Team

Niels Valentiner is the Founder and "V" of VCBO Architecture. His guidance has developed VCBO into the dynamic firm it is today, recognized for its regional, national, and international impact. Niels has a history of designing projects for corporate office complexes, civic and state institutional buildings, universities, sports and arena facilities, medical facilities, and significant religious buildings in the United States and abroad in Central America, Europe, and Asia.

Niels' corporate social responsibility extends to the co-founding of CHOICE Humanitarian, as chairman and board member, providing village development leadership in rural areas of Guatemala, Bolivia, Mexico, Nepal, and Kenya.

Brent is a seasoned architect whose designs have shaped the Intermountain West since 1984. He is a recognized thought leader in civic and judicial facility design and notable projects include the State of Utah Fourth District Courthouse, the Provo Community Recreation Center, and the Ken Garff Performance Zone at Rice Eccles Stadium. Brent’s dynamic personality and thoughtful design approach enable him to guide complex projects to elegant solutions.

The first woman in Utah to be elevated to Fellowship in the AIA, Jeanne has been a pioneer in innovative education design since 1990. She is behind a host of award-winning facilities, garnering local, regional, and national recognition, including Farmington High School, a finalist for the prestigious James D. MacConnell Award. She is highly passionate about creating spaces that offer a stimulating and exciting learning environment.

Derek has planned, programmed, and designed many of Utah’s most innovative and successful structures. These projects are designed to reflect the values, hopes, and aspirations of their users.

Derek’s projects have been nationally recognized for design excellence, and he is driven by creating unique, active, and rewarding people-places.

With more than 35 years of domestic and international experience in the profession, Vern enjoys working with clients to envision, design, and construct three-dimensional spaces that positively impact the built environment of our communities. His programming and design accomplishments include the beautiful Rome, Italy Temple.

He has presented at numerous local, national, and international events including a presentation on “Designing a High School for the Future."

As a young boy, Jeff would accompany his architect father to job sites, survey property with a transit and stick, and run blueprints. Specializing in healthcare, today Jeff excels at the intricacies associated with medical projects and communication and collaboration, both with the clients he serves and the team he leads.

This practical skill in communication allows him to direct complex and challenging projects and execute them accurately, efficiently, and with the highest level of quality.

David has developed a strong reputation as a tenacious advocate for his clients. Specializing in K-12 educational design, he is recognized as an industry expert in merging the functional necessities of the educator with cutting-edge concepts of future-proofed educational design.

He believes efficient function and striking design aesthetics aren’t meant to be warring interests but should strike a harmonious balance.

Celestia deftly orchestrates the balance between technical disciplines and aesthetics throughout the planning, design, and construction processes of each project. A vocal advocate for under-represented groups in the profession of architecture, Celestia is the founder and president of the local non-profit Women In Architecture SLC.

Many projects she has been involved with have garnered national recognition and awards for design excellence.

Nathan is passionate about civic design and believes that it can significantly increase the health and happiness of our communities. Focusing on civic architecture since 1998, his experience and attention to detail have become highly sought after by VCBO’s many repeat clients.

As a leader at VCBO, Nathan has always championed technological innovations within the firm and has been integral to numerous successful projects, recognized by both local and national design awards.

Alex is at the forefront of research and innovation in the design of future learning environments. He expertly provides design solutions that enhance flexibility for students, teachers, and administrators.

Alex sees flexible learning environments as a necessary component of education— from preschool to graduate school— and has researched, toured, and brought his expertise to schools and university buildings throughout the United States.

Melissa is a vibrant Chief Operating Officer who profoundly impacts our culture and operations. The entire staff—office runners and principals alike—looks to her for guidance and support. Starting out as Director of Operations in 2011, Melissa has since cultivated an exceptional office environment by fostering incentives in support of teamwork and best practices.

With more than 27 years of operational experience in both the A / E and legal industries, Melissa is a member of the Executive Board and an active participant in making important decisions throughout the firm.

A community outreach specialist, Whitney embraces a holistic design approach that ensures functionality, flexibility, and durability are at the forefront of each project. She is an advocate for sustainable design and provides vast expertise in the planning, design, and documentation processes for innovative sustainable buildings.

In her spare time, Whitney teaches Site Design and Sustainable Development as an Adjunct Professor with the University of Utah City and Metropolitan Planning Department.

Phil believes in creating incredible architecture by first creating incredible collaborative relationships with owners, contractors, and engineers. A licensed architect since 2006, Phil’s standout skills include project management, navigating tasks that require code analysis, project scheduling, programming, design, quality control, contract administration, specification writing, and team management.

He is committed to sustainable design and dynamic project management services.

Pablo puts special emphasis on collaboration, allowing him to integrate client input with his own ideas to create truly unique, client-specific designs. His holistic approach to developing 3-dimensional buildings includes balancing aesthetically attractive design with highly functional floor plans.

A licensed architect since 2006, his work experience spans educational facilities, office buildings, private residences, and beyond.

Julia has been working in the profession since 2000 and has been with VCBO since 2005. While Julia specializes in educational facilities, her portfolio also includes numerous project types of varying sizes and budgets. Julia is extremely attentive in collaborations with owners, consultants, and contractors alike, which aids her ability to solve difficult design challenges.

For Julia, architecture affords the opportunity for creative design to both function and inspire.

An interior design leader, Coreen is experienced with the principles of both classical architecture and innovative, modern design. Passionate about research and experiential design, she weaves local history and culture into the spaces she designs, enriching her projects and enhancing the user experience.
Coreen has been integral to several education, healthcare, high-end residential, sports, and recreation projects, as well as significant religious work across the U.S. and abroad.

Benji approaches architecture as a balance between science and art, informed by a fine art background and a practical, disciplined design sensibility. His work includes hospitality, resort, residential, and retail projects, with experience across Asia and the Pacific.

Skilled in guiding projects from early design through documentation and construction, he pays thoughtful attention to culture, environment, and context. Benji is dedicated to creating environmentally sensitive architecture that contributes meaningfully to place and community.

James believes strong architecture emerges when individual elements work together to create something enduring and meaningful. Guided by curiosity and an adaptive approach, his work spans civic, hospitality, and resort environments, balancing creativity with responsibility to place and community.

His experience includes projects in sixteen countries, with a significant presence across the Asia-Pacific region, reflecting a career shaped by collaboration, cultural awareness, and a commitment to the built environment.

By integrating the needs of owners, users, and the broader community, Breanna creates projects that are resilient and enduring. Her work includes several of VCBO’s flagship projects, including the Salt Lake City Library and the Utah State Capitol Restoration & Seismic Base Isolation.

With experience across civic, educational, historic, healthcare, retail, and recreational environments, she brings a broad perspective to her work. Breanna currently specializes in K–12 education design, supporting school communities through thoughtful planning and delivery.

Levi approaches design with a belief that the built environment can positively support well-being, particularly during times of change or challenge. Specializing in healthcare architecture, he excels on complex projects that demand seamless coordination and thoughtful leadership.

With his detail-oriented mindset, Levi develops precise construction documents and works collaboratively with construction teams throughout delivery. Known for his professionalism and responsiveness, he brings a creative and steady problem-solving approach to complex design challenges.