Renowned Austin Architecture Firm Shiflet Richardson Rebrands as Mark Richardson Architects
Mark Richardson steps in to continue the legacy, driving innovative, personalized designs across Central Texas
As the saying goes, the student shall become the teacher. After seven years with Shiflet Richardson, Austinite Mark Richardson is taking the reins at the renowned architecture firm that is crafting the city’s skyline, one home at a time.
Originally from Houston, Mark joined the firm in 2018. He was working for another firm in Seattle, but was in Austin on a project. David Shiflet reached out to him, and as Mark says, “made him an offer he couldn’t refuse.” The rest is history.
In 2020, David and Mark partnered to form Shiflet Richardson. The firm ran, and still does, like a tight-knit family business, with David’s wife, Kay, acting as the Operations Manager until her retirement in 2021. David wasn’t too far behind her, with Mark now at the helm of the firm.
“David was always looking to retire, but he didn’t want to just sell the firm to a random group,” said Mark. “He wanted to pass it on to someone he trusted. We still have the same staff, and we’re still in the same building. In fact, the Shiflets own this building.”
A family-led legacy continues
It’s all in the family. Literally. Mark’s wife, Sarah Richardson, took Kay’s role when she retired and is now the firm’s Operations Manager. Mark and Sarah have a long history, dating back to attending the same high school together in Houston. They went to different universities — Mark to Texas A&M University and Sarah to University of Texas at Austin. It wasn’t until 2011, when Mark was in graduate school, that they reconnected. Now, they spend their days working side-by-side building on David’s legacy and the next generation of Mark Richardson Architects.
“It was a great experience working with David,” said Mark. “He was a mentor to me and taught me everything he knows from his 40+ year career designing amazing houses in Central Texas. I’m thrilled to carry on the legacy.”
In terms of what’s next for Mark Richardson Architects, Mark says that while the firm will have a different name, its identity and values remain. Central to that ethos is listening to their clients to deliver the homes of their dreams.
“We know that each project and client is unique, because everyone comes with their own sets of beliefs about what they feel comfortable living in,” said Mark. “Our houses should be a reflection of the personalities of the people who live there.”
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Crafting dream homes
Mark also notes that it takes a village to make these one-of-a-kind homes come to life, and the firm prioritizes fostering extraordinary relationships with some of the city’s best builders, landscape architects, interior designers and more to deliver their clients’ dreams.
“If I had one word to describe our team and culture, it would be collaborative,” said Mark.
While he notes that Mark Richardson Architects has a wide-ranging portfolio and is comfortable working in a diverse array of styles, he does see a few common threads currently at work in the space.
“People are getting tired of the same old white house, black windows and white walls,” said Mark. “We’re seeing more personality in homes with pops of color, patterns and textures. And, definitely more separation of spaces in layouts. If there are open spaces, we’re seeing nooks and off-sets of quiet spaces for people to retreat to.”
While Mark Richardson Architects is based in Westlake, you just never know where you’ll see one of their projects pop up. From the lake to the Hill Country to the Frio River—he’s even had interest in a project in Utah—the firm may call Austin home, but home is really wherever they design it.