Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, Mark founded Seattle-based UPWARD Architecture and Interior Design after 16 years of diverse architectural and interiors experience in Seattle, Portland and San Francisco. Mark's vision for Upward is to build a practice that is small enough to be intimately connected with his work and clients, but able to marshal the best resources required of any project. Mark oversees all project work from conceptualization through construction. His greater strength is in cultivating lasting and meaningful professional relationships with client and builders alike, as evidenced by his collective achievements across a breadth of project types. Mark has earned numerous awards throughout his career not solely based not the merits of his design but also because he has consistently delivered outstanding, profitable projects for his clients.Mark received a Bachelor of Interior Architecture degree at Kansas State University where he also studied Architecture and Urban Design. He obtained a Master of Architecture degree from the University of Washington where he had the distinct opportunity to study with Pritzker Prize Laureate Glenn Murcutt and spent four months studying in Italy at the UW Rome Center. In addition to his professional experience, Mark has served as an instructor and/or guest design critic at the University of Washington, Bellevue College and the California College of Arts and Crafts. He was also a guest presenter at the American Distilling Institute conference in Seattle and consults with distillery clients throughout the United States. Mark is an avid sailor and competes regularly in regattas throughout the Pacific Northwest.