Across nearly 35 years of practice, Walt Teague created a diverse portfolio of project types including Senior Living, Higher Education, K-12 Education, Medical, Governmental, Municipal, Religious and Recreational. At the heart of his practice has been an inherent mission to focus on projects that positively benefit and improve community and society. Architecture is Walt’s second career. He received an undergraduate Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Western Carolina University and spent years creating architectural graphics for architects, contractors and building owners. His passion and desire to become an architect grew. In 1986, with the challenges of being married with two young children, he pursued a Master of Architecture at North Carolina State University. Graduating in 1989, he received the prestigious AIA School Medal and Certificate of Merit from the Henry Adams Fund.

Rising through the AIANC Board of Directors, Walt became AIANC’s 2007 President. Amid many accomplishments, his greatest impact was leading its full membership to approve the creation of the AIANC Center for Architecture & Design (CfA+D). After overwhelming approval, his attention focused on development of a complex organizational plan and structure for the project. Under Walt’s leadership, the Financial Development Committee and the Design & Construction Committee were formed with representatives with all AIA sections across the state. In addition, a design competition process was created to select a design and architect for the project. With a design and architect selected via completion (Frank Harmon Architect), in 2008 Walt continued involvement in all aspects of the work that followed, including site acquisition and AIANC’s transfer of stewardship of the headquarters, “The AIA Tower,” to a new owner, inspiring public recognition of preserving the state’s first historic adaptive reuse structure.

After retiring from practice, Walt became more engaged in serving the profession. On the North Carolina Board of Architecture & Registered Interior Designers, he remains active within NCARB (National Council of Architectural Registration Boards) and serves on the FY24 Futures Collaborative, which is planning for the profession’s future. He continues to influence the profession by emphasizing and supporting efforts for continued outreach and education to promote the value of architects and architecture with ongoing work via public awareness initiatives, the NC Architectural Foundation, and Legislative Advocacy.

As Creative Director for Thinc Strategies, Walt leads design firm strategy development and provides invaluable experience and insight to Thinc’s team and clients. He is a mentor and coach, using his knowledge of talent development and optimizing the business side of design practice to advise the success of other firms. He blogs and created a Vlog series “Talking to the Wall” to assist Emerging Professionals and seasoned Architects to better understand pressing issues and questions within design practices.

“His persistence during that time facilitated unprecedented achievements for North Carolina and the larger profession. His selfless dedication in the pursuit of service to profession and community has been extensively recognized uniformly by AIA North Carolina, the Institute's South Atlantic Region, by the AIA nationally and through the AIA College of Fellows.” Said J. Michael Cox, FAIA.