Who We Are
Greater than the sum of our work
Our work is not driven by awards or by aesthetic achievement — although we do have plenty of both. Instead, we focus on listening closely to client values and striving to understand what matters to you – and then use those cornerstones to design and create extraordinary buildings. We energize our clients by providing meaningful work backed by collaborative leadership and decades of experience. That’s what it means to synergize.
Patrick Giordana, AIA, LEED AP BD+C
Patrick Giordana is the Principle of Architecture for Synergy Architecture Studio. In the architectural industry for 35 years, Pat has been the head of an architectural team for over 25 years. His extensive portfolio includes architectural design for retail, manufacturing, corporate office, religious, housing, and medical facilities.
Pat has established himself as a leader in the design of a variety of medical facilities, including general practice, specialty practices, and imaging clinics such as MRI and CT modalities. Pat’s patient-centric design of multi-tenant medical buildings has resulted in numerous awards for design. He is a frequent presenter at symposiums addressing healthcare design and is respected as a leader in the industry in the Minneapolis/St. Paul markets.
Matthew O’Keefe, AIA
Matt O’Keefe is the Senior Project Manager for Synergy Architecture Studio. As a kid, Matt surrounded himself with Legos and feverishly snapped them into perfectly designed buildings. Matt has transitioned that childhood passion to managing and organizing healthcare architectural projects from initial concept to grand openings. At Synergy, Matt leads a team of professionals dedicated to smart and clean design that supports both the goals of the staff who will inhabit the space and the experiences of their patients.
A frequent panelist, Matt’s experience in healthcare has put him at the forefront of the industry, designing award-winning buildings and providing outstanding service and results for his clients. His dogged dedication to managing well-thought-out, well-designed, and well-executed projects makes him an invaluable leader at Synergy and in the architectural community.
Eric Mayer
Eric Mayer is an Architectural Designer for Synergy Architecture Studio. Eric’s design work is deeply rooted in a material and sensory curiosity he has explored through drawing, making, and building over the years. Eric has a broad view of what architecture is, can, and may be. He views projects big or small as an opportunity to design spaces and places that support patient and client wellness.
Along with his studio designs, Eric’s work researching memory-based material stimuli in architecture has been internationally published. He has also had architecturally site-specific installations constructed in galleries across the country. Eric finds beauty in clean, time-tested materials as well as new, high-performance synthetic materials and enjoys designing and detailing the necessary assemblies used to build lasting architectural works.
Mikale Nafe
Mikale Nafe is an Architectural BIM Technician for Synergy Architecture Studio. As a designer, artist, and draftsman, Mikale explores our interaction with analogue technologies and digital based media through the lens of the built environment both inside and outside the office.
These intersecting interests along with a novel sense of curiosity makes Mikale a stand-out in the ever-changing and rapidly advancing world of healthcare design. Along with his more analytical work, Mikale has an equally strong practical knowledge of building assemblies, systems, and construction techniques that make him an invaluable resource in designing today’s highly efficient and sustainable buildings.
