Movers & Shakers: Kristi Pepin, UrbanWorks Architecture

A look at the people behind the numbers in area business:

Title: Marketing manager

Age: 32

Kristi Pepin, the new marketing manager at UrbanWorks Architecture, is working to help the Minneapolis firm in its efforts to expand and diversify its business.

Pepin said she hoped to help UrbanWorks "become a household name in the community and known for creating beautiful buildings."

Her role includes building awareness of the UrbanWorks brand and of its high-profile projects.

Those include 4Marq, a 30-story luxury apartment tower in downtown Minneapolis that has been under construction since June that is the latest example of UrbanWorks' expertise in designing multifamily housing, Pepin said.

"We do great design that reflects the client's vision," Pepin said. "It's really keeping the clients first — what do they need and when do they need it?''

UrbanWorks has benefited from the boom in apartment development and construction in the Twin Cities, in both market rate and affordable properties, Pepin said.

At the same time, the firm wants to raise its profile in other segments including office/industrial design, she said.

Work has begun on a key project in that category for the firm, Pepin said, in the renovation and expansion of the headquarters of DC Group, a Minneapolis company that offers uninterruptible power supply service and maintenance.

Pepin, who previously worked at AECOM, a global architecture, design and engineering firm, has a degree in business communication from the College of St. Scholastica and Master of Arts in communication from Bethel University.

Q: Why should a builder or developer work with UrbanWorks?

A: UrbanWorks is using the latest technology, building information modeling software, which helps manage risks for our clients on the developer side. We also have a well-defined project management process with detailed schedules. We're able to deliver projects on time and on budget, as we said we were going to.

Q: What appealed to you about the opportunity to join UrbanWorks?

A: The firm has a lot of energy and passion and it's an exciting place to be, for me to have the opportunity to get involved in all aspects or marketing for a firm, to be there through it all and to get programs and processes in place to do the best we can.

Q: What do your priorities include in your role at the firm?

A: Architecture is a relationship-based industry, so it's getting people the tools they need to help them build and grow their relationships. A lot of work is awarded through the request for proposal process, so it's also getting the pieces in place to effectively and efficiently respond to those requests.

Todd Nelson