ABOUT US
In Parallel Architects + Builders is a group of creative people who understand that the design and construction process is at its best when it is one cohesive flow between clients, makers, and municipalities. Our practice is immersed in the act of making and collaborating. We tackle many types of projects, including immaterial ideas, small objects, furniture, and ultimately buildings. By investing in both design and construction throughout our work, we create rich and thorough realizations of our clients’ visions. We are better designers because of our exposure to building and better builders because of our commitment to design. Heavily invested in the craft of traditional and innovative techniques and methodologies, IP-AB collaborates with skilled creators, craftspeople, and thinkers to provide design and construction solutions for clients that are project-specific, functional, and cost efficient, as well as beautiful, transformative, and progressive.
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THE TEAM
KASEY VLIET
kasey@ip-ab.com
Founding Principal
Kasey is an architect and a builder who leads our Ann Arbor studio. He has professional experience on numerous types of architecture and construction projects globally at many different scales. His interests include fabrication, design workflows and environmental stewardship.
EDUCATION
Master of Architecture
University of Michigan | 2015
Bachelor of Science (Architecture)
University of Michigan | 2006
TRAVIS WILLIAMS
travis@ip-ab.com
Founding Principal
Travis is an architect and leads our Grand Rapids studio. He has professional experience in Grand Rapids, Boston, and LA. His interests include parametric design and both digital and analogue fabrication.
EDUCATION
Master of Architecture
Massachusetts Institute of Technology | 2013
Bachelor of Science (Architecture)
University of Michigan | 2006
ELPIS WONG
elpis@ip-ab.com
Project Architect
Elpis has practiced previously in Hong Kong and Japan prior to joining IP-AB in 2019. Her experience includes commercial and residential projects in Hong Kong, charitable institutional projects in rural Cambodia and residential projects in Michigan. She combines her dedication to architecture with a fervent interest in craft and fabrication.
TREVOR HERMAN HILKER
designer@ip-ab.com
Designer + Marketing
Trevor has practiced as an architectural designer and critic, with particular experience and interest in the design and curation of architectural exhibitions, before joining IP-AB in 2020. His work includes contributions to the 2016 Venice Biennale as a member of A(n) Office, and to the 2019 Seoul Biennale and 2019 São Paulo Biennial as a member of MIT’s Critical Broadcasting Lab.
CODY ENGLAND
cody@ip-ab.com
Journeyperson Carpenter
Cody is a carpenter in our Ann Arbor studio. He gained construction experience in the Howell Education Foundation Building Trades program, and through his long family line of craftspeople, including a pipefitter and finish carpenters. His friendly and welcoming daily presence on construction sites pairs well with his rigorous work ethic and problem solving ability. He enjoys interacting with clients and transforming design visions into constructed realities. Cody is currently pursuing a Residential Builders License in Michigan.
GEORGE CRNKOVICH
george@ip-ab.com
Project Manager
George is a skilled carpenter and project manager with extensive experience in new construction, residential remodeling, custom furniture, mixed-media fabrication, and landscape projects. His hands-on expertise is complemented by a comprehensive understanding of construction systems, methods, and processes, allowing him to manage projects with both general perspective and a meticulous attention to detail.
His ability to seamlessly bridge the roles of carpenter and project manager ensures projects are executed with precision, efficiency, and a cohesive vision.
JOEL MASINDE
joel@ip-ab.com
Journeyperson Carpenter
Joel is a carpenter and craftsperson with a background in medical practice as a doctor in Uganda. He has experience working on commercial and residential carpentry work in the Metro-Detroit area while studying for medical exams in the United States.
He has particular interest in tilework and tile installation.
RON COTE
ron@ip-ab.com
Lead Carpenter
Ron Cote is a Lead Carpenter and has over 35 years of experience mastering his trade. He specializes in custom cabinetry, custom woodworking, and cabinetry fabrication. He has traveled across the nation taking on commercial and residential projects of various degrees of difficulty. He enjoys working with all species of wood and taking on challenging projects.
ASHLEY HSU
ashley@ip-ab.com
Project Architect
Ashley is a designer hailing from Taipei, Toronto, Shanghai, Brooklyn, and LA. She has almost a decade of experience with a focus on design-build project delivery and residential architecture - from ground up modern hillside complexes, Victorian home additions and remodels, to tiny ADUs. She loves making things of all kinds and dreams of moving to Japan to practice woodworking.
DREW MCDANIEL
drew@ip-ab.com
Lead Carpenter
Drew is a builder and designer who has worked with a wide range of creative professionals in Boulder, Minneapolis, Nashville, Asheville and New York’s Hudson Valley. In 2011 he and his wife started Fabled Fort, a woodworking and design company, building a variety of projects ranging from rough builds and kitchen remodels, to custom built-ins, cabinets and furniture. He recently returned back to Ann Arbor after 20 years away. In addition to being a creative craftsman Drew is an accomplished guitar player and home recordist, as well as a husband and father.
TAYLOR BOES
taylor@ip-ab.com
Designer + Marketing
Taylor is an architecturally-trained designer with interests in fabrication and architecture at the scale of the body. Her work with Matter Design was published in Pidgin 30 and exhibited at Wasserman Projects, and her personal work has been shown at TAB 2022, the 2023 exhibit ‘The Architecture of Prayer’, and Union Gallery’s show ‘Vessels’ in 2025.
BENOIT LEPOTTIER
benoit@ip-ab.com
Design + Fabrication Intern
Benoit is a student at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (CalPoly SLO) working towards a Bachelors of Architecture. He has previously worked as a furniture fabricator and workshop assistant for the Architecture Department at CalPoly SLO as well as a contractors assistant. He is interested in carrying his interest in carpentry and fabrication into his career as a designer and architect.