up・ward \’əp-wərd\

adverb
• In a direction from a lower place or position to a higher place or position
• Toward a higher or better condition

More than anything, the name Upward reflects the persistent optimism we bring to our work and ultimately the impact we believe thoughtful design can have on the world. As architects and designers, we give form and order to the amenities of everyday life, elevating the lives of our clients and those that use the places and spaces we create for them.

But it’s important to note that Upward is an adverb and not an adjective. It describes a process of becoming, rather than a final condition. While our portfolio showcases the quality of our finished work, it’s the getting-there that’s most valuable, and what truly distinguishes our practice.

HOW WE WORK

Founded by architect Mark Ward, UPWARD Architecture & Interiors is a small, Seattle-based collaborative of creative problem solvers who contribute design, business acumen and technical proficiency in equal measure. We’re known for our work on hospitality, distillery & winery, manufacturing, adaptive reuse, and custom home projects.

We love what we do, every day; our enthusiasm and tenacity drive us. And we want that excitement to be contagious, to spread through our teams and communities to help foster better built environments. While we work diligently to create great architecture, we know that our best work comes when we forge meaningful relationships with our clients. It’s important for us to connect on a human level – to collaborate with people we enjoy working with, laughing with, and creating with.

We remember the original promise of our vocation: that our skill and creativity are intended to be in service of our clients’ endeavors and ambitions. Our role is to reveal and give form and order to their ideas, not simply to look for opportunities to impose our own.

CAPABILITIES

ARCHITECTURE & INTERIORS

• Conceptual Design & Feasibility Studies
• Programming & Space Planning
• Site Analysis & Planning
• Adaptive Reuse & Asset Repositioning
• FF&E Design, Selection & Coordination
• Distillery, Winery and Brewery Design
• Manufacturing Facility Design
• Retail, Office & Hospitality TI
• Custom Homes

PROJECT MANAGEMENT

• Owner Representation
• Entitlements and Permitting
• Project Delivery Method Analysis
• Cost Modeling & Budget Control
• Contractor Procurement
• Bidding & Contract Negotiation
• Move Coordination
• Project Scheduling

OUR APPROACH

We believe every project is unique and calls for its own problem solving. But while we avoid subscribing to any specific architectural doctrine, there are three tenets to our approach that help guide our thinking and our creativity:

FIRST, TRY TO

USE WHAT’S

ALREADY THERE.

ADAPTIVE REUSE OF

EXISTING BUILDINGS.

Mark grew up renovating an old 1890 historic home with his family on the outskirts of St. Louis, Missouri. The historic buildings of St. Louis, and particularly the messy renovation problems of older structures, captured his imagination and ultimately led him to architecture.

Often, the greenest building is the one that’s already there — which is why so much of our work focuses on adaptive reuse of existing structures.

ACTIVE DESIGN.

MAKE BUIDINGS AND

CITIES THAT DISCOURAGE

SEDENTARY LIFESTYLES.

In the 21st Century, physical inactivity and unhealthy diet are second only to tobacco as the main causes of premature death in the United States. Most people spend as much as 90 percent of their days indoors, often engaged in sedentary occupations.

Active design encourages stair climbing, walking, bicycling, transit use, active recreation and healthy eating. Designers have an essential role in addressing the rapidly growing epidemics of obesity and related chronic diseases, especially in light of mounting scientific evidence demonstrating the impact of environmental design on physical activity and healthy lifestyles.

QUIET ARCHITECTURE.

GREAT DESIGN SHOULD

NEVER SAY LOOK AT ME.

IT SHOULD SAY LOOK AT THIS.

Rather than shouting about its own self-importance, we think that compelling architectural spaces should receive a person and enable them to experience it, but should not constantly demand their attention.

We aim to create thoughtfully-considered buildings and spaces that have inherent dignity, integrity and humility. Our best projects tell enriching stories of the client’s vision and the project’s unique time and place.

Our Team

Mark Ward, AIA

Architect & Founder

Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, Mark founded Seattle-based UPWARD Architecture and Interiors in 2016 after 16 years of diverse architectural and interiors experience in Seattle, Portland, and San Francisco. He set out to build an architectural practice that would ACT BIG, STAY SMALL, and DO GOOD. And UPWARD has intentionally remained small enough for Mark to be intimately connected with his work and clients, but capable of marshalling the best resources required of any project. Mark oversees all project work, from conceptualization through construction, in addition to cultivating lasting and meaningful professional relationships with clients and builders alike.

Mark obtained a Bachelor of Interior Architecture degree at Kansas State University and Master of Architecture degree from the University of Washington where he had the distinct opportunity to study with Pritzker Prize Laureate Glen Murcutt and spend four months studying at the UW Rome Center in Italy.

Mark lives with his wife in West Seattle where he is also involved with the Rotary Club of West Seattle. He enjoys cycling, playing fingerstyle guitar, travel, and is an avid sailor and competes regularly in regattas throughout the Pacific Northwest.

