Our Team
Jacob Zikmund
Growing up in a small rural farming community in Northeast North Dakota, I spent my early years working on farms and construction sites. These experiences taught me the value of hard work, craftsmanship, and the importance of building things that endure. From a young age, I knew I wanted to be an architect — my fascination with design was fueled by an innate sense of wonder and a desire to create spaces that inspire. Watching my mother run her own business gave me the confidence to one day start my own firm, shaping my vision for architecture that is bold, intentional, and deeply personal.
My Nordic heritage has always drawn me toward elegance in simplicity — where form meets function in the most refined way. At Double Jack and GRO, we specialize in creating the unique, the impossible, and the challenging. Whether it’s a structure that defies convention or a space that sparks childlike wonder, our work is about more than just design—it’s about crafting experiences that leave a lasting impact.
Working as a licensed architect in Minnesota and North Dakota, I approach each project with curiosity, humor, and an appreciation for the unexpected. Architecture, to me, is about storytelling — about turning wild ideas into tangible realities. If it doesn’t make you pause, question, or smile, we haven’t pushed far enough.
Let’s build something unforgettable.
Alex Zikmund
I started out as a civil engineer and quickly after obtained a master’s in business. These two interests naturally intersected within real estate. Real estate and the built environment have a profound impact on people – both residents and neighbors. A desire to ensure that this impact is positive led us to found GRO.
Through GRO, our goal is to balance a quality experience with attainable rents while providing a reasonable rate of return to our investors. This three-pronged challenge requires us to approach development differently, from funding sources to construction techniques; it also requires us to be intricately involved in every aspect of development. We believe in designing our developments, building our designs, and owning our buildings. Lastly, we gauge our success by whether our residents leave our properties better than when they arrived.
Outside of GRO, I play basketball a couple of times per week and enjoy a good book. I am a past member of the Como Community Council and currently volunteer with my local church and Big Brother Big Sisters.