Nicholas Willis is interior planning director at Hughes Marino, where he enhances the firm’s ability to represent their clients by applying his comprehensive knowledge of the commercial office design process. He collaborates with clients on all aspects regarding the design of their space by stimulating a conceptual discussion of their needs, helping them to visualize the potential of the prospective spaces under consideration and bringing clarity to the ideas they collectively generate through interviewing, programming and space planning, laying the foundations for a successful design.

In a nearly two-decade career that began in Los Angeles, he has space planned, designed and managed the execution of millions of square feet of commercial office and retail tenant developments. Nicholas’ portfolio includes tenant improvement projects in some of the most prominent buildings on the West Coast, from Century Towers and the US Bank building in Los Angeles, to the Transamerica Pyramid and Embarcadero Center in San Francisco, to Symphony Tower, One America Plaza and Diamond View Tower in San Diego. His extensive client list includes technology, legal, professional service and life science firms.

Prior to joining Hughes Marino, Nicholas served as a Senior Associate and Regional Practice Area Leader at global design firm Gensler, where he co-led a workplace interior design studio of 25+ professionals. His work while at Gensler was recognized with design awards from the AIA, IIDA and Contract Magazine, and has been featured in multiple print and online publications.

Born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, Nicholas received his bachelor of science in architecture from The Ohio State University. He is a licensed architect and also holds a real estate license.

In his free time, Nicholas enjoys spending time with his family pursuing the active outdoor lifestyle that his community offers