CAPLA Futures Council Member Angela Watson Named President and CEO of Shepley Bulfinch

Shepley Bulfinch, a national architecture firm known for design excellence and innovation, has announced the appointment of Angela Watson FAIA to president and CEO. Watson is a long-time principal and design leader at the firm, as well as chair of the board.

She has served on the CAPLA Futures Council, the multi-perspective advisory body to CAPLA Dean Nancy Pollock-Ellwand, since its inception in February 2019.

“This is an exciting day not just for me but for the entire firm as we collectively set our sights on the future of Shepley Bulfinch, our industry, and the built environment as a whole,” says Watson. “As architects, we carry an enormous responsibility as spaces can have a ripple effect beyond the building. By prioritizing partnerships with our clients, the communities they serve, and others who play a role in the building process, Shepley Bulfinch is not only developing innovative solutions but working towards making our designs resilient and adaptable to a changing world.”

Watson taking on the role of president and CEO marks the passing of the leadership torch from Carole Wedge, who had served in the firm’s top role since 2004 and was one of the first women to lead a design firm of its size. 

“Beyond her design prowess, Angela is known for developing and managing relationships, as well as empowering others,” ways Wedge, who steps into a principal role at Shepley. “As president and CEO, she will work tirelessly to showcase and mentor the exceptional design talent within the firm and push our team to continuously think creatively and strategically alongside our clients. Shepley is well-positioned for growth under Angela’s leadership.”

Originally from Germany, modern architecture first caught Watson’s eye when she was a child. She noticed from a young age that iconic buildings were too often torn down to make way for “new and improved” architecture. Finding a way to reimagine and save the modern designs of her youth impassioned her to become a designer.

As CEO, Watson will continue the focus on design excellence and executing the firm’s ambitious Healthy People/Healthy Planet plan, a dedicated effort to minimize the environmental impact of their work and create buildings that promote wellness.

“To address current issues and opportunities, including the rapid evolution of technology, the need to prioritize diversity, equity and inclusion, and drastically reduce our overall carbon footprint, we must think beyond boundaries, ourselves and tomorrow,” said Watson. “As Shepley’s new CEO, I look forward to working with our clients, my colleagues and our industry partners to develop new solutions to emerging challenges.”

Watson, who earned her master’s degree in architecture from MIT, is based out of Shepley’s Phoenix office. She returned to MIT as a design studio lecturer from 2006-2010. She served as a lecturer and visiting critic at Arizona State University and at Texas A&M University’s Center for Health Systems Design, as well as numerous design juries. She is a registered architect in 19 states, including Arizona, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Mexico, California and Texas.