PLEASE MAKE NOTE OF OUR UPCOMING OFFICE SCHEDULE: Our office will be closed starting Monday, December 23rd, 2024 and will re-open Thursday, January 2nd , 2025.

Our architectural design firm provides a custom approach for every project

Our Legacy since 1975

Seaver Franks Architects has worked with a diverse array of clients for almost 50 years. During this time, our architectural design firm has become well-recognized for impactful, dynamic designs influencing the style of Tucson’s commercial and residential spaces.  We offer a personalized, collaborative, high-tech design process that allows us to create designs balancing form, function & landscape aesthetics.

We value integrity, honesty, & communication

Both commercial and residential architecture designs require ongoing communication and transparency to be successful. We hold ourselves to higher standards of honesty and integrity, emphasizing clear communication and collaboration throughout our process. Our architectural design firm isn’t out to simply win awards. Our top priority is always meeting the needs of our clients and exceeding their design expectations.

Our closely knit team drives our success

We have a rich history in Tucson and our firm is constantly evolving to meet the modern architectural needs of the southwest region. We have been LEED certified for more than a decade, and we embrace diversity in our team to continue folding in new ideas and artistic visions that elevate our designs. Every member of our team works closely together to help our clients achieve their goals.
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Michael Franks

R.A. | Principal

Michael Franks brings his award-winning design experience and creative problem-solving abilities to each of his projects. He prides himself on his conceptual grasp of architectural design issues and transforming user requirements into successful architectural solutions. As the firm’s managing partner, he is responsible for client development and overall project management, as well as leading several design teams developing a range of project types, including restaurants, churches, schools, casinos, luxury residences and large-scale hotel projects. A registered architect in several states in addition to Arizona, as well as a native Tucsonan, Michael holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Arizona State University and has been in practice for over 35 years. He is NCARB certified, a member of the American Institute of Architects, and involved in many community organizations in and around Tucson.

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Patricia Nielsen

Finance Manager / Human Resources

Patricia is a bona fide Montana girl who relocated to Tucson in October of 2020. She graduated from Montana State University with a B.S. in Sociology, with a focus on Criminology. Patricia has a love for numbers and started out in accounting before changing her major. Her deep sense of community and beliefs in a communal effort to create a society where everyone is recognized and valued, ultimately led her toward a career in Human Resources. With over ten years of experience in Accounting/HR, her values are a wonderful fit to facilitate finance management and overseeing HR for Seaver Franks’ amazing team.

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Jasmine Sorenson

Office Manager

Jasmine is the Office Manager at Seaver Franks, bringing over 15 years of experience in office administration. Originally from California, she made Tucson her home almost a decade ago and has since built a reputation for her positive and friendly approach to life. As a single mom of two boys, Jasmine is an expert multitasker who balances work and family with enthusiasm and care. She is dedicated to fostering an uplifting work environment where everyone feels valued and empowered to succeed.

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Richard W. Huch

R.A. | Senior Project Architect

As a Registered Architect and proud graduate of the University of Arizona, the thirty three years of designing projects in the Southwest have given him a broad vocabulary of design styles from the traditional to the contemporary to the regional. He has considerable experience in managing projects of all sizes as well as a good technical and construction background. His last 30 years have been spent at Seaver Franks Architects working on a variety of project types including industrial, retail, casinos, hotels, fitness centers, office buildings, churches, and spas.

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JaMia Dees

R.A. | Senior Project Architect

JaMia grew up in Tucson, earning a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Arizona. A Registered Architect in Arizona, Georgia and South Carolina, JaMia moved back to Tucson to join Seaver Franks after twenty-two years of experience managing multidisciplinary teams on a broad range of work from capital projects to renovations and tenant buildouts. Her design experience covers a variety of industries to include educational, commercial, healthcare, animal care, administration and offices, churches, and residential, carrying projects from concept to completion. She is NCARB certified and a member of the American Institute of Architects. Her main adjective is “teachable”. She enjoys learning new things, traveling to new places, and meeting new people.
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Daren Sadowsky

R.A. | Senior Project Architect

Daren is a Registered Architect in Louisiana, a LEED Accredited Professional, and NCARB certified. He holds a Masters in Architecture from Tulane University in New Orleans and has been practicing for more than 15 years. His career began with statewide projects in Louisiana and rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina, working with healthcare, educational, civic, community, residential, sports, and correctional facilities. Before joining Seaver Franks to lead the Louisiana branch office, Daren spent extensive time on thematic architecture and zoological and exhibit design, with multiple zoo projects designed and built around the country. With 15 years of BIM experience, Daren has been integral in creating and implementing Revit standards and software at his previous offices. He was an adjunct faculty member at Tulane’s School of Architecture for five years, teaching a Professional Concerns course on BIM. Daren is a traveler at heart, with a passion for seeing the world and exploring its sites, cultures, art, and cuisines.
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Hillary Grigel

