Upward Architecture & Interiors

What Upward Architecture & Interiors does

Upward Architecture & Interiors is a Seattle-based architecture, interior design, and project management firm founded in 2016 by Mark Ward, AIA, after 16 years of prior experience at Gensler, SKB Architects, YGH Architects, and as co-founder of Urbanadd Architecture + Design. The firm operates under an explicit 'ACT BIG, STAY SMALL, DO GOOD' philosophy, intentionally maintaining a six-person interdisciplinary team of architects and interior designers so the founder remains intimately involved in projects and client relationships. It delivers three integrated service lines — architectural design (programming, schematic design, construction documentation, AHJ permitting), interior design (tenant improvements, FF&E, materials and lighting design), and project management (owner representation, entitlements, cost modeling) — applied across nine practice areas including Industrial & Manufacturing, Alcoholic Beverage, Retail & Hospitality, Office & Workplace, Adaptive Reuse, Custom Residential, Health & Recreation, and Automotive.

The firm derives revenue entirely from custom-quoted professional services fees on a project basis, with pricing not publicly disclosed and no recurring or subscription revenue. Notable clients include Westland Distillery (multi-phase engagement spanning a 65,000 SF Skagit campus, SODO distillery, and rackhouses), Pike Brewing Company (22,700 SF Georgetown production facility), Red Mountain Winery (135,000 SF facility capable of 300,000 cases annually), Crimson Wine Group, Vulcan Real Estate, AutoNation, and Community Health Care. Go-to-market is sales-led and referral-driven, augmented by founder-led community involvement including Mark Ward's presidency of the Rotary Club of West Seattle (2024-2025) and ongoing Food Lifeline volunteer work. Geographic focus is the Pacific Northwest with project-level extension into Arizona, Northern California, and British Columbia.

Technical differentiation is concentrated in three areas: deep regulatory expertise for alcoholic beverage production facilities (TTB/DSP permitting, fire codes, dust hazards, DISCUS guidelines); a 'three-legged stool' methodology that integrates production, workplace, and customer-facing spaces for industrial clients; and leadership in sustainable adaptive reuse — including being the global debut site for four breakthrough low-carbon concretes (C-Crete Technologies, Sublime Systems, Prometheus Materials) in the Hubbard's Corner project. The firm has accumulated multiple regional AIA design awards and industry recognition across hospitality, small project, and interior architecture categories.

Name

Upward Architecture & Interiors

Legal name

Upward Architecture & Interiors

Website

https://upwardarchitecture.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Upward Architecture & Interiors is a Seattle-based boutique architecture and interior design firm founded in 2016, serving commercial, industrial, residential, and craft beverage clients across the Pacific Northwest with a specialized focus on alcoholic beverage facilities and adaptive reuse.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural and Interior Design Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (54131), Architectural Services (541310), Interior Design Services (54141), Interior Design Services (541410)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB), Whole-Home Interior Renovation (Non-Structural) (HSAPAEAC), Residential Design-Build & Renovation-Integrated Builders (IMAFABAE)

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Interior design services
• Adaptive reuse architecture
• Commercial tenant improvements
• Project management services

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

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, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Architecture Services: Comprehensive architectural design services including programming, schematic design, design development, construction documentation, and construction administration for commercial and residential projects.
2. Interior Design Services: Interior design services including commercial tenant improvements, space planning, FF&E design, materials selection, and post-occupancy evaluations.
3. Project Management Services: Project management services ranging from strategic planning and owner representation to contract negotiations and entitlements for certain projects.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Upward Architecture & Interiors is a Seattle-based architecture and interior design firm that delivers comprehensive architectural design, interior design, and project management services. The firm serves commercial, industrial, hospitality, healthcare, and residential clients through specialized practice areas including industrial and manufacturing facilities, alcoholic beverage production facilities, retail and hospitality, office and workplace, adaptive reuse, custom residential, automotive, and health and recreation.

Product overview

Upward Architecture & Interiors is a Seattle-based architecture and interior design collaborative offering comprehensive design services through its core offerings and specialized practice areas. The firm provides three integrated service lines—Architectural Design, Interior Design, and Project Management—that work together to deliver complete project solutions. These services are applied across nine distinct practice areas: Industrial & Manufacturing, Retail & Hospitality, Alcoholic Beverage, Office & Workplace, Adaptive Reuse, Custom Residential, Health & Recreation, and Automotive. This structure allows the firm to serve diverse market segments while maintaining deep expertise in each area.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architectural Design Services Comprehensive architectural design services covering programming and space planning, conceptual design and feasibility studies, site analysis and planning, adaptive reuse and asset repositioning, schematic design and design development, consultant coordination and equipment planning, construction documentation, and AHJ permitting for commercial and residential clients.

