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CALIFORNIA — July 22, 2024 — NELSON Worldwide is pleased to welcome Gregory Lehman as Design Leader, Civic & Justice. In his new role, Lehman will utilize his diverse skill set to develop NELSON’s presence in the Northern California Civic and Justice market further.

Throughout his career, Lehman has acquired expertise in various areas including architectural design, project management, budget and schedule control, sustainable design, and building positive client relationships. Inspired by leading collaborative teams with varied viewpoints to develop creative and impactful projects, he boasts experience in many verticals such as hospitality, mixed-use, and life sciences. Drawn to NELSON’s people-first culture and dynamic team, Lehman is eager to collaborate with his teammates to bring to life large-scale projects that inspire and boldly transform the human experience.

Lehman’s first brush with architecture and design was at an Iowa firm, HLKB, which won the AIA National Firm of the Year award in 2001. He has since served as lead designer and project manager at various firms in the Bay Area such as Gensler, HDR, and most recently, Flad Architects. He notes The Grinnell College Welcome Center, which won the AIA Honor Design Award, steel design, and masonry awards, and The Torrey View Development in San Diego as some of the most impactful projects in his portfolio.

MINNEAPOLIS – June 4, 2024—Award-winning architecture, design, and strategy firm NELSON Worldwide is thrilled to announce it has moved into its brand-new office space located at 901 S Marquette Avenue in Minneapolis, MN. This move underscores NELSON’s unwavering dedication to downtown Minneapolis, clients, and team members as well as its investment in a more flexible, innovative, and wellness-oriented workplace.

Leveraging their extensive workplace expertise, the team at NELSON Worldwide has designed a dynamic workplace that sets a new standard for modern offices. Leaving their previous office location of over 15 years, the team embraced the opportunity to create a space that reflected the current workplace landscape, its current needs, and future growth. Standing tall in Minneapolis, the 464-foot tower has undergone significant repositioning by the NELSON Worldwide team. Because of their connection and history with the building, NELSON strategically chose this development as the location for their new office. The team made use of a NELSON-designed customizable spec suite made available by the 901 Marquette Building client so they could devote 6-8 months to meticulously design and build the new offices located on the 28th floor – with outstanding views of downtown Minneapolis.

The new office, with its reduced footprint from 14,900 to 6,900 sq.ft., is designed to enhance employee collaboration and invigorate the work experience. An inviting welcoming zone greets teammates and guests upon arrival, an open area that combines residential comfort and hospitality elements to create a multipurpose front-of-house space that can accommodate one-on-one interactions as well as larger meetings. The new office seamlessly integrates spaces for chosen collaboration, including two Zoom rooms, a right-sized standard conference room, and a lounge-based corner conference room overlooking the Minnesota Twins Ballpark. The office also offers several central gathering areas for teamwork, emphasizing open, engaging environments for client and team interactions.

Central to the office’s design is its adaptability to NELSON’s forward-thinking hybrid work policy. With a focus on flexible furniture, enhanced technology infrastructure, and well-equipped individual workstations, the new office ensures that teammates can seamlessly transition between remote and in-office work, fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration regardless of physical location.

“This relocation and downsizing of our Minneapolis office highlights our dedication to crafting a space that aligns with our present requirements and future aspirations,” says Scott Hierlinger, Principal and Market Leader at NELSON Worldwide. “The office embodies our hybrid work style and caters to our in-office employees and client engagements.”

NELSON’s Minneapolis office exemplifies the firm’s commitment to excellence and innovation. It pilots new design concepts and reinforces the firm’s presence as a leading architecture and design force in the vibrant Minneapolis community.

CHICAGO – July 8, 2024 — Award-winning architecture, design, and strategy firm NELSON Worldwide is pleased to announce its relocation to a new office space in Chicago. Situated on the 17th floor of 30 West Monroe in the Loop, the new office underscores the significance of streamlining space to foster collaboration among employees to cultivate impactful work. Relocating within the same building as its previous space, NELSON remains in the heart of the city in close proximity to both clients and commuting employees.

In embracing a hybrid work model, NELSON sought an office tailored to their evolving spatial demands. Deliberately downsized to 6,000 square feet, the new office brings in-office colleagues closer together, offering workspaces and amenities that cater to individual needs and preferences.

NELSON reimagined the spec suite to seamlessly accommodate the team’s workflows and operational requirements, while infusing it with personality and color. Despite the reduction in size, the gains for the NELSON team are substantial as the new space offers enhanced functionality and amenities. Recognizing the importance of collaborative and client-facing areas, the team incorporated a charette room and a conference room tailored for client meetings into the new office layout. The absence of these spaces in their previous office setup emphasized their importance as additions to the new space. Alongside additional huddle spaces equipped with AV capabilities, it boasts two private wellness rooms, a welcoming lounge area, and a café with abundant seating. Drawing inspiration from hospitality and residential design, the new space exudes comfort and versatility.

The reception area showcases a captivating mural by local artist Beth Swanson. Embracing sustainable practices, NELSON will be reselling all previous furniture in an effort to give them a second life, while furnishings in the new space are sourced second-hand. Through thoughtful design, the new office provides an ideal environment for NELSON employees to flourish.

July 29, 2024 — NELSON Worldwide welcomes Ann Kimball as Studio Leader, Retail. In her new role, Kimball will apply her diverse skill set and background in the retail vertical to aid the NELSON team in generating human-centric design solutions for retail, financial and hospitality developments, building powerful brands through environments and experiences.

Kimball’s extensive professional background is rooted in creating impactful and custom-fit experience design for retail environments. An innovator with a playful edge, she was honored among retail revolutionaries in VMSD’s Designer Dozen in 2019. Her work on Timberland 5th Avenue received the prestigious Shop! Awards Gold Pop Up Store in 2019.

