DLR Group has named Principal Shawn Gaither, AIA, LEED AP, to oversee its higher education practice in the Mid-Atlantic, placing a longtime firm leader in charge of client relationships, multidisciplinary teams and regional growth.
Gaither brings more than two decades of leadership in the firm’s higher education practice to the position. He most recently served as National Higher Education Business Development Leader.
The regional assignment will draw on his experience across the design process and his work with public and private universities. According to DLR Group, Gaither is responsible for stewarding over $500 million in higher education construction, with a portfolio spanning research buildings, technical education facilities and spaces supporting student life.
“Shawn has spent decades designing higher education environments that enrich student experience, strengthen research outcomes, and bolster campus identities,” said Stu Rothenberger, DLR Group’s Senior Principal and Global Higher Education Leader, in a release from the firm.
Rothenberger also cited Gaither’s work as an adviser to campus clients, emphasizing his understanding of institutional needs and his ability to help carry out their project goals.
Gaither’s regional project portfolio includes Vanderbilt University’s Stevenson Center 6, an interdisciplinary research hub; the campus replacement for Tennessee College of Applied Technology Memphis, which supports career and technical education; Clemson University’s Poultry Science Research Facility; and Davidson College’s new Dining and Student Wellness Facility.
Gaither’s professional affiliations include the American Institute of Architects, the Society for College and University Planning and the Association of Physical Plant Administrators.