PEOPLE
Pete Keely
President. AIA
Pete is the founder and primary owner of Collage Architects, which formed in 2008. Pete was previously an owner of Landmark Community Builder Collaborative, and Collage Urban Design Studio, from June 2005 until 2008. He was also a shareholder and employee at ESG Architects from 1992 to 2005, where he was responsible for all aspects of design management, documentation, and construction.
Joshua Jansen
Vice President. Associate AIA
As Design Principal and part owner at Collage Architects, Josh's responsibilities include all aspects of design, brand vision, and construction documentation. He has over 20 years of experience in a range of project types around the Twin Cities Metro and middle of the nation, with a specific focus on mixed-use urban planning, multi-family residential, and commercial development. There is no free time in life as Josh enjoys the time spent with his active family traveling, coaching, cooking and just about anything else that will get him back to nature.
Salvador Blumenkron
Project Designer
Internationally educated, multicultural architect and college adjunct professor. A dedicated professional with strong research and design skills. Salvador is versatile in all aspects of design, interior and exterior, while developing business direction. Salvador has extensive experience in corporate interior architecture and commercial architecture. He has been teaching a Bachelor of Design in Architecture Workshop at the University of Minnesota on flexible spaces and anthropometry, and a Design Workshop based on Mexican architect Luis Barragán in the Spring of 2021. Salvador is also teaching an undergraduate architecture studio at the University of Minnesota College of Design.
Celina Nelson
Project Architect. AIA
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Annie Ryan
Project Architect. AIA, LEED BD+C
As a Project Architect and Designer at Collage, Annie brings 20 years of project experience in various scales from commercial and cultural to student, multi-family, and supportive housing. Annie is committed to fostering sustainable design in her work. She is a LEED Accredited professional and has led and collaborated with project teams as LEED Administrator including a Platinum Certified Science Center in Rochester, Minnesota. Annie is involved in all aspects of a project from conceptual design and detailing though construction. When obstacles arise, she is dedicated to solving design challenges though research and examination of several options from different perspectives in order to meet a Client’s expectations. Her approach to design often begins with a metaphor, her interest in nature, or a process as she seeks to find connections between the natural world and the built environment.
Chelsea Brinkman
Project Architect. AIA
Chelsea is a licensed Architect at Collage Architects. She graduated with a master’s degree in architecture from North Dakota State University, and has since been developing a design style on platforms from hand sketches to BIM. Chelsea's passion for architecture began when she was a child and started traveling to new and exciting places, and fell in love with the buildings, art, and culture around her. These experiences influence her designs to think about lifestyle and experience. When not practicing architecture Chelsea loves trying new recipes to cook, reading, traveling, spending time with her family and dog.
Rachel Brown
Interior Designer
Rachel grew up in Minnesota and has spent countless hours drawing inspiration from Minneapolis and St. Paul life, scenery and culture. As a graduate from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, Rachel is well versed in several facets of design. During Rachel’s college career, she studied abroad in Greece and has traveled to several other countries immersing herself in European architecture, art, and design. As an Interior Designer at Collage Architects, Rachel has worked on numerous types of projects - her favorites being commercial and mixed-use. From material selection to drafting to researching new trends, Rachel strives to make each project unique and interesting. With a love for branding, Rachel believes interiors can define any space or building. On the weekends you can find Rachel scouring garage and estate sales for Mid Century Modern furniture to repurpose and spending time with her Boxer dog Gus.
Mark Vaida
Project Designer
Mark’s architectural design passion is to create inspired spaces. Mark’s 20+ years in the architectural design, real estate development and construction industries have afforded him opportunities to work on a diversity of projects around the world. Mark’s design portfolio includes corporate branding, office interiors, retail design, restaurant design, adaptive reuse, fitness centers, multi-family housing and hospitality design. From early conceptual design through construction, Mark’s keen design instincts, critical thinking and collaborative team-approach thread through all phases of the project. Mark’s hallmark is his ability to aggregate many divergent design inputs into well-resolved solutions. Meanwhile, Mark’s natural positivity infuses fun into all phases of his projects. Mark believes there must be a little joy in all we do. When Mark isn’t collaborating on design, he can be found practicing yoga, running around Lake of the Isles, attending a live theatrical performance or traveling the world with his adventurous friends and family.
Ryan Overgaard
Project Designer
Ryan joined Collage in 2019 after working more than 10 years in architecture. He prefers to be part of projects in their entirety, from fit planning and schematic design through contract documents and construction. He finds that this allows for a holistic understanding of a building and creates consistency while making every day a little different.
Outside of work, Ryan is a woodworking enthusiast and designs and builds furniture in his shop. He is more than happy to have nerdy conversations about cooking, smoking meat, collecting bourbon, or turning bowls. Ryan currently resides in Minneapolis with his wife, son, and two rescued pups.
Peter Portilla
Project Designer
Peter has worked in the architecture industry for over 18 years, and holds a M. Arch degree from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities. He brings a technical approach and versatile design to his projects, crafted through his experience in housing, hospitality, and commercial markets. As a bi-lingual Spanish-speaking professional, he recognizes the importance of communication and the personal side of the industry and prioritizes connections with clients, co-workers, contractors, and consultants. As a father of three, he spends his free time playing and adventuring with them and enjoys the occasional house project/remodel.
Chris Gorder
Project Designer
Chris graduated with a Master of Architecture from Montana State University – Bozeman and has over a decade of experience in single family, multifamily, and hospitality project types.
Chris has fine-tuned his role as project manager to oversee clear communication between internal and external project stakeholders from schematic design through construction phases. He enjoys the challenge of devising and implementing solutions to complex problems involving building code, acoustical, structural, & MEP constraints.
Chris currently lives in south Minneapolis with his wife, son, and two dogs. He enjoys spending time with his family, playing music, woodworking, and getting outdoors. He typically has a remodeling project or two going around the house. Substantial completion on those projects TBD.
Abednego Browne Jr.
Architectural Intern
Abednego is currently an architecture intern at Collage Architects. He is a highschool student at Champlin Park High School who is currently enrolled in the architecture and construction pathway for his school’s IB career program. Abednego has loved architecture for as long as he can remember. At a young age he drafted and described different model homes he planned to create for him and his family to live in, in the future. Also, he had a deep interest in historical architectural structures such as the Eiffel Tower and Taj Mahal. Abednego plans to continue his education after his senior year in highschool by going to the University of Minnesota and majoring in either a Bachelor of Design in Architecture (BDA) or a Bachelor of Science in Architecture (BS). When Abednego isn’t at the firm or school, he spends a lot of time with his family and friends. When he isn’t doing that, he spends his free time watching T.V. and reading books.
Dylan Cavallo
Architectural Intern
Dylan recently graduated with an associate degree in drafting for architecture and is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in architecture at the Dunwoody College of Technology. With a longstanding passion for architecture, Dylan is particularly interested in sustainability and optimizing building functionality through adaptive reuse. Her ultimate career goal is to work in an architecture firm in France, leveraging her lifelong study of French, which began at the age of three. Outside of academics and work, she enjoy’s spending time with family and friends, attending concerts, and exploring everything Minnesota has to offer.
Shasta Keely
Barkitect [In Memoriam]
Education: Shetland Sheepdog training: Smart K-9'S beginning, intermediate and advanced obedience, majoring in agility training.
Ms. Shasta was the original Barkitect and official office greeter at Collage. Born and bred as a herding dog, she used to impress with her diligent work keeping the group in sight and on task. That is, when she had time during her busy schedule of napping and begging for treats.