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 mjones@1105media.com.

Featured

  • Fort Collins to Convert 1980s Office Park into Junior High School

    The Liberty Common School, a charter-public school in Fort Collins, Colo., recently broke ground on an adaptive reuse project that will convert an 1980s-era office park into a 45,000-square-foot junior high school for seventh- and eighth-grade students, according to a news release.

  • Spaces4Learning Launches 2025 New Product Awards

    Spaces4Learning is now accepting entries for the 2025 New Product Awards! The program’s goal is to honor the outstanding product development achievements of manufacturers and suppliers whose products and services are particularly noteworthy in helping to improve K–12 and Higher Education learning environments.

  • dormitory with green roofs, solar panels, balconies, and labeled architectural annotations

    2025 Residence Hall Design Trends Focus on Sustainability, Flexibility, Community, Technology, and Well-Being

    With the most technically advanced Gen Z (born between 1997 and 2012) at the helm, residence hall design trends for 2025 look to focus on flexible spaces, health and wellness, sustainability, community, and digital technology.

  • Wisconsin District Launches Series of Improvement Projects

    The School District of River Falls in River Falls, Wis., recently launched a series of five construction projects scheduled for completion by September 2025, according to a news release. The district partnered with Bray Architects for their design and with integrated construction management firm Kraus-Anderson (KA) for their construction.