Young Architect/Associate Award

 

Ed Watts Jr, AIA

 

 

In 2004, Ed Watts, Jr. returned to Buffalo to start up an architectural department for his father’s 45 person engineering firm.  Even though he was contributing to award winning projects along the east coast, Mr. Watts came home and has not only helped Watts Architecture & Engineering, P.C. nearly double in size, but he has contributed greatly to our community.

 

As the managing principal of the firm and the design and technical lead of architecture projects, Mr. Watts oversees nine professionals in the architecture department – four whom are registered and five whom are LEED accredited.  The full service architecture, engineering and environmental firm works on a variety of education and commercial projects across New York State.  Mr. Watts has “led the charge” of the firm’s green initiatives both internally and externally.  He helped create an incentive program that encourages all of the firm’s professionals to earn their LEED accreditation and encourages “green designs” to be incorporated into every design.  Mr. Watts incorporated numerous green designs into the firm’s new Corporate Offices in the up and coming Cobblestone District.

 

In addition to his tireless work at the firm, Mr. Watts unselfishly contributes his time to the Buffalo community.  As a member of the Buffalo preservation Board, he frequently volunteers to participate on Design Review Committees to assist home and business owners to resolve issues they have with their property.  He is an advocate for the firm’s participation in AIA’s Architecture + Education program and the firm has contributed with both volunteer time and monetary donations.  Mr. Watts also serves as an AIA board member and is a past recipient of Business First’s 40 Under 40 Award.  Licensed in six states, Mr. Watts is also a member of National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) and National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA).