“RSP presents an incredible opportunity to develop a generational studio focused on design excellence and client service,” says Burnett. “I am excited to help shape our presence in Miami, building on existing strengths and successes in mixed-use.”

Burnett officially joined RSP this fall, augmenting the existing strengths of the retail/mixed-use team led by Larry Beame, AIA, who has managed RSP’s Miami office since 2019.

“Andrew is a dynamic influence in the world of multi-family and mixed-use design,” says Beame, “and his experience complements our existing strengths in retail and mixed-use environments. We are thrilled to add his energy, passion and design leadership to our practice.”

Burnett has led compelling design for clients throughout Florida and across the country, including Atelier in Dallas, TX; Strata Wynwood in Miami, FL; and Alexan Doral in Doral, FL. His leadership extends beyond client service to shaping overall creative vision, establishing design discourse, and leading initiatives to develop a healthy, sustainable design practice.

“Andrew’s work includes an impressive portfolio of developer-led mixed-use projects along with demonstrated dedication to developing the next generation of design talent through mentorship and collaboration,” says David C. Norback, President & CEO. “This combination of experience and approach is key to strengthening our position in the South Florida market, and to shaping the future of design at RSP.”

About RSP

Founded in Minneapolis in 1978, RSP Architects has emerged as one of the country’s most trusted, diverse, and agile architecture and design firms. Our clients are a dynamic cross-section of established Fortune 100 global brands and retailers, innovative start-ups, thoughtful non-profits, government entities, and more. In addition, RSP i_SPACE is a proprietary consultancy service that specializes in facility data, while RSP Dreambox offers environmental and experience-rich design. RSP is a 100% employee-owned organization.

With over 375 employees, the practice is headquartered in Minneapolis and maintains offices in Rochester, MN; Phoenix, AZ; Fort Worth, TX; Baltimore, MD; Miami, FL and Seattle, WA. A subsidiary is based in Bangalore, India.

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MINNEAPOLIS, MN—19 September 2023—RSP Architects, the national design practice, has published an annual update on the firm’s progress in sustainable, resilient initiatives, projects and people.

“This annual report doesn’t just show us where we are—it shows us where we’re going,” says RSP CEO Dave Norback. “It gives us an opportunity to showcase what we’ve done and strive for even stronger milestones, not to mention show our clients how our teams can help them achieve their goals and make the world a better place.”

The 2023 report covers the firm’s progress toward AIA 2030 benchmarks, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and newer programs like the Science-Based Targets Initiative. From projects like the Beam on Farmer to the firm’s latest work in industrial distribution, the report gives voices across the company a platform to share their ideas in their own words.

“We recognize that sustainable design is no longer optional,” says RSP Sustainability Specialist Jeremi Van Wave AIA, LEED AP, WELL AP. “But between ever-changing regulations and an increasingly urgent climate crisis, the idea of ‘sustainable design’ gets more complex by the week. By benchmarking where we are and having holistic discussions internally and with our clients about these issues, we can set new standards for ourselves and the industry.”

Download the RSP 2023 Sustainability Progress Report by clicking the image below.

Photography by Mark Herboth Photography

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MINNEAPOLIS, MN—7 September 2023—RSP, the national architecture and design practice, names Ed Hess as Chief Operating Officer and Jason Ploszaj AIA as Managing Principal of the firm’s Phoenix office, following the retirement of Joe Tyndall AIA, the regional office’s current head. The moves initiate what will be a more comprehensive transition into a new generation of firm leadership and an emboldened approach to the ongoing evolution of the architecture profession.

“These are some important strategic moves for us and have been in the works for over a year,” says Dave Norback AIA, RSP CEO. “We are not only setting up the company for success for the next decade or two, but we are also pro-actively addressing the broader trends in our industry.”

The COO position is a new one for RSP, and Hess is the ideal professional to define the role. Given the growing complexity of the industry and the business, Hess will focus on strengthening RSP’s systems and processes, boosting efficiency and improving technical quality.

“RSP is an incredible organization,” says Hess. “And we have always excelled at client service and delivery. But now is the time to take those attributes to new heights. We have so many new tools at our disposal—from AI to hyper-resilient materials and systems—that I really believe we’re on the brink of a new age.”

Hess, who officially assumes the role on 1 October, has more than three decades of experience in managing complex projects. He has been based in RSP’s Fort Worth office since 2012, when the office opened, and currently oversees the firm’s industrial and warehouse portfolio.

