Our Story

Back in ’83, Bruce Dahlquist and Dwain Lutzow gathered their families around a dinner table. The conversation wandered from the summer release of “Return of the Jedi” and that new show “The A-Team” to a bigger subject: what makes great architecture. Right there, among friends, the foundation of our firm was set.

The two founders agreed on something that still guides us today. Great architecture doesn’t come from an ego in a black turtleneck and frameless glasses. It comes from people willing to roll up their sleeves, ask good questions, and truly understand the people they serve. What does your community need? What are your goals? How can a building make learning better and your work easier?

Decades later, that belief has grown into a clear design philosophy: Form Follows Learning. Every space we create starts with the learner, then works outward to reflect the identity and mission of the community around them. The details still matter to us, but they always follow the people who will fill these spaces with curiosity, creativity, and growth.

Our Purpose

To shape spaces that empower learners to discover their full potential.

A well-designed environment is a catalyst for learning. The right space can spark curiosity, invite collaboration, and give every student room to thrive. That belief is the reason our firm exists.

When we design a school, we start by listening to the people who will use it. Then we create spaces that reflect your community’s identity and support the mission that drives you. When a space is built around learning, real learning happens. That is what we set out to do on every project.

Our Mission

Fun people creating cool spaces for all learners.

Behind that playful phrase is a serious commitment to your students and your goals. We bring energy, creativity, and genuine care to the work of educational design, and we believe that spirit shows up in the spaces we create together.

To us, a “cool space” is one that is innovative, functional, and inspiring. It might be a traditional library reimagined as a collaborative learning hub, a career and technical education lab that prepares students for real-world careers, or a flexible performing arts center that supports curriculum across grade levels. Whatever the project, we design for learners of every age, from a district’s youngest students to lifelong participants in community programs.

Our Values

Five core values shape how we show up on every project.

We Are Good Humans

Respect, empathy, and curiosity drive great work. We build honest relationships with our clients, our partners, and each other, treating every person and every project with care.

We Are Future-Thinking

Enrollment shifts, curricula evolve, and technology keeps moving. We design flexible, scalable spaces that adapt over time, so today’s investment continues to serve your students and your budget for decades to come.

We Are Collaborative as a Team

The best ideas come from diverse perspectives. We work side by side with administrators, educators, and community stakeholders, treating their input as essential to the outcome.

We Exceed Expectations

We take pride and ownership in every detail. From the first concept through construction, we hold ourselves to a high standard and deliver spaces that meet your goals and often surpass them.

We Have Fun Doing It

Joyful work leads to exceptional spaces. We bring positive energy to serious work, keeping the design process engaging from the first meeting to the final walkthrough.