Interview: Dagmara Larsen, principal, MSR Design

Dagmara Larsen brings a global perspective to the local design community, where she has made a name for herself as a mentor and a designer of award-winning libraries and other projects. Larsen earned her architecture degree in her native country of Poland. From there, she gained international experience before coming to the U.S. and landing a job with MSR Design in Minneapolis. She was promoted to principal last year. More recently, Larsen was one of three local architects to receive an American Institute of Architects-Minnesota Young Architects Award. The prestigious honor recognizes individuals who have shown “exceptional leadership and made significant contributions to the profession within the first 10 years of being licensed to practice.” In addition to her regular practice, Larsen teaches at the University of Minnesota and mentors architecture students at the U of M and Dunwoody College of Technology. She juggles those activities with volunteer work on committees for schools and literary organizations. Larsen has served for more than five years as chair of the Board for Articulture, a local nonprofit that “drives positive change through the visual arts – aspirations similar to those she envisions for architecture,” according to her Young Architects nomination form. Larsen earned the award based in part on “her excellence in design and strong voice in library and higher education design, which has a significant impact on communities,” according to AIA Minnesota. In the following interview, Larsen talks with Reporter Brian Johnson about some of her notable projects and what drew her to the profession.