Ziger|Snead Architects

Formal training in painting, art and architecture imbued Douglas Bothner with a solid foundation for his practice. But, he avers, his informal education was just as important. “Observing the built and unbuilt environment through extensive travel, exploration and sketching reinforced my belief that architects and designers have an important role to play in shaping the spaces and places we inhabit,” he explains.

Bothner is part of a second generation of leadership partners at Ziger|Snead Architects, which celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2025. The firm boasts an internationally recognized body of cultural, institutional and residential work; Bothner, co-partner Katelin Etoh and their team execute elegant, distilled designs that integrate sustainability and innovation.

“I oversee the firm’s design direction with an emphasis on clarity, material integrity and the lived experience of a space,” Bothner says. “This is a collaborative studio where design is shaped through dialog and trust. Clear communication allows clients to evaluate options, understand implications and stay focused on their goals.”

In 2025, Ziger|Snead Architects received two Architizer A+ awards for Best Local Firm and Best Adaptive Reuse and Firm; one Best Practice award from The Architect’s Newspaper; and a General Excellence award from Baltimore magazine’s Home & Design Awards.

See more at HandD.com/ZigerSnead