About

The Details Matter…

It is relatively easy to satisfy the typical short list of big ideas every client presents — it is all the layers of little things and the numerous details that distinguish the best designs and often present the bigger challenges…

— Mark Elster, AOME Architects

Collaborating and creating since 1986

Mark Elster, co-founder, Managing Director

Mark Elster, Managing Director

Since 1986, AOME Architects has partnered with our clients to explore and create architecture unique to their needs and dreams. Every project is special. AOME responds with personalized service and individual designs tailored to each client. From concept to completion the work combines creativity, imagination, and attention to detail.

AOME believes in an approach to design that respects both contemporary and historical contexts, while acknowledging the many modern developments that enhance comfort, livability and enjoyment. AOME successfully strives for the best in design by applying an abiding sense of proportion, massing, scale, light and volume, along with rigorous attention to detail and process.

Good design is easy—it takes something more to go to the next level. Clients seeking highly tailored bespoke architectural services find AOME the best value.

AOME also provides low cost feasibility studies during the critical property acquisition phase of projects—the step most likely to produce project failure. Countless owners have found our studies instrumental in selecting the right property, but more importantly, essential in avoiding the wrong property.

Values

AOME’s Four Core + One Values — F.I.B.M. +V.

AOME Conference with contractors

Fellowship produces the best collaborators

Fellowship

“In our lives and in business the underlying goal should be fellowship.”

Be your best self, encourage those around you to do and be their best —this will always lead to fellowship in which we value each other and naturally make life better for all those around us.”

Integrity

Trust, Honor, Prudence — Relentlessly pursuing these core values with integrity is how we and our project–team partners deliver our service and ultimately our client’s dream home.

Balance

AOME balances creativity and pragmatism, budget and schedule, utility and delight to create the fresh ideas that we make into the homes that bring daily joy to our clients.

“We are curious, perceptive dreamers. We are visionary pragmatists who love to create and make. We are careful listeners and clear communicators that excel at problem solving.  We love what we do.”

Making

“We make things for people we know”

Our passion for the making of beautiful, functional, fun building environments for our clients is what drives everything we do. Fundamentally, architecture is about making homes for people.

Value

Our four core values create a byproduct of monetary value. By creating value for our clients, we in turn generate new wealth in our community that benefits a host of others who are paid for their own contributions to that value. New value that wouldn’t exist without the spark of creativity that AOME generates to start the whole process off. 

Mark Elster, co-founder, Managing Director

EDUCATION & PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND

  • AOME Architects PS

    1992 - present / Full Principal (upon licensure)

  • 1988 - 1992 / Full-time Associate

  • 1986 - 1988 — Co-founder (part-time while moonlighting)

  • NCARB National License in Architecture

    2013 - Present (facilitates reciprocal licensing in all 50 states and Canada)

  • Licensed Architect, Washington

    1992 - Present

  • Able to work in all 50 states, British Columbia and Great Britain

  • Licensed Architect, Montana

    2014-present

  • Master of Architecture

    University of Washington 1983 - 1988

  • Certificate of Historic Preservation

    University of Washington - 1985

  • Bachelor of Environmental Design

    University of Washington 1979 - 1983

  • Contact :

    MarkE@AOMEarchitects.com

Mark Elster, Managing Director, Co-founder

Mark Elster, co-founder, Managing Director

It is all the layers of little things and the numerous details that distinguish the best designs and often present the bigger challenges…

Philosophy:
There is no doubt that the most important home in the world is yours. Elster relishes the challenge of designing to that high ideal and the very personal journey that client and architect embark on together. On the way, Elster carefully probes the client’s requirements, wants, and needs and those aspects that separate their current and their preferred lifestyle. It is through that journey and the incorporation of these elements that he makes the home truly become yours. With his refined detailed approach, designing your own custom home should be one of the most positive experiences of your life.

Process:
Elster finds that it is relatively easy to satisfy the typical short list of big ideas every client presents — it is all the layers of little things and the numerous details that distinguish the best designs and often present the bigger challenges — solving both simultaneously is what leads to the homes his clients cherish.

Professional Development:
From the beginning, Elster vision has led the firm to achieve ever higher standards of design, both technically and aesthetically, while simultaneously fostering ever better communication with our consultants, clients and the contractors we collaborate with. By setting an ever-higher bar for himself and his colleagues, AOME has earned a reputation for relentlessly striving for excellence. Over time Elster’s role in the firm has emerged as its managing director, leading the firm toward future expansion and growing prominence in the design community.