“Ed is a no-nonsense leader,” says Norback. “His projects are extremely complex but he brings them in on budget and on time. His clients and his team are fiercely loyal.”

This comes at the same time that Joe Tyndall has announced his retirement and the naming of Jason Ploszaj as the Managing Principal of RSP’s Phoenix office.

Jason was among RSP’s first employees in Phoenix in 2002. He has emerged as one of the firm’s strongest leaders and design advocates, and has led many of the firm’s most visible and successful projects. He is a design-forward, collaborative professional who has fostered a culture of creativity, respect and diversity.

“Jason is a clear and compelling voice for design,” says Tyndall, “but he is also an effective leader who knows how to get the most out of a team. He’s been an extraordinary advocate and mentor in the studio, which means that there’s an incredible next generation of talent coming down the road.”

Ploszaj has worked closely with Tyndall for more than two decades, most recently focusing on a seamless transition.

“If the last few years have taught us anything,” says Norback, “it’s that agility and flexibility are essential to any organization that expects to survive. At RSP, we expect to do more than that; we expect to thrive. And having Ed and Jason in these leadership roles helps make that possible.”

About RSP

Founded in Minneapolis in 1978, RSP Architects has emerged as one of the country’s most trusted, diverse, and agile architecture and design firms. Our clients are a dynamic cross-section of established Fortune 100 global brands and retailers, innovative start-ups, thoughtful non-profits, government entities, and more. In addition, RSP i_SPACE is a proprietary consultancy service that specializes in facility data, while RSP Dreambox offers environmental and experience-rich design. RSP is a 100% employee-own organization.

With over 375 employees, the practice is headquartered in Minneapolis and maintains offices in Rochester, MN; Phoenix, AZ; Fort Worth, TX; Baltimore, MD; Miami, FL and Seattle, WA. A subsidiary is based in Bangalore, India. RSP is a 100% ESOP firm.

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MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – 10 January 2023 – RSP Architects, the Minneapolis-based architecture and design practice, announces that Scott Aspenson AIA, NCARB has been named Principal. The firm also made a series of promotions across the firm, covering all aspects of the practice and reflecting the growth and success of 2022.

“This past year has had its share of challenges, but RSP has emerged stronger and more agile,” says Norback. “These professionals represent the best of who we are and what we aspire to be. They are all part of a larger team that helps make RSP stronger and more agile, even in the face of significant changes and disruption. I’m confident they will rise to whatever challenges the future holds.”

RSP’s new Principal is:

Scott Aspenson

RSP’s new Associate Principals are:

Tim Miller, Rochester
Scott Fay, Fort Worth
Liana Jameson, Minneapolis
Jill Carle, Minneapolis

RSP’s new Senior Associates are:

Steve Maurelli, Minneapolis
Iman Nelson, Minneapolis
Michael Brandt, Minneapolis
Christine Shaw, Phoenix
Bart Palmgren, Minneapolis
Shaz Mirshahidi, Miami
Mary Pumarlo-McClurg, Minneapolis
Jeremi Van Wave, Phoenix
Megan Cupery, Minneapolis
Jenna Sitte, Minneapolis
Chad Jones, Baltimore

RSP’s new Associates are:

Stephanie Statz, Minneapolis
Liliana Ninaquispe Romero, Minneapolis
Lorrie Albers, Minneapolis
Blake Hagen, Minneapolis
Keith Hild, Baltimore
Mike Wiskus, Minneapolis
Haley Stofferahn, Minneapolis
Danny Harvey, Fort Worth
Hannah Roth, Minneapolis
Kathryn Butler, Phoenix
Heidi Schmidt, Minneapolis
Mindy Bohumolski, Minneapolis
Natalie Schuetz, Phoenix

About RSP

Founded in Minneapolis in 1978, RSP Architects has emerged as one of the country’s most trusted, diverse, and agile architecture and design firms. The firm’s clients are a dynamic cross-section of established Fortune 100 global brands and retailers, innovative start-ups, thoughtful non-profits, government agencies, and more.

RSP is a 100% ESOP firm. With approximately 400 talented professionals, the practice is headquartered in Minneapolis and maintains offices in Rochester, Minnesota; Phoenix, Arizona; Fort Worth, Texas; Baltimore, Maryland; Miami, Florida; and Seattle, WA. A subsidiary is based in Bangalore, India.

