Jim has successfully led a broad range of our firm’s most recognizable projects. He works throughout all phases of project development; coordinating project teams throughout design, document production, and contract administration. Jim is President of the firm.

Jim takes a collaborative approach to design, working closely with clients to ensure that their projects are tailored to suit their needs. This approach involves developing a comprehensive understanding of how a finished project will be used, and how its design may be refined and improved throughout the course of the work.

Jim graduated from the Architectural Technology Program at Fanshawe College in 1991. He worked with our firm before attending the University of Toronto for his Bachelor of Architecture. After graduating and working for a number of award-winning firms in Toronto, Jim returned to the firm in 2000, becoming an associate in 2004, and partner in 2007.

Jim is active in the community, committing time to a variety of not-for-profit organizations and committees. He is a past chair of the City of London Urban Design Peer Review Panel and the Past President on the Board of Directors for the London District Construction Association. Jim offers a background in sustainable design. He is a LEED Accredited Professional, and taught the LEED NC course at Fanshawe College in 2009.

John is a Founding Principal at Nicholson Sheffield Architects Inc. He has acted as the firm’s Principal-in-Charge of Design since 1987. His projects have won awards at the local, provincial, and national levels. He has acted as President and Vice President of the firm. John retired as a shareholder of the firm in 2017. He remains on the leadership team, acting as an advisor to the firm, particularly on matters of design.

John’s designs include a number of landmark projects in London and the surrounding area. He has worked on a broad range of project types, for many different clients and has been recognized for his ability to interpret client input into effective design.

John maintains an active role in the community. He chairs the London Community Foundation Housing Action Committee. He has been Chair of the LCF Board of Directors and of its Grants and Social Finance Committees. He has also been Chair of the London Arts Council and its Community Arts Investment Program. He founded the City of London’s Urban Design Awards program, and helped draft the City’s Public Arts Policy. He has sat on city advisory panels related to design, downtown, arts, heritage, housing, the millennium and creative cities, on the City's Urban Design Peer Review Panel, and on LSA delegations to the city. John was named a Fellow of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada in 2001. John was named to the City of London Mayor's List in 2014, and was awarded the Sovereign's Medal for Volunteerism in 2017.

Tim comes to NSA with a breadth of experience, having worked in the architecture industry for over 20 years. An OAA licensed architect since 2006, Tim has worked as a project architect on several award and competition winning projects, including Canadian Architect, OAA and Governor General’s awards during his time at Ian MacDonald Architect and Hariri Pontarini Architects. He has a wide range of design experience, from single family residences to master planning of large-scale urban redevelopment in both Canada and the United States. Prior to joining NSA, Tim was a Principal in his own practice, Tim Wickens Architect.

Invested in making unique and powerful spaces through the study of place, context, site and landscape, Tim has a deep interest in and understanding of construction details and the integration of the work of related disciplines. He takes particular pride in bridging the needs of the client, the innate qualities of site, and the smallest of architectural details through the architectural process.

Tim holds a Professional Bachelor of Architecture with Honours and a Post Professional Master of Architecture II, both from the University of Toronto. He remains actively engaged in architectural education and mentorship, teaching in design studios, acting as a guest critic at student presentations, speaking, lecturing, and judging professional and student competitions.

Dustin Parkes is an OAA licensed Architect as of September 2021. Dustin joined the firm as an Intern Architect in December of 2017, and became an Associate in 2020. Prior to joining Nicholson Sheffield Architects, Dustin gained experience working with a number of architecture firms in Toronto and also worked independently as a BCIN licensed Architectural Designer in Sarnia and the surrounding area.

Dustin holds a Master of Architecture and a Bachelor of Architectural Studies, Honours Co-op with Distinction, both from the University of Waterloo. During his academic career, Dustin was awarded the Ontario Graduate Scholarship and received numerous awards for his outstanding design work. Most notably, Dustin is the recipient of the Rome Prize for Outstanding Design and the M.Arch Entry Award for Top Overall Standing in Design.

Dustin is proficient in a variety of drafting and 3D modelling programs included Revit, AutoCAD, and Sketch-Up. He is also proficient in Adobe Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign).

During his time with Nicholson Sheffield Architects, Dustin has gained experience working on projects of varying scale and complexity, through Schematic Design, Design Development, Construction Document Production, and Contract Administration phases.

John Ly is an Associate who re-joined the firm in 2017. Before joining Nicholson Sheffield Architects, he worked as a draftsperson and completed a co-op term at Archon Architects Inc. in Windsor, Ontario. John joined our predecessor firm, Malhotra Nicholson Sheffield Architects Inc., in 2003 and worked with them for six years.

