Union Studio Architecture & Community Design

Welcome Peter Bontempo!

Peter believes good architecture serves the people who live, work, and grow within the places it shapes. With over a decade of design experience, research, and teaching, he brings a deep technical foundation and a steady commitment to that idea at every stage of a project. Grounded in history and driven by community, his work is about earning the trust of a place as much as designing within it.

Peter grew up in one of New Jersey's historic shore towns, where an early fascination with architectural character and well-designed places took hold. That curiosity led him to the University of Notre Dame, where he earned his Bachelor of Architecture and a lasting love for traditional and vernacular design. After six years in Washington, D.C., he spent a year and a half traveling the country—studying towns and cities firsthand and collaborating with local communities to exchange design ideas.

Outside the studio, Peter walks the streets of Providence with a sketchbook or camera, documenting the urban moments that inspire him. An Eagle Scout at heart, he's equally at home outdoors—and always on the lookout for a great sandwich.
Peter, we're delighted to welcome your talent and perspective to Union!

Our Associate Principal Kara Babcock has been invited to Advancing Resilient Communities: A Travelers Across America Innovation Lab, June 1–2 at Mystic Seaport Museum 🏛️🌊
The Lab is part of Travelers Across America, an initiative launched in 2025 to mark America's upcoming 250th anniversary, dedicated to restoring and protecting historic landmarks across the country.
Kara leads our resiliency planning work, including the coastal climate adaptation masterplan for the House of the Seven Gables in Salem, MA — helping one of America's most storied historic sites prepare for rising seas and stronger storms.
We're proud to see her join a national conversation on protecting the places that matter.