Colin Alley, AIA

Colin is a co-founder of the neesh. He is an architect who's spent the better part of 25 years figuring out how to make spaces work harder — for retailers, for cities, and now, for homeowners looking to make the most of their own slice of Marin County.

Colin's prior role as a Principal and Director of Operations at BCV Architecture + Interiors, where he led both design projects and operational business strategy for a 30-person bicoastal firm awarded for its work in retail, hospitality, and placemaking. Before that, he spent years working on custom residential projects in both the desert southwest and the Bay Area. He's a licensed architect in both California and Arizona, a LEED Accredited Professional, and someone who's just as comfortable talking development details and finance with a commercial client as he is talking zoning code with a city planner, or custom details with a homeowner.

But ask Colin what he actually loves about the work, and it's less about the resume and more about the craft — the satisfaction of a detail that works, a space that feels right, a project that comes together the way it was supposed to.

That same hands-on instinct shows up everywhere else in his life, too. Colin's a self-described carpenter at heart — the kind of person who'd rather build something himself than just spec it out on paper, and who appreciates good craftsmanship whether it's in a cabinet joint or a building detail. He's most at ease outdoors, whether that means a long trail, a lake, or just being somewhere with dirt underfoot and sky overhead. And he's serious about staying in shape — fitness isn't a side note for Colin, it's part of how he stays sharp, focused, and ready for whatever the day (or the job site) throws at him.

Colin stays deeply connected to his community. He currently serves as a Director of the Throckmorton Theater in Mill Valley, previously sat on Marin County's Architectural Commission, and has been an active AIA member since 2003. He's someone who believes good design doesn't stop at the building line — it extends into the neighborhoods and communities that buildings are part of.

Colin lives in Corte Madera, where his love of craftsmanship, the outdoors, and thoughtful design all tend to show up in the same weekend project.