https://ask-mn.org/mission daily 0.75 2020-09-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0b21761f6b1056b5178396/1596469682597-XHLXHQBFA4YV6ZB1CRG1/ASK+-+Intro+Packet_Page_4.jpg Mission https://ask-mn.org/get-involved daily 0.75 2020-07-30 https://ask-mn.org/home daily 1.0 2021-10-19 https://ask-mn.org/team daily 0.75 2025-06-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0b21761f6b1056b5178396/1596127118849-56M25UQGA17Q2D7WZY6H/Frank+Grazzini.png Team - Frank Grazzini - Treasurer Frank Grazzini is CFO and co-founder of Prevent Biometrics, a wearable tech startup. Born into commercial construction, he worked 10 years after college in manufacturing, another 10 years in startups, and stayed connected to construction through advisory and trustee boards. He volunteers as Soo Visual Art Center’s board chair, and a Carlson School of Management alumni board member. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0b21761f6b1056b5178396/798d052d-1c39-47a3-8980-12366583f8d1/SarahV_01.jpg Team - Sarah Vermeer, Associate AIA - Secretary Sarah is a committed urbanist with a passion for making cities more livable and sustainable. She has a particular interest in the negotiation between vibrant public space and the everyday domestic. Sarah holds a Master of Architecture from UC Berkeley, and a BA in English from Dartmouth College. While in graduate school she focused on housing density and affordability, as well as the ability for housing stock to anticipate change over time. Along with teammates, she was awarded first place in the 2019 James R. Boyce Affordable Housing Competition, by a jury of architecture, planning, and finance professionals. She strives for an empathic and nuanced design approach. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0b21761f6b1056b5178396/1596033934268-AUR1YFIMV5XXSJTZMSTM/Kara+Wallace+310x320.jpg Team - Kara Wallace, MBA - Officer Kara Wallace has spent her career in business-to-business firms, from private start-ups to a global publicly-traded company. Kara draws upon her passion for bringing together the disciplines of sales, marketing and strategy to advance the organizations she serves. She is currently Sr. Director of Strategic Marketing and Business Development for Mortenson, a United Way Emerging Leader, and an AEC Business Builders Forum member. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0b21761f6b1056b5178396/1596126758326-Z5LYCRUJ6W61PY6FL9SS/Malini+Headshot.jpg Team - Malini Srivastava, AIA - Officer Through her practice and research, Malini negotiates the systemic tug-of-war between needs, goals, scarce resources and human agency within infrastructural systems. Malini is Assistant Professor and Director of the Masters of Science in Research Practices program in the College of Design, University of Minnesota. She is a practicing architect, and co-founder of Dandelab. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0b21761f6b1056b5178396/bfe33ad6-8aad-4540-8567-e9e559ebde48/SarahH_01.jpg Team - Sarah Hughes, Associate AIA - Officer Sarah appreciates the problem-solving nature of architecture and enjoys the challenges supporting industry operation. She has a unique professional arc, as an architect-turned-accountant. A decade as a designer, followed by another decade of small, creative business financial consulting has allowed her to understand multiple sides of architectural practice. Sarah strives to approach finance and operations as one would approach any architectural project. She researches precedence, assesses scope of work, and determines company best practices. Her education and experience have fueled her passion for promoting the value of architecture as a service and fair pricing models. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0b21761f6b1056b5178396/e82c79e9-8902-4cb3-8bf9-622225bcef34/Katie_Cropped.jpg Team - Katie Blaisdell, AIA, LEED AP, CID - Executive Director Katie serves as the interim executive director of ASK in 2023. She is an accomplished architect and advocate for a healthy, sustainable, and just built environment. She brings a broad range of experiences to ASK’s leadership that give her a unique perspective and approach to ASK’s work with communities. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0b21761f6b1056b5178396/1596553620025-G2SYOP1MUY50ZTERPRLJ/SK_Julie%2B%2526%2BMatt_2018.jpg Team - Julie Snow, FAIA & Matthew Kreilich, FAIA - Co Chairs Julie Snow and Matt Kreilich are Fellows of the American Institute of Architects and lead a studio-based design practice in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Their work, interests, and process consistently engage issues of social, cultural, environmental, and economic well-being to elevate the human experience through design thinking. Their expertise and interests span from the scope of a single building to large scale planning within the public realm. