S. Austin Ward, AIA

S. Austin Ward is an Architect and Urban Designer. As a Senior Associate at Machado Silvetti Austin is involved in all aspects of design, management, and execution of multiple civic and cultural projects. He collaborates with office leadership to support office operations and business development efforts.

Originally from rural south Arkansas, Austin spent his early years working on his family farm. This experience shapes his sensibilities toward architecture that is materially rich, culturally specific, and in service of people and place. His work is driven by a passion to generate meaningful work of enduring value. This work emerges from a deep understanding of place, and a rich analytical and iterative process of distillation.

Since joining Machado Silvetti in 2019, Austin has contributed to a range of work including civic, cultural, and institutional projects, both nationally and internationally. Austin’s recent projects include serving as the Project Manager and Lead Project Architect for the Downtown Cary Park in Cary, North Carolina. As well as leading major renovation and expansion projects for both the New Bedford Art Museum and the New Bedford Whaling Museum in New Bedford, MA. Additionally, he manages complex international project teams as part of the office’s ongoing work designing embassies and diplomatic facilities for the Department of State, Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations.

With over a decade of experience which extends through all phases of design and construction, he has worked on several award winning institutional, cultural, and arts related projects in the U.S. and abroad. His work has received both regional and national design awards including the AIA National Architecture Award, two American Architecture Awards from the Chicago Athenaeum, and Honor Awards in Architecture & Urban Design from the Boston Society of Architects and AIA New England. This work has been published in various national publications including ArchDaily, Architect Magazine, Boston Globe, Boston Society of Architects, and Architectural Record.

In addition to practice Austin teaches regularly at local universities including most recently as an Adjunct Professor at Wentworth Institute of Technology focusing on issues of housing and urban design.

He holds a Master of Architecture in Urban Design with Distinction from the Harvard University Graduate School of Design, where he received the Award for Outstanding Leadership in Urban Design. Additionally, he holds a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Arkansas Fay Jones School of Architecture & Design.

Contact: austinw@machado-silvetti.com