Ford, Powell & Carson Architects & Planners, Inc.

Ford, Powell & Carson Architects & Planners, Inc. We believe in crafting meaningful architecture rooted in our legacy of regional modernism. We are a woman-owned HUB certified small business entity.

Our designs are inspired by our sensitive understanding of context, our desire to collaborate, and our passion for vibrant places. Ford, Powell & Carson offers comprehensive design services in architecture, urban design, interior design, and planning, and has been an integral part of the San Antonio design community since 1939. The firm's multi-disciplinary expertise provides clients with integrat

ed design solutions from master planning and building design through construction and the selection of furnishings.

Big ideas get better when people learn how to build them together.Through the ACE Mentorship Program, FPC designer Alan ...
05/01/2026

Big ideas get better when people learn how to build them together.

Through the ACE Mentorship Program, FPC designer Alan Ramirez worked with students from East Central High School as they developed an original concept for a coffee shop and music venue, guiding them from early ideas to final presentation at UTSA on April 1.

Along the way, students explored more than design. They learned how collaboration shapes the process and how strong ideas often come through listening, revising, and finding common ground. As Alan shared, one of the most important lessons was learning how to compromise. As students worked through different design options, they saw that everyone brought a different perspective on how the space should look and feel. Through mentorship, they learned that compromise was essential to moving the project forward, a takeaway echoed by
the panel of critics.

We’re proud to support programs like ACE that open doors to design education and
encourage the next generation to imagine, create, and lead.

At Plaza de Armas, a historic downtown complex was reimagined for a new kind of civic life.Designed for the City of San ...
04/29/2026

At Plaza de Armas, a historic downtown complex was reimagined for a new kind of civic life.

Designed for the City of San Antonio, the project brings together culture, communication, and public access in one restored place. Inside the historic shell, the project opens up new possibilities for public life: a multipurpose cultural space, two television studios, and a flexible setup that allows the studios to open
together for larger performances and events.

It is a project where preservation meets public engagement, giving a group of buildings from the 1880s and 1890s a new role in the life of the city.

Coming Summer 2026: a new place for gathering in Alamo Heights.Ford, Powell & Carson, in collaboration with Coral Studio...
04/27/2026

Coming Summer 2026: a new place for gathering in Alamo Heights.

Ford, Powell & Carson, in collaboration with Coral Studio, has completed the design of a quarter-acre pocket park next to the Alamo Heights municipal pool. What was once an underused parking area is being reshaped into a welcoming community space for play, rest, and connection.

The park includes natural play features, shaded seating, open lawn, and accessible amenities designed to support families, visitors, and neighbors throughout the year. Its pavilion uses perforated brick walls that reference the language of the existing pool while providing shade, airflow, and a sense of enclosure without losing openness.

Small in scale but generous in purpose, the project strengthens an already active civic
destination and creates new room for community life.

Decades of stewardship recognized.Mission San José has received a Texas Historical Commission Award of Excellence in His...
04/16/2026

Decades of stewardship recognized.

Mission San José has received a Texas Historical Commission Award of Excellence in Historic Architecture, honoring preservation work at the World Heritage Site and National Historic Landmark.

FPC has worked alongside Las Misiones and the Archdiocese of San Antonio for more than 50 years to support the long-term preservation of the church.

Recent efforts include conservation of the carved limestone façade and Rose Window, as well as a comprehensive roof replacement completed in 2023. Through ongoing collaboration and an Annual Maintenance Program for all four mission churches, the work supports the continued use and preservation of one of Texas’s most significant historic places.

FPC restored the historic CCC custodian cottage at Goliad State Park, a Texas Parks and Wildlife Department park, creati...
04/08/2026

FPC restored the historic CCC custodian cottage at Goliad State Park, a Texas Parks and Wildlife Department park, creating a new visitor center for the El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail.

Built between 1936 and 1937 by the Civilian Conservation Corps, the cottage was originally used to test construction techniques later applied at Mission Espíritu Santo.

The project included restoration of lime plaster walls, cypress shingles, historic doors and windows, and interior finishes. The courtyard was carefully reset to meet accessibility requirements while preserving its historic character. New interpretive exhibits help share the story of the Camino Real and the craftsmanship of the CCC.

Time altered the courthouse. Stewardship restored it.Completed in 1893, the Caldwell County Courthouse stands as one of ...
04/03/2026

Time altered the courthouse. Stewardship restored it.

