Adam Reed, Principal, Ford Powell & Carson
In an interview with Invest:, Adam Reed, principal at Ford Powell & Carson, noted a post-election rebound in project volume, signaling a shift to growth mode. Key efforts include adaptive reuse and civic interventions, like La Villita Assembly Hall and the Broadway East Development, aligning with San Antonio’s cultural and economic evolution. “We’re now acting on the results of last year’s strategic market insights and efforts, hiring staff, and evaluating our priorities accordingly,” Reed said.
Can you share some of the biggest shifts over the past year that have impacted your project pipeline in San Antonio?
San Antonio has long been a vibrant epicenter of global and cultural influence, shaped by centuries of rich heritage, diverse communities, and international exchange. This legacy has been a source of pride and strength in our firm’s work, as our projects promote the city as a unique gateway between multi-faceted traditions and celebrations.
In recent years, however, San Antonio has increasingly found itself navigating the challenges of global and cultural uncertainty, not so much in terms of its people, but in the shifting tides of policy, trade dynamics, tourism patterns, and the influx of residents who bring their own brands. As external factors become less predictable, our firm has tried to adapt thoughtfully to protect our role as an institutional, hyper-local design firm while also finding the right projects and clients that can bring thoughtful, transformative vision to our beloved hometown.
Which recent projects have been pivotal for your firm, and how do they align with the region’s evolving needs?
Two major renovation projects have been particularly significant: the downtown Historic City Hall Renovation and the conversion of the former Frost Bank building into City Tower, which consolidates around 20 city departments. These projects have reinforced the importance of public–private partnerships in supporting city growth.
Currently, we’re renovating the La Villita Assembly Hall — a legacy project of ours from the 1950s — into a vibrant experiential project with a newfound waterfront presence. It’s a standout example of our adaptive reuse approach and the lasting impact of legacy projects.
What makes San Antonio unique as a location for firms or individuals looking to relocate or start a business?
A dollar goes farther here. We’re an attractive alternative to Austin, acting more like a calm older brother to our trend-following I-35 sibling. It’s a stable destination for relocation and business consolidation, attractive to newcomers from the West Coast and East Coast. Its strength lies in its authenticity — maintaining its cultural soul while supporting strong civic and business leadership. It’s a city that is ideal for growing a family, investing, and forming partnerships.
What investments or planning initiatives do you believe will catalyze downtown revitalization?
Current infrastructure work, including roads and utilities, is a necessary disruption. Sports and Entertainment districts and anchors should spur adjacent revitalization if planned and executed properly. UTSA’s recent growth into downtown with its campus buildings is redefining workforce and academic collaboration.
Which sectors are showing the most growth or demand for your practice?
Sports and entertainment are areas with significant momentum. The potential redevelopment of the downtown arena and a new minor league ballpark could create ripple effects in mixed-use and multifamily projects, connecting entertainment hubs to other parts of the city through urban design and infrastructure.
Higher education is also seeing a boost, particularly after Alamo Colleges passed a nearly $1 billion bond. Their focus on career training and workforce development aligns closely with the growing industrial sector, which is being fueled by players such as JCB, Toyota, Port SA, and others investing and expanding in our city.
How are you managing material cost volatility and supply chain challenges?
We’re bringing Cost Estimators in early and recommending clients consider delivery methods like Construction Manager at Risk to better manage pricing. We also engage General Contractors for pre-con services. Accurate market data is essential for setting realistic expectations.
There’s a chance that tariff impacts, interest rate levels, and state funding delays could encourage more competitive bidding among contractors. We’re watching closely to see if that translates into actual savings.
How is your firm approaching recruiting and retaining talent in this environment?
A slower project year allowed us to invest in mentorship, training, and professional development. That groundwork is now paying off. We’ve grown by about 20% in the first six months of 2025, not just hiring locally but looking at candidates from across the state and outside of Texas. People are attracted to San Antonio’s stability and growth potential — our reputation and position is attractive.
How is technology reshaping your design practice?
AI is becoming a major tool, especially for internal workflows like meeting transcription and design visualization. It’s helping us speed up deliverables and generate ideas more efficiently. Clients are expecting faster turnarounds and more variations. We’re focused on using these tools thoughtfully — to enhance service, not supplant it.
We’re also exploring how our in-house Design-Build services can play a role in conservation efforts. That includes residential construction and remodeling as well as fabrication and installation of architectural elements like stone and masonry, which are particularly valuable for historic preservation projects.
How does FPC engage with local communities to align projects with their cultural and regional needs?
We’re committed to giving back. That includes everything from pro-bono services to charitable or non-profit entities, participating in charitable campaigns, food drives, blood drives, Canstruction, student mentorship, etc. We recently began offering volunteer hours to our employees each year to encourage civic involvement during work hours.
We’re also heavily involved in the historic tax credit space, offering consulting and design services that help clients qualify for state and federal incentives. It’s one of the most meaningful ways we help preserve San Antonio’s architectural heritage.
What are your top priorities and outlook for the next two to three years?
We’re focused on sustained, diversified growth. Our firm has weathered multiple economic down cycles — from the Texas Oil Bust of the 1980s, the housing market crisis, and the COVID pandemic more recently — and we’ve learned not to rely too heavily on any one sector. We’re generalists by design, with strengths in areas like residential, preservation, higher education, and master planning projects.
The goal is to keep expanding our services while maintaining balance across markets. We’ve set revenue and staffing targets for the next five years, and we’re confident in reaching them.
