New Hires, Familiar Faces

We are excited to welcome back Bethanie Zeller and Andru Meiners and say hello for the first time to Nick Woods!

Bethanie and Nick have tripled our number in OPN’s Minneapolis studio. Bethanie who worked in our Cedar Rapids studio for four years, returns to OPN after brief hiatus. Nick brings nearly two decades of experience, including the last eight in Minneapolis, to our northwoods crew. Andru is also rejoining OPN after a brief (but forgivable) absence. 

Bethanie Zeller, OPN Minneapolis

Where did you go to school? Iowa State University
What inspires your work? The students, the teachers, the employees, the residents, the enthusiasts, the intellectuals, the person that is just trying to get to the next day. The users of the building are my daily inspiration.
If you were a cake, which flavor would you be and why? Pineapple Upsidedown
What are you reading right now? “French – A guide to Improving your Understanding of Written French”
If there was a movie about your life, who would star as you? Lisa Kudrow

Andru Meiners, OPN Cedar Rapids

What makes OPN unique? The people who work here.
What inspires your work? Knowing that I have the ability to improve someone’s life through architecture.
If you could eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be? Sushi
When did you know you wanted to be an architect or designer? I realized I wanted to be an architect when I was 12. I had always had an interest in building and creating new things, but it wasn’t until then that I realized what architecture was and I could do it for a living.

Nick Woods, OPN Minneapolis

Where are you originally from? Madison, Wisconsin
What do you like about the industry? There is often a ‘learn-by-doing’ attitude in architectural education that encourages open-mindedness, creativity and exploration within one’s work. Continuing that process into the realm of professional practice we are afforded the opportunity to create thoughtful interventions within the fabric of a community, and simultaneously add to that fabric.
Where did you go to school? Virginia Tech, Washington University in St. Louis
What are you reading right now? “Range, Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World”
Which phase of a project is your favorite? Construction – it’s where the rubber meets the road