Paul Mellblom
Title: Principal
Organization: MSR Design
Location: Minneapolis, MN
A principal at MSR Design since 2006, Paul Mellblom leads the affordable housing and non-profit project aspects of the firm’s design work. He also leads the firm’s pro bono design practice having completed 16 projects in the past fifteen years. He has led design teams on projects ranging in scale from $50k to over $50m in construction costs. Paul enjoys the variety of challenges that leading a 35-person architecture and interior design firm brings every day.
Recognizing that design has the power to shape and improve people’s lives, Paul focuses on the design of places that promote health and wellbeing, resource efficiency, social justice and beauty rooted within local community values. His design work has achieved notable recognition, including a 2016 ULI Jack Kemp Excellence in Affordable and Workforce Housing Award, a 2015 AIA Minnesota/ McKnight Foundation Affordable Housing Design Award, a 2016 AIA Minnesota Honor Award and a 2016 Minnesota Environmental Initiative Award. Paul received the 2013 AIA Minnesota Louis Lundgren Award for his exemplary volunteerism and a 2011 Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal Diversity in Business Award.
Paul strategically leads change in large and small organizations as an architect and as a volunteer, in both the greater community and within MSR Design as one of the firm’s four principals. His tenacity and plainspoken advocacy for the dignity and value of every person have guided him on the dual tracks of his work as an architect and a dedicated volunteer leader, often adopting the model of servant leader. Paul currently serves on the Advisory Board for Tulane University’s Center of Public Service. Paul has intentionally chosen to serve on boards of smaller nonprofit organizations undertaking change – actively leading them to execute their mission to more effectively meet community needs. In 2017 Paul was recruited to be a founding co-chair of ULI Minnesota’s Housing Product Council and in 2019 was asked to join ULI Minnesota’s nascent Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force.