Quantifiable outcome

• Adaptive reuse projects reduce embodied carbon by avoiding new construction
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor, strategic and community.

• Westland DistillerycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term strategic partner for whom Upward has designed multiple projects spanning original SODO distillery (2010-2012), rackhouses in Skagit Valley (2017-2022), and distillery campus master planning (2018-2022). Mark Ward described as 'a partner rather than a vendor' with deep immersion in the whiskey business.
• TRICO Construction / TRICO CompaniescoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConstruction partner on Westland Distillery rackhouses project. Hosted team building fishing trip to celebrate project completion.
• Jacobson Consulting EngineerscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCivil engineer on Westland Distillery rackhouses project, responsible for stormwater UIC wells design.
• RichliteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerManufacturer of sustainable composite surfaces (resin-infused paper). Firm toured Richlite factory in Tacoma to understand material properties for better architectural application.
• Edensaw WoodsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPacific Northwest distributor of Richlite products. Hosted Richlite factory tour for Upward team.
• Maitri ConsultingcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProject management consulting partner on Pike Brewing relocation project. Carly Parkins served as Project Manager.
• C-Crete TechnologiesstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerPioneer in portland cement-free concretes. Upward was global debut site for four breakthrough low-carbon concretes in Hubbard's Corner project.
• Sublime SystemsstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerPioneer in low-carbon concrete. One of their concretes was used in the Hubbard's Corner adaptive reuse project.
• Prometheus MaterialsstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlgae-grown concrete masonry units. First-generation material use in Hubbard's Corner project.
• SchücocoreTechnology or IntegrationGermany-based manufacturer of high-performance tilt/turn windows and door systems used in Hubbard's Corner adaptive reuse.
• Food LifelinecommunityOthersSeattle-based nonprofit dedicated to ending hunger. Firm volunteers regularly (October 2023, June 2024, November 2024) packing food for distribution to food banks.
• Rotary Club of West SeattlecoreOthersService organization where Mark Ward serves as President 2024-2025. Firm participates in community events including Festival of Trees fundraiser.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• NBBJ: Seattle-headquartered global architecture practice with healthcare, workplace, and commercial expertise. Competes for the same enterprise clients (e.g., healthcare systems, corporate workplaces) but at much larger scale.
• Gensler: Global architecture and design giant where founder Mark Ward previously worked. Represents the scale ceiling—competes for the largest enterprise commercial, hospitality, and workplace engagements that Upward's boutique model cannot accommodate.
• ZGF Architects: Larger Pacific Northwest-headquartered architecture firm with deep sustainability credentials and adaptive reuse expertise. Overlaps Upward's market but operates at substantially greater scale across healthcare, civic, and commercial sectors.

Direct peers

• GGLO: Seattle-based design firm covering architecture, interiors, and urban design. Directly comparable in service offering (a former Upward team member Kristin DeJong came from GGLO) and Pacific Northwest footprint.
• Mithun: Seattle-based integrated design firm with strong sustainability orientation. Comparable practice mix across commercial, residential, and adaptive reuse, with similar storytelling-driven design approach.
• Cushing Terrell: Integrated architecture and design firm with Pacific Northwest presence and multi-disciplinary service offering (architecture, interiors, engineering). Comparable boutique-to-mid size and practice breadth.
• Miller Hull Partnership: Seattle-based architecture firm with strong sustainability and adaptive reuse focus. Similar boutique size and Pacific Northwest orientation; comparable practice mix across civic, commercial, and adaptive reuse.
• Olson Kundig: Seattle-based boutique architecture and design firm with similar craft-and-hospitality emphasis. Comparable in scale and ethos to Upward, with deep residential, hospitality, and adaptive reuse portfolios that mirror Upward's practice areas.
• YGH Architects: Portland-based architecture firm where founder Mark Ward previously worked. Comparable boutique size with healthcare, education, and commercial practices; relevant for sharing designer talent and project overlap.
• SkB Architects: Pacific Northwest architecture firm where founder Mark Ward previously worked. Comparable boutique size with healthcare, commercial, and adaptive reuse practices, sharing design philosophy and regional focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/upwardarchitecture
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/upward-architecture-interiors
• Instagraminstagram.com/upwardarchitecture

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Upward Architecture & Interiors