WM+P executes a diverse array of international projects from our design studio in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Founded by William McDonough in New York in 1981, the practice relocated to Charlottesville, Virginia in 1994, when McDonough became Dean of the School of Architecture at the University of Virginia. The firm’s architects collaborate closely with McDonough to bring his design concepts that consider the long-term consequences of design into reality.

Through William McDonough’s visionary leadership, WM+P have been at the forefront of the “green” architecture and Circular Economy movements for more than 30 years, creating pioneering architecture and many recognized flagships of sustainable design:

1984

McDonough designs the first “green office” in New York for the Environmental Defense Fund

1989

The Wall Street Journal features McDonough’s Warsaw Tower design on the front page. McDonough’s radical idea at the time was to plant 10-square-miles of trees to compensate for the building’s carbon footprint.

1992

The Hannover Principles were commissioned of WM+P by the City of Hannover, Germany to guide the design of the 2000 World’s Fair.

The Hannover Principles
1992

William McDonough was chosen to represent the architecture community at the Earth Summit in Brazil

1993

William McDonough is a charter member of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)

1995

The Herman Miller “Greenhouse” office and manufacturing facility is the winner of the inaugural “Good Design Is Good Business Award” and has become a case study in how to enhance occupant wellbeing and corporate productivity and profits.

1997

Designed as a build-to-suit for Gap Inc, 901 Cherry is now the home of YouTube LLC, becoming the most energy efficient in Google’s portfolio and one of the most eco-effective in California.

1999

WM+P furthered Nike’s emphasis on world-class innovation by designing their European Headquarters. Employee health is optimized through the use of low-VOC finishes in a virtually PVC-free environment.

2002

WM+P’s design for The Adam Joseph Lewis Center for Environmental Studies at Oberlin College is the first Net-Zero Verified building and produces 130% of its own electricity.

2002

William McDonough co-authors Cradle to Cradle: Remaking The Way We Make Things, widely considered a seminal text in the sustainability and Circular Economy movements.

Cradle to Cradle
2003

The centerpiece of the 20-year revitalization of Ford’s historic River Rouge complex, the factory is home to the largest green roof of its time. It provides workers with abundant natural light and fresh air and restores native habitat to the site.

2007

WM+P designs the Park 20|20 master plan, the first Circular Economy development. Park 20|20 currently contains the world’s largest collection of Cradle to Cradle Certified™ Products

2011

B/S/H: The Inspiration House is the first building to open at Park 20|20. B/S/H utilizes Design for Disassembly methodology and has safer, healthier materials throughout.

2012

NASA’s carbon positive Sustainability Base is completed on-time and with a normal federal budget.

2013

William McDonough co-authors The Upcycle: Beyond Sustainability—Designing For Abundance, the follow-up to Cradle to Cradle.

The Upcycle: Beyond Sustainability - Designing for Abundance
2015

WM+P designs Dropbox’s headquarters. Its occupied roof deck creates a restful, park-like setting for the building occupants and the surrounding community.

2016

WM+P’s ICEhouse™ makes its first appearance at the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos.

2017

William McDonough launches The Five Goods™ inspired by Cradle to Cradle Design.

2019

Fortune magazine names William McDonough one of the world’s 50 greatest leaders for his contributions to sustainable architecture and Circular Economy design.

William McDonough

William McDonough FAIA, Int. FRIBA
Founder, Partner

William McDonough

William McDonough is a globally recognized leader in sustainable development and is the founding principle of the firm. In 1996, McDonough received the Presidential Award for Sustainable Development, and in 2003 he earned the first U.S. EPA Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award for his work with Shaw Industries. In 2004, he received the National Design Award for exemplary achievement in the field of environmental design. He is currently serving on the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on the Future of Environment and Natural Resource Security. Read William McDonough’s complete biography here.

Leadership

  • Alastair Reilly AIA, LEED AP

    Design Partner

  • José Atienza

    Design Director

  • John Easter

    Design Director

  • Roger Schickedantz AIA, LEED AP

    Director

  • Celeste Weaver

    Director of Visual Communications

Our Sister Companies

William McDonough + Partners collaborate with sister companies McDonough Innovation and MBDC to provide clients with holistic solutions — including design, product and material procurement, and high-level advising.

McDonough Innovation

Through McDonough Innovation, William McDonough provides targeted ideas, product concepts and solutions to a wide range of sustainable growth issues faced by governments, companies and NGOs. Through collaboration with WM+P, his values-driven approach helps nations and companies embed sustainable growth principles into their culture and to advance progress toward their positive vision.

MBDC

MBDC are the creators and foremost implementers of the Cradle to Cradle Certified® Products Program, the world’s most advanced, science-based standard for designing and making products for the Circular Economy. MBDC collaborates with WM+P on matters related to the human and ecological health of building products, including the integration of Cradle to Cradle Certified materials.

Select Clients

Annenberg Foundation
American University
Bosch Siemens
Catalina Island Conservancy
Cherokee Investment Partners
China U.S. Center for Sustainable Development
City of Chicago
City of San Francisco
Delta Development Group
Equity Office Properties
Ferrer Grupo
FifPro
Ford Motor Company
Fox Vakanties
Frito-Lay
Gap Inc.
Gazeley Properties UK



GE Ecomagination
General Services Administration (U.S.)
Georgetown University
Google
Heinz Family Foundation
Herman Miller
Hero MotorCorp
Hines
IBM
Johnson Family Foundation
Kilroy Realty Corp.
Madison Partners & Novita Capital
Method
Municipality Almere, The Netherlands
NASA
Nike
Oberlin College
Palm Inc.

Poly / Plantronics
Procter & Gamble
Prado Group
Projectbureau Ijburg
Recology
SABIC
Starbucks
U.S. Department of Defense
Universidad EAN
University of California, Davis
University of California, San Francisco
University of Michigan
VMware Corporation
Walmart
Wells Fargo
Whole Foods Market
Woods Hole Research Center
YouTube

Digital Library