For Élise Bolduc and Ben Hitchcock, restoring historic homes is more than a business—it’s a way of honoring the past while building a stronger, more vibrant future. As graduates of the architecture program at the University of Maine at Augusta (UMA) and co-owners of Hitchcock & Co., a Hallowell-based renovation firm, the husband-and-wife team is using their UMA education to revitalize homes and reimagine possibilities for their community.
Their journey began when they met in the architecture studio at UMA. Élise, originally from Canada, found UMA to be the perfect fit. “It was a quality program and the people were welcoming and supportive, which was especially important for me as an international student,” she said. Ben, a Maine native, was drawn to the program’s hands-on approach and strong foundation in building science. “I knew I wanted to do something with construction or real estate,” he explained. “I appreciated how the program blended creativity with building science and practical design.”
Élise graduated in 2018, and, after Ben’s graduation in 2020, they launched their business. What began with house flips during a hot real estate market has grown into a full-service renovation and restoration company that focuses on historic preservation, general contracting, and investment property remodeling.
Their work blends period craftsmanship with modern building practices, all while honoring the original character of the spaces they touch. Their first major project, a deteriorating 1875 Italianate home on Lincoln Street, became a defining moment. “It was a privilege to be able to save the home and restore it to its former glory while preserving and rehabilitating its original moldings, the grand staircase, marble fireplace and other important details.”
Since then, Élise and Ben continue to take on a variety of projects across Central Maine—transforming homes, restoring older spaces and retrofitting vintage structures without erasing their stories.
That thoughtful, respectful approach extends to how they collaborate with homeowners. “Every home already has a certain standard of craftsmanship,” said Élise, “and we work hard to match it.”
Beyond their restoration work, Élise and Ben are helping meet real needs in the communities they serve, not just by preserving history but also creating pathways to stability and belonging. Élise serves on the board of Row House, Inc., a local nonprofit dedicated to protecting Hallowell’s architectural and cultural heritage. Additionally, the pair renovate and manage rental properties to help meet local housing needs, and they are working to build modest, high-quality homes in Farmington to help older adults age in place comfortably.
Through each project, they demonstrate how architecture can be a force for renewal by revitalizing spaces, supporting lives and strengthening the fabric of Maine communities. Thanks to alumni like Élise Bolduc and Ben Hitchcock, UMA’s impact continues to grow—one home, one family and one neighborhood at a time.