Mac was born in Charleston, SC. He spent six years in the office of world-famous architect César Pelli before forming Waggonner & Ball with David Waggonner. Mac believes the best architecture is born through a thorough analysis of site and purpose, and that the aesthetic qualities of a project should be derived from the materiality of the building’s context, appropriate building technologies, and climate.
Mac appreciates the process of working with his clients to develop designs that provide value and are appropriate to their budgets and he is deeply invested in every project with which he is associated. His experience in master planning, historic preservation and adaptive reuse projects provides a firm foundation for the buildings and environments he and his team at Waggonner & Ball design
Reinforced by the tragic devastation of Hurricane Katrina, Mac recognizes the value and fragility of human culture and the power of community. He has become involved in urban design, resiliency and sustainable water management design in New Orleans and in other coastal areas. As an esteemed member of the architecture community, Mac has taught architecture courses at both Yale and Tulane Universities and has served on multiple AIA awards juries. Also a painter, Mac finds inspiration in the coastal waterways and rural landscapes of Louisiana. Through an appreciation for the land, environmental issues and context, Mac has designed buildings that fit their setting and perform well over time.
