CHARLOTTE, NC — CPL, a full-service design firm serving public and private-sector clients for more than 47 years, is pleased to announce the promotion of Rachel Nilson, AIA, NCARB to the role of Principal. This well-deserved elevation aligns with the firm’s mission to strengthen its leadership bench while continuing to grow its Community Practice throughout the southeastern United States.
In her new role, Nilson will be responsible for providing architectural and planning oversight throughout North and South Carolina, working from the firm’s Charlotte office to effectively manage communication with clients, team members and consultants; assist with marketing, contract development, design, production and construction administration; and join forces with other members of the senior leadership team to create and integrate annual business development plans.
Focused on expanding CPL’s Community portfolio of work, Nilson will also establish and build upon relationships with cities, towns and counties, leveraging extensive experience in parks and recreation design and capital planning to deliver high-impact solutions for municipal clients. Her work approach promotes accessibility and inclusivity for all, with an emphasis on implementing emerging sustainable design practices.
“Rachel is a natural leader who intuitively understands the needs of our communities, and has grown with the team over the years, consistently demonstrating excellence in her work,” said Rick Henry, P.E., President at CPL. “She views every venture as a partnership between the client, the firm and herself, and continues to nurture those connections long after a project is closed out.”
Nilson joined the firm in 2011 after serving as an architectural intern in the Albany office, where she worked on projects spanning each of CPL’s practice areas. Over the years, and after moving to Charlotte, NC, she grew to manage numerous feasibility studies and renovation and new construction efforts, including the Thomasville Aquatic Center in Thomasville, NC; the City of Belmont Recreation Center in Belmont, NC; the Cabarrus County Library and Active Living Center in Mount Pleasant, NC; community center feasibility studies for Greenville, SC; and a comprehensive facility master plan for Buncombe County, NC.
Her contributions at CPL also encompass embedded partnerships with Buncombe County and York County, SC, and she is involved in the strategic planning and execution of big-picture firm programs and initiatives. Her desire to support junior professionals has additionally led her to volunteer as a member of the American Institute of Architects’ (AIA) Annual Mentorship Program.
Recognizing the value in building trust and consensus among clients and end users, Nilson is deeply committed to fostering community engagement efforts such as organized focus groups, neighborhood association meetings and targeted public outreach sessions to receive as much insight from the public as possible.
“By engaging with residents and listening to their critical needs and concerns, we gain a better understanding of their vision for the future, and tailor our design decisions accordingly,” Nilson explained. “This level of cooperation and transparency proves instrumental in helping a community achieve its collective goals.”
The leadership team is confident that Nilson’s profound ability to bring architectural concepts to life through collaboration and active listening will continue to help cultivate community transformation for CPL and its partners.
About CPL
Founded in 1975, CPL is a 500+ person multi-disciplined architecture, engineering and planning firm offering inspiring design services and enriching communities in 24 cities across seven states. CPL specializes in the Community, Healthcare, Higher Education, and K-12 Education market sectors – providing architectural, interior design, civil engineering, buildings and structural engineering, planning, landscape architecture and 3D/virtual design services to a host of public and private clients.