Completed in 1893, the Caldwell County Courthouse stands as one of Texas’ most distinctive expressions of Second Empire architecture. Its mansard roofs, ornamental metalwork, and finely detailed masonry shape a civic landmark defined by craft and proportion.

FPC’s exterior restoration reinstated lost slate tiles, iron cresting, railings, and decorative elements at the central clock tower using historic photographs, attic evidence, and paint analysis. Limestone and sandstone façades, wood windows and doors, and the complex roofscape were carefully renewed to reestablish material clarity.

Structural stabilization and a concealed HVAC system support continued use, while a light metal bridge introduces accessible entry without altering the original stone steps.

FPC is currently preparing a master plan aligned with Texas Historical Commission standards to guide future restoration phases and support eligibility for Texas Courthouse Preservation Program funding. The work is scheduled for completion in 2026.

The Conservation Society of San Antonio has recognized the rehabilitation of Travis Park United Methodist Church with th...
03/31/2026

The Conservation Society of San Antonio has recognized the rehabilitation of Travis Park United Methodist Church with the 2026 Historic Preservation Award for the Built Environment.

For nearly 140 years, this Romanesque Revival sanctuary has shaped the character of downtown San Antonio. FPC’s work focused on repairing water infiltration damage while preserving the materials that give the building its meaning: slate roofs replaced in kind, limestone and cast stone carefully repointed, stained glass restored, and interior plaster repaired to match the historic paint scheme.

Each decision followed the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards, allowing the sanctuary to continue serving its congregation and the city.

Carolyn Peterson, FAIA (1939 – 2026)It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our principal emeritus Caro...
03/27/2026

Carolyn Peterson, FAIA (1939 – 2026)

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our principal emeritus Carolyn Peterson, FAIA. A giant of preservation architecture in Texas, Carolyn’s remarkable career encompassed the preservation and restoration of our state’s most iconic buildings, including the Texas Capitol, the
San Antonio Mission churches, the Alamo, and the Texas Governor’s Mansion.

Carolyn began her career in the office of O’Neil Ford in 1964, later becoming the first female principal at Ford, Powell & Carson in 1979. She continued to break barriers for women in Texas. She was the first woman in the state to be elevated to the AIA College of Fellows (1991), the first to receive the Texas Society of Architects’ Medal for Lifetime Achievement (2008) and also, fittingly,
the first to receive their O’Neil Ford Medal for Design Achievement (2023).

Carolyn leaves an indelible impact on the field of historic preservation and the architectural
community. Fearless and creative, she approached her work with a deep respect for the craftsmanship and context of the buildings she helped to preserve. She mentored and inspired countless architects and preservationists in her long career. Our FPC family mourns her loss and is proud to help carry on her legacy.

It was so great to have these students from the Young Women’s Leadership Academy stop by this week to spend the day with...
03/27/2026

It was so great to have these students from the Young Women’s Leadership Academy stop by this week to spend the day with us and learn more about the field of architecture. From project site visits to design charrettes, these young leaders got a first-hand look at the work in progress. We love to see the future of the practice today!

We’re hiring an experienced Project Manager / Architect to help lead meaningful work from early design through construct...
03/24/2026

We’re hiring an experienced Project Manager / Architect to help lead meaningful work from early design through construction. Our practice is rooted in regional modernism and shaped by craft, collaboration, and context.

If you enjoy coordinating teams, engaging clients, and contributing to thoughtful, enduring architecture, we invite you to apply.

Click here to find out more: https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/4389581143/

Nearly a century after it was built for Texas’ Centennial celebration, the Witte Museum’s Pioneer Hall continues to welc...
03/18/2026

Nearly a century after it was built for Texas’ Centennial celebration, the Witte Museum’s Pioneer Hall continues to welcome visitors along the San Antonio River.

The Robert J. & Helen C. Kleberg South Texas Heritage Center restores the historic hall and introduces a new pavilion-like addition inspired by the park structures of the 1930s. A 30-foot glass atrium now links the old building with the new, with the preserved exterior wall of Pioneer Hall forming the backdrop to this gathering space in Brackenridge Park.

Today the center continues the mission of sharing the stories of South Texas through the Witte Museum’s collections.

Address

420 Broadway, Suite 100
San Antonio, TX
78205

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 5:30pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 5:30pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5:30pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5:30pm
Friday 8:30am - 5:30pm

Telephone

+12102261246

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