John Nelson, FAIA


Mr. Nelson was the founding member and President of Environ, Inc. Architecture, Design & Planning in Chicago. During his tenure at Environ, his responsibilities included business development, project design and coordination. In 2003 Environ merged with Harley Ellis Devereaux, a national firm, and he became the managing principal of the Chicago office. Mr. Nelson obtained extensive experience as a designer and project director for several of Chicago’s leading architectural design firms, including Bertrand Goldberg, RMM, Inc., and Graham, Anderson, Probst and White. At Harley Ellis Devereaux he also served as one of the Corporate Executives. In 2010 he formed Uhlir Nelson Architecture to collaborate with other leading professionals on unique planning and design projects.

Mr. Nelson’s experience includes an expansive range of architectural and interior design planning services related to a variety of corporate, governmental, institutional and residential projects. He specialized in programing and planning and preliminary design concepts for both new and adaptive re-use projects

Mr. Nelson is a graduate of the University of Illinois with a degree in architecture. He is a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects.

Mr. Nelson’s commitment to the Arts has presented him opportunities to serve as: President of the Guild Board of Directors of the Lyric Opera of Chicago, The Shakespeare Globe Theater of London on the Board of Directors for the North American Chapter, the Sherwood Conservatory of Music, the Chicago Architecture Foundation Advisory board and as a past Board of Trustees member, a member of the Archeworks Benefit Committee and past Board of Directors member of Architecture Alliance, and Chicago Historical Society. He has also served on the Chicago Opera Theaters Benefit board. Mr. Nelson is a member of many civic organizations. He is a past President of the American Institute of Architects, Chicago Chapter. He presently serves as a member of The Chicago Plan Commission and Mayor’s Landscape Advisory Task Force.

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