Principal Architect
Principal, Vice President and COO
Education: 5 year Bachelor of Architecture, College of Architecture and Environmental Design, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. 1992
Registrations:
- California Architect 1995
- Nevada Architect 2005
- Idaho Architect 2019
- Washington Architect 2020
- National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) 2004.
Experience: since 1988 in the San Francisco Bay Area and since 2000 in the Truckee-Tahoe area.
Ms. Thompson's responsibilities as Vice President and COO of MWA, inc. include Principal-in-Charge of design, operations, quality control, standards, scheduling, marketing, and project management.
Ms. Thompson has been with MWA, inc. since 2000 and principal since 2008 and has served as project manager and/or chief designer for many projects including:
- Numerous custom residences in Martis Camp, Lahontan, Northstar, Old Greenwood, Tahoe Donner, and the greater Truckee area.
- The Rock commercial mixed-use project, Truckee.
- Phoenix Executive Building, LEED Silver, Soaring Way, Truckee.
- Ski Run Center commercial development in South Lake Tahoe.
Ms. Thompson's talent and diversity of style has been recognized by winning the top award in the Tahoe Quarterly's 4th Annual Mountain Home Awards in 2007 for a mountain-modern residence at Northstar-at-Tahoe. The same home also won the gold award for The Best Home of the Year in the May 2006 issue of Electronic House. The 2016 Tahoe Quarterly Mountain Home Awards recognized her Lakefront design 'Tahizzle' for its stunning and unique combination of modern and Tahoe style. A Martis Camp family home she designed won the 2013 Tahoe Quarterly Mountain Home Award for "Legacy Home". In 2011 her 'alps-style' design in Martis Camp won Merit:Unique Vision award. Her efforts associated with the redevelopment of the Ski Run Center in South Lake Tahoe were rewarded with a TRPA Best in Basin Award. The 2015 Tahoe Quarterly Mountain Home Awards awarded her "Eco Estate" design, the Eco-Friendly Award. In 2004 she won another Tahoe Quarterly Mountain Home Award for a Truckee residence, and in 2008 the CEDIA Electronic Lifestyle Awards gave her the Best Large Home Theater Overall award for a home she designed in Lahontan. The fall 2006 issue of Diablo Magazine featured Thompson's Casa-California style design of a residence in Orinda, CA for its involvement in the Artful Living Home Tour.
As a member of CATT (Contractors Association of Truckee Tahoe), Ms. Thompson serves on the Local Government Affairs Committee (LGAC) and is the Chair of the Affordable Housing Solutions Committee. In 2016, Ms. Thompson was award the CATT Professional of the Year award. For six years Ms. Thompson served on the Design Review Board for the Glenshire/Devonshire HOA. She is a founding member of the Queen of Hearts philanthropic organization and also spends time in the community advocating for open space and sensible development. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her husband, visiting her two adult children, skiing, hiking, playing the violin, reading, gardening, cooking, and traveling.
Education: 5 year Bachelor of Architecture, College of Architecture and Environmental Design, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. 1992
Registrations:
- California Architect 1995
- Nevada Architect 2005
- Idaho Architect 2019
- Washington Architect 2020
- National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) 2004.
Experience: since 1988 in the San Francisco Bay Area and since 2000 in the Truckee-Tahoe area.
Ms. Thompson's responsibilities as Vice President and COO of MWA, inc. include Principal-in-Charge of design, operations, quality control, standards, scheduling, marketing, and project management.
Ms. Thompson has been with MWA, inc. since 2000 and principal since 2008 and has served as project manager and/or chief designer for many projects including:
- Numerous custom residences in Martis Camp, Lahontan, Northstar, Old Greenwood, Tahoe Donner, and the greater Truckee area.
- The Rock commercial mixed-use project, Truckee.
- Phoenix Executive Building, LEED Silver, Soaring Way, Truckee.
- Ski Run Center commercial development in South Lake Tahoe.
Ms. Thompson's talent and diversity of style has been recognized by winning the top award in the Tahoe Quarterly's 4th Annual Mountain Home Awards in 2007 for a mountain-modern residence at Northstar-at-Tahoe. The same home also won the gold award for The Best Home of the Year in the May 2006 issue of Electronic House. The 2016 Tahoe Quarterly Mountain Home Awards recognized her Lakefront design 'Tahizzle' for its stunning and unique combination of modern and Tahoe style. A Martis Camp family home she designed won the 2013 Tahoe Quarterly Mountain Home Award for "Legacy Home". In 2011 her 'alps-style' design in Martis Camp won Merit:Unique Vision award. Her efforts associated with the redevelopment of the Ski Run Center in South Lake Tahoe were rewarded with a TRPA Best in Basin Award. The 2015 Tahoe Quarterly Mountain Home Awards awarded her "Eco Estate" design, the Eco-Friendly Award. In 2004 she won another Tahoe Quarterly Mountain Home Award for a Truckee residence, and in 2008 the CEDIA Electronic Lifestyle Awards gave her the Best Large Home Theater Overall award for a home she designed in Lahontan. The fall 2006 issue of Diablo Magazine featured Thompson's Casa-California style design of a residence in Orinda, CA for its involvement in the Artful Living Home Tour.
