Press Releases

April 5, 2000 Deshaies retires after 35 years at Harriman Associates AUBURN -- Andre J. Deshaies, a landscape architect and associate of Harriman Associates, has retired from the architecture and engineering firm after 35 years. "Andy's contributions to our firm and to numerous communities in the region have been extensive," said Edward A. Cormier, president of Harriman Associates. "He's known for designs that respect the natural features of a site and at the same time optimize the site to its fullest potential for people to use. We're fortunate to have had such a talented professional with our firm for so long." Deshaies holds a bachelor of science degree in landscape architecture and joined Harriman Associates in 1964, just after he graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design. He was named an associate of the firm in 1989. Deshaies was the second landscape architect to be registered in Maine. He was instrumental in getting legislation passed in 1979 to require a license to practice landscape architecture in the state. During his long career at Harriman Associates, he designed sites for hundreds of schools, health care centers, churches, corporations, and governmental institutions throughout New England. Three of the most challenging projects recently, Deshaies said, have been Noble High School, now under construction in North Berwick, Camden Hills Regional High School, being built in Rockport, and Brunswick High School in Brunswick, completed four years ago. All are environmentally sensitive sites. Deshaies was also a key member of the architecture team for the design of many churches in the region, including recent renovations of St. Bartholomew's Church in Cape Elizabeth, a new church complex for St. John Neumann in Merrimack, New Hampshire, St. Joseph's Church in Epping, New Hampshire, St. Mary's Church in Bangor, and Notre Dame Church in Waterville. Deshaies was honored recently at a luncheon attended by Harriman Associates current staff as well as retirees, family, and friends. In his remarks at the event, Deshaies said he was proud and grateful to have had the opportunity to work at the "best and most highly respected design firm in northern New England." Although retired from full-time work in the profession, Deshaies plans to continue practicing landscape architecture as a consultant, with a primary focus on residential work. Active in the community, he is a member of the Lewiston-Auburn Community Forest Ad Hoc Committee, a former trustee of the Auburn Public Library, and an active member of St. Philip's Church in Auburn. Deshaies is a member of the Maine chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects, an associate member of the Maine chapter of the American Institute of Architects, and a member of the Maine Landscape and Nurserymen's Association. He formerly served as a member of the Maine State Board of Registration for Architects and Landscape Architects. Harriman Associates is a full-service architecture and engineering firm headquartered in Auburn, Maine. Founded in 1870, it is the sixth-oldest design firm in the country, providing services to local and regional clients throughout New England. back to list