For as long as I can remember, I’ve been drawing and building.
I delight in the entire experience—from sketching ideas and making models to rolling up my sleeves and working on the building site. It’s a collaborative process, where design and construction work together seamlessly.
I believe that one of the most important skills an architect can have is to be a good listener. I’m here to understand your aspirations and work with you to transform this vision into reality.
At COA Our goal is to strike the right balance between your aesthetic, your functional needs, and the natural environment. The true reward is creating a space that improves your life.
Over the years, we’ve built strong relationships with builders, structural engineers, interior designers, and even permit expediters, allowing us to curate a whole team to help your project advance efficiently. We bring this expertise to a wide range of projects, from renovations and new construction to commercial.
Building or remodeling a property is a huge investment, both financially and emotionally. A project will not be truly successful if it is simply on time and on budget. We want you to experience joy when you walk into the new space, as if it is an extension of your personality and your lifestyle. And throughout the entire process, you’ll know that you’re working with a trusted partner who will solve problems and consider your needs.
We’d love to hear about your project - get in touch.
Craig O’Connell, AIA, Founder and Architect
“We are huge fans of Craig O’Connell Architecture. Craig’s demeanor is calm and collected, making us feel that we had the opportunity to weigh all options of every decision. He fully supported our decisions and contributed many design elements that really put our project over the top. We would not hesitate to work with him again. Our remodeled kitchen and living space is so breathtakingly beautiful...thank you Craig!”
“Craig is creative, expert, accessible. His architectural acumen is top-notch: he listens to his clients, coordinates with his builders, and always delivers outstanding finished projects. I can see that he cares about his clients and their projects. Craig knows how to navigate the permitting process with city building departments, he understands construction techniques, the importance of keeping projects on budget and on schedule, and the importance of bringing together the client, the architect and the builder to create a successful project outcome.”
“Craig helped dramatically transform a dated 1950s ranch house into the home of our dreams. He designed a remodel that started by bringing it down to the studs and we couldn’t be happier. We now have a bright and airy stylish, modern home featuring functional space, light and indoor/outdoor flow. Craig’s easy going demeanor made the project low stress, even when we hit the inevitable bumps and delays. He handled all the details and used his network to find and manage the general contractor, engineer, cabinet maker, and other key subcontractors. He also secured the building permits in a timely manner. We are so happy in our new home!”
“Craig is excellent! We hired him to help us with a remodel that turned into a complete rebuild of a home originally built in 1912. He worked with us as the project evolved and was able to calmly help steer us through some of the bumps along that way. As a realtor, I had a vision of what I wanted and his expertise sharpened the details and helped bring the ideas to reality. I would hire him again and highly recommend him!”
Craig O'Connell, AIA, founder and architect
Craig O’Connell is a licensed architect with a Master’s degree from Montana State University. He has 20 years of experience designing and managing all phases of residential and commercial projects. Craig is proficient in utilizing building information modeling (BIM) and incorporates energy efficient and sustainable design and materials into his projects.
Prior to founding Craig O’Connell Architecture in 2009, Craig was a project architect at Orlando Diaz-Azcuy Design Associates. His firm has been voted Best of Houzz every year since 2014 and his work has been featured in Sunset, California Home + Design, Marin Magazine, SPACES and Luxe.
Jessica O'Connell, Director of Marketing and new business
Jessica leads administration, new business and marketing. She began her career in public relations in New York City and San Francisco. She later transitioned to nonprofits and handled advocacy and communications for the San Francisco Food Bank. Prior to officially joining Craig O’Connell Architecture in 2013 she managed the communications programs at Save The Bay for more than seven years. Jessica teaches Yoga in Marin County.