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0b21761f6b1056b5178396/1596128147716-B2OKESV07EUCPHP66PHI/Matt+T_01+%281%29.jpg Team - Matt Tierney, AIA - Officer, Past Executive Director (2020-2022) Matt Tierney, served as the executive director of ASK from 2020-2022. He is a practitioner, educator, and citizen architect. His work in the profession and academy pushes the scope and role of the architect outside its traditional bounds through research, interdisciplinary collaboration, and public interest design. His portfolio connects public interest design with scholarly research and interdisciplinary problem solving at many scales. His unique design perspective is formed by extensive work in East Africa, Copenhagen, India, and all over the United States. https://ask-mn.org/services daily 0.75 2025-06-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0b21761f6b1056b5178396/1596555040035-0PL0CVP6HI6CA26NC7Q9/Focus%252BArea%252BGraphics.jpg Services https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0b21761f6b1056b5178396/1596133570859-MMDS2VEGDGGW1PPJVZAD/ASK+-+Intro+Packet_Page_5.jpg Services https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0b21761f6b1056b5178396/1596555120909-P2Q0WDLYN7DU3KSME0KQ/Focus%252BArea%252BGraphics.jpg Services https://ask-mn.org/donate daily 0.75 2025-05-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ce82d5d7cff9a0001025c64/1565807681737-B0SD7OH81DVOGLQR0A6C/20160125-A05A0708.jpg Donate https://ask-mn.org/projects-1 daily 0.75 2022-10-25 https://ask-mn.org/projects-1/postoil monthly 0.5 2020-09-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0b21761f6b1056b5178396/1596121504696-ECBG1OPUC64BFFKWDL9A/MT+Cavin+Presentation_Page_06.png Projects - Post Oil - San Pedro Bay, CA - (Copyright 2020 - Matt Tierney and Cavin Family Traveling Fellowship) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0b21761f6b1056b5178396/1596124996245-G5GE4GZH2O5TFHD4RUD9/KGSA%2B%252810%2529-1.jpg Projects - Post Oil - San Pedro Bay, CA - Type: Individual Competition (Copyright 2020 - Matt Tierney and Cavin Family Traveling Fellowship) Duration: 4 days Location: Los Angeles, CA Organization: Cavin Family Traveling Fellowship A shared history, entangling the needs of energy production and economic growth within Los Angeles has set an optimistic precedent for a post-oil future. One where pressing environmental issues focused around water, both saline and fresh are given fair claim in the weighting of energy infrastructure developments on America’s western seaboard. This scenario depicts a shared-value proposition that imagines social well-being, economic health, and hyper-productive ecosystem services alongside cutting edge, coastal, renewable energy production https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0b21761f6b1056b5178396/1596121392830-QY1T3QTGHY80576W37Y8/MT+Cavin+Presentation_Page_12.png Projects - Post Oil - San Pedro Bay, CA (Copyright 2020 - Matt Tierney and Cavin Family Traveling Fellowship) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0b21761f6b1056b5178396/1596121549071-UYQZB2S5FA84HLKV0AIB/MT+Cavin+Presentation_Page_05.png Projects - Post Oil - San Pedro Bay, CA (Copyright 2020 - Matt Tierney and Cavin Family Traveling Fellowship) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0b21761f6b1056b5178396/1596121496656-LV9BBWSQ365VNVO7FCJV/MT+Cavin+Presentation_Page_07.png Projects - Post Oil - San Pedro Bay, CA - (Copyright 2020 - Matt Tierney and Cavin Family Traveling Fellowship) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0b21761f6b1056b5178396/1596125066869-15MJUTO654LCV519ROG0/Cavin+2020+-+2 Projects - Post Oil - San Pedro Bay, CA - (Copyright 2020 - Matt Tierney and Cavin Family Traveling Fellowship) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0b21761f6b1056b5178396/1596121428047-KGF4TR325HSMJWMHYI7L/MT+Cavin+Presentation_Page_10.png Projects - Post Oil - San Pedro Bay, CA - (Copyright 2020 - Matt Tierney and Cavin Family Traveling Fellowship) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0b21761f6b1056b5178396/1596121427357-IOUF4R7U41SCNXYRKE2V/MT+Cavin+Presentation_Page_11.png Projects - Post Oil - San Pedro Bay, CA - (Copyright 2020 - Matt Tierney and Cavin Family Traveling Fellowship) https://ask-mn.org/projects-1/drawingwater1 monthly 0.5 2020-09-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0b21761f6b1056b5178396/1596121968108-TOGH9LXKGFFUNMVCWBGN/2020_03_06+-+Hybrids+-+BW3.jpg Projects - Drawing