About Us
At HellBent Design Studio
I believe in the power of thoughtful design. The places where we spend our time shape our well-being and how we experience the world. Your home, in particular, should make you feel proud while communicating something about who you are and adapting to how you actually live.
I aim to provide an exceptional client experience every time. Collaboration between the client, the builder, and the architect is a core principle that guides the design, and I work hard to ensure that communication and collaboration are consistent and open. Because I’m a solo designer, you’ll receive the personalized attention your project deserves, down to each and every nitty-gritty detail. Designing and building your project is a process—but I believe it should be a fun one.
What Does it Mean to Be HellBent?
Being Hellbent means seizing every opportunity to create something truly special. I approach each project through three lenses: the client, the landscape, and the planet.
The Client: I carefully orchestrate interior spaces to harmonize with your lifestyle—how you move through your day, where you gather with family, what views matter most to you.
The Landscape: Whether it’s a coastal property or a mountain setting, I’ll integrate your home with its surroundings—bringing the outdoors in and making Maine’s seasons part of your daily experience.
The Planet: Thoughtful, sustainable material choices and energy-efficient designs aren’t afterthoughts. They’re built into your design from day one.
Meet Jamie Broadbent, AIA, LEED AP
Before I started HellBent—and before I started down the path that led me to architecture—I spent my twenties in what I like to call my early retirement. My older brother used to say, "Don't collect stuff, collect experiences." So that's what I did.
I didn't want to follow the traditional career path right out of school. I wanted to buck the norm and collect as many experiences as I could. What better way to figure out where my path would lead?
Had I not followed this unconventional route, I never would have become an accomplished skier or spent a summer backpacking through Europe with a rail pass. I wouldn't have gone broke learning to surf in California or discovered that I completely sucked as a waiter. I wouldn't have owned a ski photography business at Snowbird, Utah. And I likely wouldn't have rediscovered my knack for three-dimensional design and become a licensed architect.
Those experiences shape how I design today. I've lived in different landscapes, seen how people inhabit spaces around the world, and learned that the best solutions often come from exploring unconventional ideas.
Professional Background
Those unconventional experiences led me to architecture—and eventually to nearly two decades specializing in high-performance residential design.
Before founding HellBent, I spent over a decade at Kaplan Thompson Architects, one of New England's leading firms for sustainable design. There, I served as project architect on some of Maine's most innovative homes:
Multiple LEED Platinum residential projects
Dozens of net-zero and near-net-zero homes
The 2013 USGBC Home of the Year (Virginia Earthship Farmstead—a Passive House certified, LEED Platinum, net-zero home)
That experience taught me what's possible when you refuse to choose between design ambition and environmental performance. It also showed me that the best projects happen through direct, focused collaboration—which is why I built HellBent around that principle.
Credentials & Expertise:
Licensed Architect, State of Maine
LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP)
Member, American Institute of Architects (AIA)
Nearly two decades of experience in Passive House, LEED Platinum, and net-zero design
Expertise in deep energy retrofits, achieving 60-80% energy reductions
When you choose HellBent for your project, you get an architect with nearly two decades of professional experience—but you also get someone who brings fresh perspectives, embraces creative challenges, and genuinely loves the design process.
