Merit Born is led by Karlin Vaessen, a licensed architect with 25 years of experience shaping hospitality spaces across the country. Before founding Merit Born, Karlin spent years at some of the industry's most prominent international firms, working on projects ranging from boutique hotel renovations to large-scale resort developments.

That breadth of experience is Merit Born's edge. Karlin brings an uncommon fluency across architecture, interior design, and the trades — structural, mechanical, electrical, and construction — that allows projects to move more efficiently from concept to completion. Fewer coordination gaps. Fewer surprises. Better outcomes.

Merit Born operates as a principal-led studio. Every client works directly with Karlin, supported by a trusted network of engineers, interior designers, and specialty consultants who scale to meet the demands of each project. The result is the expertise of a large firm with the responsiveness and personal attention of a dedicated partner.

NCARB -certified and licensed in multiple states, including Colorado, Illinois, and California.

Here we believe that architecture and design touches on all parts of the human experience. Our process begins by listening with an open mind to clients’ needs and interpreting those needs into three dimensions. We focus on unique, sometimes unexpected, contextual solutions that address the challenges of a site or existing space. Our belief is that design should be ego-less, seeking only to address the project’s distinct issues and elevate the use and experience of each individual project. Honesty in materials leads to timeless, enduring structures and spaces. Our methodology is inherently economical and sustainable, with each project reflecting our passion for design and our fun-loving spirit.