MARK WARD, AIA

Architect & Founder

ACCREDITATIONS
• Licensed Architect | Washington State #11746
• National Council of Architectural Registration Boards | (NCARB) #109711
• Registered SAP Evaluator | CA Office of Emergency Services
• AIA Materials Matter Certificate

EDUCATION
• Master of Architecture | University of Washington, 2005, thesis prize recipient
• Bachelor of Interior Architecture | Kansas State University, 2000

ROTARY INVOLVEMENT
• President Elect | Rotary Club of West Seattle 2024-2025
• Vocational Services Chair | Rotary Club of West Seattle 2018-2021

ACADEMIC INSTRUCTION
• Design Studio Critic | University of Washington
• Instructor and Design Studio Critic | Bellevue College
• Graduate Teaching Assistant | University of Washington
• Design Studio Critic | California College of Arts & Crafts
• Experiential Education Program Leader | American Youth Foundation, 1992-2001

HONORS AND DISTINCTIONS
• AGC Tenant Improvement under $5M Award Westland Distillery, with Urbanadd 2014
• INAWARD – Hospitality 1st Place Westland Distillery, with Urbanadd 2013
• Walla Walla Market Station Design Competition Finalist, 2007
• Medal for Exceptional Achievement University of WA, College of Architecture, 2005
• Jones and Jones Endowed Fellowship 2004
• IWF Design Emphasis Furniture Competition Second Place 2000
• KCADDR Regional Design Competition First Place, 2000

current & recent projects

past projects

@URBANADD ARCHITECTURE + DESIGN
co-founder and principal 2008-2015

• Estates Tasting Room | Seattle WA (with Best Practice Architecture)
• Scratch Distillery | Edmonds, WA
• Westland Distillery | Seattle, WA
• Bookwalter Winery | Richland, WA
• Pro Sales Stainless Steel | Puyallup WA and Jerome, ID
• AAA Cruise and Travel | Throughout Washington State (with 5ive Creative)
• Historic Olympia Brewery Redevelopment & Deschutes River Bridge | Olympia, WA
• Ward&Co. Men’s Grooming | Seattle, WA
• Vaupell Industrial Plastics | Seattle, WA
• City National Bank | Lawton, OK
• Hospice of Southwest Oklahoma | Lawton, OK
• Retina Institute of Washington | Renton, WA
• Kardokus Residence | Seattle, WA
• Silver Fir Ski Lodge Summit at Snoqualmie Pass | Snoqualmie WA (with Ryan Rhodes Designs)
• Yakima Millsite Redevelopment | Yakima, WA (with Dan Stetler and Ray Johnston)
• Plymouth Housing Group Multiple Projects | Seattle, WA
• TEN20 Black Box Theater | Bellevue, WA
• BECU Neighborhood Financial Centers | Throughout Washington State (with 5ive Creative)
• Advantage Manufacturing Technologies | Monroe, WA
• Swedish Medical Tenant Improvements | Seattle, WA

@SKB ARCHITECTS
designer, 2005-2008

@YGH ARCHITECTS
designer, 2001-2003

• Schwabe Williamson and Wyatt Attorney Workplace | Portland, OR
• Perkins & Company Attorneys Workplace | Portland, OR
• Portland Community College Expansion and Renovations | Portland, OR
• Western Culinary Institute | Portland, OR

@GENSLER
designer 2000-2001 & 2003-2004

• Bank of America | Pacific Northwest roll-out
• Apple Computer Retail prototype design | Nationwide roll-out program
• Volkswagen Retail | Nationwide roll-out program
• Seattle Monorail Madison Street Station | Seattle, WA

Annalisa Castelli

Designer

Annalisa grew up in the Seattle area and received a Bachelor of Arts in Architectural Design from the University of Washington in 2018, where she cultivated her passion for the built environment with a particular interest in sustainable design.

Annalisa has worked both in corporate interiors and architecture, and her deep-seated interest in architecture and design originates from a fascination with elegantly fusing form and function. Since beginning at UPWARD Architecture in 2021, she has worked on numerous commercial and residential projects, in both project architect and project manager roles.

Outside of her professional life, Annalisa finds joy in cooking, cycling through the Pacific Northwest, and kicking back with a good book and an even better cup of coffee.

ANNALISA CASTELLI

Designer

ACCREDITATIONS
• In-Progress NCARB | National Council of Architectural Registration Boards

EDUCATION
• Bachelor of Arts in Architectural Design | University of Washington, 2018

current & recent projects

@ALBEE ROMEIN
Designer 2018-2021

Saloni Gupta

Designer

Saloni obtained a Bachelor of Architecture degree at Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda and a Master of Architecture degree from the University of Washington. Her design philosophy centers on the belief that architecture can transform environments, encouraging social interaction and enriching the lives of those who inhabit them.

She has worked on several Institutional and residential projects in India, working closely with clients and interdisciplinary teams. At Upward, Saloni is excited to explore commercial projects where she can design spaces to inspire collaboration, creativity and a sense of fun.

Outside of work, Saloni loves to unwind with a good movie and a cup of coffee. She also practices meditation to find balance and clarity, which enhances her creative process and overall well-being.

SALONI GUPTA

Designer

ACCREDITATIONS
• Licensed Architect - India

EDUCATION
• Bachelor of Architecture | Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, 2017
• Master of Architecture | University of Washington, 2024

HONORS AND DISTINCTIONS
• Scholarship, L. Jane Hastings | College of Built Environments, UW
• Gold Medal, Professor D. Subba Rao Memorial | MSU; Outstanding performance throughout graduation.
• Gold Medal, Shrimati Hansaben Mehta | MSU; Outstanding performance in the final year of graduation.
• First Runner-up, Design competition / Government of Andhra Pradesh; Planetarium in Vishakhapatnam.
• Shortlisted, Design Competition/ Islamic community of Queenstown, New Zealand; Islamic Community center.
• Top 25 entry, Design Competition/ Archdais; A tiny house.

current & recent projects

@UPWARD ARCHITECTURE & INTERIORS
• ROQ Climbing Gym | Seattle, WA
• StarView Plaza | Sumner, WA

@CCBA Designs Pvt. Ltd.
Designer 2017-2021