The Story of Northfield Design Associates
Firm Profile
Northfield Design Associates, Inc. specializes in single and multi-family residential architecture. A member of Austin Energy's Green Builder program, NDA's first design-build project was awarded Five Stars by Austin Energy, the highest rating possible from one of the nation's leaders in green building. NDA's commitment to sustainable building practices is fundamental to the firm's design philosophy.
Whether designing a small house or a large multi-family development we provide clients with value through good design, attention to detail, and straight forward communication. Northfield Design Associates Inc. was founded in 2003 by Donald R. Smith, II, AIA.
Don Smith
Don Smith received his Master of Architecture from the University of Houston College of Architecture. While doing graduate work he studied at Le Centre d'Urbanisme (CEAU) in Saintes, France. Upon completion of his M. Arch. degree he was awarded a travel scholarship and returned to France in order to organize a permanent library at CEAU. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Auburn University.
Northfield Design Associates, Inc was founded in May of 2003. Before founding Northfield Design Associates, Inc. Don worked for Griffin Architects, Inc. in Houson, Texas and established an office for Griffin in Austin. During his tenure at Griffin Don gained extensive experience with multi-family housing ans worked on a number of assisted living facilities as well as various small commercial projects.
Don has always been active in community organizations. He currently servces on the board of Blackland Community Development Corporation, a non-profit that provies affordable housing in the Blackland Neighborhood of East Ausin, and on the Advisory Board of Paradox Players, a community theater group. He has held various officer and committee positions in the Northfield Neighborhood Association and on the North Loop Planning Team as well at his church, First Unitarian Universalist Church of Austin.
Ryan Tyler
Ryan is a licensed architect in the state of Texas and the LEED accredited professional. He received his Master of Architecture from the University of Illinois in Chicago in 2005. Prior to joining NDA in 2014, Ryan had over eight years of experience working on a range of projects including commercial, institutional and residential.