Trenton-based AIA New Jersey has named Nancy Dougherty 2023 “Architect of the Year.” Dougherty was awarded this distinction for her “exceptional efforts in the field of architecture, exceptional service to her community and her mentorship of young professionals.”
Dougherty, managing partner at Studio 1200 in Short Hills, is a LEED-accredited, licensed architect with over 30 years of experience. She has built a reputation for designing beautiful and well-functioning places and spaces of diverse work types, with a focus on downtown buildings that revitalize their communities. Dougherty is widely respected for her design acumen, technical expertise and finesse in shepherding projects through the land use approvals process. Recent projects include the redevelopment of a prominent site in Flemington, a commercial campus in Bedminster and mixed-use/multifamily housing projects in Bernardsville, Jersey City, Millburn, Morristown and Summit.
Business partner Sandee Markwith said, “Nancy is known as a passionate researcher on the history of each site and laser-focused on the critical details, resulting in unwavering confidence and trust among our clients.”
Markwith and Dougherty were recently named to the ROI Influencers: Real Estate list for 2023.
Dougherty has provided architectural services for many civic organizations, including Jespy House, the Door, Jersey City Veteran’s Housing, the YMCA and Greenwood Gardens. She has mentored thousands of students of all ages throughout the years, nurtured relationships with New Jersey Institute of Technology’s Hillier College of Architecture and established a thriving internship and mentoring program at Studio 1200.
Dougherty’s dedication to community is longstanding. Currently, she is co-chair of the Residential Committee for the South Orange/Maplewood Coalition on Race, which recently launched its Wealth Gap Equalizer Loan Program for black and non-white Hispanic first-time homeowners. She is also on the Executive Committee and strategic planning team for Greenwood Gardens, a treasured 28-acre public garden located in Short Hills. She was an inaugural member of Impact 100 Garden State and recently became a sponsor for SparkNJ, a nonprofit that provides financial support for Black-led charitable, community and civic organizations in northern New Jersey. She has also been a Big Sister through Big Brothers Big Sisters for many years.
A graduate of Barnard College, with a master’s in architecture from Columbia University, Dougherty is licensed in multiple states.
