Awad Architects

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Iron River, MI
Awad Architects

AWAD architects is led by Ali Awad, AIA and a small team of specialized experts. I love to help people find the right solution for their home

Ali graduated from the University of Minnesota Architecture School and has been a licensed architect since 1995.

08/17/2026

Cabin Complete! 🌲

The cabin is finished and the owners have moved in!

We’ll be heading up to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula in a couple of weeks to see the finished project in person. I can’t wait to see how the design came together—and how it feels looking out over the lake.

Summers in the U.P. are short and sweet. Glad they’ll get to enjoy this one in their new cabin!

Awad Architects

08/14/2026

Happy 5th Birthday, Dwell44 - Modern Design Showroom! 🎉

Five years of bringing great design to the Twin Cities with modern cabinetry, furnishings, and high-performance windows.

Congratulations to Jon Coty and the entire Dwell44 team on this milestone. Jon is an awesome host who knows how to throw a great party—and apparently how to dress for one too. Check out those on-brand orange pants! 🧡

Here’s to the next five!

Awad Architects

08/10/2026

Exterior Transformation!

This cute home in Southwest Minneapolis was ready for new siding, which gave us an opportunity to rethink its entire exterior character.

Our design takes inspiration from the residential work of Minnesota architect Edwin Lundie, with a nod toward Arts & Crafts detailing. We introduced a richer mix of materials, more texture, deeper trim and carefully considered details—all while working with the basic form of the existing house.

One of the things I believe strongly about exterior renovations: Houses are defined by their rooflines.

Rather than fighting an existing house, we study its roof forms, proportions and character and let them guide us toward a design that feels like it belongs.

The goal isn’t to make an old house look like a completely different house. It’s to discover what it could have been all along.

Swipe to see where we started—and how the existing house guided the transformation.

08/05/2026

Business in front. Party in back.

Who says garages can’t be cool?

This is what I call a mullet garage—business in the front, party in the back.

From the street, it’s a handsome two-car garage with a loft above for extra storage. But step into the backyard and it transforms into a covered outdoor living space that’s perfect for dining, relaxing, and entertaining.

By taking advantage of the site’s natural grade, we were able to create a storage loft and a spacious covered patio while staying below the city’s maximum height restrictions.

When you live in the city, your garage is a huge part of your backyard. You look at it every day, so why not make it beautiful as well as functional?

At Awad Architects, we believe every building on your property should add to the way you live.

08/03/2026

Behind every great custom home is a great team.

A big thank you to Mike Hoh at Structural Design Concepts and Scherer Bros Truss Manufacturing for a fascinating continuing education session followed by a tour of their truss plant in Albertville.

Mike is an incredible resource for architects, designers, and builders. His partnership with Scherer Bros brings together outstanding engineering, manufacturing, and service for custom floor and roof truss systems.

I’ve been a fan of both organizations for many years, and it’s always valuable to get out of the office and learn from the people who make our projects possible.

Thanks for the hospitality and a great afternoon!

Scherer Bros Lumber Co.

AIA Minnesota

07/28/2026

Yesterday I traded my pencils for some golf clubs and took the day off to support a great cause.

We braved the heat at the Buck Hill Golf Tournament in support of the Justin Linde Scholarship Fund. It was a sweltering on the course but spending time with friends while helping provide opportunities for students made it all worthwhile

I’m grateful to be a hole sponsor and proud to support an organization that invests in the next generation.

Buck Hill

07/26/2026

Crooked Lake Cabin Update

Made a trip up to check on progress at our Crooked Lake Cabin project this weekend—and we’re getting close!

Tile, millwork, and hardwood flooring are all underway, and it’s exciting to see the design coming to life. Even better was spending time with my clients (and friends) and hearing how much they’re enjoying the cabin.

We carefully positioned the cabin right at the bluff setback and oriented the great room and porch to capture the long views up Crooked Lake.

The nearby bunkhouse we designed a few years ago will soon become guest quarters, creating the perfect family retreat for generations to come.

And perhaps the most important review of all...

Westie approved.

07/22/2026

The dictionary defines iteration as repeating a process to move progressively closer to the best solution.

That’s exactly what architectural design is.

This week has been filled with heavy iteration across several projects. My process blends hand sketching with 3D modeling. I’ll sketch an idea, build it in the model, review it, refine it, and do it again.

Sketch. Model. Review. Refine. Repeat Until it’s Right.

Every pass reveals something new. Every iteration brings the design closer to the way a family wants to live.

It’s one of the many reasons I love being an architect.

07/13/2026

Chaska Project Update

We’re in the home stretch on this custom home in Chaska!

The painters have started transforming the interior, while exterior stonework and final grading continue—even with a little Minnesota mud from the recent rain. Every week brings another milestone, and move-in day is getting closer.

I love to watch a project shift from a construction site into a dream home.

Thank you to our outstanding project partners:
Scherer Bros Lumber Co.
Marvin

07/05/2026

⚡️ Electrical Walk-Through | River Road Remodel

One of the most important milestones in any renovation is the electrical walk-through.

This is where we walk the framed spaces with the electrician and interior designer to confirm every switch, outlet, light fixture, and dimmer before the walls are insulated and drywalled.

There’s no substitute for standing in the actual space and imagining how you’ll live there.

A few familiar sights on electrical walk-through day: marked-up plans, spools of wire, and plenty of wood shavings from drilling through the framing.

It’s all part of turning a design into a home.

Progress!

Brought to you by the power of collaboration:
Studio J Interiors
Terra Firma
Scherer Bros Lumber Co.
Awad Architects

Address

Iron River, MI
49935

Website

https://awadarchitects.com/

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