Everald Colas is an award-winning Haitian American architect, educator, storyteller, and the founder of STORYN Studio for Architecture. Known for his sensitive and innovative design approach, Everald specializes in designing mixed-use buildings that thoughtfully integrate into historic contexts. Among his notable contributions, he was a Project Architect for the Museum of the American Revolution, and a Principal Project Architect for the James Museum of Western and Wildlife Art. He is currently serving a Principal Design architect for the Woodson African American museum of Florida and the African American Museum and Research Library.
As a practitioner, Everald is deeply committed to civic engagement and exploring how design can strengthen communities, create inclusive spaces, and foster placemaking within neighborhoods and cities. His work is driven by a passion for designing spaces that amplify diverse voices, guided by his belief in the transformative power of design as a tool for social change.
Everald’s practice, Storyn Studio for Architecture undertakes precise research into a community’s ethos and economic parameters, crafting spaces that authentically tell each project’s unique story. Storyn’s impactful work has contributed to placemaking efforts in many cities, including Kreuzberg (Berlin), Deep Ellum (Dallas), New York, and Denver, among others. One of Storyn’s most recent completed projects is the Moxy by Marriott hotel in downtown St. Petersburg, a testament to his thoughtful and community-focused urban design philosophy.
Everald holds a Master of Architecture degree and a Master of Science in Architectural Pedagogy from the University of Florida. Prior to founding STORYN, Everald was a Senior Architect at Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) in New York City.
Everald’s work has earned him numerous accolades, including the Garcia Award for Design Excellence from the Tampa Bay AIA, Florida’s Young Architect Design Award, and the Distinguished Service Award from the University of Florida. Two-time international award winner for the Woodson Museum design. He is also a three-time recipient of the Phil Freelon Professional Design Award from the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA), of which he is a proud member.
Beyond his practice, Everald serves as a board director for The James Museum of Western and Wildlife Art and has previously served as a director for Tampa Bay Businesses for Culture and the Arts. He is also an advisory council member for the University of Florida School of Architecture and for The Studio @ 620. Across all his roles, Everald’s focus remains on creating opportunities for learning and fostering open dialogues about marginalized voices and communities.