Ashley McGraw Architects Names Nicholas Williams Firm Principal

Ashley McGraw Architects is pleased to announce that Nicholas Williams, AIA, has been named Principal in the firm.

“We are delighted to have Nick become a Principal with Ashley McGraw Architects,” said Matthew Broderick, President & CEO. “Since rejoining our firm and establishing our Washington, D.C. office, he has showcased a mix of leadership, design innovation, and commitment to our firm’s sustainability values. With Nick’s appointment, it will further allow him to lead our project teams and spearhead our business development efforts with the continued goal of building a robust portfolio of work in the mid-Atlantic region.”

Williams previously worked at Ashley McGraw Architects from 2009-2015 with a focus in the K-12 and higher education markets. Key projects included the LEED Platinum new MacArthur Elementary School in Binghamton, NY; LEED Gold Le Moyne College Coyne Science building; and Syracuse University’s Sadler Dining Hall.

Upon relocating to Washington, D.C., in 2015, Williams worked at Perkins Eastman DC for over 4 years on K-12 projects in the Washington, D.C., area, both in the public and charter school sectors. In 2019, Williams joined the Facility Planning and Design team for the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) where he quickly ascended to the role of Director of Facility Planning and Design for DCPS in June 2020. In that role, he oversaw the design and construction of the District’s major school renovation and new construction initiatives, including net-zero energy schools along with the annual development of DCPS’ six-year Capital Improvement Plan.

Williams rejoined Ashley McGraw Architects in June 2022, establishing and leading the firm’s Washington, D.C. office. “As a school designer, the opportunity I had at DCPS to truly learn the challenges that school districts face on a daily basis, by living the experience, was invaluable,” said Williams. “But I wanted to bring that perspective back to Ashley McGraw and to build on our existing portfolio of highly sustainable and pedagogically progressive K-12 work.”

An active member of the design community, Williams has presented his work and expertise on school modernizations and designing to maximize learning environments at several professional conferences, including EDspaces and the Association for Learning Environments (A4LE).

Williams is a 2009 graduate of Syracuse University with a Bachelor of Architecture degree. He is a registered architect in the District of Columbia and member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA).