Home Architect Matt McDonald Brings Unique Perspective to the Design-Build Process

Since elementary school, Wentworth, Inc. Project Architect Matt McDonald has wanted to design houses, but back then he was a bit more interested in ones that might not work in the real world. "I was drawing these floor plans with go-kart tracks and ice rinks in the basements," Matt says.

While his design work may not include go-kart tracks today, Matt is intricately involved in the design-build process, from the initial meeting to creating design concepts and pricing packages to the construction documents for the final construction. And if a client happened to want a go-kart track, Matt would probably find a way to make it work!

Unique Home Architecture & Design

According to Matt, the most interesting part of working for a design-build firm like Wentworth is the ability to create multiple design schemes and designs unique to the client. "At Wentworth we're able to work with each client to design the best project for them while keeping to a budget and helping to ensure their project actually gets built and looks great," says Matt. "Coming up with unique and exciting design solutions for the client is one of the most interesting and fun parts of my job."

In his free time, Matt, who graduated with B.A. in Architecture from Virginia Tech, enjoys watching the Hokies play football or spending time outdoors racing bicycles or climbing rocks. He believes his time spent outdoors has influenced his work as an architect and how he relates to a home's surroundings. "I like to think that each home should be unique to that particular site and surroundings," he says.

After working in a traditional architect's office for almost six years, Matt was excited to bring his design perspective to the design-build team at Wentworth, where the firm's collaborative culture allows for creativity and productivity. According to Matt, "We really are providing a great service to the client through the design-build model. Rather than having a separate architect design a project over budget and then negotiate with four different contractors trying to get within a budget, we streamline the process from concept to creation and ensure what we design for our clients can be built close to budget and to the highest quality standards."