When you think about the people building Minnesota’s cannabis industry, architects might not be the first people who come to mind.

But before a dispensary can open its doors, someone has to figure out what those doors, walls, layouts, customer experiences, and spaces are actually going to look like.

For Tyler Moench, Principal Architect and Founder of Boreal Modern Architecture & Development, cannabis has been an opportunity to do exactly that.

Tyler’s path into the industry started while he was working at another design firm. The VP of Construction for a large cannabis company, approached the firm with a challenge: develop a retail rollout strategy that could support rapid expansion while still creating a consistent brand experience.

It was the kind of problem Tyler found exciting.

The challenge was creating a customized solution that could work across different store sizes, jurisdictions, buildings, and construction crews without reinventing the wheel every time.

The answer was a flexible “kit of parts” that could be arranged in different ways while maintaining the same design language.

That approach allowed a small team to move quickly, and at a scale that isn't typical in architecture.

Over the course of three or four years, Tyler and a team of roughly three architects helped support the rollout of over 100 stores across 15 states and several brands.

For Tyler, being part of that explosive growth was one of the most rewarding parts of his early cannabis work.

Today, Tyler has relocated back to the Twin Cities after 12 years away and launched his own architectural practice, Boreal Modern Architecture & Development. While he continues to maintain a strong relationship with his former firm, he is now focused on building his own reputation in Minnesota and helping clients turn ideas into physical spaces.

If there's one philosophy that seems to run through Tyler's approach to his work, it's attention to detail.

“Everything is important,” Tyler says.

That mindset is particularly important in cannabis retail, where the customer experience is still evolving and every detail can influence how someone feels when they walk through the door.

For Tyler, great design isn't about creating something that simply looks good. It's about understanding what a client needs, developing a vision together, and then helping bring that vision to life.

“We love solving problems for people, no matter the shape,” he says.

That broad experience, from cannabis retail to corporate offices to high-end custom residential, gives Boreal Modern a unique perspective when working with clients.

And that's where Tyler sees a lot of opportunity in Minnesota.

Dispensaries are still a relatively new retail concept, and he believes there's plenty of room to rethink what the customer experience can be.

“Going into a dispensary is also a pretty novel experience for people who haven’t lived in areas with widespread legal recreational cannabis,” Tyler says. “If someone were to lean in to that and defy expectations you could make a lasting impact on those customers.”

For a new industry, that creates an interesting opportunity.

Instead of simply copying what has already been done elsewhere, Minnesota businesses have the chance to experiment, take risks, and create retail experiences that feel distinctly their own.

Tyler's work also plays an important role in helping businesses actually get off the ground.

Getting a building permit might not sound like the most exciting part of launching a cannabis business, but it can be one of the biggest hurdles between an idea and an open door.

For Tyler, helping clients navigate those challenges is part of the bigger picture.

His team isn't just designing buildings. They're helping turn ideas into something tangible.

And that, he says, is what makes the work rewarding.

One of the biggest lessons Tyler has learned throughout his career is the importance of having the right people around the table.

During the large-scale retail rollout, his team worked with a wide range of general contractors. Some understood the importance of collaboration and attention to detail. Others didn't.

The difference showed up in the final product.

In an industry where architects, contractors, owners, regulators, and operators all have to work together, alignment matters.

Tyler believes the same is true for the broader cannabis community.

After returning to Minnesota and launching Boreal Modern Architecture & Development, Tyler's immediate goal is straightforward: keep meeting people, keep doing great work, and build a reputation in a new market.

He's also keeping an eye on where the industry is headed.

Tyler expects Minnesota cannabis to experience plenty of growing pains over the next five years as the industry becomes more established and professionalized. He sees a future where large national brands coexist alongside smaller, craft-focused businesses that prioritize quality and unique local experiences.

For Boreal Modern, preparing for that future means staying nimble.

The industry will change. Regulations will change. Consumer expectations will change.

The ability to adapt will matter.

Cannabis is still a young industry, and in Minnesota it is even younger.

That means there is an opportunity right now to rethink what cannabis retail can look and feel like, and to create spaces that people remember.

Tyler's experience gives him a unique perspective on that opportunity. He's already seen what happens when a small team builds systems that can scale across an entire market. Now, back in Minnesota and running his own practice, he's bringing that experience to a cannabis industry that is still writing its own playbook.

And perhaps the best way to sum up his approach is simple:

Solve the problem. Build the vision. Pay attention to every detail.

Then see where it takes you.

Founded: 2025

Location:
Summit Hill
Saint Paul, MN

Three words that describe Boreal Modern: Creative Problem Solver

Favorite cannabis industry event: CannaCon - St Paul

Tyler's favorite Minnesota business: The Angry Catfish -best bike shop in Twin Cities

Website: https://www.borealmodern.com/

Instagram: @borealmodern

Email: [email protected]

One last thing the Cannaverse should know: I love meeting people who are trying to do things their own way and hearing about the things they’re trying to build. Please reach out and we can get a conversation started.

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