William McDowell

William McDowell serves as an Independent Consultant working closely with National’s leadership team, providing senior-level oversight on complex projects and strategic initiatives. As a former full-time member of National Development, Bill continues to work seamlessly with development and construction teams, partners, and stakeholders to support the execution of key developments from concept through delivery. 

With more than 40 years of experience across architecture, construction, and real estate development, Bill brings deep expertise in managing large, institutionally complex projects. Bill played a leading role in the Honickman Center for Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, where he was instrumental in securing transaction and guiding the project through design, development, and construction. The Honickman Center has since received multiple industry awards, recognizing both its architectural excellence and its successful delivery within a complex urban and academic environment. 

Beyond his project work, Bill is active in Philadelphia’s civic and cultural community. He chairs the Louis Kahn Memorial Lecture for the Center for Architecture and advises the Strawberry Mansion Learning Center. He also serves on advisory committees for the Philadelphia Museum of Art and Calder Gardens. 

Bill began his career as a licensed architect in a family-based Philadelphia practice. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Denison University and a Master of Science in Real Estate Development from Columbia University.