Bio
Mark Wagner
Principal, Arts & Culture Sector Leader
Arts & Culture
Where story thrives
Arts & Culture are the soul of a community, capturing its stories, values, and aspirations. We craft spaces where innovation meets tradition, celebrating creativity in all its forms—from museums that preserve and provoke to venues that bring people together for unforgettable experiences. Our approach blends bold creativity with thoughtful precision, balancing artistic vision and technical expertise. Whether modernizing historic institutions or creating entirely new experiences, we focus on creating environments that connect people, spark imagination, and honor diversity.
Areas of focus
125+ years of cultural and civic excellence
We design dynamic spaces that captivate, connect, and spark creative exploration
Quote
I’ve learned that a building’s impact extends beyond its physical walls, influencing and interacting with its broader environment. What I’ve learned and carried through to almost every project now is the understanding that buildings or sites have a past history, they have a current existence, and they have a future coming to them.
Mark Wagner Principal, Design Director, Arts & Culture Sector Leader
By the numbers
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115K
More than 115,000 sparkly specimens
A collection of 115,000+ gems and minerals is on location for viewing at the American Museum of Natural History Gilder Center’s Halls of Gems and Minerals, thoughtfully designed with today’s visitors in mind.
221
Columns reimagined for the arts
A total of 221 columns were stabilized to transform Buffalo Bayou Park’s underground cistern into a repurposed performance and visual arts space.
735K
Square feet of multi-use arts space at New York University’s Paulson Center
NYU’s vibrant mixed-use building graciously accommodates the creative needs of Tisch School of the Arts and Steinhardt School of Music and offers new ways for the university to engage with its community and the city of New York.
#3
Among 100 cultural facility architectural firms by BD+C 2024
Page tops Building Design+Construction's (BD+C) ranking of the nation's largest cultural facilities sector architecture and architecture engineering (AE) firms for 2024, as reported in BD+C's 2024 Giants 400 Report.
850K
Square feet of new and expanded space at Smithsonian Institution facilities
We’re proud of our work with the Smithsonian Institution, which covers more than 850,000 square feet at facilities such as the National Museum of African American History & Culture (NMAAHC) and the Smithsonian Institution Building (the Castle).
Our people
From vision to visitor experience
Talk with us
Complex challenges need fresh perspectives and deep expertise. Connect with our team to explore how we can help you create spaces that make a real difference.