We are a team of award-winning, curious, growth-oriented, friendly architects and support staff. We mix vision with pragmatism. We are motivated to support our client’s goals with a custom approach to design excellence.

Sophia Sparklin and Keith Ballantyne

A little history

Before they met, principals Sophia Sparklin and Keith Ballantyne each headed their own small architecture firms - Spark Architecture (2012) and BDA (2008) - in Central Montana. Both Sophia and Keith had a track record of international education and experience, ambitious award-winning projects. Both chose firm ownership as an opportunity to live and work in better alignment with their values, including the flexibility to be there for their young children.

In 2021 the collegial friendship between Sophia and Keith turned into a joint endeavor. With the idea to grow a value-centered firm, Sophia created a new Public Benefit Corporation (Spark Architecture, PBC) and merged her old firm into this new organization. A few months later, Keith joined her as co-owner and Chief Design Director. To reflect their new shared identity, they renamed the firm to BSPARK Architecture in 2022, while also celebrating the combined quarter-century anniversary of the two origin firms. BSPARK is a certified woman-owned DBE.

Our team has grown to over ten people, including six architects and a great support team. We continue to look for talent in and beyond Montana.

Meet the Team

Sophia Sparklin
Keith Ballantyne
Itzai Bazan
Tyece Pool
Eric Vollmer

  • Principal/ Human Design Champion

    As a Great Falls resident, Sophia feels a deep responsibility for the resources of our community. She is actively growing BSpark’s diverse team to offer excellence in design, technical expertise and project delivery. Prior to moving to Great Falls, Sophia worked with Tempe-based Architekton as Project Architect and Project Manager on several YMCAs, Recreation and Athletic Centers and classroom facilities.

  • Principal

    With over 30 years of experience in the field, Keith is a knowledgeable and intuitive architect. Flexible and adaptable to move with the flow of design and to discover new possibilities, with the capacity to work under pressure and quickly react to challenges and unexpected situations. Highly talented at understanding separate elements of a project and aligning them with the context of production to provide efficient, workable and well-designed solutions. During his career, Keith has been able to work and teach abroad, gaining invaluable international experience reflected in his work. His particular professional interests lie in contemporary architecture, architectural technology and architectural narrative.

  • Designer

    Itzaí has over 18 years of experience planning, creating and developing architectural projects from conceptual design through construction. Having worked on multiple residential, retail, civic and commercial projects, he has a deep knowledge of an array of processes, materials and methods of construction. Itzaí owned his architecture firm in Mexico City for 8 years, before moving to Denver, CO, with his wife and dog. In addition to being a talented designer with a great attitude and personal drive to advance the architectural field, Itzaí is a master of BIM software and renderings and a LEED Green Associate.

  • Interior Designer

    Tyece is an Interior Designer who designs spaces that are equally functional and aesthetically pleasing. She is a results-driven individual with a keen eye for detail. Her project experience spans from government and educational facilities to commercial buildings and residential properties. She is passionate about her family and her community, filling her free time with a hearty balance of both.

  • Architect

    Jannel has 17 years of experience, is licensed in Arizona and Washington, has taught at Arizona State University and sat as a guest critic for architectural design studios at Portland State University. She spent the early years of her career in Arizona working with Sophia on local university and community-based projects. She moved to Portland, Oregon, with her spouse to explore the Pacific Northwest. Eleven years later, and with lots of camping, hiking and mountain biking to show for it, Jannel has built a robust portfolio in higher-education with an additional focus on low-income, multi-family housing and complex renovation projects. She recently started up her own architectural practice in Portland. Jannel and Sophia are currently collaborating on the University of Montana Western Student Wellness Center project in Dillon, Montana. 

  • Designer/ Quality Control

    Eric moved to Montana in 2017, and started collaborating with Sophia on local residential, commercial, and multi family projects. Eric guides the whole BSPARK team towards excellence in design and technical performance. His experience with executing design-build projects ground his aesthetic sense in practical constructability and cost awareness. He is also a senior architect and project manager with the Phoenix-based company, Construction Zone, working remotely on both commercial and residential projects in Arizona, California and Florida. A licensed architect, Eric has received design awards from both the State and Western Mountain Region American Institute of Architects.

  • Operations Coordinator

    Originally from Minnesota, Sarah has called Montana home for the
    past seven years. She brings her organizational skills to BSPARK as
    our Operations Coordinator. Within this role she works with the team
    to coordinate project management, marketing, and client relations.
    With a healthcare background, she is passionate about how health
    plays a role in our projects and within our firms operations.

Jannel Waldron

Interested in joining our team? We are always looking for talented, dedicated designers.

Our values of Health, Clarity and Accountability guide us on the path to Excellence. We are looking for team members who are not only excited about these, but also ready to put each of them into meaningful practice.