Principal Mike Padden Retires After Four Decades in the A/E Industry

Principal Mike Padden has retired after 26 years with Clark Nexsen. Mike’s career spans over four decades and reflects his dedication and passion for the architecture and engineering industry. He worked for Clark Nexsen twice. In the 1980s, Mike was an architect in the firm’s office in Madrid, Spain. He returned to Clark Nexsen as a principal in the firm’s headquarters in Norfolk and then in Virginia Beach, from 1995 to 2015.

With a diverse planning and design background, Mike offered architectural design and project management expertise to a broad range of clients. He was responsible for managing all phases of design and production and his rigorous standards led him to develop a quality control system that is currently used on all Clark Nexsen projects.

As a leader in Clark Nexsen’s Higher Education Practice Group, Mike focused on trends in higher education and digital learning. He was active in the Society for College and University Planning (SCUP) recently participating in two presentations at the SCUP Mid-Atlantic Conference on topics that ranged from a discussion of capital project delivery systems to recent changes in the College of William & Mary’s dining program.

Mike served as President of the Hampton Roads Chapter of the Virginia Society AIA, where he earned the respect of colleagues for his knowledge and commitment to the architectural profession and community.

“Our clients really like Mike; he’s active in the community and the profession and he brings a positive outlook to everything he does,” said colleague David Keith. “Mike is the type of guy everyone enjoys working with and I am forever grateful for his contributions both personally and professionally. We are really going to miss him.”

As an architect, business leader, and a valued colleague, we wish the best to Mike in his retirement and the next phase of his life.