Acanthus Architecture is located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and offers a comprehensive range of architectural services to commercial, institutional, and private clients. While the firm’s roots remain in the mountain and piedmont regions of North Carolina, a considerable portion of Acanthus’s work extends beyond this area. Acanthus’s portfolio features completed and ongoing projects in Colorado, Montana, New York, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
Acanthus’s core principle, good design, is deceptively simple. It is at the heart of what the firm is all about and informs every decision. With each project, Acanthus aspires to original and imaginative architectural solutions that respond to the unique desires and programming requirements of its clients and the particular circumstances of each site.
Acanthus believes that great architecture is more than plans and elevations, no matter how refined, and accordingly is devoted to the careful consideration of even the smallest detail. This rigorous approach results in projects that are elegantly proportioned, harmonious with their environment, and delightful work and living spaces.
Many practices that would now be termed “sustainable” have always been inherent to Acanthus’s design philosophy. The firm has emphasized daylighting and natural ventilation not simply for their energy conservation benefits but because humans thrive when they have a sensory connection to nature. Acanthus has detailed airtight, well-insulated building envelopes to be consistent with the sound construction approach the firm demands throughout. However, it has become increasingly clear that such measures alone are an insufficient response to the environmental crisis that we face today, and the resulting cost uncertainty that building owners face. Accordingly Acanthus has assiduously pursued more sustainable strategies in its recent projects, including onsite energy generation and an increased use of recycled and reclaimed materials.
Acanthus is made up of a team of dedicated design professionals led by principal architects Mark Glen and Larry Snively. Founded in 1995 with an emphasis on highly crafted residential work, the firm has widened its focus to bring the same careful attention to detail to a range of commercial commissions.
An exacting commitment to quality is a hallmark of this design firm. The engagement with each client extends from initial program development and site analysis through building completion and occupancy and includes thorough construction documents and construction administration services. The decision to see every project through from start to finish ensures the highest quality finished product.
Mark Glen is an architect and a principal of Acanthus. He was raised on Long Island, New York, attended Phillips Exeter Academy, and received his Bachelor of Art in History (magna cum laude) from Duke University. He completed his Master’s degree in Architecture at Princeton University’s School of Architecture, where he was awarded the Butler Travelling Fellowship and the AIA Henry Adams medal. In the decade before co-founding Acanthus Architecture in 1995, Mark was a Project Architect for Johnson Wanzenberg, a prestigious architecture and interior design firm in New York City, where he worked on a wide variety of residential and commercial projects. Mark has had the good fortune to travel widely in pursuit of his passions for the architecture and history of diverse traditions and cultures.
Larry Snively is an architect and a principal of Acanthus. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and raised in Maryland near Washington, DC. His passion for design and building began at a very early age and led him to pursue a career in architecture. Larry received a Bachelor of Science in Architecture degree from the University of Virginia and a Master of Architecture from Princeton University School of Architecture. Prior to joining Acanthus Architecture in 1998, Larry worked for leading architecture firms in Los Angeles and New York, including Cooper Robertson & Partners in Manhattan, where he was an Associate and Project Architect involved in a variety of residential and institutional projects. He earned his license to practice architecture in 1989 and has been a LEED Accredited Professional since 2006. In recent years, Larry has served on the executive committee of the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Community Appearance Commission.
