Thea von Geldern Promoted to Principal at Allied Works

Sep 15, 2023

Allied Works is thrilled to announce Thea von Geldern as Allied Works’ newest Principal, joining Brad Cloepfil, Chelsea Grassinger, Kyle Lommen, and Gabriel Smith to lead the internationally esteemed architecture and design practice, which celebrates its thirtieth year in 2024.

“Thea has been a leader and provocateur since the day she started at Allied Works,” says founding Principal Brad Cloepfil, “Her ability to synthesize ideas, conversations, and architecture are unmatched. It will be very exciting to follow her forward.”

A native of Hawaii and a graduate of the University of Oregon and Cornell University, Thea has been practicing architecture with Allied Works for nearly 20 years. Her human-centered design approach prioritizes people and place, enabling her to navigate complex projects and manage an impressive roster of major museums, innovative educational facilities, government buildings, residences, and workplaces of diverse scale, purpose and character.

Thea fosters vision, collaboration, innovation, stewardship, and learning on projects of all types, including the U.S. Embassy in Maputo, Mozambique; Pixar Animation Studios Brooklyn Building in Emeryville, California; Fast Retailing World Headquarters in Tokyo, Japan; and the National Music Centre of Canada, Calgary, Canada, among others.

She is currently working on a new building for the Palmer Museum of Art at Penn State University, opening in 2024; a new U.S. Embassy in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia; a memorial and healing garden in Portland’s historic Lone Fir Cemetery; and a BIPOC artist sanctuary with Grammy award-winning bassist and composer esperanza spalding.

Thea’s strong voice on mission-driven projects, devotion to Allied Works’ JEDI initiatives, and mentorship of rising architects in the firm advances our practice and elevates the broader field of architecture.

Congratulations, Thea!

Allied Works is thrilled to announce Thea von Geldern as Allied Works’ newest Principal, joining Brad Cloepfil, Chelsea Grassinger, Kyle Lommen, and Gabriel Smith to lead the internationally esteemed architecture and design practice, which celebrates its thirtieth year in 2024.

“Thea has been a leader and provocateur since the day she started at Allied Works,” says founding Principal Brad Cloepfil, “Her ability to synthesize ideas, conversations, and architecture are unmatched. It will be very exciting to follow her forward.”

A native of Hawaii and a graduate of the University of Oregon and Cornell University, Thea has been practicing architecture with Allied Works for nearly 20 years. Her human-centered design approach prioritizes people and place, enabling her to navigate complex projects and manage an impressive roster of major museums, innovative educational facilities, government buildings, residences, and workplaces of diverse scale, purpose and character.

Thea fosters vision, collaboration, innovation, stewardship, and learning on projects of all types, including the U.S. Embassy in Maputo, Mozambique; Pixar Animation Studios Brooklyn Building in Emeryville, California; Fast Retailing World Headquarters in Tokyo, Japan; and the National Music Centre of Canada, Calgary, Canada, among others.

She is currently working on a new building for the Palmer Museum of Art at Penn State University, opening in 2024; a new U.S. Embassy in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia; a memorial and healing garden in Portland’s historic Lone Fir Cemetery; and a BIPOC artist sanctuary with Grammy award-winning bassist and composer esperanza spalding.

Thea’s strong voice on mission-driven projects, devotion to Allied Works’ JEDI initiatives, and mentorship of rising architects in the firm advances our practice and elevates the broader field of architecture.

Congratulations, Thea!