William S. Duff, Jr. AIA | President
William S. Duff, Jr. founded WDA in 1998. He has established an innovative practice with diverse clients and commissions, and is recognized for creating responsible, sustainable modern design. His work is known for clean detailing, warm material palettes and comfortable, satisfying environments.
Under William’s leadership, WDA has received several design awards, and the firm’s work has appeared in multiple publications. Exploring the inherent qualities of materials, and seeking the simplest means to achieve inspiring, comfortable environments, William finds a natural confluence between modern design and sustainable building principles. This approach distinguishes his recent work.
Underlying William’s designs is a belief that architecture should respond to and reinforce the character of its surroundings, recognizing context both in form and ecology. He advocates a holistic approach to design, in which every creative decision reinforces a larger move, and the culmination of choices produces rich and highly specific architecture.
William’s work has been focused in three main areas: retail, residential, and commercial architecture. He has designed flagship stores, retail concept designs, several hundred roll-out stores, more than 50 single-family homes, many multi-family residences, and over 300,000 sq. ft. of tenant-improvement office space. Other work includes restaurants, cafes, galleries and nightclubs.
Before starting WDA, William was an Associate at Kanner Architects in Los Angeles, where he managed the firm’s retail architecture practice. His experience extends to mixed-use, commercial, academic and laboratory buildings, urban master planning, and health-care design. William received his Bachelor of Architecture from Cornell University and his Master in Construction Management from Colorado State University.
In addition to NCARB and LEED certifications, William holds architecture licenses in five states (CA, CO, AZ, OR, WI). He is a member of the American Institute of Architects, the U.S. Green Building Council, the SF Chamber of Commerce, and has served on the Marina Del Rey Design Control Board.
