It was during childhood trips to Yellowstone’s Old Faithful Lodge that Mark Stonehocker first became curious about architecture. “I remember watching people interacting with the big old fireplace and the lodge,” he says. Even then, he was drawn to the way spaces shape human experience.
Designing for the Human Experience
Mark gravitates toward projects that stir emotion. “All projects that can cross the threshold, even just a little bit, and move people emotionally” are the ones that resonate with him most. He’s especially passionate about residential design—spaces where people spend the majority of their lives and create their most meaningful memories. “It’s the most intimate,” he explains, “and people create lasting memories in their homes and vacation homes.”
Influence Through Nature and Culture
Nature plays a central role in Mark’s creative process. “This is what inspired me,” he says, “and when I learned what certain architects and cultures have done to help the world connect with it,” everything clicked. He draws influence from Japanese and Native American design traditions, as well as the work of Frank Lloyd Wright, John Lautner, Tom Kundig, and Rick Joy—all known for their sensitivity to place and environment.
A Culture of Collaboration
Mark finds the team environment at Think Architecture energizing. “I really like the collaborative spirit fostered in the office,” he says. That mindset shapes not only the way he works, but how he approaches each project. His process is hands-on and intuitive, from program to sketches and 3-D modeling. But it’s the back-and-forth with colleagues and clients that often leads to the most unexpected and rewarding design solutions. “Sometimes, a creative solution comes out by accident—something that no one person would have necessarily come up with on their own.”
Solving Big Ideas with Bold Thinking
One project that stands out in Mark’s memory involved a client who envisioned a dramatic design element: “a water feature to be six-stories above grade, a focal element and cantilevered off the side of the building.” It was a bold ask—and the kind of challenge that reminds Mark why he loves this work. With the right mix of creativity, collaboration, and engineering know-how, even the most ambitious ideas can come to life.
Designing for Utah’s Landscape and Future
Living and working in Utah brings its own kind of inspiration. “There’s so much potential here. It’s an exciting place to practice because there’s room to push boundaries and bring fresh ideas to the table,” Mark says. The state’s unique Basin and Range geography also influences his work, especially in how people connect to the landscape they’ve chosen to be part of. One of his favorite local buildings is Neil Astle’s Student Services Building at the University of Utah—a project that, like Mark’s own work, draws strength from its sense of place.
Looking Ahead with Imagination and Technology
Mark is excited about where the industry is heading—particularly the role of emerging tools in deepening the design experience. “I think the prospect of VR is exciting to help the owner/team see the spaces and landscape that’s trying to be created.” But despite advances in tech, he still believes in the fundamentals. His advice for aspiring architects is timeless: “Learn how to sketch. Buy a sketch book and fill it. Don’t stop sketching just because you find a keyboard in front of you—imagination is needed all the time.”
Outside the Studio
When he’s not designing, Mark is usually outside—playing tennis, skiing in the backcountry, or backpacking through Southern Utah. Nature isn’t just an influence on his design work—it’s how he recharges. If he weren’t an architect? “Builder/developer,” he says without hesitation. That desire to shape the built environment—to create spaces where people feel something—has always been there.