About Us

Our Mission

What makes us different from other architecture firms is that you can expect people to be at the center of our mission and our design philosophy.

Our mission is to contribute to a built environment that brings people together and fosters community , whether that is designing a casita in the back yard for your aging parents, a restaurant in an existing historic building, an office renovation for your thriving non-profit, or a new bricks and mortar space for your new business.

We love to work with everyone, but we take particular pride in our intercultural intelligence and working with underrepresented entrepreneurs, organizations, building owners and homeowners. We are committed to education, mentorship, inclusion, equity and justice in our process, whether that is in our own office culture, in working with our partners, and working with our clients.

Our Philosophy

Our design philosophy is all about people too. We want to make sure the end users enjoy the spaces we design. You can’t enjoy a space that doesn’t function well or that makes you feel lonely or isn’t pleasing to your senses. We promise we will always choose the enjoyment and wellbeing of the people who use the spaces we design over arbitrary aesthetics.

Our Process

Our process begins with the art of listening which dictates that we put aside our personal views to really hear what it is that you want to accomplish with your building project. Once we have truly heard you, we then apply our expertise in design, construction and permitting to help make your dream come true.

The Team

taz khatri

Founder/Principal, AIA, NCARB, NOMA, LEEDap

Rodney Dickerman

Administrative Manager

Melika REZAEI

Architectural Designer

Faryal Mohammed

Social Media Manager

Kelly

Chief Morale Booster

Taz Khatri

Founder/Principal, AIA, NCARB, NOMA, LEEDap

Taz Khatri, the principal and founder of Taz Khatri Studios, is a licensed architect in Arizona, California and Oregon. She has over 20 years of experience in a variety of building types including single-family residential, multifamily residential, commercial and healthcare projects. Her favorite types of projects include “missing middle housing” – two to eight unit multifamily housing, adaptive reuse, restaurants, and accessory dwellings. She loves to work with existing buildings and bring new life to them.

Taz came to America when she was eight years old from Mozambique. She’s originally East Indian and comes from a large family. She has 7 siblings, 21 nieces and nephews, and 6 great nieces and nephews. She’s lived in Phoenix for 23 years after living in Indianapolis. She went to high school in Mesa and did her Bachelor and Master of Architecture at Arizona State University (go Sun Devils!). She lived in Portland, Oregon and San Francisco for a total of 6 years but then she came back to her senses and moved back to Phoenix. She lives with her husband and dog Kelly in a midcentury modest masonry home in a walkable and bikeable urban neighborhood.

Taz was a faculty associate at ASU teaching at The Design School part time. She also writes about architecture. You can find her writing on the blog of this site and on Redshift, an online magazine about making published by Autodesk. She is a proud member of the National Organization of Minority Architects and of the American Institute of Architects. Taz also serves on the Phoenix Historic Preservation Commission and the Arizona Historic Sites Review Committee.

Taz loves being an urban dweller and enjoys going for walks, supporting local restaurants and businesses, and hanging out with her family.

Rodney Dickerman

Administrative Manager

Rodney Dickerman, the administrative manager for Taz Khatri Studios is a former elementary band teacher and teacher’s assistant. Having a creative/arts background, he has composed and arranged music for jazz ensemble and orchestra, as well as composed/produced music on the computer.

His creative pursuits have propelled him to study film, screenwriting, acting, improv acting and music in Phoenix, Los Angeles and New York City. This includes classes at New York University, UCLA Extension and the Upright Citizen’s Brigade. He has written, directed and produced several short films, among them being music videos and animations. He has written and produced musicals, one of which was performed at the Midtown International Theatre Festival.

Rodney values communicating with clients and using his organizational skills at Taz Khatri Studios. In his spare time he enjoys performing improv comedy, stand-up comedy and walking with his wife and dog.

Kelly

Chief Morale Booster

Kelly’s ancestors hail from Wales and Australia. Her strengths are looking cute and loving people. She plays the critical role of boosting morale not only for Taz Khatri Studios but for surrounding businesses as well. When not working she likes going for long walks.

Melika Rezaei

Architectural Designer

Melika Rezaei is a forward-thinking Architectural Designer at Taz Khatri Studios, AZ. Her contributions to residential, commercial, and industrial projects demonstrate her versatility and commitment. Melika pursues a Ph.D. in Design, Environment, and the Arts at Arizona State University. During her studies, she excelled as both a teaching assistant and research assistant at Arizona State University. Melika holds a Master of Science in Landscape Architecture and a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Engineering. In addition to her architectural pursuits, Melika is deeply engaged with the arts, particularly painting and playing the Santour, which enrich her creative vision. Her interest in innovation extends into the realms of Virtual Reality and the metaverse. Melika’s commitment to sustainability is not just professional but personal. She endeavors to design spaces that are not only aesthetically pleasing and functional but also environmentally responsible. Her vision for a sustainable future is rooted in the belief that thoughtful architecture can transform communities and enrich lives.

Faryal Mohammed

Social Media Manager

Faryal Mohammed, the TKS Social Media Manager, manages the creative communications from Instagram to our podcast. She has an extensive background in communications and public relations. In previous roles, she’s been interviewed by local and national news outlets including CNN, VICE news, and the Indianapolis Star.

Faryal was born and grew up in Indianapolis. She was an active member in her faith community working to build interfaith bridges as well as debunk stereotypes and misconceptions about her faith and community. She worked closely with local officials including the governor of Indiana as well as national officials including President Barack Obama and members of the US Congress.

In 2020, Faryal decided it was time for a change and uprooted to a new city for the first time in her life. The move turned about just what she needed to discover her true potential professionally and personally. When she’s not working TKS communications, she loves spending time at the gym, hiking outdoors, and watching UFC fights on Saturdays. She’s also a 200 hour yoga teacher.