Meet the Ballard + Mensua Architecture team. Our award-winning architects and designers bring decades of experience in custom residential design, sustainable building, and historic preservation across Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia.
Seth Ballard is the founder and principal architect of Ballard+Mensua Architecture, an award-winning firm based in the Washington, DC metro area. With over three decades of experience and licensure in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia, Seth brings a deep commitment to personalized design, sustainable building practices, and historically informed architecture.
A graduate of Tulane University’s Master of Architecture program (1992), Seth’s design philosophy draws from a wide range of interests—green building, Feng Shui, historic preservation, and Native American history. He is NCARB certified and eligible for licensure in any U.S. state.
Seth began his career managing residential renovations through his own design firm before joining Soe Lin & Associates in Bethesda, MD, where he trained under the mentorship of Douglas Soe Lin, a renowned international architect. Seth managed over half of the firm’s projects—ranging from historic restorations and commercial interiors to major residential commissions and international healthcare facilities. He credits this period with instilling the rigorous discipline and client-first mindset that defines his current practice.
In 2005, Seth founded Ballard+Mensua Architecture to offer high-touch architectural services to discerning homeowners and developers. Since then, he has overseen more than 300 projects—custom homes, whole-house renovations, and luxury additions—with construction values totaling over $2 billion.
Fluent in both English and Spanish, Seth is known for translating his clients’ vision into deeply personal, enduring architecture. He remains committed to incorporating sustainable practices wherever possible, minimizing waste, and maximizing long-term value for every client.