PLAAD — the Practice of Lasting Architecture and Design — is a Minneapolis architecture and design firm founded in 2014 by Mark Stankey, AIA, CID. The name carries layered meaning: like plaid as a textile concept, PLAAD represents the weaving of multiple disparate elements into a unified, timeless whole. Mark Stankey is a founding advisor to Mastercraft.
The firm brings deep professional experience spanning residential architecture, interior design, and architectural detailing. Mark's background includes work at James Dayton Design in Minneapolis, Intrinsik Architecture in Bozeman, and Store Design for Target Corporation — a range that informs PLAAD's ability to operate across scales and contexts with equal rigor. The studio's work emphasizes tactile materials — masonry, timber, crafted surfaces — and the interplay of light and space. Notable projects include an award-recognized White Bear Lake residence featuring wraparound porches, clerestory windows, and carefully considered material compositions.
As a Mastercraft Founding Advisor and Architecture Partner, PLAAD works directly with verified specialty craftsmen from the Guild Roll — and helped shape the philosophy behind it.