As a member of CATT (Contractors Association of Truckee Tahoe), Ms. Thompson serves on the Local Government Affairs Committee (LGAC) and is the Chair of the Affordable Housing Solutions Committee. In 2016, Ms. Thompson was award the CATT Professional of the Year award. For six years Ms. Thompson served on the Design Review Board for the Glenshire/Devonshire HOA. She is a founding member of the Queen of Hearts philanthropic organization and also spends time in the community advocating for open space and sensible development. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her husband, visiting her two adult children, skiing, hiking, playing the violin, reading, gardening, cooking, and traveling.
All Staff
It is a pleasure to recommend MWA Architecture, Engineering, and Interiors for any
design project, large or small, you may have. Our home in Truckee, California was
originally designed more than 40 years ago by a well-known local architect, and because
of its unique layout—with the Tahoe National Forest just beyond our front door—we
needed a highly creative and professional team to design a new, expanded living room
and a new garage that would both function well and complement the home’s original
character.
After speaking with several design firms in the Truckee–Tahoe area, Kristi Thompson,
Principal Architect and COO & CFO of MWA, came highly recommended by close
friends who own a major construction firm in Truckee and have worked with Kristi on
numerous projects. From our first meeting, we were impressed by her professionalism,
expertise, and thoughtful approach. Over the following months, Kristi and her team
provided multiple design options for our new garage. Because of the size constraints of
our primary lot, this was no small challenge. We also own the adjacent lot, and MWA
explored several iterations of a potential lot line adjustment to allow for a larger garage
footprint. Ultimately, we chose to keep the lots separate, and MWA designed a spacious
two-car garage within the existing boundaries. The result exceeded our expectations—the
garage is both highly functional and beautifully aligned with the home’s exterior design.
MWA faced similar constraints with the living room project. They transformed a square,
relatively dark, windowless room with built-in bench seating into a modern, light-filled
space featuring large north-facing windows. Their team also assisted with the design of
the TV, bookshelf, and fireplace wall. The room—and that entire side of the house—is
now completely reimagined. As with the garage, we could not be happier with the
outcome.
Throughout the project, Kristi and her team were exceptionally patient, flexible, and
professional, even as we encountered several delays on our end. Their communication,
creativity, and attention to detail made the entire experience extremely positive.
In short, we recommend MWA without reservation for any project you may be
considering. We are confident you will be as pleased with their work, their team, and
their final product as we have been.
-- Doug Jones
design project, large or small, you may have. Our home in Truckee, California was
originally designed more than 40 years ago by a well-known local architect, and because
of its unique layout—with the Tahoe National Forest just beyond our front door—we
needed a highly creative and professional team to design a new, expanded living room
and a new garage that would both function well and complement the home’s original
character.
After speaking with several design firms in the Truckee–Tahoe area, Kristi Thompson,
Principal Architect and COO & CFO of MWA, came highly recommended by close
friends who own a major construction firm in Truckee and have worked with Kristi on
numerous projects. From our first meeting, we were impressed by her professionalism,
expertise, and thoughtful approach. Over the following months, Kristi and her team
provided multiple design options for our new garage. Because of the size constraints of
our primary lot, this was no small challenge. We also own the adjacent lot, and MWA
explored several iterations of a potential lot line adjustment to allow for a larger garage
footprint. Ultimately, we chose to keep the lots separate, and MWA designed a spacious
two-car garage within the existing boundaries. The result exceeded our expectations—the
garage is both highly functional and beautifully aligned with the home’s exterior design.
MWA faced similar constraints with the living room project. They transformed a square,
relatively dark, windowless room with built-in bench seating into a modern, light-filled
space featuring large north-facing windows. Their team also assisted with the design of
the TV, bookshelf, and fireplace wall. The room—and that entire side of the house—is
now completely reimagined. As with the garage, we could not be happier with the
outcome.
Throughout the project, Kristi and her team were exceptionally patient, flexible, and
professional, even as we encountered several delays on our end. Their communication,
creativity, and attention to detail made the entire experience extremely positive.
In short, we recommend MWA without reservation for any project you may be
considering. We are confident you will be as pleased with their work, their team, and
their final product as we have been.
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