Working as part of the Development team, Mr. McDowell leads and oversees development and construction management activities for many of the company’s key projects and is responsible for the implementation of development strategies and the identification and assessment of new development opportunities. Bill works closely with the development staff as well as outside consultants in all phases of projects and plays a key role with development partners, financial institutions, and public officials.
Prior to joining National in 2017, Bill served at Spring Creek Investment Management in Philadelphia, PA, where he was responsible for the oversight of large-scale multi-family, student housing, office, and retail projects in the US and abroad. Bill has over 40 years’ experience in the architecture, construction, and development industries, while starting his career as a licensed architect working in a family business in Philadelphia. Previously, Bill was a Senior Project Executive with Barnes Foundation, where he was responsible for the management and oversight of the design and construction of a $150 million building to house the relocation of one of the finest private collections of post-impressionist art in the world. In addition, Bill has held senior development positions with Brickstone Realty, the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) and the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Philadelphia.
Bill is on the Board of the Center for Architecture in Philadelphia where he chairs the Louis Kahn Memorial Lecture. He is an advisor to the Strawberry Mansion Learning Center, a non-profit outreach institution in North Philadelphia and sits on advisory committees for the Philadelphia Museum of Art and Calder Philadelphia.
Mr. McDowell holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Denison University and a Master of Science in Real Estate Development from Columbia University. He is also a registered Professional Architect in Pennsylvania.