Let's Build Next Century's Celebrated Buildings—Together.
Austin Tunnell
Founder and CEO
Head of Product
Austin Tunnell is the Founder, CEO, and Head of Product at Building Culture, a holistic real estate development company dedicated to creating beautiful, resilient, and thriving places. With a hands-on approach, Austin oversees all aspects of design and craftsmanship, ensuring every detail aligns with the company’s vision for timeless and human-centered spaces.
Austin’s journey into building began with a brief stint as a CPA at KPMG followed by two years in the Peace Corps. During his time abroad, he recognized that the built environment—our architecture—profoundly shapes the human experience, influencing not only how we live but also our physical health, mental well-being, and social connections. He saw how our current habitat fosters isolation, depression, financial instability, physical ailments from sedentary lifestyles, and even the erosion of culture and community.
Compelled to make a difference, he apprenticed with a master mason and timber framer, gaining deep expertise in traditional building methods as a foundation for crafting healthier, more resilient, and culturally vibrant environments.
As Head of Product, Austin leads design and innovation at Building Culture. From masonry and massing to interior design, he sets the tone and feel of every project, ensuring a cohesive vision. He is also a relentless innovator, pushing the boundaries of masonry and construction techniques to create sustainable, enduring buildings.
Austin’s work extends beyond design—he serves as a General Partner for various development deals, leading projects that embody Building Culture’s mission to craft neighborhoods that prioritize beauty, functionality, and long-term stewardship. He also hosts The Building Culture Podcast, where he engages with industry leaders and change-makers to explore holistic solutions for the built environment.
With a vision for multi-century architecture and a commitment to cultural impact, Austin is leading Building Culture to redefine how we shape the world around us.
The Team
Matt Hayes
Matt’s passion for the entire process of bringing a project to life is at home in Building Culture’s holistic design-build approach to creating beautiful things that enhance our lives.
Prior to joining Building Culture in 2022, Matt worked in Manhattan at G.P. Schafer Architect, on custom residences in areas including Arkansas, Virginia, Florida, and New York City. He brings the rigor and attention to detail of those $10 million+ projects to Building Culture’s work in Oklahoma.
A dedicated learner and teacher, Matt studied traditional architecture and urbanism at the University of Notre Dame and serves as instructor at the Institute for Classical Art and Architecture.
He is a licensed architect in Oklahoma and New York, is NCARB certified and a member of the AIA.
Sarah Tunnell
Sarah shines in helping people connect in meaningful ways, and is fascinated with how this can happen organically when set within a proper built environment like the places that are created by Building Culture. Prior to joining the team, Sarah was the Director of the Carlton Landing Community Foundation where she oversaw the new urban community's marketing and event programming. She adores being a mother to her young daughter and soon.
Thomas Dougherty
Thomas Dougherty is an Architectural and UX Urban Designer revolutionizing infill development by uncovering the forgotten space of the inner-block. He holds a Master of Architecture and a Master of Architectural Design and Urbanism from the University of Notre Dame.
"I grew up on a small farm where building and repairing buildings was a constant need. I worked as a timber framer for a few years in my early twenties. I was chasing durability and beauty with the timber framing, and it was that drive that took me to Notre Dame to study traditional architectural and urban design. I met Austin in the summer of 2016, and under his leadership helped build a small load bearing brick home. There is an integrity to Austin's work - and now the work of Building Culture - that is being recognized around this Country. The durability and beauty of Building Culture's masonry walls allow their buildings to be worth inheriting; a true legacy project and gift to future generations."
Paulina Vidal
Paulina is a finance and accounting professional with over a decade of experience in cross-border operations, including maquiladora and real estate investment structures. Originally from Mexico, she holds a Bachelor's degree in Accounting and a Master’s in Finance with a specialization in Quality and Productivity.
At Building Culture, Paulina leads financial reporting, forecasting, and operational controls. Her approach blends precision with strategic insight, helping scale operations efficiently while maintaining compliance across jurisdictions.
Outside of work, Ana values family, community, and lifelong learning. She’s a proud mother, an advocate for work-life balance, and brings warmth and integrity to every endeavor she joins.
Maria Spada
Maria believes that architecture is not just about designing buildings – it’s about shaping how we live, connect, and experience the world around us. She sees design as a powerful tool that influences how neighborhoods grow, how people interact, and how communities thrive.
Originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina, Maria studied Architecture, Design, and Urbanism at the University of Buenos Aires. Her education continued internationally with a focus on Interior Design at Parsons School of Design in New York and a Master’s in Advanced and Digital Architecture from ELISAVA in Barcelona, Spain.
Before joining Building Culture, Maria worked with ROAD Architects on custom residential projects in Buenos Aires and later with ARQUITECTONICA NY, contributing to the Design Development team on a range of large-scale projects. Her global experience and passion for design in all its forms – from interiors to urban planning – inform her work every day as she helps create beautiful, enduring places where people can flourish.
Drilon Sogojeva
Drilon earned his degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Prishtina in Kosovo and has over seven years of experience in the construction industry.
Prior to joining Building Culture, Drilon spent more than four years estimating for New York City–based general contractors. His experience spans residential and commercial projects, with budgets up to $25 million. He began his career as an MEP Estimator and MEP Construction Manager before advancing to General Estimator and Project Coordinator across all trades.
He enjoys collaborating with project teams, approaching each project with curiosity, care, and a focus on thoughtful, well-executed results.
The spaces we create shape how people move, connect, and experience life. At Building Culture we’re committed to crafting a better human habitat, one beautiful, lasting space at a time.
"First we shape our buildings; thereafter, they shape us." - Winston Churchill
Carlton Landing
