Russ Nichols
Principal
As RMW’s board chairman, past president and managing principal, Russ holds a unique understanding of our firm, our projects and our expertise. Hired in 1985 as an interiors job captain by founding partner and mentor Matthew Mills, Russ exemplifies the legacy of leadership and entrepreneurship evident in our culture today. He still considers RMW the ideal place to align his skills with his interests to forge a lifelong career.
Russ continues to be inspired by good design, and the impact it has on the human psyche. He leads the San Jose team to solve challenges in the built environment with a sense of passion, fueled by the energy of enthusiastic clients and the idealistic creativity of young designers.
Never giving a second thought to what would be his life’s work, Russ fondly recalls his youth of building tree houses and forts (fully finished)…to convincing his high school to offer an architectural drawing class in lieu of the standard mechanical drafting. He credits his introverted pre-teen years for his perpetually approachable nature and satirical sense of humor. Family, sailing, golf and personal relationships play a role in his life of equal importance to his love of architecture.