Water 1.0 (Copyright 2020 - Brook Muller + Matt Tierney) Title: Hybrid #3 - District Scale https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0b21761f6b1056b5178396/1596121688936-4S9DZ83WAPZQG7RB8J4Y/20200306-Fluid+Graphics-Urban+-+BW.jpg Projects - Drawing Water 1.0 (Copyright 2020 - Brook Muller + Matt Tierney) Title: Hybrid #2 - Urban Scale https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0b21761f6b1056b5178396/1596121984526-7WQ6BKETLEARN3J8NZC6/2020_03_06+-+Hybrids+-+BW.jpg Projects - Drawing Water 1.0 - (Copyright 2020 - Brook Muller + Matt Tierney) Title: Hybrid #1 - Watershed Scale https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0b21761f6b1056b5178396/1596125729536-Y5CMXA197599XWZ6OOQJ/2020_03_06+-+Hybrids+-+BW2.jpg Projects - Drawing Water 1.0 - Type: Scholarly Research Authors: Brook Muller + Matt Tierney Duration: 2019-present Location: Various Partner Organization: ARCC, University of North Carolina @ Charlotte Forthcoming ARCC 2020 Valencia https://ask-mn.org/projects-1/campkatherineparsons monthly 0.5 2021-10-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0b21761f6b1056b5178396/1634674704391-OQOEQJ9CFWT38ZX4H80L/Pages+from+2020_08_31+PWCC+Camp+Katharine+Parsons+-+ASK+SKA+Meeting+-+Final+-+nw-2.jpg Projects - Camp Katherine Parsons - Phyllis Wheatley Community Center - Courtesy of PWCC https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0b21761f6b1056b5178396/1634674193694-VOFWKBM0Y2AZTGRZKN8U/DJI_0507.JPG Projects - Camp Katherine Parsons - Phyllis Wheatley Community Center - Type: Community Design/Build Collaborators: MA Mortenson Construction, Snow Kreilich Architects, Coen + Partners, and more. Duration: 2019-present Location: Oak Lake, Watertown, MN Partner Organization: Phyllis Wheatley Community Center (Owner) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0b21761f6b1056b5178396/1634674719644-LKIUYD3INRFJNBOI28SV/Pages+from+2020_08_31+PWCC+Camp+Katharine+Parsons+-+ASK+SKA+Meeting+-+Final+-+nw.jpg Projects - Camp Katherine Parsons - Phyllis Wheatley Community Center Courtesy of PWCC https://ask-mn.org/projects-1/drawingwater2 monthly 0.5 2020-09-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0b21761f6b1056b5178396/1600097899425-3M6L5VMP0YH7SXVJ1QAC/Composite+Background.jpg Projects - Drawing Water 2.0 - Type: Grant Funded Research Principal Investigators: Richard Strong + Matt Tierney Duration: 2020-present Location: Mississippi Watershed, MN Grant Organization: Mississippi Watershed Management Organization (MWMO) Research Partners: Andy Erickson, PhD, PE – Advisory Role, Research Associate - St. Anthony Falls Laboratory, University of Minnesota, Mike Trojan – Advisory Role State of MN – MIDS project manager; Patrick Smith– Advisory Role, Senior Research Fellow, Center for Sustainable Building Research; Richard Graves - Advisory Role, Director, Center for Sustainable Building Research; Peter MacDonagh – Advisory Role, Principal - Kestrel Design; Brook Muller – Advisory Role, Dean – College of Art and Architecture, University of North Carolina, Charlotte; Ross Altheimer, PLA, FAAR - Advisory Role - Principal + Co-Founder 10x10 Landscape Architecture and Urbanism; Greg Trende, PE, LEED-AP – Advisory Role – Principal, Michaud Cooley Erickson, and many more are expected to act as advisors/partners in this research effort. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0b21761f6b1056b5178396/1634674813042-XRSM908L43Q65KKGA8XE/sankeymatic_4000x3000.png Projects - Drawing Water 2.0 - Make it stand out Modified Digital Sankey Diagram Copyright 2021 - MWMO + ASK using SankeyMatic https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0b21761f6b1056b5178396/1634675050140-YHU7GXY5NAU9WD1OJ4U6/Drawing+Water+Mock+Tool+Workflow.jpg Projects - Drawing Water 2.0 - Make it stand out Copyright 2021 - MWMO + ASK https://ask-mn.org/projects-1/healthboats monthly 0.5 2020-09-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0b21761f6b1056b5178396/1600094775856-T6PHZ8GVCX6RQK4BPB4S/Moved+To+Care+Boards+1_Page_4.jpg Projects - Health Boats https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0b21761f6b1056b5178396/1600094996602-G8FCOWJD1C4DYPV5IGIH/image-asset.jpeg Projects - Health Boats https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0b21761f6b1056b5178396/1600094707225-XZHGDZF8A9E19ST7V0AQ/Moved+To+Care+Boards+1_Page_2.jpg Projects - Health Boats Copyright 2016: Matt Tierney (AIA), Katie Blaisdell (AIA), Bridget Ayers Looby (MLA), Claire Lonsbury (AIA) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0b21761f6b1056b5178396/1600094523728-8PDMOMCGBW4ILHIUUJU6/Health+Boat+Pages+-+Cropped+Title.jpg Projects - Health Boats - Type: Social