Story
Built for making things real
Frankie Paolino was born and raised in Massachusetts — with a grandfather who was a stonemason and a childhood steeped in Boston’s architecture. That mix of craft and city form stuck.
He earned a B.F.A. in Architecture from Miami University (2013), then headed west: ski instructing in Boulder while leading Habitat for Humanity crews. Architecture firms in Boston followed — BFE Architects and HMFH Architects (K–12) — before a 2015 move to Santa Barbara with family, drafting for Marc Normand Gelinas and SB2.
Along the way: realtor work with Coldwell Banker; Technology Coordinator at iNSITES; TAM roles with Yardi Systems; then Project Manager at RD HOMES on prefab ADUs — facilitating $3M+ in construction in the first year (as claimed).
In January 2024 he founded Paolino Design Collective in Rhode Island: consulting through design, permitting, and project management for residential work, remodels, and renovations. Married and based in Providence — skiing when he can, dog nearby, remodeling a 120+ year-old house that keeps him honest about how homes actually live.
B.F.A. Architecture
Miami University · 2013
Providence, Rhode Island
Founder & Lead Designer, Paolino Design Collective
Skiing · dog · old house
Personal life and professional craft share the same calendar.
By the numbers
Experience claims
Figures Frankie publishes on his public portfolio — presented here as his claims, not independently audited awards.
Path
Condensed timeline
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Roots
Massachusetts · craft lineage
Raised in MA; grandfather a stonemason; Boston architecture as early influence.
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2013
B.F.A. Architecture — Miami University
Formal architecture education completed.
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Boulder
Ski instructor · Habitat crew leader
Hands-on community building alongside mountain life.
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Boston firms
BFE Architects · HMFH Architects (K–12)
Professional practice in Boston architecture offices.
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2015 → Santa Barbara
Drafting · Marc Normand Gelinas · SB2
Moved with family; continued drafting and design work on the Central Coast.
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Cross-disciplinary
Coldwell Banker · iNSITES · Yardi Systems
Realtor; Technology Coordinator; TAM — physical and digital environments.
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RD HOMES
Project Manager — prefab ADUs
First-year construction facilitation claimed at $3M+.
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Jan 2024 →
Founded Paolino Design Collective (RI)
Consulting → design → permitting → project management. Providence base.
Community
Boards & service
Former Santa Barbara Opera intern; Children’s Creative Project; Habitat for Humanity — Greater Lowell and Boulder. Community work sits alongside the practice, not afterthought.
Collaborators say
“He works very well on a team… with our 3D specialist, structural engineer, our clients… everyone. I always say that the ultimate vote of confidence is whether or not someone would hire the same company again. Well, I have.”— R. Patterson, design/build remodeler, 25 years