Platt Whitelaw Architects

02/24/2026

Thank you BNBuilders for taking such great care with this historic project!

02/24/2026

Associate and registered architect Dave Madigan shares his 14-year journey with Platt/Whitelaw Architects — from leaving the firm and returning, to embracing sustainable design, municipal projects and architecture that truly serves the community. Read how his early interest in aerospace engineering shifted to a passion for public-focused design, historic restoration and creating spaces that stand the test of time. https://plattwhitelaw.com/associate-architect-dave-madigan-on-community-projects-sustainable-design-and-his-14-year-journey-at-platt-whitelaw-architects/

Associate architect Dave Madigan reflects on his 14-year career at Platt/Whitelaw Architects, sharing insights on sustainable design, municipal and water projects, historic renovation and architecture that serves the community.

02/17/2026

What an honor it was to see the Botanical Building win first place in Retrofit Magazine’s Metamorphosis Awards program.

Click through below to read Nate Gillette’s Retrofit magazine article, “San Diego’s Botanical Building Recaptures Its 1915 Grandeur while Incorporating Cutting-edge Updates.”

We worked closely with EC Constructors and many other talented professionals who are listed in the article, but as our former Principal Sandy Gramley pointed out, we were all grateful to have a fantastic client for this historic restoration project, the City of San Diego. “I give the City a lot of credit,” Gramley says in the article. “They were very proactive in getting issues resolved.”

Big props to the Botanical Building RFP team for all their hard work, too: RNT Architects, Spurlock Landscape Architects and Forever Balboa Park

A local non-profit, Forever Balboa Park, secured an $8 million grant to commission initial bridging and program documents to define a vision for the Botanical Building’s future. The project was moving forward but was later turned over to the City of San Diego for the next phase and ex*****on.

02/10/2026

Empowering vulnerable populations through compassionate design is at the heart of what we do. Proud to be part of the effort with County of San Diego - Government as we expand our portfolio of behavioral health architecture. From substance use residential treatment services to crisis stabilization units, our projects aim to provide spaces that foster healing and support. Read more about our latest endeavors in this insightful article.

Explore Platt/Whitelaw Architects' innovative designs for behavioral health facilities in San Diego County. From compassionate spaces for vulnerable populations to sustainable solutions, discover how we're empowering communities through transformative design.

02/05/2026

We’re excited to invite you to the Design & Construction Showcase on February 18, from 9:30 AM–1:30 PM, at the Balboa Park Club.

Join San Diego Unified School District (and Platt Whitelaw Architects!) at this free event for design consultants, product representatives, and construction services providers. Come meet our team, the District Architect, district staff, prime contractors, and others—while learning what it takes to participate in San Diego Unified design and construction projects.

🎟 Free to attend
🤝 Open networking
📘 Insightful conversations

Register today. We hope you’ll join us!

02/03/2026

From intern to owner—and still building what matters.

In our latest Principal Profile, Senior Principal Naveen Waney reflects on 40 years at Platt/Whitelaw Architects and the journey that shaped our firm. From mentoring the next generation to designing projects that quietly serve entire communities, Naveen shares lessons, favorite projects, and what he’s most excited about for the future.

As we celebrate our 70th anniversary, this story is a powerful reminder of how leadership, curiosity, and community-focused design can leave a lasting impact.

Read the full profile: From Intern to Senior Principal: Naveen Waney Reflects on 40 Years at Platt/Whitelaw Architects https://plattwhitelaw.com/from-intern-to-senior-principal-naveen/

Celebrate Platt/Whitelaw Architects’ 70th anniversary with Senior Principal Naveen Waney as he reflects on 40 years of leadership, mentorship, and community-focused water and wastewater design.

01/27/2026

🎉 Platt/Whitelaw Architects is celebrating 70 years! 🎉

From designing schools, community centers and places of worship to creating innovative infrastructure that strengthens cities, our seven-decade legacy is built on listening, learning and collaborating with incredible clients and partners.

We’re especially proud of the talented, diverse team that has carried our firm forward — from founder Bob Platt to today’s dedicated designers and professionals who continue to shape meaningful spaces for the communities we serve.

Here’s to 70 years of impact…and many more to come!

01/21/2026

Congratulations to Thomas Brothers & Amy Brothers on the birth of their new baby boy! James Hugh Brothers was born January 7th, 2026, weighing in at 8 lbs. We are so thrilled to announce this beautiful little gift. Here’s to expanding the love!

01/12/2026

Thanks so much to Ray Huard for writing about the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) temple we’re designing for a beautiful site in Escondido. Our design follows the ancient Vedic principals of Vastu Shastra. The project is particularly special to our Senior Principal Naveen Waney, who has close family ties in India and visited temples in India with Badrinarayan Swami, a Hindu/Vaisnava monk, to concept the design for this temple.
https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7411433304052363264/

01/08/2026

Before we looked ahead to 2026, we teamed up with Sharp HealthCare and the San Diego Blood Bank to close out 2025 with a “Winter Wishes” teddy bear distribution at Sharp Memorial Hospital on Frost St.

By supporting this annual event (which also happens at Sharp Grossmont Hospital), we got to help pass out the cuddly bears to Sharp’s patients. Check out our photos to spot the Platt/Whitelaw Architects “elves.”

Thank you to Sharp and the Blood Bank for an opportunity to contribute, and a special shout-out to the Blood Bank, where our Senior Principal Naveen Waney is a super donor. Keep up the good work, everyone!

May 2026 bring health, happiness, and prosperity to you all!

12/12/2025

We’re excited to introduce Michelle MacDonnell, registered architect and the newest member of our team! Michelle brings well-suited experience in community-focused architecture—and as a delightful bonus, she also brings Pandora, her calm and charismatic 14-year-old black lab who’s quickly become our unofficial office mascot.

After years in Salt Lake City, Michelle felt the pull of San Diego’s collaborative design community (and perfect weather!) and made the move west. She’s already contributing to projects like Baker Elementary School and diving into several others with her trademark communication skills and team-oriented approach.
Please join us in giving Michelle (and Pandora!) a warm welcome. We can’t wait to see what we create together.

https://plattwhitelaw.com/platt-whitelaw-architects-welcomes-michelle-macdonnell-as-architectural-project-manager/

Platt/Whitelaw Architects welcomes registered architect Michelle MacDonnell as its new Architectural Project Manager—along with her loyal labrador, Pandora. Discover Michelle’s move to San Diego, her enthusiasm for community-focused design and the impact she’s already making on the team.

12/09/2025

Thanks to San Diego Business Journal reporter Ray Huard for a terrific write up about our design work for Mira Mesa Community Park. A big shoutout to our collaborating designers at Schmidt Design Group and Aquatic Design Group, as well as Pcl construction Services, all of whom are also mentioned in the article.

Slated for completion next summer, area residents will get to enjoy an aquatics complex, playgrounds, ballfields, a pedestrian plaza, an all-wheels plaza and a renovated recreation center.

If you can’t access the San Diego Business Journal through your subscription, you can hop over to our blog site to learn more about Mira Mesa Community Park. https://plattwhitelaw.com/mira-mesa-community-park-phase-ii-a-family-friendly-makeover/

San Diego Business Journal: Mira Mesa Community Park Improvement Project Hits Midway Mark

Discover the exciting upgrades coming to Mira Mesa Community Park Phase II! New pools, play areas, an all-wheels plaza, and more are transforming this San Diego park into a family-friendly destination. Completion expected in fall 2026!