Architecture and design firm scaling creative services with AI and data infrastructure
NELSON is a 1,000+ person design and architecture practice founded in 1977, operating 20 offices across multiple countries. The firm is actively piloting AI-powered design tools and building scalable ETL pipelines for AEC data while adopting Figma and After Effects—signaling a shift from traditional CAD workflows toward cloud-native and AI-augmented design processes. Hiring velocity is accelerating, concentrated heavily in design (70 open roles) and ops, reflecting a push to operationalize both creative delivery and data infrastructure.
NELSON delivers architecture, interior design, graphic design, and brand strategy services to corporate, legal, healthcare, and public sector clients. The firm operates across 20 offices with 800+ team members spanning the United States, Canada, India, Peru, and the United Kingdom. Core service lines include corporate workplace design, sustainable design consulting, strategic planning, and engineering. The tech stack combines industry standards (Revit, AutoCAD, SketchUp, Bluebeam) for design production with emerging capabilities in data integration (Databricks, Azure Data Factory, SQL Server Integration Services) and client management (HubSpot, ProCore). Active initiatives focus on AI-powered design tooling, digital transformation adoption, and contract risk mitigation.
Core design tools: Revit, AutoCAD, SketchUp, Bluebeam, Rhino, Grasshopper, 3ds Max, Enscape. Client/project management: ProCore, HubSpot, Deltek Vantage, Microsoft Project. Currently adopting Figma and After Effects.
Piloting AI-powered design tools, building scalable ETL pipelines for AEC data, developing a cloud data lake and warehouse, and driving cultural adoption of digital practices firm-wide.
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