Our studio
At WA, our approach to architecture is shaped by our people. Meet the team that brings both design vision and hands-on building experience to every project.
Nathan Hemming, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C
Nathan’s career has taken him around the world, from designing landscapes in Amsterdam, to working on housing in Switzerland, to completing projects of every scale in the US. But his roots trace back to Quincy, Illinois, where he started out as a scrawny teenage carpenter. One winter when he was sixteen, Nathan was carrying a sheet of plywood across a roof when a gust of wind nearly sent him flying. Luckily, he stayed upright—and employed, which let him continue building up valuable construction experience.
Eventually, those experiences inspired him to take the leap into architecture. Nathan earned his bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, followed by his master’s from the Münster School of Architecture in Germany. Abroad, he learned advanced construction detailing methods and cutting-edge sustainable building practices.
Nathan—who holds licensure in multiple states as well as LEED accreditation and NCARB certification—has a portfolio that spans mixed-use developments, adaptive reuse, retail, education, and residential projects, from small-scale renovations to 350-unit developments. When he’s not designing for clients, you’ll still find him with tools in hand—most recently rewiring, framing, and rebuilding his own house in Geneva, Illinois.
Rick McQuesten
Before Rick was drawing blueprints, he was a kid designing and constructing tree forts in the towering pines of Eastern Washington, where he grew up.
As he got older, Rick continued to gravitate toward physical work. After earning a degree at Eastern Washington University, Rick spent over 20 years as a successful general contractor, specializing in remodeling historic Craftsman and Victorian homes on Spokane’s South Hill. As a reputable, small-production contractor known for quality craftsmanship and smart design, he always stayed busy through word-of-mouth advertising.
Rick’s lifelong dream of going all in on design work kept calling to him, so in 2018, he completed an architectural technology program. His decades of construction experience and practical work approach have come in handy, enabling him to catch potential issues before they become expensive problems on the job site. Today, when Rick isn’t at his drafting table, he can be found exploring the forests and mountains around him with his wife, five kids, and two grandchildren—still wandering the woods with that same sense of adventure from his childhood.
John Ruthven, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C
Over his 20-year career in architecture and real estate, John has always appreciated architects who think holistically—who can see how every detail serves the larger vision. It’s an approach that served him well from the start of his career, when he dove straight into ambitious projects: designing and constructing multimillion-dollar apartment complexes and high-end lakefront residences in the Chicagoland area.
Most recently, as Director of Architecture at TWG Development, John led design initiatives across multiple states, serving as Architect of Record on numerous tax credit-financed projects. His ability to guide multidisciplinary teams from initial concept through construction has consistently delivered projects that meet both design excellence and strict budget requirements.
John—who holds LEED accreditation, NCARB certification, and active licensure in 20 states—remains an advocate for sustainable design practices and an active member of the American Institute of Architects. He holds a dual master’s of business administration and master’s of real estate development from the University of Southern California. He also holds a bachelor of architecture from the University of Michigan.
