COPA, the practice

Building from Galen’s research on the geopolitics of construction material supply chains and Manuel’s construction experience with prefabricated and vernacular building materials, COPA operates on both the collective time-scale of materials and communities, while meeting the singular, specific needs of our clients. Projects focus on minimizing demolition and re-using existing elements to their maximum extents: where re-use is impossible, COPA embraces emerging and traditional low-embodied cost materials drawn from our research and experience in the field. Our favorite projects combine local supply chains and materials with modern building science to deliver new hybrid structures that are designed to respond to their local environments, while providing modern, expressive spaces that exceed our clients’ original visions.

By working within these social and environmental ecologies, COPA creates spaces not just for the immediate needs of communities and residents, but for the longer-term lives of buildings and the future communities that will need them.