Patuxent Architects was founded with a simple belief: good design is rooted in place, community, and responsibility. For more than three decades, our work has reflected a deep commitment to Calvert County and Southern Maryland. Not only through the buildings we design for others, but through the care and investment we have made in the community we call home.
A Southern Maryland Story
Brent Hutchinson’s, Architect/Principal, connection to Calvert County began in 1975, when his family moved to the area while his father was stationed at Andrews Air Force Base. Growing up along Swann Lane near Swann Farm on the banks of the Patuxent River shaped an early appreciation for the region’s landscape, history, and sense of place.
Education and Professional Foundation
Brent attended the University of Maryland at College Park and was accepted into the School of Architecture, earning a Bachelor of Science in Architecture in 1988.
During his junior and senior summers, he worked as an architectural apprentice with Reinecker & Associates, a Southern Maryland firm based in Prince Frederick. Following graduation, he joined the firm full time, gaining experience on a wide range of residential, commercial, and religious projects throughout the region. While completing the Intern Development Program, he developed practical expertise in design, drafting, and navigating the collaborative process with clients, consultants, contractors, and local agencies.
The Founding of Patuxent Architects
In January 1992, during an economic downturn, Patuxent Architects was founded to provide professional architectural services tailored to the needs of Southern Maryland residents and businesses. The firm began modestly with drafting tables set side by side in a basement in Prince Frederick but quickly grew alongside the community it served.
Licensure as a Registered Architect in the State of Maryland was achieved in 2013. In 2015, following the retirement of his business partner, Brent became the sole owner of Patuxent Architects.
Growing With the Community
Patuxent Architects’ physical presence in Prince Frederick mirrors the firm’s philosophy of thoughtful reinvestment and adaptive design.
- Early Offices (1995–1999): The firm moved from a basement workspace to a small renovated building on Main Street, where its first draftsman was hired.
- Armory Road Expansion (1999–2002): A neglected bungalow at 81 Armory Road was purchased, cleared, and fully renovated, becoming the firm’s next home.
- Monnett Court Development: Over time, adjacent properties at 75 and 79 Armory Road were acquired, repurposed, and expanded. New commercial buildings were designed and constructed, existing residences were restored, and infrastructure improvement, including water and sewer extensions, were completed where none previously existed.
These efforts resulted in nearly 30,000 square feet of thoughtfully designed commercial space that fit seamlessly into the residential character of the Fairgrounds district. What was once an overgrown and underutilized corner of Prince Frederick evolved into a vibrant, mixed-use area that continues to serve local businesses more than 20 years later.
Throughout economic cycles, natural events, and a global pandemic, the adaptability of these designs has proven their long-term value.
Today, Patuxent Architects operates from 79 Monnett Court and continues to lease additional office space at 81 Monnett Court.
Leadership and Community Involvement
Beyond professional practice, Brent has remained actively involved in the community. He served on the Solomons Architectural Review Committee for more than 20 years, until its discontinuation in 2025, helping guide thoughtful development in one of Southern Maryland’s most historic waterfront towns.
He has also been involved locally through Cub Scouts and Civil Air Patrol with his son, further reinforcing the firm’s commitment to service and mentorship.
Life in Southern Maryland
Having lived in Owings, Huntingtown, Port Republic, Chesapeake Beach, and now Solomons, the firm’s roots span the breadth of Calvert County. Brent’s wife, Stacy, serves as Associate Director of the Chesapeake Biological Laboratory in Solomons. Together, they live in Solomons with their three dogs and remain close to their adult children, who also live in Southern Maryland.
Outside of work, his interests include hunting, boating, camping, hiking, four-wheeling, history, genealogy, car shows, and travel. Just as important is enjoying the year-round events, dining, live music, and historic sites that make Southern Maryland such a distinctive place to live.
Our Philosophy
Patuxent Architects may not chase trends or headlines, but our work is grounded in something more enduring: leaving places better than we found them. Whether designing homes, commercial buildings, community facilities, or adaptive reuse projects, we take pride in seeing our work continue to serve people years and decades later.
When we travel throughout Southern Maryland and encounter buildings we had a hand in designing, it reinforces why we do what we do.
Architecture, at its best, quietly improves daily life and that has always been our goal.
