COLE ARCHITECTS - Key Persons
From the time she was young, Alex could constantly be found drawing floor plans for her dream home. Growing up she loved observing her parents' home renovation projects and she later helped her mom in flipping and renovating homes. This grew into a passion. Her eyes still light up every time she sees a construction site!
Initially an engineering student at Boise State, Alex realized architecture was her true aspiration. She decided to pack up her bags and attend the University of Tennessee, where she received a bachelor's degree in Architecture with a minor in Interior Architecture. She did a semester abroad at Aalto University in Helsinki Finland where she fell in love with Scandinavian architecture.
Alex loves hiking, swimming, skiing, traveling, and attending as many concerts as possible - anytime she can be outside, that's where you will find her. But after a long day, don't be surprised to find Alex enjoying downtime at home with her cat Zippity.
Allison developed a passion for design at an early age. As a child growing up in Moscow, Idaho, she spent many hours with her dad in his workshop, tinkering with scrap wood or helping him with projects. She also loved to draw and especially enjoyed creating blueprints for dream homes, schools, and cities. After obtaining her undergraduate degree in architecture from the University of Idaho, Allison attended a study-abroad program in Italy and eventually landed a gig as a teacher's assistant. After returning stateside, she attended the University of Idaho Urban Design Center for her graduate degree.
Allison is pursuing her architecture license and has become a trusted member of the COLE team. When she's not focused on a work project, she enjoys hiking, reading, painting, playing volleyball, and cooking.
Amy's interest in design and building became manifest at a young age. As a child, she was most likely to be found building forts and structures for mice and fairies, or creating custom dollhouses for her toys. Amy began taking drafting classes and designing small projects in high school; she even had summer stints working at a local hardware store and her city's civil engineering department - all while helping her dad with repair projects around the house.
Amy studied architecture at the University of Detroit for two years, then transferred to the University of Colorado where she obtained her undergraduate degree in environmental design and skiing. After working for a year in an architectural firm, she acquired her Master of Architecture from the University of Oregon. One of her favorite projects to work on has been Powell's bookstore in Portland.
Outside of work, you'll usually find Amy outdoors - walking her dogs in the forest, doing yoga, riding her mountain bike, or snowboarding, rafting, camping, and practicing archery with her husband and daughters. When it's time to return indoors, she also enjoys knitting, baking, drawing, and painting.
While Legos and Lincoln Logs were her earliest introduction to architecture, Ashley's curiosity and creative bent cemented her place in the field. She attended Montana State University, where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Design (with a Photography Minor) and Master of Architecture. Ashley then studied in Italy and traveled throughout Europe, which inspired her work on Rome 2092, a planning project for the city's future.
Ashley is intrigued by the emotion behind - and psychological impact of - great architecture. She also finds excitement knowing that, by way of her drawings, she'll be creating spaces for people to inhabit - believing the process to be "art come to life."
In her free time, Ashley satiates her curiosity by traveling abroad (to date, she has visited 15 countries), reading, watching films, and exploring the outdoors with her camera in hand.
Ben's architectural training began on his family farm, where he learned from a young age that problems could be solved with lumber and nails. They were always in need of more space, better infrastructure, and buildings that would address the needs of animals and equipment, so, by ten years old, Ben had helped build several structures on the farm. This experience inspired him to pursue a career designing and building spaces that would help others solve their own problems. Ben completed his Bachelor of Science in Architecture at Portland State University in 2015, and in the coming years, ran a design consulting company, drafted for a structural engineer, and worked in architectural offices rendering and drafting commercial buildings.
In his leisure time, Ben enjoys a myriad of activities: hiking, biking, horseback riding, kayaking, DIY home remodeling, cross country skiing, landscape photography, gardening, woodworking, and welding.
You could say Claire was born (or at least raised) to be an architect. She hails from a family of creatives, who helped foster her early love for design. As a child, Claire could think in 3D and began building models and acquiring design experience in everything from woodcarving to fashion. She has always been compelled by the psychological impacts of good design, specifically how it makes people feel. Claire is also intrigued by how architecture is everywhere, yet still goes unnoticed to the untrained eye. "I feel like I'm a part of a secret club that knows about the incorrect uses of flooring tiles," she says.
Claire recently completed her BA in Interior Architecture, and will be heading to Rome, Italy in fall 2022 to begin a year of fulfillment architecture courses, complete a minor in history preservation, and pursue her master's in architecture.
In her free time, Claire can be found painting, crocheting, watching films, making stained glass, or discovering any number of new creative outlets. She also enjoys outdoor activities like hiking, traveling, skateboarding, and biking.
Since the fifth grade, Giovanni knew he wanted to be an architect. Intrigued by three-dimensional puzzles, and meticulous about detail - he found that architecture enabled him to problem-solve spaces and better the lives of the individuals for whom he'd be designing. After graduating from the University of Idaho with his Master of Architecture, Giovanni studied abroad, working for the university's architectural research program, and eventually presenting his findings at an international conference in Lisbon, Portugal.
