Meet Our Team
Z Architects LLC consists of a team of people that truly love Alaska—they are a team that wants their work to reflect that passion.
Z Architects LLC consists of a team of people that truly love Alaska—they are a team that wants their work to reflect that passion.
Marco Zaccaro has been a resident of Girdwood, Alaska for most of his life and a respected member of the design and construction industry in Alaska for over 30 years.
Marco graduated on the chancellor’s honor list with bachelor’s degree from the University of Alaska Fairbanks in 1989 and then completed a masters program in architecture at the University of Oregon 1997. Marco was employed by RIM Architects, in Anchorage, for six years before starting his own firm, Z Architects, in Girdwood in 2003. He has since designed numerous residential and commercial projects throughout Alaska emphasizing integration of structure, aesthetics and environment. Projects include an award winning upscale wilderness lodge in Kenai Fjords National Park and a timber frame Methodist Church built primarily with volunteer labor.
Marco shares the Alaskan passion for outdoor activities and enjoys backcountry skiing, hiking, biking and kayaking. He values spending time with his three children Dessa, Brenner, and Leland, and looks forward to opportunities to travel with them. His more recent travels include trips to Jordan and Syria, a trip to Nepal with his mother and sister, a trip to Chile with his daughter, and another family trip to Spain.
Marco Zaccaro represents a wealth of knowledge about the specific history, land use, and design concerns in the Alaskan landscape. His experiences and perspectives developed over a long period of time make him an invaluable asset to current and future developments in Southcentral Alaska. Marco works hard to meet the goals and vision of each client he serves and support the communities where he works. He is committed to the long term success of sustainable development and Architecture within his own community and Alaska in general.
Ellen grew up in Juneau. She spent two years in the Peace Corps in Tuvalu and was appointed to the position of Public Works Department Architect. She spent her formative architectural years in San Francisco and retains architecture licenses in California and Alaska. Ellen is our resident ADA and Modeling expert. Her models are so accurate that we can give them to our contractors to build off of.
Ivana is an awarded architect with over 20 years experience in architecture in the United States and Croatia. With a PhD in Architecture and Urbanism, she was on the faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture at the University of Zagreb in Croatia, mentoring both graduate and undergraduate students. She ran a firm in Zagreb as lead architect overseeing urban planning of town squares and buildings, of which 3 won awards, including one of the largest Kindergartens in Croatia. Ivana loves travel, and visiting the museums and sharing the cultural experiences and art of the places with her family. She has lived in three countries and is enjoying living here in wild Alaska.
Cassidy is originally from Lake Geneva, Wisconsin and carries a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. After joining the architecture community shortly thereafter, Cassidy received a Master of Architecture degree from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities. She is on the path to licensure and is thrilled to grow with the Z Architects team. While a small-town Midwesterner at heart, Cassidy jumps on any travel opportunity to experience new environments, structures, and flavors. She is excited to belong to the Girdwood community and explore the stunning landscape of Alaska.
Keeper of the Calendar, Lisa’s background is in owning a music studio in Alaska for 20 years, and she keeps the day to day operations running. She has had a lifelong love of architecture and is thrilled at every drafting and design opportunity. Her passions are inspired by an active outdoor life, and include sustainability in architecture, and designs that complement their natural surroundings.
Originally from Michigan, Jen traveled to Alaska from Lake Tahoe CA. She has called Girdwood home ever since. Jen’s main passions are her family, food, and interior design. Jen has an uncanny ability to connect with clients and provide designs that truly speak to their sensibilities.
Chris Chiei’s design career spans over three decades with more than 25 years dedicated to building within Alaska He brings a comprehensive understanding of northern design principals to each and every project. He is an outstanding detailer and often carries his award-winning designs from concept to final delivery with great attention to each and every phase.
Chris has a great understanding of building codes and a proven track record of working with code officials to attain permits and resolve unique code challenges.
Chris also has more than 10 years of experience with rural Alaskan school projects where he developed skills for organizing and managing complex design schedules to best leverage seasonal and barging logistics for projects built at the far corners of the State.
He is known as a team leader and design mentor within the design community.