Architect exits Vecino Group to start own firm

An architect with a dozen years of industry experience has exited a Springfield-based real estate development company to begin his own firm.

Layne Hunton, who served as chief operations officer of Vecino Design LLC, part of The Vecino Group LLC, launched Throughline Architecture LLC on March 1. He said his final day at The Vecino Group was Feb. 28.

“It won’t always be a home-based one but for the time being it is in order to keep the costs at a good place for me,” Hunton said of his firm, adding startup costs were $15,000.

While currently the firm’s sole employee, Hunton said he plans to add staff later this year. The full-service architectural firm’s scope of work includes residential and commercial projects, he said, noting a desired emphasis to team with developers on multifamily and affordable housing work through the federal government’s low-income housing tax credit program.

Hunton said starting his own firm has always been a goal.

“It just took me a while to admit it to myself,” he said, describing his departure from The Vecino Group as “bittersweet.”

“It was tough, and there’s definitely some great people there,” he said. “They set me up well and gave me some leadership opportunities and built me into a better person.”

Hunton said he worked for over four years at The Vecino Group and previously was employed at BRP Architects and Torgerson Design Partners LLC. He graduated in 2012 from Drury University with a bachelor’s in architecture.