Koch Hazard Adds Talented New Staff
Michelle Rippentrop, NCIDQ, joined Koch Hazard Architects in February as the Director of Interior Design. Michelle has over 12 years of experience in interior architectural design and specializes in the areas of healthcare, corporate, and hospitality design. She started her career in Phoenix, Arizona and has worked in the regional market for the past 9 years.
Some of Michelle’s notable project experience with other firms includes: Bel Brand Administration Building (Brookings, SD), CNA Surety Building (Sioux Falls, SD), Hotel Phillips (Sioux Falls, SD), Human Performance Center (Sioux Falls, SD), Milbank Area Replacement Hospital & Clinic (Milbank, SD), Midwestern University Dental Clinic (Glendale, AZ), and the Park Place Hotel Convention Center Addition & Renovation (Traverse City, MI). She received her Bachelor of Science, Interior Design and Business Studies degrees, Magna Cum Laude, from South Dakota State University in 2010. Michelle earned her NCIDQ Certification from the Council for Interior Design Qualification in 2017. Michelle is an active member of SDID (South Dakota Interior Designers), serving on the Executive Board and other various committees. She received the SDID Laura Hosman Professionalism Award in 2019. She is also a member of the IIDA Northland Chapter.
Mason O’Farrell joined the team in October following four years in Colorado working with DLR Group in Denver and completing his Masters of Architecture and Design-Build Certificate from the University of Colorado Denver.
Some of Mason’s project experience with DLR Group includes: Wells Fargo Center Restack (Denver, CO), Conga Headquarters (Broomfield, CO), the Douglas County School District High School CTE Renovation (Denver Metro, CO), Confluence Hall (Moab, UT) and various higher education projects around the country. No stranger to the KH team, Mason interned with us in 2016 during his fourth year in the Department of Architecture program at South Dakota State University. Mason graduated from South Dakota State University with a Bachelor of Science in Architecture and a Minor in Construction Management in 2016.
Koch Hazard Architects collaborates with great clients to achieve their goals through innovative design. The firm, founded in 1961, is a professional service firm of 14 architects, interior designers and planners in Sioux Falls, SD. For the past 20 years, Koch Hazard Architects has had more projects recognized with AIA South Dakota Design Awards than any other firm in the state. Each Koch Hazard project is a unique, innovative response to a specific set of client needs and project circumstances.