Bio:

The great designer, Morgan Ronspies, Associate AIA, is a 2020 graduate of the Master of Architecture program at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln. As a single mother, she spent eight years working towards degrees in both interior design and architecture and now fulfills a versatile role on her design team doing both. Her featured project, Barnato, was completed during her third professional internship in the commercial design industry.

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How did you first learn about architecture and when did you decide that built environment profession was an area of interest for you?

In eighth grade, I had to give a speech on my dream job. I had no idea what I wanted to do. I’ve always been creative and detail oriented. I want- ed a job where I could utilize those strengths. My mom suggested architecture. She was right (as usual).

 

What do you do?

I’m a designer in the commercial industry. I’ve worked on teams that focus on education, retail, and corporate projects. My true passion is hospitality design. I love to design destinations. It’s fulfilling to create spaces that people want to be.

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What excites you in the work you do?

I thrive in the details. Great design should happen on all levels. The aesthetic of a space is enhanced by the small details people notice. Materials, transitions, hardware, and lighting all reinforce the aesthetic. I love curating that experience.

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Who or what inspires you professionally?

I’m inspired by my own experiences in the built environment. When I find myself marveling in the vibe of a space, I analyze it. What about this space makes me feel this way? What could make it better? The answers translate into my own designs

 

What is your proudest professional accomplishment or achievement?

My proudest achievement is earning my Master of Architecture. Being a young, single mother, commuting 90 minutes roundtrip for class every day, interning at a firm, and spending late nights on studio projects was difficult but worth the feat.

 

Featured Project Name: 

Barnato

 

Featured Project Location: 

Omaha, Nebraska

 

Featured Project Completion Date: 

February 2020

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Role in Featured Project: 

Interior Designer

 

Featured Project Description:

Barnato is a cocktail lounge with a hidden speakeasy in west Omaha, Nebraska. The space was designed in line with its namesake: Woolf ‘Babe’ Barnato. Barnato was one of the original 1920’s Bentley Boy racers. The lounge has views into the Bentley showroom next door. Every custom detail from the signature Bentley race car green VIP booths to the checkered racing flag floor tile in the speakeasy alludes to the prohibition racing days of the Bentley Boys. Barnato is an elevated cocktail experience.

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Photography Credit:

Dana Underwood