Austin Fox, Principal, Austin Fox Architecture

May 2026 — Invest:caught up with Austin Fox, principal of Austin Fox Architecture, to learn how shifting capital flows, the Live Local Act, and tighter project math are impacting development across Greater Fort Lauderdale. “There are always going to be hurdles and speed bumps, including the Fed rate and market conditions,” Fox said.

What changes over the past year have had the biggest impact on how Austin Fox Architecture is growing and operating right now?

I think the biggest change is additional capital coming in from out of state, and even from out of the country. You’re seeing more money coming in that’s not local money being invested into South Florida. As a result, there’s more development, and more development means more projects.

What are some major milestones or projects from the past 12 months that you’d highlight?

We’ve taken on a 300-unit Live Local project under the state mandate. I have another 156-unit project that’s also a Live Local mandate. We also have a 75-unit condo project in Pompano Beach, plus another condo project on the beach in Fort Lauderdale.

What we’re seeing is the scalability of these projects becoming much larger. The market for housing is obviously very welcome. At the same time, the luxury housing market is starting to pick up, with condos being an emphasis, and clients utilizing the Live Local Act for affordability. So you’re seeing a good mix of affordability and luxury.

How have Live Local developments influenced your approach to design and planning today?

It becomes a starting point. It encourages other developers and investors because the track record is there. Nobody wants to be first, but nobody wants to be last. These projects have set the tone for future development to come in, and that’s a big reason we’re seeing growth.

What are you seeing in terms of amenities, especially as mixed-use development continues to grow?

On our side, we’re seeing more emphasis on personal health and wellness. That translates into more amenities in the health space. More gyms, plunges, saunas, and more environmentally friendly spaces from light and greenery to open air.

It’s really the wellness of the tenant. It’s not just four walls and a room. It’s more about the user experience: how people feel within the space, how they feel when they’re co-working there, and how they feel when they’re at the gym.

What economic pressures have most impacted project feasibility across Greater Fort Lauderdale?

There are always going to be hurdles and speed bumps, including the Fed rate and market conditions. What we’re seeing on our end isn’t a halt. No one is really stopping. It’s more transitioning between different markets and different sectors, and figuring out how to make the numbers work.

What may work today may not work tomorrow, and vice versa. What hasn’t worked in the past can start to work. I think it’s about investors and clients being fluid and open to adapting. That flexibility is what’s allowed our clients to keep moving forward, regardless of the space.

Are there submarkets or secondary submarkets you see moving into growth mode over the coming months?

Luxury condominiums are coming to light. A lot of the older condo buildings are becoming old, and the cost to fix those up is too high.

You also have the single-family market doing quite well. Some people don’t want to live in condos, so demand remains strong. You’re seeing big investor companies and big developers from California and New York coming down and buying big houses on the water and things like that.

What’s your take on adaptive reuse?

There are pros and cons to everything. I think repurposing can offer a solution in certain markets and areas. A building that can be repurposed is not something that’s off the table.

At the end of the day, it’s developers and investors trying to find ways to be creative, and that is a creative way. Is it the end-all answer? I don’t think so. But I do think it’s an avenue to explore on a project-by-project basis.

How has technology, including AI tools, expanded within Austin Fox Architecture over the past year, both for clients and for work with municipalities?

It’s become a tool, not an end-all dependency. We don’t depend on it for everything, but we implement it in a lot of areas: feasibility studies, data input, response sheets to the city, writing letters, and research.

It touches every little bit of our firm in a way. We find more use cases as we go. We’re very open to it. We’re leaning into it versus shying away from it to see how it can help us become better at what we’re doing.

Looking ahead two to three years, what are the top priorities for your firm, and where do you see the regional development market going in Fort Lauderdale?

Our top priority is to continue to expand and offer a variety of services to our clients. We want to be alongside them as they grow and shift in the market space, which is why we’re not limiting ourselves to one market. We work in several market sectors, and we want to be side-by-side with our clients as they navigate.

As for where I see the future, I think money will continue to fluctuate from one sector to another depending on market conditions and the Fed rate. There’s always going to be opportunity and success. The question is how you find the right deals and make the numbers work.

Right now, you’re seeing luxury condos active, while multifamily is a bit on hold. Maybe this year that picks back up. Paying attention to where the supply is and where the demand is can help you understand where the next cycle is headed.