I came from a very hands-on, small-town background and have worked in construction and at architecture firms of various sizes. I remember working on a joint venture with MOA, and I was always so happy to see the two guys from MOA walk into the room. They brought such a calming and collaborative energy that I felt like I needed.

When I decided to move to Denver, I went straight to MOA and asked for an interview. The next thing I knew, I was working on a large elementary school and was given the opportunity to attend—and even lightly lead—some of the Design Advisory meetings with the school district. Until then, I had never been part of something so collaborative and had never been given the opportunity to have a voice that early in the design process. Learning about, and being part of, that school district’s community really hit home for me. I realized I was in a place that could shape the way people live.

MOA brings that same energy to our own office. We’ve created a community that loves to listen, share, work hard, and be yourself. This creates strong teamwork that directly drives the quality of our projects.

Little Raven Elementary School is a standout project due to the integration of the community and respect of the Native American values with the school and design. The design also provides outdoor connection from all angles and has interesting flexible spaces to enhance learning of all types.