Architecture Firm Announces New Higher Education Leader

Baker Barrios Architects recently announced the addition of a new leadership position to its staff, according to a news release. William Maffett, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP, MBA has been named as the firm’s new national director of higher education. Maffett works out of the Baker Barrios office in Nashville, Tenn.

The firm also announced the appointment of Jeff Saad, LEED AP, as the new Midwest regional director of healthcare.

“Establishing a physical presence in multiple markets and attracting top talent in the sectors we serve has been key to our success in growing from Central Florida’s biggest architecture firm to becoming a nationally known player with a portfolio of high-profile projects across the country,” said Baker Barrios cofounder and CEO Tim Baker. “The experience and expertise William and Jeff will bring to our higher education and healthcare practices in the Midwest and beyond will be a tremendous asset to Baker Barrios and our clients.”

Maffett’s experience includes decades of experience in higher-education planning, design, and construction. He previously served as a campus architect for Auburn University and oversaw more than $360 million in capital projects.

“William is known as a relationship-builder, both in terms of fostering collaboration and innovation among his team as well as serving as a solutions-oriented resource for clients,” Baker said. “Designing spaces in the higher education sector often involves balancing the desired outcomes of many stakeholders, and William is great at addressing the needs of every group at the table.”

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Compton High School

    Compton High School

    Established in 1999, the Education Design Showcase is a vehicle for showing off innovative — yet practical — solutions in planning, design, architecture, and construction. Compton High School has been recognized with an EDS 2026 Project of Distinction award in the category of New Construction.

  • Rethinking K-12 Schools as a Continuous Learning Experience

    Most students move through three or more separate facilities during their K-12 journey, yet the built environments they encounter at each stage have traditionally been designed in isolation, with little continuity in spatial language, learning philosophy, or physical resources. Each new school is a reset with different layouts, learning models, expectations, and ways of moving through a building. The next generation of school design is making the case that the first day of kindergarten and the last day of high school can and should feel connected through common support systems and infrastructure in the physical environment.

  • UNH Marks Construction Milestone on Oceanic Exploration Facility

    The University of New Hampshire in Durham, N.H., recently celebrated a major construction milestone with a beam-signing ceremony for the new Center of Excellence for Operational Ocean and Great Lakes Mapping, according to a news release. The facility’s ultimate goal is to support research, training and technical assistance in ocean mapping.

  • Stanford Online Reveals New Immersive Learning Studio

    Stanford Online recently marked its 30th anniversary with the announcement of a new immersive learning studio, according to a university news release. The studio takes advantage of AI-powered and immersive learning technologies to continue delivering personalized and faculty-led education.