McNicholas Architects is a professional design services & consulting firm creating bespoke architecture, interiors, urban designs & master plans. Specialty areas include high-end residential, institutional, religious, civic, and market-rate housing. Cutting-edge research on human wellbeing is brought to bear on projects whenever appropriate; MA's design principles are driven by science and applied to create environments that foster beauty and facilitate health. Great importance is placed on teamwork and personal relationships with clients. McNicholas Architects provides design services throughout the U.S. and abroad, with designs in dozens of countries and several continents. The main office is in Chicago, and the firm is certified with NCARB. MA places great importance on giving back; as such, it is a social practice, regularly volunteering talents and time to philanthropic organizations that raise the standard of living for individuals and communities alike. MA principals are active members of the Congress for the New Urbanism and the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art, hold leadership positions with the Auditorium Theatre, the Great Lakes Business Network, and local academic institutions, and are active in many other organizations. They are certified LEED AP practitioners, hold Certificates in Neuroscience for Architecture and membership in the Society for Neuroscience, and have a particular passion for collaborating with the building trades.