Ballard & Mensua Architecture

Specialties

Ballard + Mensua Architecture specializes in residential architecture. We provide our clients with architectural and interior design services for historic preservation, custom homes, additions and renovations of all sizes. We also do hardscape and landscape design. Ballard + Mensua enjoys working in many different architectural styles and helping clients dreams turn into reality. We provide turn key services to design projects, provide cost studies on the designs that are used to decide how to shape the project, and then detail everything and choose everything in advance. Our clients understand the budgets of their projects prior to starting construction. We pair our clients with top builders and manage the builders work through completion. We have broad relationships with top vendors of fine products and craftsmen that have the same business philosophy we do – to do everything with care and see it through to the end. Our craftsmen are professionals and are able to create unique quality that shines in all of our projects. We service the entire Washington DC Metro area and the surrounding beaches, lakes and mountains. We also have done work in other states, the Carribean, Europe, UAE.

History

Established in 2005.

Seth Ballard, AIA, NCARB, principal of Ballard + Mensua Architecture has a Masters in Architecture from Tulane University School of Architecture in New Orleans, LA. After graduating in 1992, Mr. Ballard worked for international architect Douglas Soe Lin where he learned every aspect of the profession. Mr. Ballard worked his way up from draftsman to associate, where he ultimately managed over $ 2 billion worth of construction. Project experience ranged from hundreds of residential projects of all sizes, to resorts and hotels, to office buildings, corporate headquarters and a 450 bed hospital in Burma. In 2005, Ballard already had 3 children and due to the nature of commercial architecture and work travel, was not seeing much of his family. Ballard also realized he enjoyed the intimate nature of residential work as well as the greater control that an architect has on residential projects. Ballard decided to form his own firm and to focus on custom residential projects.

Meet the Business Owner

Seth B.

Business Owner

Masters in Architecture from Tulane University. Captain, Tulane Soccer Team. Avid skier. Avid blues, jazz and reggae fan. Licensed in Architecture in VA, MD, DC and able to obtain license in US, Canada and Mexico by paying a fee. 23 years of experience in practice of architecture. Mr. Ballard also worked construction from age 14 – 20 and has been heavily involved in overseeing construction since he started practicing architecture. Mr. Ballard has 4 children, ages 8 – 16. Mr. Ballard’s wife is from Spain and runs the Counselate at the Embassy of Spain. Her father is Mensua of Ballard + Mensua. Mensua is an architect with 50 years of practice experience all over Europe. Mensua is also a leading jazz and blues critic, writing for Jazz Scene magazine for the last 25 years.