What Ward Architecture + Preservation does

Ward Architecture + Preservation is a woman-owned, boutique architecture firm established in 2010 and headquartered in Savannah, Georgia. The firm specializes in the historic rehabilitation, adaptive reuse, and preservation planning of residential and commercial properties throughout the Southeast United States. It is operated by founding principals Josh Ward, AIA (Design Principal) and Sarah Ward, AICP, LEED AP (Preservation Principal), who together bring more than 37 years of combined experience and whose team exceeds the Secretary of the Interior's Professional Qualifications Standards for historic preservation.

The firm delivers four core service lines: New Construction (design of new buildings harmonious with historic district context), Adaptive Reuse (repurposing existing structures for new uses), Historic Rehabilitation Tax Incentives (navigating the federal 20% credit, Georgia's 25% state credit, property tax freezes, and SHPO compliance), and Preservation Planning (National Register nominations, HABS/HAER documentation, Section 106 compliance, and historic resource surveys). Its proprietary domain expertise includes deep knowledge of historic tax credit programs across multiple states and regulatory bodies, demonstrated by dozens of successful tax credit applications and attainment of over $628,000 in federal and state incentives on a single project (Starland Rehabilitation).

The business operates on a project-based, quote-driven professional services model with custom pricing tied to scope and complexity. Revenue is generated through direct engagement with property owners, real estate developers, and government or non-profit agencies across Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. The firm relies on organic digital channels (website portfolio, Instagram, SEO) for top-of-funnel awareness and on professional reputation and award recognition (nine regional preservation awards between 2018 and 2022 from the Historic Savannah Foundation, Georgia Trust, and Tybee Island Historical Society) to support its sales-led go-to-market motion. Case-by-case partnerships with other architecture and cultural resource firms extend the firm's capacity on individual engagements without proportionate headcount growth.

Name

Ward Architecture + Preservation

Legal name

Ward Architecture + Preservation

Website

https://wardarch.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Ward Architecture + Preservation is a woman-owned Savannah, Georgia architecture firm specializing in historic rehabilitation, adaptive reuse, preservation planning, and historic tax credit navigation for residential and commercial property owners across the Southeast United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Services

NAICS

Residential Remodelers (236118), Residential Building Construction (2361)

SIC

Services-To Dwellings & Other Buildings (7340), General Bldg Contractors - Residential Bldgs (1520)

akta.pro primary industry

Historic Home Renovation & Preservation (HSAPAEAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Renovation, Remodeling & Tenant Improvements (General Contracting) (IMAFAAAE), Residential Design-Build & Renovation-Integrated Builders (IMAFABAE), Full Gut Renovation (Studs-Out Remodel) (HSAPAEAA)

Keywords

• Historic architecture services
• Historic preservation planning
• Adaptive reuse design
• Historic tax credit consulting
• Residential rehabilitation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Savannah

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Architectural Design Services: Full-service architecture firm providing concept, design, and production services for new construction, historic rehabilitation, adaptive reuse, and preservation planning of residential and commercial properties.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Ward Architecture + Preservation is a full-service architecture firm providing concept, design, and production services for new construction, historic rehabilitation, adaptive reuse, and preservation planning of residential and commercial properties in National Register historic districts across the Southeast U.S. Its work is anchored in Secretary of the Interior's Standards compliance and includes expert navigation of federal 20% and state (e.g., Georgia 25%) historic tax credit programs plus 8.5-year property tax freezes for qualifying income-producing and owner-occupied historic properties.

