Amanda Bugge, MBA • Chief Operations Office
If architecture is a quiet dialogue between humanity and space, the practice itself requires a profound clarity of execution. As Chief Operations Officer, Amanda is the steady hand guiding the organizational foundation of bugge plus architects. With an MBA from California State University, East Bay, and a degree in Psychology from North Dakota State University, she brings an empathetic, systems-thinking approach to the firm’s administration, finance, and strategic growth. Her leadership provides the vital structure that allows the design team to focus fully on their craft and, most importantly, on the clients they serve.
Amanda’s career is defined by her ability to partner with visionary leaders to bring complex ideas into reality. Before dedicating her expertise to bugge plus architects, she spent more than a decade leading operations for growing behavioral health organizations. In these roles, she built departments from the ground up, scaled operations across multiple states, and fostered environments where both people and organizations could thrive. Her philosophy is simple but powerful: great organizations are built through trust, collaboration, and thoughtful execution.
At bugge plus architects, Amanda oversees the unseen choreography of the practice. From financial management and human resources to policy development and multi-state expansion, she ensures that strategic decisions evolve into consistent, operational practices. Her background in psychology informs her empathetic counsel, and she understands that maintaining a successful business requires a delicate balance between rigorous operational discipline and a deep investment in the people who do the work.
Outside of the office, Amanda’s dedication to thoughtful leadership continues in her community. She is a dedicated mentor, Head Coach for Minneapolis fastpitch softball, and Girl Scout Troop Leader. Having recently returned to Minnesota with her family after 11 years in California, she values the deep connections formed through community service and the joyful, busy rhythms of raising her children alongside Steven.