Ann Voda

AIA, CID, LEED AP BD+C
President, Principal Project Planner & Programmer

Ann Voda is president and principal owner of Bentz/Thompson/Rietow, Inc, and leads the planning and design of education facilities, community and performance facilities, and libraries. This variety of public and private project types includes new construction, renovation, interiors, and adaptive reuse.

Ann’s experience and career-long focus has been on design practices that result in positive change for the people who use the spaces, their community, and the environment. This has taught her that an open and inclusive design process is required for a successful outcome. A skilled facilitator of the programming, design, technical production, and construction process, Ann works closely with clients and each project’s diverse set of constituents, advisors, and design team members to identify and assure all voices are heard. 

The best outcome is one that serves the program needs and activities of the people who use the space over the full life of the project.

These current and future needs must be determined in the program and design process that models the same inclusivity, respect and co-creativity of the people for and with whom the design is done.

Ann is a committed advocate for the architectural profession and a mentor to emerging leaders in the field at BTR and through her leadership in the American Institute of Architects

In 2009, she was awarded the Women in Business – Industry Leader Award by Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal.