Nicole Friend

Associate Principal / Director of Planning

With over 10 years of diverse experience in planning, urban design, and architecture, Nicole brings a unique perspective to planning and design solutions across various scales.

Over the past decade navigating the public and private sectors, Nicole has worked with clients such as University of Nevada Las Vegas, Arizona State University, and University of California San Diego. In the process, she has cultivated strong, collaborative relationships with her clients, communities, and stakeholders both in the public and private sectors. By focusing on the synergies and collaborations of higher education and the urban realm, Nicole applies an integrated approach based on in-depth data analysis and consensus building to ultimately create inclusive, aspirational, and implementable built environments, unique and responsive for each client. Nicole shares her enthusiasm for planning and design as an educator at institutions such as Harvard University and as an advisor for the ULI Hines Student Competition. She is a member of the Society for College and University Planning (SCUP), the American Planning Association (APA), and Urban Land Institute (ULI).