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HLW Names Co-Studio Directors to Lead New Jersey Office

Chris Townsend and Erin Vasold Elevated to Enhance the Firm’s Presence in the New Jersey Marketplace

Christopher Townsend and Erin Vasold headshots — HLW

Global architecture and design firm HLW announced the appointment of Christopher Townsend, AIA, LEED AP, NCARB, and Erin Vasold, AIA, LEED AP, NCIDQ, as Co-Studio Directors of its New Jersey office. The dual appointment reflects HLW’s commitment to innovation through collaborative leadership and ensuring its international reach is grounded by regional stewards with deep roots in the practice, strong client relationships, and a proven dedication to design excellence.

“Chris and Erin have both been integral to shaping the identity of our New Jersey office — its culture, its standards, and its reputation in the marketplace,” said Ed Shim, AIA, NCARB, Managing Partner at HLW. “They have played a key role in fostering creativity, curiosity, and teamwork across all their projects. They will bring that same energy and commitment to guiding the next chapter of growth for the New Jersey team, and I look forward to working closely with them as we continue to strengthen HLW’s presence in this region.”

Christopher Townsend, AIA, LEED AP, NCARB

With over 25 years of experience in base-building and interior architecture, Townsend brings a highly focused management style and a client-first approach. Since joining HLW, he has established himself as a trusted project leader across the commercial, retail, and research sectors, consistently delivering complex projects on schedule and within budget while maintaining the highest standards of design quality. His portfolio spans some of the state's most prominent organizations, including Haleon, Eisai, Everest, and Kering Americas, as well as projects in New York for organizations such as Venable LLP. As a registered architect, he also brings extensive experience collaborating with commercial developers and has worked closely with Ed Shim on base building opportunities throughout the NJ marketplace.

Erin Vasold, AIA, LEED AP, NCIDQ

Known for her hands-on approach and solutions-oriented mindset, Vasold has spent 8 years at HLW building her career on a combination of creative versatility and operational precision. A multidisciplinary leader with over 20 years of industry experience, she has guided projects from concept through completion across commercial, financial, workplace, and life sciences sectors, earning a reputation for design rigor and an unwavering commitment to client service, with clients including Avantor, Everest, Mars Wrigley, and Prudential Financial.

Townsend and Vasold will work together to foster mentorship and professional growth within the New Jersey practice while leveraging their combined expertise and longstanding client relationships to drive business development. Working alongside Shim, they will help advance HLW’s leadership position in New Jersey, supporting the continued growth of the firm’s regional partnerships with new and expanded opportunities in the market.