Bemidji's own Matt Smith will lead new downtown architectural office

Sep. 13—BEMIDJI — When Duluth-based DSGW Architecture decided to open an office in Bemidji, it didn't need to look very far to find a manager to run it.

Bemidji High School graduate Matt Smith was the clear choice.

Smith, 34, had worked for DSGW in Virginia, Minn., and Duluth after getting his architectural degree from North Dakota State University, but left the company to pursue other opportunities. He and his wife, Katie, who met in high school, eventually returned to Bemidji. The Smiths welcomed their third child two months ago, and all four grandparents still live in Bemidji. Matt was able to work remotely for a Twin Cities-based company.

Then DSGW came calling again.

"Last year we went out and said maybe Matt wants to come back," John Geissler, CEO and President of DSGW Architecture said during a grand opening event at 522 Beltrami Ave. NW on Thursday, Sept. 12. "We've been targeting this area for a long time. We've also done a lot of work with tribal nations all across the Upper Midwest. Now we can be a little bit closer to them and react quicker to them. It's good to have a face with the name."

DSGW, an 86-year-old company, has designed several projects in the area, including the Red Lake Tribal College and Government Center, Bemidji's First City Liquor, the Naytahwaush Health Center, and the Northwoods Battered Women's Shelter, which is currently under construction on 30th Street NW in Bemidji.

The company has worked with more than 40 tribal nations across the country, creating culturally respectful spaces that honor tradition while serving modern needs. Projects such as the Red Lake Tribal College and Government Center and Naytahwaush Health Center are testaments to DSGW's commitment to integrating cultural values into its designs.

"Working with Indigenous communities is a privilege and a responsibility we take seriously," said Mike Laverdure, Principal Indigenous Architect at DSGW.

The company also has an office in Lake Elmo, Minn., and plans to open another one in Washburn, Wis.

Smith, an avid outdoorsman, said he is looking forward to playing a leadership role in his hometown Bemidji office. He is one of two architects to be housed in the professional office building at Sixth Street and Beltrami Avenue.

"I will wear a lot of hats," he said, "project architect, building new relationships and bringing in some new work. That's what I love about DSGW; you get to do all the different roles on a project. Having the opportunity to establish a home base in Bemidji is a personal milestone for me."