Product overview

Ward Architecture + Preservation is an award-winning, full-service architecture firm offering four interconnected service areas: New Construction (designing new buildings harmonious with surrounding context), Adaptive Reuse (repurposing existing structures with complementary additions), Historic Rehabilitation Tax Incentives (securing federal/state tax credits and property tax freezes for income-producing properties), and Preservation Planning (National Register nominations, surveys, HABS/HAER documentation, and Section 106 compliance). The firm specializes exclusively in historic preservation and residential/commercial properties throughout the Southeast, with deep expertise in Savannah, Georgia historic districts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• New Construction Full-service architectural design for the construction of new buildings, including private residences, multi-family structures, and commercial buildings, with a focus on harmonious integration with surrounding context and compliance with local historic district regulations.
• Adaptive Reuse Specialized services for adapting existing structures, both historic and non-designated, to extend their useful life with new purposes, including designing complementary additions that respect historic building context.
• Historic Rehabilitation Tax Incentives Expert assistance with federal 20% and Georgia state 25% historic tax credit applications, property tax freezes, and compliance with Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation for income-producing and owner-occupied historic properties.
• Preservation Planning Professional preservation services including National Register Nominations, Historic Resource Surveys, HABS/HAER Documentation, Measured Drawings, Historic Structures Reports, Section 106 Compliance, and SHPO Consultation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $628,000 in federal and state historic tax incentives attained for Starland Rehabilitation project
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• J. Elder StudiominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterior design collaboration for Big Bon Bodega project - a historic service station converted into a bagel shop and market. J. Elder Studio completed the interior space as part of a team effort in 2019.
• Sottile & Sottile and JAK HomesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on 111 West Gwinnett project - worked with Ward Architecture + Preservation to ensure preservation designs and methods would meet the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation.
• Architecture and Cultural Resource Firm PartnershipsminorOthersWard Architecture collaborates with other architecture and cultural resource firm partnerships to support preservation efforts on a case-by-case basis as needed for specific projects.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Mead & Hunt: Architecture and engineering firm with a national historic preservation practice covering Section 106, HABS/HAER, National Register nominations, and rehabilitation tax credit services. Highly comparable to Ward Architecture + Preservation in full-service preservation offerings and multi-state Southeast reach.
• Page & Turnbull: Architecture and planning firm specializing in historic preservation, adaptive reuse, and rehabilitation tax credit projects across the Western US. Directly comparable to Ward Architecture + Preservation in that both operate at the intersection of architecture practice and historic preservation regulatory expertise for residential and income-producing historic properties.
• Beyer Blinder Belle: Architecture firm with a leading historic preservation practice that delivers adaptive reuse, restoration, and tax credit-driven rehabilitation of historically significant buildings. Comparable to Ward Architecture + Preservation in client base (developers, institutions, public agencies) and emphasis on Secretary of the Interior's Standards compliance, though at significantly larger scale.
• John Canning & Co. Restoration and conservation firm specializing in historic interiors, decorative finishes, and preservation planning. Comparable to Ward Architecture + Preservation in the niche intersection of preservation consulting and project execution, though John Canning & Co. focuses more on finishes/decorative arts than architecture.
• Lord Aeck Sargent: Architecture firm (now operating as Page) with a dedicated historic preservation studio delivering adaptive reuse, historic rehabilitation, and tax credit projects across the Southeast. Closest direct competitor profile to Ward Architecture + Preservation, though at larger firm scale with multi-state reach.
• MacRostie Historic Advisors LLC: Specialized historic preservation consulting firm focused on historic tax credit applications, National Register nominations, and Section 106 review. Directly comparable to the preservation-planning and tax-credit arm of Ward Architecture + Preservation, though operates as consultant rather than architect-of-record.

Emerging players

• RPP Architects: Specialty architectural firm with a historic preservation practice delivering rehabilitation, restoration, and adaptive reuse projects. Comparable in preservation-driven service model to Ward Architecture + Preservation, though at different regional focus.
• Preservation Design Works: Small architectural firm focused on historic preservation, rehabilitation, and adaptive reuse. Highly comparable boutique-firm profile to Ward Architecture + Preservation, with similar service mix around Secretary of the Interior's Standards and tax credit work, though operating in different regional markets.
• Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates: Engineering and architecture firm specializing in investigation, repair, and preservation of existing structures. Comparable to Ward Architecture + Preservation in serving preservation clients but differentiated by engineering-led service model rather than architect-led residential/commercial rehabilitation.
• Ann Beha Architects: Boston-based architecture firm with deep historic preservation and adaptive reuse practice for institutional and civic clients. Comparable to Ward Architecture + Preservation in architectural approach to historic contexts, though focused on larger institutional scale rather than residential/SMB.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/wardarchpres
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ward-architecture-preservation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ward Architecture + Preservation