The Brotherhood is real and the constant collaborations within the Avon alumni network are further proof of that fact. This past summer, one particular collaboration saw three Avonians work together on a project that would’ve made Theodate Pope Riddle proud.

Chris Stone ’88 is a well-known alumnus. Since graduating, Stone has become an internationally recognized figure in the architecture industry, founding his own firm, STONEFOX Architects, with his husband in 2002. In the spring of 2023, the National Council named Stone as a Distinguished Alumnus, a prestigious award bestowed upon a deserving alumnus who has achieved distinction in his professional career, humanitarian endeavors, or other areas of his life. One of the reasons Stone was honored with this distinction is his generosity with his time in serving the needs of Avon Old Farms. This includes serving in alumni leadership positions, giving campus tours during large events, and working with current students and recent graduates who are interested in his field.

This past summer, two alumni reached out to Stone to see if he would be interested in mentoring them. The first was Pablo Paredes ’26, who had initially connected with Stone through an art Intersession course his senior year. The other was Francis Hagood ’23, a former Warden of his class who was finishing up his own architecture undergraduate degree. While STONEFOX didn’t necessarily have an organized internship program planned for that summer, Stone couldn’t say no. “I learned so much at this school. I treated this as an opportunity to give back the way Rich Connell '74 and other mentors here taught me.”

Paredes and Hagood spent the summer learning the ins and outs of the industry, and to hone their skills took on a fun project: design a hypothetical building that fits into the Avon Old Farms campus. The two essentially had the opportunity to build their dream fine arts center. “They described the art building as a sanctuary space. This is our lived experience, so the usual first step of making a site visit to get to know the area was already done,” Stone shares.

It began with virtual meetings between Hagood, Paredes, and Stone to discuss the project. Then, Paredes made some initial concept drawings—freehand sketches that Hagood then simulated using a 3D computer model. What the two created is a multi-story building with a direct view through the woods to the Diogenes tower. It includes a room for archives, a lecture/exhibition hall, an art history wing, a terrace, and plenty of room for quiet introspection. “This building is an appreciation of campus, the history of it, as well as the future of architecture. Also, it’s an appreciation for what I felt and experienced at school,” Hagood explains. “We’re excited about what we brought to the table.”

Paredes agrees, adding the experience as a whole was exactly what he was looking for when he got in touch with Stone. “To start learning and get early experience before I even get to college was amazing. It’s also my passion to create things, and this was an opportunity for that,” Paredes says.

Hagood echoed that sentiment. “This summer was really cool. It was a great experience learning from Chris. While what we did is just an idea for now, we’re excited about it.”

“I’m grateful to have met them and for everything they taught me,” Stone adds. “I just tried to create space for learning and provide practical insight into the design process.”

After a successful summer, Stone says he hopes to provide this type of opportunity to more current and former students whether it’s through internships, Intersession, or the Advanced Independent Project program. “We’re still cooking,” Stone says. “This is just the first taste.”