Graceful, modern warmth for everyday living.
Our goal is to provide you and your family with thoughtful, inspired architecture that adds grace to everyday living. We translate your family’s wants, hopes, and ideas into a distinctive architectural language for your home, lakefront retreat, or accessory dwelling unit.
We hope to provide you with both a custom home design, and a custom design experience by listening carefully to your ideas, helping you articulate your goals, and caring deeply about your investment.
We have a strong track record of regional and national awards, but our favorite projects are the ones on our desks right now. We hope your project is next.
Christopher Strom AIA
Founding Principal | Architect
Christopher studied art at St Olaf College prior to receiving a Master's Degree in Architecture from the University of California, Berkeley. Upon returning to Minnesota he became a Project Designer at Ellerbe Becket, working on the design of both domestic and international projects including convention centers, health care facilities, and high-rise office towers. He was lead designer for the Tostrud Athletic Center at St Olaf College. From 2003-2014 Chris designed and managed construction for many new homes, additions and remodels. Upon earning the 2014 AIA-Minnesota “Emerging Talent Award” for residential architecture, he founded Christopher Strom Architects.
His work has been selected for nine AIA Minnesota/ Star Tribune "Homes of the Month" and several Mpls-St Paul Magazine RAVE awards. Eight of his designs have been featured on AIA-MN “Homes by Architects” tours. Most recently Chris was an active participant in crafting the Minneapolis and Edina Accessory Dwelling Ordinances, and serves as an instructor at St Olaf College for an upper-level studio course on Architectural Design. In 2016 Chris was honored with an AIA-Minnesota “Young Architect Award” for exceptional leadership and significant contributions to the profession.
Christopher Strom Architects celebrated their 10th business anniversary in 2024. Also in 2024, Chris received the highest residential honor in Minnesota, the 2024-25 American Institute of Architects-MN “Residential Architect of Distinction”. He lives in Minneapolis with his wife and two sons and is active in their high school tennis programs.
Eric Johnson AIA
Associate Principal | Architect
Eric is a licensed architect with over 15 years of experience. He has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Washington and a Masters of Architecture from the University of Minnesota.
His father was a carpenter and their house was always in some state of construction. That early exposure to construction lead to an appreciation for a well-built environment and he believes that can only can be achieved by a thoughtful design process.
Eric volunteers his time in the University of Minnesota’s College of Design mentor-ship program introducing students to the professional design world. He lives in St. Paul with his wife, two sons, a dog and three chickens.
John Bergford AIA, Leed AP
Senior Project Architect
John is a Minnesota-native with a passion for both architecture and hockey. He brings strong construction knowledge to our team, alongside his diverse experience with adaptive reuse, higher education, worship, and single-family residential projects. John is skilled in all phases of the design process from programming through construction administration.
John received his Master of Architecture degree from the University of Minnesota after previously completing a Bachelor of Arts degree in German from Gustavus Adolphus College, where he was a collegiate hockey player.
As a hockey coach for 15 years, he emphasized passion, teamwork, communication and respect among his players; these values also inform John’s approach to each building project from start to completion.
John lives in South Minneapolis with his wife, a professor at St. Olaf College. In his free time, he enjoys being active biking, walking, rollerblading and playing hockey. He also enjoys travel and attending live music, especially the Minnesota Orchestra. Although his sons have long since graduated, John is still an active volunteer for the Minneapolis Hockey Team.
Sara Lee AIA
Project Manager | Architect
Sara is a licensed architect with experience across the spectrum of residential and commercial architecture. She graduated from North Dakota State University with a Master of Architecture and Bachelor of Science in Environmental Design.
She is a firm believer in a collaborative design process and is passionate about solving for the most practical of daily-life details.
Sara lives in Plymouth with her wife and two young children. When not driving kids to swimming lessons or soccer practice, she enjoys cooking, the arts, and travel.
Rachel Alexander
Associate AIA
Architect | Studio Manager
Rachel’s interest in residential design evolved from building houses with Legos as a child, to watching hours-upon-hours of HGTV as a teen, to ultimately becoming a licensed architect.
Rachel grew up in Apple Valley, Minnesota. She attended North Dakota State University, where she received both her Bachelor and Master of Architecture degrees. She loves that the residential architecture profession allows her to combine her passion for both design and communication.
She lives in the Kingfield neighborhood of Minneapolis with her husband (also a designer) and two cats. Her home is full of half-completed projects and many, many plants. In her free time, she enjoys yoga and tasting all that Twin Cities restaurants have to offer.
Brett Biwer Associate AIA
Designer | Technology Jedi
Brett recently completed his Bachelor of Architecture Professional Degree at Iowa State University. There he worked as a University Research Assistant collaborating on projects to further advance the technology and resources used by students in the College of Design Architecture Program. He has always had a curious mind and a passion for imaginative design.
He has previous experience in residential construction and understands the hard work that goes into building a home. Taking that knowledge into the workplace, Brett hopes to strengthen the workflow between creative design and built result.
Studying architecture and urban theory in Rome for a semester has given Brett a more global perspective on design. His favorite part about being abroad was sketching historical architecture in different countries (along with the wine, food, and views, of course!). Experiencing the world and different cultures is an important part of his life and he plans to continue to travel whenever possible.
Isaiah Scharen Associate AIA
Designer | ADU Coordinator
Isaiah is a young designer and recent graduate of the University of Minnesota Masters of Architecture program, where his thesis work was recognized by the Richard Morill Award and his overall portfolio was awarded the Ellerby Scholarship from the Minnesota Architectural Foundation.
At CSA, Isaiah is excited about accessory dwelling units (ADUs) - compact urban living solutions that add complexity to the fabric of the Twin Cities. He believes in designing responsibly, prioritizing our planet's well-being through mindful material selection, system design, and sustainable living practices.
Outside the office, Isaiah enjoys working on small design projects exploring our relationship with materials and the environment. He also shares his love for cooking and adventure with his partner, Maura, and their dog, Ollie.
Ella Cunz
Office Administrator
Ella is a recent graduate from the University of Wisconsin-Madison where she received a Bachelor of Science in Consumer Behavior and Marketplace Studies. She has always been interested in design, choosing to pursue minors in Design Strategy and Textile Design during her time in Wisconsin.
At CSA she brings her past experience in marketing and communications together with her love of creative design.
In her free time Ella loves biking, rollerskating, and running along Minnesota’s many beautiful trails. She also enjoys attending all types of live music and reading whenever possible.