A Tribute to the Memory of JOANNE TALL

With heavy hearts we announce that Joanne Tall, R.A., A.I.A., a principal at Kamen Tall Architects P.C., passed away peacefully on Friday, March 13. Joanne leaves behind her devoted husband and partner, Scott Kamen, R.A., A.I.A., two beautiful and intelligent daughters, Hannah and Abigail, and her extended family in Missouri and New York.

Joanne was born in Missouri in 1962. Growing up on a farm, the values of hard work and family were instilled within her throughout her life. She studied at the School of Architecture at Washington University in St. Louis, where she met her future husband and business partner, Scott Kamen. After graduating in 1984, Joanne moved to New York City where she began her architectural career. She continued her education in London at the Architectural Association, School of Architecture from 1988-1989 before settling in Westchester County in a historic house on the Hudson River.

From 1992-2009, Joanne worked as an architect with her office located at her home in Ossining, New York. She was relentlessly driven to balance her accomplished architectural career with raising two daughters and restoring her own 19th century house with her husband, Scott. Joanne and Scott established Kamen Tall Architects in 2010, where Joanne led the Westchester design office. She specialized in historic preservation, residential design, adaptive-reuse, and exceled at creative approaches to working with historic structures. With 30 years of architectural experience, Joanne’s diverse portfolio of projects is remarkable in number and more importantly, quality. Joanne was recognized for her project dedication, her attention to detail, and her passion and skill in architectural drawing. 

Joanne’s care and attention in working with historic structures has won her several preservation awards for projects in the greater New York City area. This includes the Preservation League of New York State Award and New York Landmarks Conservancy Lucy G. Moses Preservation Award for the façade restoration of Keramos Hall in 2013 in Brooklyn and the Preservation League of New York State Award for the full restoration of the Philipse Manor Train Station in 2005 in Sleepy Hollow, New York.

Joanne also donated her free time and professional expertise to support the local community. She had been a Board Member at the IFCA Housing Network, a Commissioner of the Village of Ossining Historic Preservation Commission, and a Board Member and Secretary at the Hudson Valley Writer’s Center. Recently, she had joined the Board of Directors of the American Caribbean Foundation. Furthermore, Joanne led several non-profit projects while at Kamen Tall Architects, donating her time to support and assist local restoration and preservation initiatives. She was also a member of several professional organizations including the American Institute of Architects, APT NE Chapter, the Preservation League of New York State, the National Trust for Historic Preservation – Forum Member, and the National Alliance of Preservation Commissions – NAPC.

Joanne Tall was an amazing human, architect, and leader at Kamen Tall Architects as well as a wonderful mother to two beautiful daughters and a loving wife. Her tireless dedication to her family and her work was admirable and clearly visible to all who knew her. She will be dearly missed and greatly remembered. KTA will carry on her legacy and endeavor to make her proud.

We will keep in touch about a memorial service in honor of Joanne at a later date. Donations in Joanne’s memory can be made to: The American Caribbean Maritime Foundation.

Sincerely,

Kamen Tall Architects