AN AWARD WINNING TEAM team that strives to combine the timeless qualities of the past and the progressive ideas of today. A team with decades of experience who has successfully designed hundreds of projects ranging from $800K to over $8M.
dedicated to your vision
A team that believes design which is responsive to their client’s wants and needs is always possible no matter what constraints exist. Vanguard Studio is a small, high-touch boutique architecture firm where John Hathaway has created just such a team of residential designers. We invite you to share your imagination with us.
LET’S TALK ABOUT YOUR VISION
We’d love for you to share your imagination with us. Let’s find some time to chat about your “What ifs…”
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Principal Architect | Owner
John Hathaway, RA
John Hathaway, RA
“Great design should be for everyone, no matter the budget, style, or constraints. Meaningful architecture starts with addressing the site, program, and people that will inhabit it. The greatest joy is meeting new clients, understanding their dreams, hopes, and needs and finding a solution that meets those goals in an unexpected and creative way.”
John is the Owner | Principal Architect of Vanguard Studio. Since Vanguard’s inception in January 2000, John has led the Vanguard Team through decades of successful projects. In addition to being the firm’s principal designer, he is a mentor to the staff and an outstanding communicator of creative concepts using his keen listening skills to turn ideas and visions into reality. John enjoys traveling, hunting, and talking.
Bachelor of Architecture, Texas Tech University – 1993
Project Architect | Designer
Kemi Polk
Kemi Polk
“A person who works with their hands is a laborer. A person who works with their hands and their head is a craftsman. A person who works with their hands and their head and their heart is an artist. Be an artist.” – Unknown
Kemi is a Project Architect and has been a member of the Vanguard Team since 2018. In addition to Project Management, Kemi applies her expertise to conceptual design, hand sketching, 3D visualizations, and renderings. She excels at building professional and supportive relationships with clients and offers innovative solutions to deliver quality results. When not at Vanguard, Kemi spends time drawing, painting, and thinking of new DIY projects.
Masters of Architecture, Woodbury University
University of California Riverside
Project Manager | Design Associate
Lynn Scott, CPBD
Lynn Scott, CPBD
“Your past does not determine who you are. Your past prepares you for who you are to become.”
Lynn is a Design Associate who joined the Vanguard Team in 2001. Lynn manages her projects with ease – from Design Development to Construction Documents – by combining her highly developed sense of processes and procedures with her extensive knowledge of software programs. She is the Team’s “go-to” person for technical problem solving and management. Lynn mentors new team members and interns during their first few weeks at Vanguard and contributes to their success. When not at Vanguard, Lynn enjoys time with her family, BJJ, gardening, and photography.
Bachelor of Science Psychology
Certificate of Engineering Design Graphics
Certified Professional Building Designer
Project Architect | Designer
Steve Courtney, RA
Steve Courtney, RA
Steve is a Staff Architect who joined the Vanguard Team in 2017. He is experienced in design and project management and is highly regarded for his organizational and thoughtful problem-solving skills. His contributions to the Team include production of architectural drawings and “showcase” renderings in addition to successfully managing complex projects. Steve works closely with clients to help them navigate the various aspects of the custom design process.
Texas Tech University
Project Manager | Design Associate
Jen Lo, LEED AP
Jen Lo, LEED AP
“I am different, not less.” – Temple Grandin
Jen is a Design Associate and first joined the Vanguard Team in 2005. After a break, she rejoined the Team in 2011. Jen is a detail-oriented professional, dedicated to working directly with clients to ensure that their home design achieves the highest level of quality and meets their needs. She is involved in design and project management and is skilled in coordinating all the moving parts of a project to bring it to its successful completion. Jen considers herself an intermediate baker, novice gardener, and a dabbling seamstress.
Bachelor of Design, University of Florida – 2002
Master of Architecture, University of Texas Austin – 2004
Office Manager | Executive Assistant
Beth Falls
Beth Falls
“Use your voice for kindness, your ears for compassion, your hands for charity, your mind for truth, and your heart for love.” – Unknown
Beth is Vanguard’s Office Manager and joined the Team in 2014. As a certified Paralegal and an experienced corporate professional, Beth uses her fine-tuned skills to orchestrate and manage cross-functional responsibilities. Behind the scenes and as the “wearer of many hats,” her focus is keeping Vanguard organized and moving forward. When not at the office, Beth enjoys DIY projects, retail therapy, and spending quiet time relaxing with her family.
Phillips School of Business – Certified Paralegal
Design Associate
Gabe Herrera
Gabe Herrera
“We create our buildings and then they create us. Likewise, we construct our circle of friends and our communities, and then they construct us.” – Frank Lloyd Wright
Gabe is a Design Associate who joined the Vanguard Team in September 2025. He approaches each project with creativity and enthusiasm, delivering thoughtful design solutions that balance aesthetics and function. With experience in both residential and commercial practice, Gabe’s process is defined by precision, attention to detail, and a collaborative spirit—whether coordinating with clients, consultants, or team members. Outside of work, Gabe enjoys spending time outdoors—golfing, hiking with his dog, or going for a nice run. And if you stop by your local coffee shop, He’s Probably there!
Bachelor of Science in Architecture
Master of Architecture with a certificate in Urban Community Design
Texas Tech University
Design Associate
Jake Self
Jake Self
“From the individual groups a universally great, enduring, spiritual-religious idea will rise again, which must find its crystalline expression in a great Gesamtkunstwerk. And this great total work of art, this cathedral of the future, will then shine with the dance of light into the smallest objects of everyday life.” – Walter Gropius
Jake Self is a Design Associate who draws his design philosophy from Gesamtkunstwerk, the idea of a total work of art, and it shows in how he approaches each project: as a complete experience, from concept through the smallest detail. Jake graduated from Texas Tech University in 2025 and is continuing his education at Boston Architectural College in pursuit of his Master’s. Outside of architecture, Jake enjoys a slew of hobbies such as specialty coffee, cycling, creating, flânerie, and being in community. He’s endlessly curious, always chasing the next rabbit hole, whether that’s a new coffee roast, a multi-day adventure , or the history behind a building ideology.
Texas Tech University – Bachelor of Science in Architecture
Boston Architectural College – Masters Candidate