James Butterfield

To James, design is a humanizing activity that presupposes collaborative creativity and an attentive mindset toward what the users of spaces need and want. James believes that engaging clients with a high level of empathy is essential to the design process. He strives to make that process accessible to clients and seeks a greater understanding of their concerns that results in better design insights, and ultimately, better architecture. For more than 25 years, James has been designing award-winning domestic and international projects with this approach, taking his clients through initial concept, planning and programming, and through to technical design. With a particular focus on planning and design for higher education, James’ expertise also includes master planning, urban design, historic preservation, commercial, and hospitality projects.