Diana Nicklaus, FAIA (2025)

Diana Nicklaus, FAIA, is the President and CEO of Saam Architecture, a WBE firm recognized for its progressive practice model and commitment to public design excellence. Diana co-founded Saam with the mission of delivering design excellence while providing a progressive model to attract top talent to an equitable environment. She understood that creating a level playing field for all team members was essential to designing the type of firm she had pursued throughout her career. After working in several large firms and experiencing the limitations of traditional practice, Diana reconciled her past experience and vision of a supportive firm culture through a progressive practice model that empowers all team members to balance their work and life commitments.

Saam’s practice model quickly gained recognition for its innovative and equitable approach to architectural practice. As an advocate for women’s leadership, Diana has shared her firm’s strategies across the profession, illustrating how Saam has become a practice that is 90% women, representing nine countries and eleven languages. Her approach, centered on supportive teams and radical flexibility, has helped staff navigate the industry’s key career pinch points, the moments when many professionals often leave the field.

Diana has served as the Secretary of the Board for the Boston Society for Architecture and was the founding President of the Boston Chapter of Professional Women in Construction.