NELSON Worldwide, award-winning architecture, design, and strategy firm, is pleased to announce the addition of Tom Bowen, AIA, as Vice President and Market Leader of the firm’s Seattle office. Tom will expand the firm’s efforts in the Pacific Northwest, bringing more than 20 years of experience in retail, mixed-use, and commercial building practices.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NELSON Worldwide, John “Ozzie” Nelson Jr., said that “Tom’s out-of-the-box ideas coupled with his passion for transformative spaces will lead to creative solutions for the region. We’re excited to have him on board.”
In his new role, Tom will continue to expand the firm’s presence in Seattle, building on our notable portfolio of projects in the commercial, industrial, corporate and asset strategy markets. His focus on innovation and customer-centric design will help fuel the team’s growth in the technology, life sciences, mixed-use, commercial and retail sectors. In a city that is home to some of the world’s largest and fastest-growing companies, Tom understands that clients will place an importance on tech-friendly spaces in the immediate future as the hybrid workspace starts to take shape following the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Design has the power to spark creativity and ignite innovation,” said Tom Bowen. “What better place to drive innovation than in Seattle, which has been one of the most forward-thinking real estate markets in America over the past decade. I am truly excited to lead the NELSON team and be part of the continuing evolution of this city.”
Tom thrives in a fast-paced environment. Previously, he has held senior leadership roles with JLL, The Irvine Company, FITCH (WWP), Stantec, and Managing Principal of Global Retail at CallisonRTKL for 15 years where he conceptualized projects such as the World Trade Center Redevelopment, Coney Island, Beverly Center, and REI. Throughout his career, he has worked with notable brands such as Nike, AT&T, Best Buy, Nordstrom, Equinox, T-Mobile, FedEx, and Levis. At CallisonRTKL, he was responsible for starting their New York City design studio, which eventually brought in $10 million in annual revenue and grew to 80 employees.
In addition to his design success, Tom has a passion for mentorship and team building. He is excited to embrace collaboration in his new role, creating connections between teams to bring people together to develop great projects for our clients. As part of a key initiative for NELSON, Bowen will create new communication channels, bridging across market sectors and practice areas to bring a holistic approach to design for current and future clients.