Impact Design Competition and Implementation Authors: Matt Tierney (AIA), Katie Blaisdell (AIA), Bridget Ayers Looby (MLA) , Claire Lonsbury (AIA), Marco Salmen (MD) , Chas Salmen (MD) , Maureen Ayers Looby (MD) Duration: 2019-present Location: Indonesia (Competition Site) Lake Victoria, Kenya (Implementation Site) Partner Organization: Organic Health Response https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0b21761f6b1056b5178396/1600094666546-7VOX98Z81U484B7Z88MB/Moved+To+Care+Boards+1_Page_1.jpg Projects - Health Boats - Copyright 2016: Matt Tierney (AIA), Katie Blaisdell (AIA), Bridget Ayers Looby (PLA) , Claire Lonsbury (AIA) Marco Salmen (MD) , Chas Salmen (MD) , Maureen Ayers Looby (MD) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0b21761f6b1056b5178396/1600094733089-GQOATB1P57JIBPCQJQ8A/Moved+To+Care+Boards+1_Page_3.jpg Projects - Health Boats Copyright 2016: Matt Tierney (AIA), Katie Blaisdell (AIA), Bridget Ayers Looby (MLA), Claire Lonsbury (AIA) https://ask-mn.org/projects-1/kgsa monthly 0.5 2020-08-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0b21761f6b1056b5178396/1596121012258-1BJDGB79U8V338MSIJJ3/KGSA%2B%252810%2529-1.jpg Projects - Kibera Girls Soccer Academy - Photo Credit: Jake Naughton Project developed in collaboration with KGSA Foundation, Design Source, Max Fordham, Arup, NM Engineering, and Orkidstudio. Location: Kibera Slum - Nairobi, Kenya Project Type: Dormitory/School Duration: 2012-present Partner Organization: KGSA Size: 12,000 sq ft We were approached by a non-profit organization called KGSA Foundation to help them design a new dormitory, school, and community center for 120 young women in Kibera Slum. One of the largest informal settlements in the world, Kibera is home to a staggering number of permanent residents and a myriad of design challenges. We decided to form a team with other design professionals in the construction and engineering industry that could help bring this project halfway across the world to life. With more control of design implementation and detailing, we were able to deal with the process from both an objective perspective while somewhat removed from the context of Kibera. We colored this with multiple immersive, and lengthy experiences on site. Some elements of the design were iterated intensely to find solutions that link the project to the place while supporting local economies. The design allows the surroundings to influence the way the building works, looks, and feels. Although the project has a holistic design approach, many elements of the design that are non-essential engineered systems are seeded to members of the community to embed their own meaning in the space. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0b21761f6b1056b5178396/1596124622566-WYJQW4IT7S1ENNEAH6ML/KGSA+Slides3.jpg Projects - Kibera Girls Soccer Academy Copyright 2018 - Orkidstudio and Matthew Tierney https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0b21761f6b1056b5178396/1596120452442-7BDIP0Y21X79H29SRIJF/KGSA+Slides4.jpg Projects - Kibera Girls Soccer Academy Copyright 2018 - Orkidstudio, Richard Teka, and Matthew Tierney https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0b21761f6b1056b5178396/1596124406861-IBGG786M7M124TBEUO7I/KGSA%2BSlides2.jpg Projects - Kibera Girls Soccer Academy - Copyright 2018 - Matthew Tierney, Bankslave Omondi, and Orkidstudio https://ask-mn.org/projects-1/snapshot monthly 0.5 2020-08-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0b21761f6b1056b5178396/1596126137427-1LK0X1KACHDEVZ7AGGXB/Snapshot3.jpg Projects - Snapshot - Toolkit for Rural African Architecture - Copyright 2014 - University of Minnesota College of Design - MSRP program w/ Perkins + Will https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0b21761f6b1056b5178396/1596125996920-MUYF3NCDWMOBR0MRQMRJ/Snapshot.jpg Projects - Snapshot - Toolkit for Rural African Architecture - Author: Matt Tierney Copyright 2014 - University of Minnesota College of Design - MSRP program w/ Perkins + Will Type: Cultural Research/Design Tool Duration: 6 months Location: Narok/Kibera/Mfangano, Kenya https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0b21761f6b1056b5178396/1596123092864-02ZW0R2XG1EQCW9O567H/Snapshot2.jpg Projects - Snapshot - Toolkit for Rural African Architecture Copyright 2014 - University of Minnesota College of Design - MSRP program w/ Perkins + Will https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f0b21761f6b1056b5178396/1596125996920-MUYF3NCDWMOBR0MRQMRJ/Snapshot.jpg Projects - Snapshot - Toolkit for Rural African Architecture - Copyright 2014 - University of Minnesota College of Design - MSRP program w/ Perkins + Will