John holds a Diploma in Architectural Technology from St. Clair College and a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from Lawrence Technological University in Southfield, Michigan.

He has been recognized for his excellence in the design field after receiving the bronze medal in the 2002 Skills Canada Regional Competition. He is also proficient in AutoCAD, Photoshop, and InDesign.

John is a quick learner with excellent problem-solving skills. His technical experience and business-savvy mentality ensure he is an excellent addition to the Nicholson Sheffield Architects team.

Hillary Little is an Intern Architect who joined the firm in January 2018. Prior to joining Nicholson Sheffield Architects, she gained experience working in a variety of design environments including Design-Build and Interior Design in the London area.

Hillary holds a Master of Architecture and a Bachelor of Architectural Studies, both from Carleton University. She has been recognized for her academic excellence in the design field, graduating with a High Distinction and Senate Medal.

Hillary is proficient in a variety of drafting and 3D modelling programs including Revit and AutoCAD. She is also proficient in Adobe Creative Suite, including Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign.

Callan is an Intern Architect who joined the firm in the Fall of 2020. Prior to joining Nicholson Sheffield Architects, Callan gained five years experience working with Architecture firms in Toronto and Vancouver. Four years were spent at ERA Architects in Toronto where he focused on heritage architecture and landscape design.

Callan holds a Master of Architecture and a Bachelor of Architectural Studies, Honours Co-op degree, both from the University of Waterloo, receiving a design studio award during his undergrad. During his master’s degree he was a TA for Design Studio and Cultural History courses, he also participated as a guest critic in multiple design studios. Since graduating, Callan has had the opportunity to teach two Design Visualization courses at Fanshawe College in the BEDP program.

Eleanor joined NSA in the summer of 2021 as an Intern Architect following her graduation from the University of Toronto’s Master of Architecture program.

During her time as a student at U of T, she gained extensive professional experience working as co-editor of The Annual 2020, an annual publication of graduate work produced by the faculty, as well as through her work as both a faculty research assistant and teaching assistant.

Drawing on her interests in heritage and urban policy, Eleanor’s thesis reconsidered current heritage planning policies within the City of Toronto. Through a combination of urban and building scales, the thesis advanced a place-based approach to residential intensification within heritage designated neighbourhoods by proposing multi-unit infill projects and alternate housing typologies.

With extensive archival and curatorial experience, Eleanor brings a multidisciplinary approach and insight to projects at the firm.

Petar Sesar is an Architectural Technologist with 10 years of experience in the architectural and interior design field. He completed his advanced diploma in the Co-op Architectural Technology program at Fanshawe College in 2010 and is currently continuing his studies in the RAIC Syllabus Diploma in Architecture program in collaboration with Athabasca University.

Petar brings to the NSA team an extensive background in the public sector and an advanced understanding of the processes, protocols and expectations involved in working on a broad range of public and privately funded projects.

Petar has prepared construction documents and undertaken contract administration including participating in field reviews, change management, payment certification and compliance reviews. He has coordinated the work of lead architects, interior designers, structural and mechanical engineers on several high-profile interior fit-up projects. His responsibilities have included shop drawing review, engineering systems coordination, and organization of design review committee meetings. He has undertaken peer review of construction documents for a variety of projects in London, Ottawa, and abroad. He has also been responsible for code reviews and analysis. He is conversant in the preparation of NMS format specifications, including ensuring they meet government standards.

Prior to joining NSA, Petar gained local and international experience working in both the private and public sectors. In his capacity as Architectural Technologist at Global Affairs Canada (GAC), Petar was involved in a range of planning and development projects, including functional and space programming, feasibility studies, master plans, detailed interior fit-ups, modernization, renovations, additions and new construction. Petar has gained extensive knowledge of workplace branding through various exercises and studies in embassy signage projects abroad. Petar was involved in all stages of project development – from feasibility study to the renovation and consolidation of some of Canada’s most important foreign missions, including the Canadian embassies in Beijing and Paris, and the Canadian High Commission in London. He also assisted in developing security details and upgrades for many other Canadian residences and embassies abroad.

As of May 2017, Ben has worked as a Technologist at Nicholson Sheffield Architects Inc. He holds an Advanced Diploma in Architectural Technology from Fanshawe College, graduating on the Dean’s Honour Roll in April 2017.

Ben previously completed two co-op placements before joining Nicholson Sheffield Architects Inc., one at the Boundary Layer Wind Tunnel Laboratory at Western University, and the other at IRC Building Science Group. From his educational and employment experience, Ben has become proficient in AutoCad and Revit, making him a technical asset to Nicholson Sheffield Architects Inc.