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MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – 19 December 2022 – RSP Architects, the Minneapolis-based architecture and design firm, has acquired AKS P.S., Inc., a Seattle-based practice with a diverse portfolio of work for multiple U.S. Federal agencies as well as commercial clients. The strategic move, which has been in the works since the two organizations began pursuing work together in 2019, expands RSP’s Federal portfolio and establishes an RSP office in Seattle, WA. 

“We’re perfectly aligned,” says David C. Norback AIA, RSP’s CEO. “We first came together to pursue opportunities in the Northwest and quickly realized that our cultures and values mesh. We are both fiercely committed to our clients and our people. It’s what drives us.” 

AKS was established in 1954 by Ralph Anderson and has built a solid reputation for quality design underscored by client service.  

“We have always punched above our weight,” says Mark Adolphsen, principal at AKS, “but this places us on a bigger stage with greater opportunities for our client-driven style of service.” 

RSP and AKS are currently providing services as part of a design/build team on a housing project at the Nemetz Park site located on Base Kodiak, AK, for the U.S. Coast Guard. (Tutor Perini is the prime contractor.) AKS has worked with a number of Federal agencies, including the U.S. Forest Service, the Air National Guard, the General Services Administration, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Seattle District of the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, and NAVFAC NW of the U.S. Navy, among others. 

“The move also realizes one of our longer-term strategic goals and moves us closer to a truly national practice,” says Norback. RSP currently has offices in Minneapolis, Phoenix, Miami, Fort Worth, Baltimore and Rochester, MN. The firm also maintains a presence in Bangalore, India. 

RSP is a 100% ESOP firm. Terms of the deal remain confidential. 

About RSP 

Founded in Minneapolis in 1978, RSP Architects has emerged as one of the country’s most trusted, diverse, and agile architecture and design firms. The firm’s clients are a dynamic cross-section of established Fortune 100 global brands and retailers, innovative start-ups, thoughtful non-profits, government agencies, and more.  

RSP i_SPACE is a proprietary consultancy service that specializes in facility information, while RSP Dreambox offers environmental and experience-rich design. 

With approximately 400 talented professionals, the practice is headquartered in Minneapolis and maintains offices in Rochester, Minnesota; Phoenix, Arizona; Fort Worth, Texas; Baltimore, Maryland; and Miami, Florida. A subsidiary is based in Bangalore, India.  

For more information: 

Julie Esch
Director, Business Development and Marketing
Julie.esch@rsparch.com
612.677.7195 

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RSP Architects has published the company’s first annual sustainability progress report. The report details the practice’s progress on goals for the AIA 2030 Challenge, proposes strategies going forward, and catalogs some of RSP’s most innovative recent work.

“We see where the future is leading. We know we need to continue thinking differently about how design can help mitigate the effects of climate change. This report is not the first step on our path toward a greater focus on resilient design, but it is the first time we have codified all our efforts in one place,” says David Norback AIA, CEO of RSP.

From The Beam on Farmer in Tempe, AZ to the Moxy Hotel in Oakland, CA to the SunOpta Global Headquarters in Eden Prairie, MN, RSP has been behind the design for a number of innovative projects over the past year.

“The impact that architecture and design can have on the environment is undeniable, both good and bad,” says Joe Tyndall AIA, NCARB, Principal at RSP. “We have been implementing more sustainable strategies for years, but now we can benchmark and measure our progress, year over year, with specific objectives.”

Click the image below to download RSP’s 2022 Sustainability Progress Report.

Photography by VONDELINDE

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MIAMI—November 3, 2021—The Miami office of RSP Architects announces that two of their projects have won awards from the Miami Chapter of the American Institute of Architects. CocoWalk, a mixed-use development in the heart of Coconut Grove, was recognized with a Merit Award of Excellence in the Renovation and Restoration category. The Canopy Hotel by Hilton, a 150-key hotel in West Palm Beach, received the Chapter’s Projects over 50,000SF People’s Choice award.

 

“We could not be more pleased to have our hard work and design thinking recognized by the AIA,” said Larry Beame AIA, Principal of RSP’s Miami office. “CocoWalk and Canopy are incredibly different projects, but they have both had an important impact in their communities.”

CocoWalk has already been recognized for several awards, including the ENR Southeast Best Project, the ABC Florida East Coast Excellence in Construction Eagle Award, CMAA Florida Project Achievement Award, and as a finalist for the South Florida Business Journal Structures Award.

