Work Program Architects has been included in the 2026 edition of the Inc. 5000, marking the second consecutive year the Norfolk architecture and design firm has been recognized among the fastest-growing private companies in America. WPA is the only architecture and design firm among the 27 companies from the Hampton Roads area on this year’s list.
WPA’s growth over the past year has extended the firm’s practice into a second market and deepened its civic work at home. In February, WPA opened an office in Raleigh, North Carolina, carrying its focus on environmental resilience and community-driven design into a new region.
In Norfolk, Maury High School broke ground after years of community discussion and planning. The William A. Hunton YMCA acquired land on East Brambleton Avenue for a new complex with a ground breaking planned for this fall. The 8.9 acre Next Step to Success — St. Vincent de Paul Houses campus is set to start construction in October. The Elizabeth River Trail Foundation is gathering public input on a proposed design for the Lambert’s Point Pedestrian Bridge.
“Growth was never the goal on its own — it’s what happens when communities trust you with the places that matter to them,” says WPA CEO and co-founder Mel Price. “Being on this list two years running tells us the way we practice is working. We design with people rather than for them, we keep the books open, and everyone here has a say in where we’re going.”
WPA has developed a reputation for design excellence and for pioneering a radically transparent business model that shares financial data, decision-making power and ownership mindset with every team member. Over the past year, the firm has continued to be a leader on culture in the AEC industry. Principal Erin Agdinaoay discussed pay transparency on the Practice Disrupted podcast and published on the topic in Dezeen. AIA Virginia’s Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee spotlighted the firm last spring.
Since being named to the Inc. 5000 last year, WPA has continued to garner individual and firm awards. Agdinaoay received national recognition on Building Design + Construction’s 40 Under 40 list. Virginia Business named Price to its “100 People to Meet in 2026” list and selected director of community engagement Sharon Manana for its 2026 Forty Under 40 awards. Photos by Yuzhu Zheng of the Elizabeth River Project’s Ryan Resilience Lab, which was designed by WPA, was recognized by the Architizer Vision Awards.
“Every company on the Inc. 5000 has a story of perseverance, smart decision making and a refusal to sit still,” says Mike Hofman, editor-in-chief of Inc. “Their growth reflects more than strong financial performance — it reflects creativity, resilience and the customer focus required to build companies that make a lasting impact.”
The Inc. 5000 list offers a data-driven look at the most successful companies within the economy’s most dynamic segment — independent, entrepreneurial businesses. Companies on the 2026 Inc. 5000 are ranked according to percentage revenue growth from 2022 to 2025. They must be U.S.-based, privately held, for-profit, and independent — not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies.
See the complete list here.