OUR STUDIO
Designing Spaces That Inspire, Connect + Enrich Lives.
At Catalyst Architecture, Planning & Development, everything begins with active listening. We take the time to understand each client’s vision, challenges, and opportunities—ensuring that we’re aligned from day one. Every project is personal, and our multidisciplinary team is built around that belief. Whether we’re designing a home, a community space, or a commercial environment, our concierge-level service ensures we stay hands-on, solution-oriented, and fully invested as client advocates from start to finish.
Catalyst Architecture, Planning & Development was founded by Anthony Gengaro and Seth Donnell, two designers with a shared commitment to creating thoughtful, enduring architecture rooted in place, purpose, and people. With complementary backgrounds in environmental design, urban planning, and real estate development, Anthony and Seth lead Catalyst with a hands-on, collaborative approach—guiding each project from concept to construction with equal parts creativity and care. Together, they bring deep knowledge, diverse experience, and a passion for building strong relationships with clients, communities, and the land itself.
What makes Catalyst different is our people. As difference makers, we lead with creativity, integrity, and technical expertise—bringing curiosity, care, and deep accountability to every step of the process. Our team combines design intelligence with practical development knowledge, ensuring not only exceptional outcomes but also a trusted and seamless experience for our clients.
CREATIVE FOUNDERS
Seth Donnell, NCARB
CO-FOUNDER / PRINCIPAL
With hundreds of successfully permitted projects across Colorado’s Front Range, Seth Donnell brings deep technical knowledge, refined design sensibility, and a calm, grounded presence to every project he leads. As a registered architect, former Design Director at a prominent Denver firm, and now a lecturer at CU Denver’s College of Architecture and Planning, Seth is both a practitioner and educator dedicated to shaping the future of the built environment. He approaches each project with care, clarity, and intention — drawing on years of hands-on experience and a deep personal faith that informs his leadership and perspective. As a father, designer, and collaborator, Seth leads with kindness, purpose, and a belief that good architecture can make life better for everyone it touches.
Anthony Gengaro, LEED GA
CO-FOUNDER / PRINCIPAL
Anthony Gengaro combines creative vision with strategic insight — blending his background in architecture with an entrepreneurial drive and a passion for community impact. As the founder of multiple businesses, including Catalyst Architecture, Harvester Landscapes, and Ambrosia Harvest, Anthony brings a rare ability to translate ideas into meaningful, lasting ventures. In addition to his design expertise, he currently serves as president of Metro Denver Local Development Corp. and sits on several nonprofit boards, including the Golden Triangle Creative District in downtown Denver. With a strong focus on client relationships and business development, Anthony helps guide projects from vision to reality with integrity and enthusiasm. A proud father and Colorado native, he brings authenticity, ambition, and a sincere investment in building a better future for the people and places Catalyst serves.
sarAH HARRIS
OPERATIONS
Sarah is the steady force guiding Catalyst’s operations and client interactions. With a background in photography, marketing, and client relations, she brings structure to creativity and ensures every experience feels thoughtful and high-end. Her energy, attention to detail, and commitment to excellence keep the team aligned and the work elevated.
CATALYST PROCESS
Turning complex design challenges into seamless, inspiring spaces—so you can focus on what truly matters: bringing your dream home to life.
Our envisioning process is the heart of every successful project. This collaborative phase allows us to synthesize the client’s goals, the site’s unique context, surrounding cultural and environmental factors, and the broader vision for how the space will be used and experienced. We draw from historic references, material studies, zoning insights, and design precedent to shape an initial concept that is both grounded and inspiring. This phase sets the creative and strategic direction that guides every decision to follow—serving as a foundation for design development, permitting, construction, and beyond. At Catalyst, design is more than a deliverable—it’s a process of translation, storytelling, and stewardship. Our process ensures that each project is not only feasible but also meaningful, resilient, and built to stand the test of time.
Designing a building from the ground up can feel overwhelming—but it doesn’t have to be. At Catalyst Architecture, we guide you through every step, from concept to permitting and contractor coordination, ensuring a smooth, stress-free process that turns your vision into reality.
20 Years of Combined Experience
$100M+ Designed & Built Projects
200+ Permitted Projects
5 Industry Awards
Rooted in Collaboration, Evolved by Design
Architecture should do more than meet a program — it should elevate daily life, strengthen communities, and design for what’s next.
Founded by Anthony Gengaro and Seth Donnell, two graduates of the University of Colorado Denver’s College of Architecture and Planning, Catalyst was built on a foundation of mutual respect, complementary skill sets, and a vision to create impactful, integrated work across architecture, planning, and development.
Anthony Gengaro, a Colorado native, studied Environmental Design at the University of Colorado Boulder, with a minor in Technology, Arts & Media. After earning his Master of Architecture from CU Denver, he joined Field West Construction in Boulder where he worked on custom luxury homes, introducing BIM software to the firm and supporting the design team. However, a family tragedy soon redirected his path. Anthony stepped away from architectural practice to lead his family's organization — Metro Denver Local Development Corporation (MDLDC), a nonprofit focused on urban revitalization, streetscape design, and the management of special tax districts across the city. Still passionate about architecture, Anthony launched AG Studio to carry out local residential projects, while also growing a broader business ecosystem including Harvester Landscapes and Ambrosia Harvest, a wellness supplement brand.
Seth Donnell, originally from Texas, came to Colorado with a background in Construction Administration and an education in Environmental Design. After earning his Master of Architecture from CU Denver, Seth worked with firms of various sizes, ultimately finding a long-term home at Root Architecture. At Root, Seth progressed from Associate to a fully licensed Architect. Soon, he joined Work Shop Colorado (formerly Work Shop Denver), where he rose through the ranks to become lead of the architecture division as Design Director. In that role, Seth led the design team on increasingly complex projects and helped expand the firm’s reach across the Front Range. With growing confidence, leadership experience, and a drive to build a firm rooted in thoughtful, purpose-driven design, Seth decided it was time to launch his own venture.
The two kept in close contact over the years — with Seth serving on the board of MDLDC and frequent lunch meetings keeping the friendship and professional dialogue alive. In the spring of 2022, Seth approached Anthony with a proposition: to build a new kind of design firm together.
Within a few months, a business plan was written, a partnership was formed, and Catalyst Architecture was born.
Today, Catalyst Architecture, Planning & Development is a multidisciplinary firm that operates at the intersection of design and impact. From high-end residential homes to commercial redevelopments and civic projects, Catalyst serves clients seeking bold vision, thoughtful collaboration, and beautifully executed work. With offices in Denver and projects across the region, the firm continues to grow as a respected voice in design, development, and urban transformation.
WORK WITH AN aRCHITECT
From initial concept to final construction, our approach ensures your project is not only beautifully designed but also thoughtfully executed. At Catalyst Architecture, we bring clarity, confidence, and creativity to every stage of the journey for residential new builds, renovations or commercial projects.
Curious about how we can help? Let’s start with a conversation. We’re here to answer your questions, understand your needs, and help you take the next step.