RSP’s renovation for the development foregoes the original 1990s plan for a simplified layout that connects the project to the street grid. Most importantly, emphasis has been on local, more boutique-style tenancies that align with the neighborhood and the local market.

The central plaza serves as the neighborhood’s “living room,” a public place where the community can meet, relax, grab a bite and even attend a yoga class. A 60-foot kapok tree, relocated from North Miami, stands at the heart of the square—a neighborhood symbol the community adores.

The Canopy by Hilton is designed with Miami and the 21st-century traveler in mind, creating an urban oasis that responds to a business, leisure and convention guest profile. The project’s design—from its dramatic, six-story “edge atrium” to the abundant interior landscaping and green, natural materials, blurs the line between indoor and outdoor space. Through, the project was a platform for local artists and artisans, infusing the space with a hyper-regional vibe that connects to and engages with the local community.

The project teams are listed below.

Cocowalk team:

Owned, Managed and Leased by:

Federal Realty Investment Trust

Grass River Property LLC

Comras Company

Architect: RSP Architects

Contractor: Juneau Construction

Canopy team:

Owner/Developer: Driftwood Hospitality

Architect: RSP Architects

Interior Architect: EoA

Contractor: Verdex

About RSP

Founded in Minneapolis in 1978, RSP Architects has emerged as one of the country’s most trusted, diverse, and agile architecture and design firms. RSP’s roots in South Florida go back to 1992 via the work of Larry Beame, whose reputation for creating some of the region’s most successful and iconic commercial destinations is unmatched. Today, the practice thrives on the region’s diverse cultures and unique rhythms—South Florida has become an incubator for fresh, bold ideas and RSP has been at its forefront.

The firm’s clients are a dynamic cross-section of established Fortune 100 global brands and retailers, innovative start-ups, thoughtful non-profits, government entities, and more. In addition, RSP i_SPACE is a proprietary consultancy service that specializes in facility information, while RSP Dreambox offers environmental and experience-rich design.

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Jim Fitzhugh brought a level of integrity to everything he did, and it’s impossible not to admire that, especially these days. I’m proud to have known Jim and to have worked with him for nearly four decades. He has made me a better professional and a better person, and he has made RSP a better company. Let me tell you how.

Jim Fitzhugh joined RSP in December of 1981—Employee Number 19—and retired exactly 38 years later in December of 2019. It was only health issues that kept him from an even 40. But that December-to-December run is a total Jim touch, a tidy bookending to a career I’m sure he thought no one would notice but reflects the type of attention to detail that always seemed to bring him joy. And, more often than not, helped keep us, a growing collective of creatives and architects, right in the middle of the fairway. It’s no wonder clients loved him.

While Jim was known for his strong-willed sense of fiscal restraint, something many of his colleagues knew first-hand, he always managed to keep things in perspective, balancing time in the office with time doing the things he loved. There was always work to be done, of course, but Jim made sure there was also time for golf and fishing and, most importantly, time with Judy for traveling and escapes up to the cabin up north. Dwight Martell told me about his first meeting with Jim on the day he interviewed with RSP. Jim met him at the door early one morning in cut-off shorts and Birkenstocks, attire that wasn’t exactly considered business casual, especially back then, but the message was clear: We do serious work here but we don’t take ourselves too seriously.

Over much of his time with us, Jim led our Governmental / Military Sector, building the team and the portfolio brick by brick through an almost obsessive focus on client service, relationships and grit. If you ever wondered where our commitment to clients comes from, you can trace a strand of that DNA back to Jim. He exemplified the expectation that, as an RSP Principal, you must be both an active practitioner as well as a firm leader.

Jim brought a conservative and valuable voice to his involvement on the RSP Board and seemed to have an innate understanding of doing the “right thing,” especially when it came to our financial and legal commitments, but he was also a guiding hand after his retirement. Jim was often the lone beacon of calm when everything around us seemed chaotic and confusing. He was an indispensable voice of reason in the early days of the pandemic, especially when we were unsure of the best course to take.

His advice was simple: Take care of our people. Take care of our clients. The rest will follow.

Exactly, Jim.

James R. “Jim” Fitzhugh died peacefully on Saturday, June 5, 2021, from complications of pulmonary disease. Many of his friends, family and colleagues gathered recently in Edina for a Celebration of Life, hosted by Judy, his wife of 34 years. As a tribute to Jim, please consider a donation in his name to Doctors Without Borders.

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