Giovanni's favorite aspect of his work is the ability to transform thoughts and ideas into material objects and environments. To date, his favorite project involved working with local residents of the Nez Perce Tribe in Lapwai, Idaho - where he learned about their vision for the town and discovered how design can profoundly impact a community.
In his free time, Giovanni enjoys both playing and watching soccer with his friends, and mountain biking during the summer.
Henry's architectural career path began in a setting one might not expect - a restaurant. He always had an interest in art and design, but it wasn't until he helped design and build his own restaurant with his wife, an architect, that Henry realized his passion for architecture. The design process and witnessing people interact with the new space in unexpected ways was an experience he calls "the most challenging yet rewarding" of his life. He returned to college to obtain his master's in architecture at the University of Illinois-Chicago.
Henry enjoys collaborating with his peers and seeing their varying life experiences inform the creative process. He believes a project's most difficult challenges can be transformed into unique, often esoteric moments, which can become the most interesting aspects of a built space.
Henry spends his leisure time entertaining his young daughters, playing tennis, and restoring his 1979 Boston Whaler (fishing boat). He is also an avid musician and plays the guitar, drums, and piano. In his younger years, Henry toured with his band in Chicago and the Midwest, and now he is enjoying his most recent exploration - Boise's vibrant music scene.
Growing up in South America, Ian was aware that many of his friends did not have access to safe, comfortable, and equitable places to live and work. Ever since he has been determined to help people create these types of spaces, where people are delighted to spend their time. He believes that lives are enriched by having more "empathetic buildings."
Through architecture, Ian enjoys the opportunity to create spaces that are thoughtful, meaningful, and responsive. He is passionate about helping create affordable housing and connecting people to these resources. Among Ian's favorite projects in his career is the adaptive reuse of the 1943 Prineville High School - which transformed the old school building into affordable housing and community space. Over the last few years, Ian has served on several boards addressing housing affordability and livability in Central Oregon.
Ian studied architecture at Kansas State University, with stints in Denmark and Norway, and later received his master's degree in construction management from the University of Washington. With a diverse background in the AEC industry, Ian is well versed in multi-family housing, senior living, all types of commercial construction, and project management.
When Ian is not working, he does not slow down. He is an accomplished pianist, practices jiu-jitsu, enjoys reading and cooking, and treks the Cascade Mountains.
Khiseth's path towards a career in architecture was paved with wooden toy blocks. His father worked in a furniture store during Khiseth's childhood and would create blocks for Khiseth made from recycled scraps of furniture. Using the blocks, Khiseth began planning and building elaborate cities that spanned his family's apartment.
In Kimberly's 16 years as an architect, she has not slowed down - but rather, continues to be fascinated by all aspects of the design process. Architecture merges her favorite subjects, art, and science, and she continues to be inspired to research and sketch ideas for what she wants to create. Since she was offered the opportunity to study architecture at Portland Community College (for free) at age 16, she jumped at the chance and hasn't looked back. Kimberly then received her Master of Architecture and Urban Planning from Andrews University. Her studies abroad - which primarily involved sketching and journaling to analyze the historic built environments and place-making - took Kimberly to Prague, Czech Republic; Vienna, Austria; and Italy (Rome, Vicenza, and Venice, Italy).
Today, Kimberly takes pride in transforming buildings (rather than razing them), and in this context, greatly enjoyed her work on the AAA Bend Service Center, as well as on Belle Fiore Winery, which she considers an unusual, ornate, and interesting subject.
Outside of work, Kimberly finds ways to stay involved in her community, like participating in the Architects in Schools program. She also spends her leisure time with her daughter, engaging in outdoor activities, theater and opera, and all kinds of art.
Kiran grew up in Kathmandu, city of temples, loving the sculptural and spatial qualities of traditional Indian architecture. When she was in 7th grade, as the family was designing and building a new home, she experienced the design process close up. She helped her parents make many design decisions and loved being at the construction site. As an adult, Kiran wanted to create something of value that would bring people together - this inspired her to pursue architecture.
Kiran loves to travel and experience new places. After completing high school in Nepal, she decided to go abroad to see what the rest of world had to offer. She completed her BA in Architecture from University of New Mexico, learning lot about the unique Southwest architecture style as well as a brief study abroad in Oslo, Norway.
When not working, you can find Kiran on the road (driving-which she really loves). She also enjoys poetry, music, yoga, and a good cup of tea.
Kristi has been in the construction bookkeeping field for 25 years, with the last few years focusing on architecture. Her interest in architecture sparked when she sat down and designed her family's home in 2006. She found it very rewarding to see the home that she designed come to life. Now, working in the architecture field, she is still enthralled watching the progression of a project.
