Leadership
MARK GROENDA, NCARB, LEED AP Mark Groenda is the President of Blackline Design + Construction. Drawing on his construction and architectural background, Mark is able to guide projects to on time and on budget performance while delivering exceptional design quality. Mark holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Kansas State University and is a LEED Accredited Professional. After graduating from KSU, Mark joined Cannon Design where he worked as a project designer for large scale hospital and laboratory projects. In 2005, Mark and several partners founded a construction company and architecture firm. While leading that firm, Mark oversaw the construction of projects including office fit out, retail and commercial space, residential apartments and mixed use spaces. As a registered Architect, Mark is able to utilize his expertise in construction to successfully guide the construction process while at the same time tackling any issue that arises during the course of the project, as they always do in any historic renovation.
Mark’s construction knowledge covers a wide array of project types. While an expert at historic renovation projects, Mark also has a great deal of knowedge in high-rise, laboratory, educational, healthcare, governmental and process engineering construction. Drawing on his experience working with clients such as Solae, Illinois Institute of Technology, Barnes Jewish Hospital, and the Veterans Administration, he has been able to build a skill set and knowledge base not often possessed by one person.
MICHAEL SCHWARTZ, ASSOC. AIA Michael Schwartz is the co-founder and Vice-President of Blackline Design + Construction. After moving to St. Louis from Houston, Texas in 1999, Michael received both his Bachelor and Masters degrees in Architecture from Washington University. In 2005, he joined Rothschild Development Ltd as Director of Development, and since that time, has been responsible for the development, design and construction of over 350 residential units and over 250,000 square feet of commercial space from Downtown to University City. With a focus on urban redevelopment, historic restoration, and adaptive reuse, Michael leads projects through acquisition and financing, tax credit procurement, architectural development, construction and stabilization.
In conjunction with his position at Rothschild Development, Michael’s involvement in Blackline has allowed the firm to offer their clients a comprehensive package of services which illustrates an understanding and resolution to a multifaceted set of issues reaching far beyond design and construction. Michael has worked as an Architect for Weber & Co. Architects in Philadelphia and CRA Architecture in Houston. He was the curriculum author and professor of a course in Sustainable Development at the Graduate School of Architecture and Urban Design at Washington University. In addition, he serves on the Maplewood Design and Review Board. Michael is committed to sustainable design and is continually working on incorporating these methods and materials into every project he is involved in. Michael is a member of both the American Institute of Architects and the Urban Land Institute.