Tess Komas

About Tess

Tess knew she wanted to be an architect from a young age—ever since a 5th grade math class assignment had her sketching her dream home. On career day, she turned to her mom and asked, "What job lets me do this every day?" That early passion has grown into a career grounded in creativity, collaboration, and a deep curiosity about how buildings come together.

Tess enjoys the dynamic nature of architecture—problem-solving through design, navigating internal communication, and coordinating with consultants and contractors to ensure each part of a building and its systems function cohesively.

Outside of work, Tess and her husband Drew are avid travelers and outdoor enthusiasts—often found hiking, biking, or snowboarding. One of their favorite local spots is Atwater Beach in Milwaukee, where they got engaged and still enjoy swimming, reading, or tossing a baseball by the lake. Together, they've explored 12 countries and counting. For Tess, those international experiences have not only been enriching but also influential—broadening her perspective on architecture through the lens of diverse cultures, communities, and the ways people interact with space.

On her favorite project

"My favorite projects to date have been private residences because of how closely you get to interact, connect and develop a relationship with the client while designing a space they will experience daily."

On relational architecture

“People centered design – built on collaboration and knowing that the most important part of a project is working with the client to understand their vision while making a positive contribution to the built environment.”