Studio 1:1 Build LLC is a construction and development practice led by Mark Thackrah RA, a licensed architect in New York and Arizona. With a combined 25-plus years in construction and architecture and 13 years of hands-on experience in the Hamptons, we partner with clients and developers to bring complex visions to life. Our mission is to trust the process, honor the site, and craft with quality. We choose materials thoughtfully, simplify the structure, and confirm the program and spaces to create lasting, purposeful built objects.
​
Born in Phoenix and then growing up in a small rural town in the White Mountains of Arizona, I learned early that hard work and mastering my chosen trade are the keys to success.
​
Before I graduated high school, I entered the residential construction industry as a laborer and quickly learned framing, foundation work, and how to read plans. I began to see the gap between what’s built and what’s designed, and I carried that realization with me as I moved forward.
After high school, I moved to the Phoenix area and took on a range of work—from bussing tables at a golf course to working in a call center. Once seizing a random opportunity, I drove across the Southwest and across the state of Texas to work on pipe laying and dredging barges in the Gulf of Mexico, always chasing what my purpose might be.
​
Back in the Valley, I worked in finish carpentry, hanging doors, trim, and baseboards on track homes. Our team was told our work was too clean, and that other crews with lower quality outpaced us. That moment sparked a shift: I decided to be the one designing and drawing the projects I was building. My early hand drafting classes in high school nudged me toward that path. I also took CAD classes at a local community college, and, not knowing the exact outcome, I made the most of each day.
​
Aspiration became action. I envisioned an indoor snowboard park in Phoenix and began pursuing ideas of how to make this happen. A conversation with an architect revealed that the first step would be to get a license in Architecture and to do this would require a Master’s degree, so I enrolled at Arizona State University in the Architecture program.
​
At ASU, I was fortunate to connect with great friends and faculty who helped me bridge design and construction. My sister introduced me to The Construction Zone, a Phoenix- based design-build firm. They invited me to work full-time during summers and holiday breaks on a notable project, the Desert Courtyard House by Wendell Burnette, while I completed my degree. During my time on this project, I worked with a range of materials, including concrete and rammed earth as well as steel and glass.
​
Near the end of my bachelor’s, a close-knit group of peers and I formed a thesis group we named Studio1:1, focused on community-driven architecture and ground-up design for underserved South Phoenix communities. We spent two years in the Master’s program tackling various theoretical projects, guided by process and active community participation. Although we secured some funding for a project after graduation, the 2008 economy made continued work impractical, and we shifted course.
​
I took an opportunity to build a house for a fisherman in Cordova, Alaska, during the summer of 2009. That experience—in a small Prince William Sound community— reinforced my love of hands-on craft and meaningful place-making.
​
A new chapter began when a startup design-build firm, ASUL, invited me to travel and work in all four corners of the country—from Globe, Arizona to Weaverville, California, Borrego Springs, California, and Savannah, Georgia. We eventually landed in the Hamptons, where I chose to stay. East Hampton became my base for years of collaboration and growth.
​
Here, I helped found and grow Modern Net Zero (MNZ). Over 13 years, I designed and built 15 speculative homes valued at over $60 million. I took from this experience that speculative building can be highly effective and profitable, but true, timeless architecture arises from a careful balance of design, cost, and craftsmanship.
​
Today, I bring a deep understanding of both design and build—from concept to completion. My goal is to design and construct with an eye for architectural integrity and enduring value, finding the right partnerships to fuel thoughtful development, and enjoying life here with my wife and two children.
​
If you’re interested in moving forward with a project, I’d love to hear from you. Thank you for your consideration. ​​
​
​
MISSION STATEMENT:
Our mission is to trust the process, honor the site, craft with quality in mind, choose and treat materials thoughtfully, simplify structure, and confirm the program and spaces to create lasting, purposeful built objects.
SERVICES:
General Contracting
Consulting
Permit Expediting
Shop Drawings
Visualization
Drafting
Property Management
Development and Investment Coordination
Property Feasibility Assessment