Drawn to NELSON Worldwide’s high caliber of design and diverse project portfolio, Kimball is eager to support the team in generating designs that are aesthetically pleasing and diverse while functioning in scaled ways, helping clients adapt to the ever-changing marketplace. Bringing creativity, adaptability, and liveliness to her role, Kimball’s passion aligns seamlessly with the NELSON team’s desire to boldly transform the way people shop, dine, work, and play.

After studying Interior Design at the Pratt Institute, Kimball began her professional career in NYC’s fine art galleries, working with a fabrication design-builder. An apprenticeship with a Cleveland-based architect and a stint with Cleveland Art, a boutique weld and glass blowing studio, led her to Timberland where she designed and delivered global retail programs. Prior to joining NELSON Worldwide, Kimball was developing accounts with Adrenaline, assisting financial clients with their network transformation goals.

PHILADELPHIA — March 18, 2024 — Adam Bortz has joined NELSON as Director and Account Leader, Industrial in the Philadelphia office. In Bortz’s new role, he will spearhead the growth of the industrial practice in the northeast region, leveraging his extensive professional background and diverse skillset to attract and retain clients while collaborating across disciplines within the firm.

Bortz brings a wealth of experience to NELSON, having worked in the architecture and design industry in various capacities. A graduate of Thomas Jefferson University, Bortz honed his skills at Roberson Butz Architects, after which he made notable contributions to flagship projects for Tommy Hilfiger, innovative store concepts at IKEA, and impactful developments for clients including Dick’s Sporting Goods and Chick-Fil-A.

Bortz’s decision to join NELSON was fueled by the firm’s dedication to human-centered design, a philosophy that resonates with his own professional ethos. He is inspired by NELSON’s dedication to creating meaningful spaces that prioritize the human experience and aims to infuse this approach into the industrial practice, fostering collaboration and innovation across the firm.

FT. LAUDERDALE — March 18, 2024 — Elvir Gazic, AIA, NCARB, PMP, has joined NELSON as Director and Account Leader, Healthcare. Passionate about instilling positive impact through design and relationships. Gazic will bolster new and existing healthcare projects as he helps to grow and improve the firm’s healthcare practice across the country.

Gazic, a licensed architect with over 18 years of industry experience and eight years of dedication to the healthcare market, is committed to offering unwavering support and guidance on the firm’s healthcare projects. He is determined to deliver the highest quality and value to his clients. Gazic is highly passionate and skilled at transforming architectural visions into beautiful and well-functioning buildings designed with the end user in mind. Embodying NELSON’s mission to boldly transform the human experience, he finds inspiration in spearheading broader design objectives that benefit communities and society as a collective.

He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Florida and his Master’s of Architecture from Boston Architectural College. Gazic credits his capacity to connect with a wide array of clients and business owners to his resilience and varied life experiences, evident in his diverse portfolio.

Philadelphia, April 3, 2024 – Genevieve (Gen) Nelson, long-time Secretary Treasurer of NELSON Worldwide and wife of the firm’s founder, John J. Nelson, Sr., has died.

Gen worked in the organization in its earliest days, before computers automated employee timesheet input, invoice generation, and all other administrative and accounting functions. While these tasks, which at the time were much more labor-intensive and complex than they are today, are rarely high profile, firms like NELSON cannot exist without these core services. As a strong partner to John Sr., Gen experienced firsthand the ups and downs all startup businesses encounter in their early days, but she remained committed and steadfast in her support of the growth and evolution of the business.

For that reason, her contributions to and focus on the business during the firm’s foundational years are not only appreciated, but they are – and will remain – an indelible part of our rich history. While we are saddened by her passing, we are reminded and give gratitude for the fact that, no matter what we accomplish as an organization going forward, we do so on the shoulder of our past leaders.

ATLANTA — August 12, 2024 — NELSON Worldwide, an award-winning architecture, design, and strategy firm, welcomes Chris Curley, AIA, as National Practice Leader, Hospitality. In his new role, Curley will collaborate with the hospitality and mixed-use teams to secure winning projects. He will focus on business development to bring new opportunities and lead teams to land these projects. Additionally, Curley will oversee projects to ensure client satisfaction, maintain high-quality standards, and achieve project profitability.

With over 35 years of experience in architecture and interior design, Curley takes pride in his passion for quality design. For the past 20 years, he has specialized in hospitality design projects both nationally and globally. At NELSON Worldwide, Curley aims to leverage his mastery to support his teammates’ success, prioritizing service and a commitment to quality.

“Chris brings extensive knowledge and experience to our team that aligns with NELSON’s commitment to creating purpose-driven spaces,” notes John “Ozzie” Nelson Jr., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at NELSON Worldwide. “His proven track record of stellar projects and unique entrepreneurial perspective will secure new ventures and lead teams to success.”

Throughout his career, Curley has led teams across various project types from hospitality to public assembly, mixed-use, office, institutional and educational. He played a pivotal role in founding the TVS Hospitality Architecture & Interior Design practice and established an Atlanta presence for the HKS Hospitality Design Practice. Curley was a founding member of the TVS Sustainable Design Committee in 1997, driving ideas and focus on sustainable design before the advent of LEED and other rating systems. In 2012, he started his own architectural and interior design firm, which completed multiple projects in  three years of operation, including hotel renovation, corporate headquarters and retail projects.

Curley has led teams to deliver exceptional design services across various market segments worldwide. His passion for design and commitment to service have resulted in numerous client requests for his involvement in successive projects over the years.