Partners
Armand Di Biase, a lifetime resident of Westchester County, studied architecture in Washington, DC before earning his Bachelor of Architecture from Syracuse University. He began his career in commercial architecture, developing an expertise in site evaluation, zoning analysis, and site design. Armand is a long-standing member of the American Institute of Architects, is licensed to practice architecture in New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, Massachusetts, South Carolina, and Florida, and is certified by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards. He is a member of the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art and an accomplished bass guitarist.
Cynthia Filkoff was raised in Connecticut and studied Liberal Arts in Santa Cruz, CA before earning her Bachelor of Architecture from Syracuse University. She attended the prestigious Florence program and traveled extensively throughout Europe. Initially apprenticing in commercial architecture in New York City before moving on to modern and shingle style residential architecture firms in Rye, NY and Greenwich, CT. Cynthia is licensed to practice architecture in New York and Connecticut and is certified by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards. She is a member of the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art and the Bedford Historical Society. She and Armand live in Pound Ridge, NY and spend summers in Old Lyme, CT with their two sons.
Principal
Shanna Benjamin is a lifetime resident of Connecticut. She earned her Bachelor of Architecture from Syracuse University and attended the architecture program in Florence. Shanna began her career at a multi-disciplinary architecture firm in Greenwich, CT focusing on custom residential and commercial architecture. Shanna is licensed to practice architecture in Connecticut, is certified by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards, and is a member of the American Institute of Architects and the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art. Shanna lives in Danbury, CT with her husband and 2 children and enjoys volunteering as a violinist for the Danbury Symphony Orchestra.
Principal
Elizabeth DeFreitas grew up in New York and earned her Bachelor of Architecture from Pratt Institute. She began her career with a firm in Greenwich, CT focusing on custom high-end traditional residential architecture. Elizabeth is licensed to practice architecture in New York and Connecticut and is certified by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards. She lives in South Salem, NY with her partner and their pets, and enjoys hiking and West Coast Swing dancing.
Architect
Travis Hinz was born and raised in Wisconsin. He spent a summer studying in Paris and Italy before earning his Master of Architecture degree from the University of Wisconsin — Milwaukee. Travis has over 15 years of experience, beginning his career in Chicago with a focus on commercial and hospitality projects before transitioning to custom residential architecture. In 2015, Travis relocated to Connecticut and currently resides in Yorktown Heights, NY where he enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife and son.
Architectural Designer
Christopher Alvarez is a lifetime resident of Westchester County. He studied architecture in New York City, earning his Bachelor of Architecture in 2014. Chris began his career with a multi-disciplinary firm in NYC, working on exhibition design, institutional and commercial architecture and historic preservation projects. His current focus is on modern architecture and custom homes. Advancement, professional development and continuously gaining knowledge of Architecture is Chris’s lifelong endeavor.
Architectural Designer
David Chen, a longtime resident of Westchester County, received a Bachelor of Architecture degree in his native China and Master’s Degree in Architecture from Virginia Tech. David began his career with a leading mutli-disciplinary commercial architecture firm in China before relocating to the US, where he practices and specializes in high-end custom residential projects. He lives in Pound Ridge, NY with his wife and three children. An active sportsperson, David plays in an amateur soccer league in Connecticut, enjoys tennis and is proud to be an avid supporter of the Bedford Bears Hockey team for which his son is a star player.
Architectural Designer
Tom Newton was raised in Westchester County, NY and currently resides in Connecticut. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Architecture and Master of Architecture degrees at Roger Williams University in Rhode Island. With a background in heavy equipment construction, Tom started his career at Di Biase Filkoff Architects in 2013 and specializes in custom residential architecture. At the office, Tom can usually be found with his yellow Labrador Indy by his side.
Office Director
Jennifer Wiegers graduated from Western Connecticut State University with a BBA in Marketing. She spent over 10 years working in pharmaceutical compliance when she decided to make a career change and join Di Biase Filkoff in the role of Office Director in 2018. Jennifer was born in Norwalk, Connecticut and raised in Litchfield County where she currently resides with her family.
A Very Good Boy
Indy began his architectural career as DBFA’s mascot in 2019 and specializes in fetching, naps, belly rubs and tug-of-war. Whether he’s by his dad’s side, under the conference table or in that spot in the sun, Indy brightens our office with his cheerful demeanor and is a very good boy.
