Center Studio Architecture

Changes at Center Studio

We created Center Studio Architecture, and its sister company ReVamp Durham, in 2004 with
the mission of creating great architecture, great places, and leaving Durham better than we
found it. Collaborating as one studio with both architecture and real estate development allowed
us to create the places we wanted to design. It’s a big deal that Dawn, Will, Nilam, Scott, and
David have worked together for so many years, creating hundreds of homes for the people of
our community as well as dozens of restaurants, retail, and hospitality venues.

The world is changing and forcing us to rethink how we keep doing the work we love and that
makes Durham a better place.

Dawn Bland is looking deep into the community for her next chapter.
She’s a leader in organizing, advocacy, administration, human resources, housing justice, racial and gender equity, and the sharing economy.

Will is moving to a new role in Raleigh which will advance his multifamily and mixed-use design career to a national level.

Scott and Dave Olverson will continue developing real estate and advocating for a healthy housing economy.

David and Nilam will take Center Studio back to its roots as a residential focused architecture practice.

Our amazing storefront in Five Points will be available for lease soon. We
hope to finalize all this by September 1st.

These changes aren’t easy. In many ways we’ll keep doing the work that we love to do. While it
hurts that we have to break up the band, we are deeply grateful to all the clients, contractors,
consultants, and former staff who have been a part of this amazing journey.

We love you, Durham, and appreciate all the love you’ve shown us.

A few interior glimpses of the newly completed homes at Maryland + Wagoner

This community of four unique homes overlooks Westover Park and offers direct access to West Ellerbee Creek Trail in Durham’s Watts-Hillandale neighborhood.

Whether you're looking for your next home, a place near the trails and parks, or an opportunity to live close to friends and family, Maryland + Wagoner offers a rare chance to own in one of Durham’s most established neighborhoods.

Listed by with Compass

🛋️ Staging:

Counting down pine pollen season.

Once the yellow dust settles, this screened porch is ready for slow mornings, long evenings, and bug-free relaxing.

📷

A look back at one of our favorite bathrooms.

This house is on a large, private lot in the woods, so privacy is not an issue with all this glass. We love the board-formed concrete wall in the shower!

photos by dustin peck photography

Drywall is up and the window film is finally off at our Chapel Hill addition—revealing beautiful garden views and an abundance of natural light in the new owners’ bedroom. Not a bad way to start the day.

Grateful to Pruitt Building Company for helping bring this vision to life.

It’s always exciting to see the interior finishes starting to come together on a project. The newly installed hickory wood floors bring natural texture, warmth, and depth to the space as the light filters through the large pane windows of the addition.

The transformation is really starting to take shape. The new windows are going in at our MCM deck house renovation in Chapel Hill — and the difference in natural light is incredible. Every space already feels brighter, warmer, and more connected to the landscape.

We wanted windows that respected the original mid-century character of the house, and the Sierra Pacific profiles are a perfect match to the existing MCM windows.

The cabinetry is installed at the renovation/addition in Chapel Hill. We love how this bookcase weaves its way around the windows. Huge shoutout to Hillcrest Cabinet Shop and Fox Contracting for their beautiful work and attention to detail. Thoughtful craftsmanship like this is what brings a project to life.

Our new cottage court project in Durham is nearing completion, with just a few final details underway. The homes are arranged around a shared landscape, with an emphasis on modest scale and efficient, intentional design.

A cottage court is a housing type made up of small homes grouped around a common open space—often a courtyard or garden. This arrangement supports a balance of private living and shared outdoor space, while allowing for a more compact, walkable neighborhood pattern.

If you’ve been looking for a home that prioritizes both privacy and connection, one of these could soon be yours.

A look back at the Carson Residence kitchen.

Blackened steel, oxidized wood, and natural stone create a rich, textural palette—bringing a sense of warmth to a clean, modern space. Paired with a direct, functional layout, the design emphasizes clear lines, warm tones, and practical, usable surfaces.

photos by dustin peck photography