Business Details
Your Vision. Our Experience. Let's Collaborate.
Founded on the principle that architecture thrives through collaboration, our firm has dedicated decades to redefining spaces where functionality meets artistic vision. We prioritize direct client engagement, ensuring every project team member contributes to solving complex challenges. With expertise spanning civic, educational, commercial, and residential sectors, we deliver designs grounded in technical precision and creative innovation. Our principals, each with extensive experience, mentor associates through professional development programs while maintaining hands-on involvement in every project phase.Rooted in Montana's values of integrity and hard work, we approach each commission with a commitment to timeless solutions that reflect local culture and environmental context. Our national recognition stems from a philosophy that balances modern trends with enduring architectural principles, creating spaces that resonate with clients' unique visions.
Services
Civic Architecture
K-12 Education Design
Higher Education Facilities
Commercial Projects
Healthcare Facilities
Highlights and features
- We prioritize client collaboration in every project phase.
- Our principals hold 20+ years of experience in diverse architectural typologies.
- We maintain NCARB-certified professionals for technical excellence.
- We offer LEED-certified expertise for sustainable design solutions.
- Our firm has earned national recognition from AIA and NKBA.
Associations and certifications
- National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB)
- LEED AP
What people say
Client-centered process
Technical excellence
Creative solutions
Knowledgeable team
Timely delivery
Services
Civic Architecture
Our civic architecture practice creates functional public spaces that serve community needs while maintaining aesthetic integrity. We specialize in designing municipal facilities, courthouses, and transportation hubs that combine accessibility with long-term durability. Our team navigates complex regulatory requirements to deliver spaces that enhance civic engagement and reflect local identity.
K-12 Education Design
We craft inspiring educational environments tailored to students' developmental needs and pedagogical goals. Our K-12 projects prioritize flexible learning spaces, natural lighting, and sustainable materials that create optimal conditions for modern education. Each design incorporates safety standards without compromising creative expression in learning environments.
Higher Education Facilities
Our campus architecture solutions address evolving educational demands while respecting institutional heritage. We design adaptable research facilities, student centers, and administrative complexes that foster academic excellence. Our approach balances innovation with functionality to support 21st-century teaching methodologies and campus life.
Commercial Projects
We create commercial environments that enhance brand identity while optimizing customer experience. Our retail and office designs combine spatial efficiency with striking visual elements. We specialize in translating business objectives into spaces that drive engagement while meeting technical requirements for commercial operations.
Healthcare Facilities
Our healthcare architecture prioritizes patient well-being and operational efficiency. We design spaces that reduce stress while supporting medical staff effectiveness. From clinics to specialized treatment centers, we incorporate evidence-based design principles to create healing environments that meet rigorous healthcare standards.
People
Jason Fitzgerald
Principal / Architect / CFO
With over two decades of experience, Jason leads complex public use projects while mentoring associates through professional licensing. His technical expertise ensures code compliance in commercial and institutional buildings. He champions team collaboration and individual growth in design professionals.
Travis Smith
Principal / Architect / COO
A project management expert, Travis oversees project delivery with a partner-led approach. His background includes award-winning breweries and large-scale renovations. He emphasizes direct client collaboration and brings a working-class ethos to every project team.
Brian Johnson
Principal / Architect / Director of Design
A fifth-generation Montanan, Brian leads with client collaboration as central principle. His national award-winning designs stem from transparent communication and site-specific understanding. He maintains Montana State University advisory roles while guiding project teams through the design continuum.
Jeff Kanning
Principal / Architect
Jeff combines minimalist design philosophy with deep understanding of building systems. His eastern Montana roots inform a design approach emphasizing authenticity and stewardship. He excels at transforming complex requirements into elegant architectural solutions that stand the test of time.
Nick Pancheau
Principal-in-Charge / Architect / President
As firm president, Nick designs business processes with the same rigor as architectural projects. His award-winning work spans educational facilities and residential designs. He brings construction experience from his father's trades background to create practical yet visionary solutions for clients.
Questions
What architectural services do you specialize in?
We specialize in civic, educational, commercial, healthcare, and residential architecture with award-winning expertise in both public and private sector projects.
How do you involve clients in the design process?
Clients participate in every phase through direct collaboration with principals, site visits, and transparent communication about design decisions and technical considerations.
What geographic areas do you serve?
While based in Montana, we work across the western United States including Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.
What makes your firm different from other architects?
Our principal-led teams combine technical excellence with Montana's work ethic, maintaining NCARB-certified professionals and LEED AP expertise while prioritizing client collaboration.
How do you handle complex architectural challenges?
We apply critical thinking to solve complex issues through team collaboration, leveraging decades of combined experience in diverse project typologies and regulatory environments.
What professional accreditations do you hold?
Our team includes NCARB-certified architects and LEED AP professionals with licenses across multiple western states and national award recognition.