R.A. | Senior Project Architect

Hillary Grigel is a Registered Architect in Arizona, and holds a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Arizona in Tucson. With more than 10 years of experience, she is well-versed in project management, design, planning and construction management. Hillary has experience in medical, dental, commercial, luxury residential, hospitality, churches, and educational design. As a LEED Accredited Professional she has a thorough understanding of green building practices and the LEED certification process. Hillary served on the Governing Council of the U.S. Green Building Council Southern Arizona Branch for 4 years. She is also experienced with BIM, playing a key role in its early implementation at multiple offices, and participated in the Southern Arizona Revit User’s Group for 6 years. In her spare time she enjoys the company of her husband, three children, and dog, as well as, free-lance writing and speaking.
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Michael Josett

R.A. | Senior Project Architect

As a young boy, Mike’s dream was to become an internationally recognized architect, and began his ‘career’ designing homes for family friends when he was only 9 years old. He studied every publication he could, and graduated high school with an SAT score of 1599. He then enrolled at Cornell University for his undergraduate and master’s degrees, obtaining a 6.0 GPA for nationally recognized and gifted designs. Following Cornell, he enrolled at U.C. Berkeley for his PhD in architecture before opening offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London and Paris, and receiving the Pritsker Architectural Prize for his sensitive remodeling of Le Corbusier’s Unité d’habitation in Marseille, France……. Returning to reality, Mike enjoyed a very successful 40 year career in his own practice, and now works with Seaver Franks Architects in the design and development of award-winning residential architecture.
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Fátima Valdez

Project Manager

Fátima moved from the Dominican Republic at the age of 11 to Tucson, Arizona. Being the daughter of a structural engineer, she initially studied engineering and attained in 2010 a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering with a focus on structures at the University of Arizona. However, not only was she intrigued on how structural components came together, but also the aesthetics of a building and how it can convey a fulfilling feeling to the user. Consequently, she decided to attend graduate school and in 2014 she earned a Master in Architecture at the University of Arizona. As a project coordinator, she is responsible for communicating with the design team and ensuring the client’s desires are being presented within the construction documents. In addition, she has had experience in construction administration and has worked in an assortment of projects which include, but not limited to: commercial, industrial, educational, and institutional. In her spare time, she loves to sing, dance and spend time with her friends and family — in particular her amazing son.
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Ana Victoria Valenzuela

Project Manager

Ana was born in Mexico and raised in Tucson. She has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Arizona and previous experience in mechanical engineering as well as software development. Ana has been at Seaver Franks Architects since 2018 and has experience in both commercial and residential projects. As a project coordinator for the residential department, she specializes in luxury custom homes. Ana is responsible for developing the client’s vision and coordinating the design team to materialize the project from start to finish. In her spare time Ana loves to travel with her husband and 3 young boys. She is also involved in her community as part of the 2023-2024 GTL Lead class and the VITA program.
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Nurlan Herburger

Project Coordinator

Nurlan, originally from Almaty, Kazakhstan, was raised in Northern New Jersey. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Architectural Engineering & Technology from the University of Hartford in 2019, where he also participated in the cross country and track & field programs. In 2021, he completed his Master of Architecture at the University of Arizona’s CAPLA program. Since then, Nurlan has been with the Seaver Franks team, working on both residential and commercial projects, with a focus on understanding the construction process and enhancing his design and project management skills. He is currently pursuing NCARB certification to obtain his architectural license.

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Jeremy Nesbit

Project Manager

Jeremy is a very capable project manager and designer with over 8 years of experience practicing architecture. He was born in New Orleans, Louisiana and attended Louisiana State University where he acquired his Bachelor of Science in Architecture. Jeremy has completed many projects along the gulf coast. He has worked start to finish many projects in hospitals such as operating rooms at Singing River Hospital and the Emergency Room at the Biloxi Gulf Coast VA. Additionally, Jeremy has completed projects in dozens of public schools in Mississippi and Louisiana including multiple high school Football and Baseball Sports Complexes.  Jeremy has been fortunate to work on projects in the historic French Quarter of New Orleans, working to preserve 300 years of heritage in the Crescent City. When Jeremy isn’t thinking about architecture, he is likely playing a round of disc golf or a board game with his friends. He is a proud father to many cats.

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Mathew Kelly

Project Coordinator

Mathew, born in North Dakota and raised in the Sonoran Desert, brings a unique perspective to the world of architecture, deeply influenced by the vibrant landscapes and rich cultural heritage of the Southwest. Mathew has a background in construction and heavy machinery, working on large scale infrastructure projects in Arizona. Graduating with a bachelor’s degree in architecture from the University of Arizona’s College of Architecture, he is dedicated to honing his skills and is currently pursuing NCARB certification and becoming licensed as an architect. Following his graduation, Mathew joined Seaver Franks Architects where he plans to continue to learn and hone his skills.

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Evelyn Monreal

Project Coordinator

A Tucson native, Evelyn spent ten years in Mexico, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in architecture from the University of Sonora, graduating in May 2022. With strong skills in 3D modeling and rendering, she is dedicated to creating innovative and functional designs. Currently pursuing NCARB certification and working toward architecture licensure, she’s committed to continuous professional development. In her free time, Evelyn enjoys playing pickleball and padel, embodying an active and enthusiastic approach to life and design.

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Josh Russell

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Eduardo Aguilar

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