Profile

With over 15 years of experience in various architectural offices, Greg Upwall started the firm UPWALL in 2004.

After receiving a Master of Architecture degree from the University of Utah in 1995 Greg worked for 6 years in the office of Burtch W. Beall, Jr. in Salt Lake City. During this time he became proficient in draftsmanship and project management on public projects.

He moved to San Francisco in 1999 and worked at the office of Holt Hinshaw over the next 3 years, being named an associate of the firm. During this time Greg lead a team designing retail stores for the Gap, and then moved into project management of upscale custom residential projects. From there he moved on to work with two other San Francisco offices over the course of the next 2 years, gaining considerable experience in housing, both affordable and market rate, in the Bay Area.

His venture into solo practice, draws on the varied and diverse experiences from the past to focus on smaller, more detail oriented projects.

Greg worked summers on construction sites since the age of 15, gaining a fundamental understanding of the way that things are built. This knowledge formed the foundation upon which his architectural education was added, and continues to direct the architectural work and detail based approach to design that he follows today. His understanding of construction methods has proven invaluable when working with contractors and consultants to improve and streamline the construction process.

Having actually built before ever drawing or designing led to a love for tactility, function and logical assembly. These interests left a strong imprint and have led to the side pursuit of furniture design, which includes the building of prototypes in his own workshop. This pursuit has proven to be satisfying as it allows for the investigation of a specific idea in which the design process can be fully realized from concept to completed work.

Greg is a licensed architect in both Utah and California, and is a part time instructor with the Graduate Architecture Department at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco.