The loss of David Sellers, FAIA, is a significant one for the Vermont architectural community. An influential figure, David was a teacher, employer, and mentor for many in the Mad River Valley, as well as far beyond.

One of David's friends and colleagues, Jim Sanford shared the following:

"Dave began his long career as an artist/architect by doing something that few others had considered, actually building his designs. Importantly, being “on the crew” instead of in the office, gave him a unique perspective on the creation of the built environment. He gained an
intimate understanding of his fellow craftsmen, the tools, materials, and emerging spaces that allowed him to make better, clearer choices and for his muscular creativity to flourish. He had an ongoing conversation with whatever he was working on and saw opportunities that couldn’t be revealed in drawings and models. While he gradually stopped swinging his beloved 20 oz. Estwing, he remained completely involved in the construction process, refining, changing, and ever sketching until, and even after completion, focusing on the things that he thought really
mattered with delight and humor. His work could be a challenge for contractors and clients, so he finally removed them from the equation completely, building the wonderful Temple, Archie Bunker, and Madsonian house without having to answer to compromising voices.
A master of scale, proportion and the creative use of materials, he was a fun, energetic, and enthusiastic, mentor, teacher and friend, and will be missed by those many of us he drew to Vermont."

Bill Maclay, AIA knew David well and had many memorable experiences with him. Bill shared this: "Dave Sellers was, and is still inspiring and remarkable. He was an explorer of what is possible. He lived in the wonder of life and living—what could be imagined——what was possible and without limitation.

While he was an artist and architect, he was even more a teacher, mentor, and instigator of action and change. He was a person with a ton of energy and curiosity—looking to find and create, with others, new ways of thinking, evolving and uniquely living with energy, vibrancy, and purpose—emerging what is new, possible, and surprising, For him, there were no, or almost no, limitations. There was constant invention, seeing the new emerging from what was possible. Every breakdown—a clear opportunity.

While he was known and influential nationally and beyond, he was also just a guy from Vermont exploring with others to reveal something vibrant and activating—that hadn’t existed before.

One of my fondest memories with Dave was working with him and 5 other guys framing and sheathing a 6 story house in 6 days—and 50 lobsters. We drove from Vermont to Maine through the night to arrive before the backhoe arrived to dig for foundations. The concrete was ordered while driving to Maine and poured by noon. The first day the first floor was fully framed before the first lobster dinner. On the sixth day, the top roof deck overlooking the rocky coast was finally framed and capped the pyramid shaped home. The finish work took a little longer.

There was a rough scale model to build from. There were no drawings for the framing.

There was almost no talking about what was being built. There were no laborers. This was a crew of artists, builders, architects, designers, friends, and equals—who had worked on and off again with each other for many years—they had just played the same game. Perhaps this building was more like chefs, cooks, and staff who just know a shared game and have fun.

I now see Dave clearly again—the glimmer in his eye and the gentle smile on his face as he thinks up the next game to play."

The following obituary was published in the Valley Reporter, commemorating his life and accomplishments:

David E. Sellers, 86, of Warren, Vermont, peacefully passed away on February 9, 2025, surrounded by his two children, Trillium and Parker.

A native of Chicago, David moved to Warren in 1965, where he and a group of friends from Yale’s Architecture School explored their vision for building a community. Together, they purchased land and applied their architectural knowledge by designing and building homes – an innovative endeavor for its time.

This entrepreneurial spirit fueled a legacy of artistic and creative collaboration that has impacted the Mad River Valley and beyond. David's work spanned numerous projects that are woven into the fabric of the community, including the ambitious Warren Fourth of July parade floats, the Prickly Mountain community, the Skatium, the Madsonian Museum of Industrial Design, the Mad River Rocket Company, the Warren-Sugarbush Airport, the Pitcher Inn, Northern Power, and Vermont Castings, as well as countless friendships along the way.

Dave’s influence as an artist and architect extended far and wide. For over five decades, he designed homes, hotels, and other structures as well as furniture, light fixtures and a chess set. In 2017, the American Institute of Architects awarded him a Lifetime Achievement Award for his exemplary contributions to the field. Dave also shared his expertise with the next generation, teaching students at Yale, MIT, Yestermorrow, Goddard College, and other institutions, leaving a legacy of mentorship and inspiration. 

Dave had an ability to make people feel good about themselves with his warmth, humor, optimism, and storytelling. He used this skill on his radio show “Sprawl Talk” on WMRW, where the stories, lessons, and legends were shared and recorded.

When others saw problems, he saw opportunities. He believed positive change is always possible and had a strong sense of civic duty, which led him to volunteer on the Warren Planning Commission, the Central Vermont Regional Planning Commission, the town select board, the Vermont Council on the Arts, and even briefly on the Warren Volunteer Fire Department. 

He was survived by his two children and their spouses, Trillium and Ben Rose of DC and Parker and Sabra Gandhi Sellers of Santa Monica; his three grandchildren Katherine Rose, Rohan, and Rumi Sellers; a younger brother Ed Sellers; nieces and nephews, and many dear friends. He died of heart complications in a hospital in Los Angeles. A memorial service to celebrate Dave’s life will be held at a later date in Warren. In place of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Madsonian Museum of Industrial Design.