Raphael Lister Promoted to Principal

Thursday, January 8th, 2026

Pope Design Group is pleased to announce the promotion of Raphael Lister to Principal and Shareholder at the firm. 

Raphael Lister, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP joined Pope Design Group in 2017 as a Project Manager and Architect (MN & VA). He has been instrumental in the growth of our education practice, and became the firm’s Director of Education and an Associate in 2024. 

He has over 27 years of experience on a wide range of project types, with a specialized focus on the planning and design of educational environments. In his role as Principal, Raphael will continue to lead Pope’s education practice, collaborating with clients and industry partners, and leading design teams to create thoughtful and motivating learning environments. 

“Raphael’s promotion to Principal reflects not only his impact on education design, but the way he fosters partnerships and connects with people. He listens first, designs with purpose, and advocates for our clients at every step. We are fortunate to have him as a leader and mentor at Pope Design Group,” said Gonzalo Villares, Chief Operating Officer.  

Raphael earned his B.S. in Architecture at Virginia Tech, and worked for two Virginia-based firms before relocating to Minnesota in 2017.