Business Details
42 Years
experience
Award-Winning Architecture & Design Firm in Anchorage, AK
Since 1984, MCG Explore Design has been at the forefront of architectural innovation, blending art and science to create spaces that inspire communities. Our human-centered approach prioritizes local stories, sustainability, and functional design, evident in projects ranging from educational facilities to civic spaces. As an award-winning firm, we are deeply involved in professional organizations like the American Institute of Architects and the Council of Educational Facility Planners International. Our commitment to the Red List Free Campaign underscores our dedication to healthier building practices. With expertise in cold-weather design and a team licensed in 11 states, we deliver precision in technical documentation and construction management.Our Expand Experience Workshop fosters collaborative ideation, ensuring client visions translate into impactful, enduring spaces. From master planning to exhibit design, we integrate cultural narratives and technology to create environments that educate and engage. Sustainability is woven into every project, balancing aesthetics with environmental responsibility. Our team of architects, interior designers, and BIM specialists brings decades of collective experience to every endeavor. We believe great architecture emerges from meaningful relationships, driving us to exceed client expectations while shaping the future of the built environment.
Services
Architecture
Interior Design
Master Planning
FF&E Design
Renderings
Technical Specifications
Exhibit Design
Sustainability
Construction Management
Strategic Thinking
Details
- Year established: 1984
Highlights and features
- We have over 40 years of experience in human-centered architectural design.
- Our team holds expertise in cold-weather and high-performance building solutions.
- We integrate sustainable practices through the Red List Free Campaign commitment.
- Our Expand Experience Workshop ensures client-driven collaborative design processes.
- Licensed in 11 states with technical documentation excellence in construction management.
Services
Architecture
We create inspired architectural solutions that honor local stories and perform in demanding climates. Our designs balance aesthetics, functionality, and sustainability while prioritizing community impact. Every project integrates technical precision with creative storytelling.
Interior Design
Our interior environments combine beauty with intuitive functionality, tailored to human interaction patterns. We focus on wellness-driven design that reflects client values while ensuring spaces feel as good as they look through material and layout optimization.
Master Planning
We shape long-term spatial strategies through community engagement and cultural analysis. Our master plans prioritize resilience, growth patterns, and sustainable infrastructure integration while maintaining alignment with client visions for future-ready environments.
Sustainability
Sustainable strategies are seamlessly integrated into every project through material selection and energy-efficient systems. We actively support the Red List Free Campaign, eliminating harmful chemicals to create healthier spaces for occupants and ecosystems.
Construction Management
Our team ensures precise execution of design visions through budget and schedule coordination. We advocate for clients during construction while maintaining technical documentation accuracy to guarantee final builds match original specifications and performance goals.
People
John Weir
Principal Architect
With decades of experience in Alaskan architecture, John leads design teams in creating contextually responsive buildings. His work emphasizes community engagement and technical innovation in extreme climate conditions.
Cara Rude
Principal Interior Designer
Cara specializes in human-centric interior environments, focusing on wellness and functionality. She develops spaces that balance aesthetic appeal with practical use patterns across educational and civic projects.
Garrett Burtner
Principal Architect
Garrett directs complex architectural projects with emphasis on sustainable materials and energy performance. His expertise includes military and healthcare facility design in challenging environments.
Jason Gamache
Principal Architect
Jason leads civic and educational architecture projects, integrating local cultural narratives into functional designs. He specializes in creating learning environments that enhance student engagement and community interaction.
Evelyn Rousso
Principal Architect
Evelyn focuses on innovative solutions for public spaces and institutional buildings. Her work combines artistic vision with technical rigor to create enduring architectural landmarks in northern climates.
Questions
What architectural services do you specialize in?
We specialize in educational, military, civic, and healthcare architecture with expertise in cold-weather design and sustainable building practices.
How do you incorporate sustainability into projects?
We follow the Red List Free Campaign standards, avoiding harmful materials while integrating energy-efficient systems and locally sourced, renewable resources in all designs.
Can you handle projects outside Alaska?
Our team is licensed in 11 states and has completed projects across diverse climates, applying our technical expertise in extreme environments to any location.
What is your design process approach?
We use the Expand Experience Workshop to collaborate with stakeholders, followed by technical documentation and construction management to ensure vision realization.
Do you offer interior design services?
Yes, our interior design team creates functional, wellness-focused spaces that align with client values and enhance user experiences in educational and civic environments.
Reviews (5)
Roger Weese
Aug 31, 2018
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We have worked with MCG for many years on a wide variety of projects that include airports, churches, schools, museums, correctional facilities, and office buildings. We appreciate their attention to detail and excellent project management, as well as their ability to create some really fantastic buildings!
Ken Ratcliffe
Nov 03, 2017
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MCG has a long history of delivering innovative projects that truly complement our community both visually and functionally. They pay attention to the details and appreciate the engineering that contributes to well-designed buildings. Thank you for including AMC Engineers on your team for so many outstanding projects!
Jesse Gobeli
Aug 03, 2017
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We always enjoy working with McCool Carlson Green! They provide creative, innovative and unique designs with a focus on customer service. It's great to get to be part of their team!
Yenyen Ak
Jun 06, 2017
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We have worked with John and his team on several projects. Team oriented, strong sense of design, problem solvers, passionate, visionaries, excellent collaborators/listeners..... just a few words to describe the firm.
Danny Rauchenstein
May 05, 2017
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The MCG team is fantastic to work with. They are collaborative, creative, and you get the distinct feeling they really enjoy the work they do (which helps us enjoy the work that we do!). I am also impressed by their vision, recognizing that buildings are more than just revenue, they are a long term piece of the community and shape our future. We at PDC very much enjoy working with MCG! Thanks!
