Costantini never missed an opportunity to mentor and guide junior staff, tutoring up-and-coming professionals in the nuances of building enclosure design. She invited novice colleagues along to project sites, imparting technical knowledge through real-world experience. In addition to membership in the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB), Costantini currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Construction Costantini at a job site and mentoring Senada Dushaj, Assoc. AIA.

Leading the Way

Walking into a construction trailer as a young architect, Costantini grew accustomed to finding herself the only woman in the room. Even so, she loved the work. Her career trajectory is evidence of what is possible when a motivated architect has the confidence and determination to realize her talents. Costantini has proven herself a role model not only for women entering the architecture profession, but for everyone who hopes to excel by uplifting those around them.

Source URL: https://www.metalarchitecture.com/news/daily-news/deborah-costantini-retires/

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