The Drawing Board is ESG Architecture & Design’s quarterly publicationinstilled with layers and refined with purpose. It connects you to design perspectives and inspiration, featuring insights from our thought leaders, a collection of project visuals, and a glimpse into our process. Within, you’ll find early sketches and conceptual models which are some of the decisive moments that propel design forward.
1 Our 2026 Reintroduction to ESG Architecture & Design
2 2025 Moments Made: Reflections From The ESG Team
3 On The Ground: A Glimpse at Projects in Construction Around the Nation
4 Behind The Blueprints: Minnesota Hockey Hall of Fame Conceptual Design Exploration
We harness meaningful relationships, shared enthusiasm, good ideas and extraordinary design.
As Individuals
We embrace our distinctive strengths and are fueled by passion, creativity, integrity, collaboration, transparency and quality.
Purpose Fueled Design
We believe great design starts with strong values of trust, respect, and authentic relationships. Grounded in Midwest humility yet enriched by national perspective, we create thoughtful, community-minded spaces that stand the test of time.
As a Community
We expand boundaries, imagine the future and champion progress to design buildings that offer more than just a physical space, but a sense of belonging.
Moments Made
As we look back on an incredible year filled with big wins, inspiring projects, and meaningful collaborations, we're reminded that the spirit of our work is often found in unexpected moments. The small victories and shared experiences shape our culture and connect us as a team. Here, we’ve captured a few personal stories from inside ESG, a collection of 2025 moments made.
The five of us went to NYC for an interview. It went well and we went back to our hotel rooms to freshen up before getting dinner. Then Megan texted us all and said the client wanted us to come back because they had one more question. We rushed back and met them in the lobby, where they asked, “Do you want to do this job, because it’s yours if you want it.” We sprawled out on this sculptural marble bench to snap this celebratory photo.
Maggie Lafferty
I’m putting the spotlight on the everyday culture here at ESG and the joy it brings. The laughter, the silly jokes, the hugs, the occasional dancing in the officethese moments make the day brighter. There is usually someone quietly watching out for others, noticing if someone’s struggling and offering a hand, or just lending an ear when it’s time to vent. We work in a fast-paced industry with its fair share of deadlines, scope creep, and demanding client requests, yet the energy here keeps us going. We’re a talented group with good hearts, who work hard and know how to have fun in our own quirky ways. I feel truly privileged every day to be part of a team that makes work feel a little lighter, brighter, and fully connected.
Bob Loken
"I feel truly privileged every day to be part of a team that makes work feel a little lighter, brighter, and fully connected."
Over the last year, moving from my past work in a development-focused practice to a more design-focused setting at ESG has helped me rediscover something I deeply value in the design process: the power of early sketches and diagrams. Thanks to my colleagues at ESG, I reconnected with my enthusiasm for exploring ideas through rough sketches and layered diagrams during the early discovery phase. Collaborating on projects with team members in this way reminded me how energizing it is to uncover what makes each project unique, and those experiences have continued to strengthen my skills and passion for design.
Abby Williamson
This year, a moment that got me was the opportunity to utilize a light fixture that I’ve been admiring for years! I still remember the first time I saw an image of it and instantly knew I had to use it. That instinct was fully reinforced when I later saw it glowing in the Visual Comfort showroom window in the North Loop. Nearly two years after that first spark, the right project came along, and The Mera, a multi-family residential property in St. Louis Park, Minnesota became the perfect story for this fixture to finally shine.
Theo Grothe
Teresa Forsberg
David Stahl, Matt Bergstrom and I flew out to Eugene, Oregon, for a project site visit and meetings that took place over two days in early September. We toured our client's previous housing project and walked the current project's perimeter and second phase adjacent to the site. We explored the nearby University of Oregon campus and had the opportunity to bond at the airport, over lunches, and at the end of each work day. Especially memorable was the fantastic hike to the top of Spencer's Butte, challenging but worthwhile. I was completely out-ofbreath at the summit, but the hike and views up from the top were stunning. It was a great reminder that shared experiences like these strengthen our relationships and make us better teammates. I’m fortunate to work with such a wonderful crew!
Ezra Nelson & Morgan Altmann
One highlight of the past year was attending the Interior Design Magazine 30/30 National Conference in Chicago. We were honored to be among just 59 designers nationwide selected for the Interior Design Magazine National 30/30 Class of 2025. The three-day event featured keynote speakers, breakout sessions, and showroom tours, offering meaningful connections with industry leaders. A standout moment was meeting Editor in Chief Cindy Allen and hearing her inspiring keynote address.