Emma completed a co-op at Nicholson Sheffield Architects during her final year at Fanshawe College in 2017. She graduated from Fanshawe College with an Advanced Diploma in Architectural Technology in 2018 and received the Distinguished Student Award. She was brought back onto the team as a full-time architectural technologist in April 2018.

Emma is now pursuing a Diploma in Architecture through RAIC Syllabus in collaboration with Athabasca University while she continues to work full time and gain experience on a wide variety of projects.

In addition to her academic experience, Emma was the 2018 Canada Gold medalist in the Skills Canada Architectural Technology and Design Competition. She was also the 2018 Ontario gold medalist, 2018 Top Ranking Competitor, and 2017 Ontario silver medalist at the Skills Ontario competitions. She then had the opportunity to represent Fanshawe College at Polytechnics Canada 2018 in Ottawa, speaking to parliament to advocate for the significance of co-op based programs for young people in the skilled trades. She is LEED Green Associate certified and proficient in AutoCAD and Revit.

Emma is an extremely hard worker with a keen eye for design, making her an excellent addition to the Nicholson Sheffield Architects Inc. team.

Courteney Vandescheur started her Architectural Technology career in 2014 when she began her education at Fanshawe College. During her education, Courteney completed co-op placements through John’s Drafting Service, Serratore and Associates, and Nicholson Sheffield Architects Inc. In these placements, Courteney refined her skills as a Technologist, assisting in the drafting and design of numerous residential and commercial buildings throughout London and surrounding areas.

Courteney holds an Advanced Diploma in Architectural Technology from Fanshawe College and is well on her way to becoming an accredited Architectural Technologist.

Courteney is proficient in various drafting and 3D modeling programs such as Revit, AutoCAD, Sketchup and Adobe Photoshop.

On top of this, Courteney is a quick learner and extremely adaptable in her work environment. She enjoys the entire architectural process from design conception to construction administration. Courteney is experienced in all aspects of the process, making her a valuable addition to the Nicholson Sheffield Architects Inc. team.

Nathan joined the Nicholson Sheffield Architect team in 2015 after graduating from Conestoga College with an advanced diploma in Architectural-Construction Engineering Technology. During his time as a student, Nathan and his design team were awarded first place for both Team Design and Project Documentation of their third year, six storey student residence building. During this project, he developed his skills as a team player and subsequently, excels at collaborating with others.

He is proficient with Revit and pairs that with a great understanding of the Ontario Building Code, building science and technical detailing. This knowledge has helped Nathan take a variety of projects from design development through construction documentation, and provided contract administration during the construction of these projects. He is a quick learner who is always up for a challenge.

Becky joined Nicholson Sheffield Architects Inc. as a Technologist after completing three co-op term placements with our firm (and one with the City of London), as part of her education in the Architectural Technology program at Fanshawe College. While at Fanshawe, Becky won the Skills Canada Provincial Competition on two occasions, and at the Skills Canada National Competition won the Bronze Medal in 2012, and the Gold Medal in the 2013 competition.

Becky has worked on many of our firm’s major projects including contract documents for projects with technically-demanding program; requiring a comprehensive level of thought and detail throughout production. Becky’s education, experience and technical capabilities in Revit and AutoCAD make her an integral part of our team.

Mitch joined the firm in February 2021 as a technologist following his graduation from Fanshawe College’s Architectural Technology program. Mitch previously completed co-op placements with Zedd Architecture in London, as well as Prica Global Design Studio and Rowan Williams Davies Irwin. When he’s not drafting, Mitch can be found playing hockey or golf. He also enjoys exploring the great outdoors with his dog, Elliot. Through his education and work experience, Mitch has developed a keen knowledge of Revit. His eagerness to learn and problem solving skills make him a valuable new member of NSA’s team!

Tracey Watters joined Nicholson Sheffield Architects Inc. as consultant in August of 2011, eventually becoming an employee in June 2018. Tracey is the firm's bookkeeper, overseeing tasks related to the financial management of the business and our projects.

Tracey’s education, experience, and professional knowledge inform all of her work at the office. She has more than 25 years of experience as a bookkeeper and has worked as a consultant for a broad range of clients across southwestern Ontario including: London, St. Thomas, Port Stanley, and Tillsonburg. She originally received her Certificate in Bookkeeping from Sterling Business Academy. Tracey's no-nonsense attitude, and willingness to help others whenever possible, keeps our work at the firm on track, making her a great asset to the NSA family.