The LOEB Fellowship

Matt Smith is the Chief Operating Officer at Mazzetti, an employee-owned engineering and consulting firm known for delivering innovative MEP design and technology solutions for complex buildings.
With a strong emphasis on healthcare, science, and sustainability, Mazzetti blends deep technical expertise with a commitment to creating healthier, more resilient environments—empowering clients to lead in energy efficiency, decarbonization, and future-ready infrastructure. As a 2025 Loeb Fellow at the Harvard Graduate School of Design, Matt explored how planning, design, and construction processes can better serve small and rural communities. Prior to beginning the Loeb Fellowship, Matt served as Managing Director at MASS Design Group, overseeing global operations and helping guide the organization’s mission-driven growth. In 2019, he co-led the launch of MASS’s Santa Fe Studio, focused on rural and Native-serving projects. During his tenure, MASS earned multiple prestigious accolades, including the 2022 AIA Architecture Firm Award, recognition as WSJ’s 2021 Innovator of the Year, and one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies in Design. Matt has also been a Visiting Scholar at Montana State University, his alma mater, where he taught and conducted research on hybrid organizations as alternative models of design practice. Originally from the Rocky Mountain West, Matt is deeply committed to rural community development. He is a co-founder of Building Common Ground, a collective working to strengthen social infrastructure and support rural leadership across the U.S. Outside of work, you’ll find Matt in the backcountry—climbing, fishing, hunting, trail running, or snowboarding. He holds a Master’s in Development Practice from Columbia University and a Bachelor’s in Business Management and Philosophy from Montana State University.
Watch Matt’s end of year presentation