Kristi loves that she gets to see the beautiful snow-capped Cascade Mountains every day. She is a (rare) native Bend Oregonian and has seen a lot of change and growth in this beautiful area. One of Kristi's favorite things is "capturing the moment" through pictures and painting.
Kristi is consistently involved in giving back to her community. She volunteers at local elementary schools helping young children learn to read, and is often a foster mom for cats, dogs, and other pets. At one time, she had 9 cats (5 fosters), 3 dogs, and 4 chickens (2 fosters) living in her home!
Outside of work and volunteering, Kristi loves spending time with her college-aged son and daughter and her two Border Collies, Duke and Daisie. (Yep, she's down to only two animals… until she fosters again!)
Margaret was inspired to go into finance because of her love for math. Growing up, she competed with fellow students on getting the best grades in math class. When it came time to choose a career, she considered becoming a neurologist before deciding finance was her passion. Margaret received a bachelor's degree in Finance at Boise State University and then went on to obtain an MBA-Finance master's degree at Southern Utah University.
"I love how I can use numbers to develop different strategies. I also enjoy problem solving and finding more efficient ways of managing finances."
Margaret loves to snowboard, ice-skate, jet-ski, and spend time at the shooting range. She also enjoys hanging out with family and friends and trying out new activities. She recently discovered archery, and never thought it would be so much fun!
Having worked on hundreds of projects in 35 states, Matt knows a thing or two about problem solving. Since obtaining his master's degree in Architecture from Montana State University, he has fine-tuned his leadership skills managing design teams throughout the U.S. He brings these strengths to the Cole Architects team, demonstrating how to transform raw ideas and ambitious objectives into feasible structures that are simultaneously functional and elegant. Additionally, he sees a project's constraints as opportunities to "move beyond predictable design solutions." And while Matt enjoys a good challenge, he also believes the simplest solution is usually the best one.
Through extensive travel, Matt has gained appreciation for the composition and aesthetic appeal of structures he's seen around the world. This perspective informs his 27 years as an architect, and it guides our processes at Cole. One of his most rewarding projects was a university library renovation at a small liberal arts college in Colorado - for which his team won a national AIA design award for the expansion of a 40-year-old building and modernization of its systems and façade.
When Matt isn't working or traveling, he's typically on the trails (mountain biking) or the slopes (skiing). He might also be immersed in his latest obscure research project. If you should see him scooting around town on his Triumph Bobber, be sure to say hello.
Since he was young, Philip always loved sketching out floor plans. In high school, he decided to take an AutoCAD class through a technical college and, in that class, he designed a complete set of plans for his "dream house" (back then) and went on field trips to see and experience some of the finest homes in Sun Valley. This ignited his desire to make architecture his career. Philip's deep fascination with architectural drawings has remained with him, which is evident in is his ongoing BIM modeling experience and talent. To this day, he often finds himself thumbing through floor plans of random buildings just to pass the time.
Philip is proud to be an Idaho Vandal. He gained his bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Idaho attending both the Moscow and Boise campuses.
In his free time, Philip is usually busy with his wife and three kids going to baseball games and gymnastic classes or working on endless home projects and taking care of the garden. When time allows, Philip enjoys quiet evenings at home with his wife re-watching episodes of The Office (never gets old). And, if there is a Chicago Cubs game on, he'll be watching!!
Sarah's interest in architecture sparked from watching her dad hand-drawing building plans on his drafting table at their home in Argentina. She was always fascinated how these drawings turned into real buildings and loved to visit their construction sites and seeing new spaces come to life. When it came time to choose her field of study, architecture was the obvious choice. Sarah received her bachelor's degree in Architecture from the University of Utah. Since then, she has applied her architectural education to marketing and design. Her goals are to provide current and future clients the best experience possible and share Cole Architects' people, company, and process in the clearest way.
Outside of work, Sarah enjoys exploring the beautiful city of Boise, watching a great movie, and checking off her travel bucket list - usually accompanied by her husband and son.
Since establishing Cole Architects in 1995, Stan hasn't spent much time sitting still. Over his 40 years in architecture, he has attained licensure in 13 states - and his designs have won many local and regional awards. He was the past president of the Idaho Central Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, a past board member of the Idaho's architectural licensing board, and also contributes to civic organizations such as the Boys & Girls Clubs of Ada County, Urban Land Institute, Ronald McDonald House, and BOMA.
Stan's motivation is both creative - whether it's through art, photography, engineering, or technology - and philanthropic. Architecture allows him to integrate these elements into a fulfilling profession. For us and for our clients, the feeling is mutual: Stan's insight, diversity of experience, and altruistic mindset make him a tremendous asset to our team.
As Cole Architects continues to grow, Stan has been able to ease into semi-retirement. He remains an integral part of our firm, but now devotes more attention to his creative pursuits: sketching and playing his guitar, bass, or piano (he's a self-proclaimed "wannabe rock star"). He also enjoys traveling, hiking, biking, and skiing.