Personal:
Ultimately, Elster simply enjoys applying his artful eye and inquisitive mind to the creative process and the discoveries that come with each unique project and client. Producing pleasant surprises, uncovering opportunities, solving problems, reassuring and guiding his clients through the potentially intimidating process of designing and building a custom home, while inspiring all the myriad people who will collaborate with him to do better than they’ve done before — all of these aspects and more continue to stir his passion for residential design. When not working, Elster enjoys spending time with family and friends, actively volunteering in the community, and doing things for others. He has numerous hobbies and interests including photography, book making, woodworking, painting and sketching, model ship building, railroad modeling, mineralogy, gardening, mountain climbing, biking, history, movie making, magic performance and teaching, and — very occasionally — sitting around and doing nothing! He takes time each day to celebrate the moments that happen while pursuing all of the above with family, friends and peers alike.

Interesting Personal Projects:
Elster occasionally engages in interesting design and construction projects outside of his professional life, both large and small scale. For example, he built a timber framed roof for his brother, and also works on an on-going kinetic architecture project involving a secret compartment within a fireplace mantle in their home.

  • AOME Architects PS

    1992 - present / Full Principal (upon licensure)

  • 1988 - 1992 / Full-time Associate

  • 1986 - 1988 — Co-founder (part-time while moonlighting)

  • NCARB National License in Architecture

    2013 - Present (facilitates reciprocal licensing in all 50 states and Canada)

  • Licensed Architect, Washington

    1992 - Present

  • Able to work in all 50 states, British Columbia and Great Britain

  • Licensed Architect, Montana

    2014-present

  • Master of Architecture

    University of Washington 1983 - 1988

  • Certificate of Historic Preservation

    University of Washington - 1985

  • Bachelor of Environmental Design

    University of Washington 1979 - 1983

  • Contact :

    MarkE@AOMEarchitects.com

EDUCATION & PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND

  • AOME Chief Designer -Production

    1990 - Present / multiple roles

  • Contact :

    WillB@AOMEarchitects.com

  • Bachelor of Architecture

    California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, California

Will Beilharz

Will has been a part of the AOME Architecture team since 1990 and has over 33 years of experience working as a professional architect in multifamily and single family residences.

  • AOME Chief Designer -Production

    1990 - Present / multiple roles

  • Contact :

    WillB@AOMEarchitects.com

  • Bachelor of Architecture

    California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, California

EDUCATION & PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND

  • Project Manager

    2022- present

  • Contact:

    MichaelK@AOMEarchitects.com

  • Licensed Architect, Washington

    2004 - Present

  • NCARB National License in Architecture

    2004-Present

  • Bachelor of Architecture

    Washington State University in Pullman, WA

  • Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies

    Washington State University in Pullman, WA

Michael Krause

Michael joined the AOME Architecture team in 2022 and he has over 30 years of experience working professionally in residential and commercial architecture.

  • Project Manager

    2022- present

  • Contact:

    MichaelK@AOMEarchitects.com

  • Licensed Architect, Washington

    2004 - Present

  • NCARB National License in Architecture

    2004-Present

  • Bachelor of Architecture

    Washington State University in Pullman, WA

  • Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies

    Washington State University in Pullman, WA

EDUCATION & PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND

  • Administrative Assistant

  • Bachelor of Science

    University of Washington, Seattle, WA

  • Contact

    MandeepB@AOMEarchitects.com

Mandeep Bhumber

I enjoy helping others and it's a joy to work with the AOME Team!

  • Administrative Assistant

  • Bachelor of Science

    University of Washington, Seattle, WA

  • Contact

    MandeepB@AOMEarchitects.com

EDUCATION & PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND

  • Marketing Assistant

    2023-Present

  • Bachelor in Communication Science

    UBA - University of Buenos Aires

  • Contact

    NoeliaP@AOMEarchitects.com

Noelia Pirsic

I'm passionate about communication in all its forms, always looking for ways to promote understanding among people.

  • Marketing Assistant

    2023-Present

  • Bachelor in Communication Science

    UBA - University of Buenos Aires

  • Contact

    NoeliaP@AOMEarchitects.com

Professional Background

  • AOME Architects

    Principal, 1986-2023, retired 2023

Dennis Marsh, co-founder, retired

"It’s fun discovering what we can achieve together"

Dennis was a founding member of AOME

He and Elster met at another firm (along with the other two long retired co-founders) where they immediately became friends and quickly forged a strong working relationship that blossomed into an urge to “do our own thing.” In our early years Dennis lead the firm to emphasize strong relationships with our clients. Dennis was an early mentor for Elster, encouraging their mutual desire to take the firm to new heights and, in his own restrained way, was always supportive of Elster’s relentless pursuit of advancing AOME’s core purpose, and the use of technology and networking endeavors to achieve our goals.

AOME is grateful for all the talent, determination, and creative energy Dennis contributed to our success over the course 38 years, and looks forward to stories of his exploits to come…

  • AOME Architects

    Principal, 1986-2023, retired 2023