April Hughes
April Hughes, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C is the President at Nurture. A graduate of the University of Kansas, April has received recognitions including the 2014 AIA Chicago Dubin Family Young Architect of the Year and the AIA Illinois John Wellborn Root Award in 2013. Steadfast in her dedication to the firm's mission as a woman-owned enterprise, April advocates for a net-zero future while championing opportunities for women, ensuring their voices are heard and valued.
April brings vast experience in sustainable design, with a track record of delivering platinum-rated LEED projects and pioneering net-zero energy designs in Chicago—setting precedents for the State of Illinois. Noteworthy projects in her portfolio include the award-winning Yannell PHIUS+ Residence, the Midwest’s first certified PHIUS retrofit in a fourteen-state region, and leading the Midwest’s first residential Living Building Challenge and PHIUS project on the western shores of South Haven, Michigan. Her work has earned recognition from esteemed publications like the Chicago Tribune and renowned architectural critic Blair Kamin, with features in a variety of outlets including Architect Magazine, Elle Decor, Shore Magazine, and WTTW-Chicago. Furthermore, she has made substantial contributions to influential publications such as "Sustainable Urbanism: Urban Design with Nature," the SmartCode Sustainability Module and Living Cities: Transforming APEC Cities into Models of Sustainability by 2030, cementing her position as a leading figure in the sustainability forefront.
April was Jury Chair for the AIA Birmingham Design Awards and AIA Northern Virginia, and has served on AIA Wisconsin Design Excellence guiding the adjudication process and ensuring the recognition of sustainable design excellence. Her notable achievements, including being named a DuPont Emerging Leader at the Design Futures Council Sustainability Summit and serving as Board President of AIA Chicago in 2020, highlight her emphasis on community enrichment and driving positive change both within and beyond the industry. Apart from her professional pursuits, April serves as a Director on the Board of Directors for Chicago’s oldest women’s domestic violence organization, Connections for Abused Women and their Children (CAWC), leading capital campaign and development initiatives to build its new multi-million-dollar shelter.
