Who we are

Founder & Principal Architect- Austin Mangels

I didn’t take the traditional university route into architecture. Instead, I started learning by doing. In 2012, I took a job as a drafting intern at a local Prescott firm, choosing a hands-on apprenticeship that gave me a practical understanding of how buildings go together.

To learn the code and municipal side of the industry, I later spent nearly five years working as a Plans Examiner for two local jurisdictions. I still hold two ICC certifications as a residential and building plans examiner, that I keep valid through continuing education. Because I spent half a decade reviewing plans for code violations, I know what cities typically look for- which I use to save my clients time and red tape during the approval process.

After returning to architecture design full-time, I finished my remaining requirements and was approved to test in mid-2025. I passed all six divisions of the Architect Registration Examination on my first attempt that winter, earning my license in February of 2026.

Through Ground Up Architecture, I focus on small residential additions/remodels, custom homes, multi-family projects, office spaces, commercial remodels and warehouses. My philosophy is simple: architecture doesn’t need to be complicated or flashy. It just needs to be honest, functional, and thoughtfully designed for real life.