The NEWH North Central TopID Awards became a defining team moment for ESG. Being the recipient of the TopID award was celebratory, but the opportunity to gather as a team was the highlight that night. With the luxury of VIP lounge seating overlooking the ceremony, the team celebrated side by side, fully immersed in the Silver Soiree’s Hollywood glamour which some team members helped dream up. So many ESG designers in one place sharing laughter, pride, and immersed in entertainment, underscored the strength of our culture and the joy of celebrating success as a unified team.
Ann Fritz
Moments Made
Paul Christians
Last year, one of the most meaningful moments of my career came when the high school students at ACE Mentor Program, the St. Paul hub, nominated me as Mentor of the Year to the board. That recognition was deeply humbling, because it came directly from the students and reflected the real impact we can have as volunteers on young minds and hearts. What made it even more special was mentoring alongside passionate leaders and peers from engineering, construction, and architecture firms across our design community. Being part of that collective effort of sharing knowledge, encouragement, and real-world experience reinforced how powerful our industry can be in shaping and inspiring the next generation of designers and leaders.
Bradley Reusch
Over the past few years, Ashley V and I have worked closely on Temporary Leasing Offices, small but high-impact spaces that act as design previews for larger projects. These TLOs are always fast-paced and unpredictable, often carved out of underutilized existing buildings. One day, Ashley sent me photos from a leasing event at one of our completed projects, packed with students, a live DJ, and great energy. Seeing people actively enjoying one of the spaces born from those TLOs was a powerful reminder to me. We create experiences that shape how people feel and connect.
I began Start Labs right out of college to connect my friends in the art and design world to development. Relaunching it at ESG in 2025 felt like a return to what I love most: learning from bold, passionate creatives who bring vision and purpose to their work. Now a quarterly initiative, Start Labs creates space for ESG designers to engage with local artisans, explore new processes, and connect over shared ideas. These are mutual exchanges. We learn their craft, and they see how their work can scale within design and development. It also reminds us of the influence we carry as specifiers. Every detail is a decision, and where we spend our project dollars has real impact. Start Labs encourages us to invest locally, design more intentionally, and build relationships that inspire more bespoke and elevated work.
Sarah Tracey
2025 Projects In Construction
ESG had a busy year of projects in construction. From full-scale new builds to interior design retrofits, our team has touched nearly every time zone in the United States in 2025. With a strong outlook for 2026, our Construction Administration (CA) team is packing their bags to kick off yet another exciting construction season.
1 NORTH DAKOTA
1 SOUTH DAKOTA
2 COLORADO
3 ARIZONA
5 TEXAS
18 MINNESOTA
2 MICHIGAN
1 ILLINOIS
1 MISSOURI
1 INDIANA
3 FLORIDA
Meet our Construction Administration Team
VIRGINIA
Jeff Ben Jake Brian Tim
Behind The Blueprints
Early Design Discovery | Minnesota Hockey Hall of Fame
PROCESS GUIDED BY PASSION
Without a site selected, the goal was to create a compelling design that upholds the principles of hockey, as both a sport and a community. Echoing the iconic moment in hockey, Face-Off, when opposing sticks await the puck drop, the massing is composed of two architectural forms across a central spine.
SUNKEN RINK DESIGN
Guests arrive at the rink on the concourse level; its sunken design provides access on all sides, fostering a strong sense of community. The timber-framed sunken infrastructure allows light to permeate the space, celebrating both volume and materiality while simultaneously activating the space.
HONORING A DEEP HISTORY OF HOCKEY
From pond hockey, to youth sports to professional achievement, the overarching theme is that MNHHOF is a place for everyone. Whether a visit means a moment of nostalgia, or a moment of aspiration, the programming meets the moment. From history lessons to immersive exhibits, the multi-level experience is programmed for ultimate participation.
EXPERIENTIAL DESIGN
You're not just watching it, you're living it. Designer's envision that each component of the museum is an invitation to experience an emotional connection to the sport, moments that otherwise are reserved for the best of the best. Each encounter builds anticipation, demands interaction and delivers inspiration.
MAKE IT MINNESOTAN
As a venue for locals and a destination for visitors, the design is anchored in all things Minnesotan. It maximizes views of the outdoors making room for a celebration of all seasons. The materials are raw but refreshing allowing the form to be fully central.
