Watts Architects & Engineers

05/22/2026

Watts is pleased to welcome Louis Albano to our team as a Project Engineer in our Transportation Department.

Lou brings valuable experience in site and structural design, along with a strong technical foundation and a passion for continued growth within the transportation industry. We are excited to have him join our team and look forward to the expertise, energy, and fresh perspective he will contribute to our projects and clients.

A graduate of Rochester Institute of Technology, Lou has already sparked a friendly rivalry with our University at Buffalo community, making him a great fit for the collaborative culture here at Watts.

Welcome to the team, Lou!

05/20/2026

23 years with Watts! Please join us in congratulating Mike Pratt on reaching an incredible milestone.

Mike’s dedication, expertise, and leadership have made a lasting impact on both our company and the many projects he has helped successfully deliver over the years. As a Civil and Structural Engineer, his commitment to quality and thoughtful approach to complex challenges have consistently set a high standard for excellence.

Mike’s leadership as a former department manager helped shape the growth and development of those around him, creating a positive influence that continues today.

We are grateful for the experience, insight, and professionalism Mike brings to Watts every day. Congratulations Mike on 23 outstanding years!

05/13/2026

May is National Preservation Month! We’re celebrating the spaces that connect past, present, and future through thoughtful design, restoration, and revitalization. From historic structures to public spaces, Watts is proud to help preserve places that matter.

Preservation is more than protecting buildings, it’s about honoring the stories, culture, and communities that shape our shared history.

Explore our parks, rec, and historic preservation portfolio, along with our most recent restoration project of the Schenck House and Restroom Restoration at the Grover Cleveland Golf Course in Buffalo, NY: https://watts-ae.com/portfolio/project:schenck-house-and-restroom-restoration-at-the-grover-cleveland-golf-course/

Buffalo is home to the Grover Cleveland Golf Course and Park, a 111-acre park encompassing an 18-hole golf course. The Schenck House (and associated structures), a historic building on the property, is one of the oldest stone buildings in Erie County likely dating back to the early 1820s. Erie Count...

05/11/2026

✨️Welcome to Watts!

Recently, Watts was very happy to welcome Tom Gulya and Jacob Gorski to our Regulated Building Materials Team.

Tom joins our Brooklyn office as a Senior Environmental Manager. Tom is helping to manage our NYC area portfolio and mentor our Brooklyn office team. He has a wealth of industry experience, and we can't wait to see his potential soar!

Jacob joins our Buffalo office as an Environmental Technician/Project Monitor. He is a recent graduate (magna cm laude!) from UB with a bachelor’s in environmental geosciences. He brings an enthusiasm and a drive to succeed, a perfect fit in our RBM group!

Please join us in welcoming Tom & Jacob 🎉

Explore our current openings and see if there is an opportunity for you or the design professional in your life: https://watts-ae.com/about/careers/

05/08/2026

🌷🌼 Happy Mother’s Day Weekend to all the mamas out there, and a special shout out to the incredible moms of our Watts team! You all juggle professionalism and parenthood so seamlessly we can forget how tough some days can be. You're an inspiration to us all. Here’s to the late-nights, early mornings, the not-enough-coffees-in-the-world, and the hugs that lift us up. Thank you for being our rock stars and role models. 💖

Pictured here are just some of our Watts moms. We wanted to make sure and shine light on all of them, so a very Happy Mother's Day to Lisa, Nicole, Falena, Amanda, Jeanette, Justina, Tina, Linda, Kristen, Lori, Raquel, Christy, and Jessie!

04/29/2026

Watts is proud to be a Bronze Sponsor at this year's Northeastern District Annual Meeting in Newport, Rhode Island. The annual meeting gathers transportation experts from the northeastern region of the United States. Paul Pfleuger from Watts is there this week, enjoying the sunshine for those of us that aren't seeing any. Wishing everyone at the meeting makes meaningful connections and finds inspiration in this year's themes, circling around: Vision Zero, Innovative Transportation Solutions, Travel Demand Management, Special Event Planning, and Coastal Resiliency.

For those that don't know what ITE stands for, they are: "a Community of Transportation Professionals (ITE) that works to improve mobility and safety for all transportation system users, helping to build smart and livable communities."

Thanks for the picture, Paul, nice view!

04/23/2026

🚧In the field with Watts' Construction Inspectors 🚧

April showers bring May flowers and May flowers bring.... construction! Construction season is officially back, and our teams are out on site across the Western New York region. We’re spotlighting Inho Chung, Senior Inspector on the $7.8M rehabilitation of the Niagara Thruway (I‑190) Bridge over Scajaquada Creek.

If you’ve recently driven into Buffalo, or headed north on the I‑190, you may have noticed a massive piece of equipment sitting on a barge alongside the thruway. That’s part of the work happening right now to upgrade and protect this critical bridge.

What’s happening on site?
* Setting up barge in the Black Rock canal and installing a turbidity curtain (water protection measures)
* Clearing debris beneath the bridge
* Strengthening and repairing areas around the bridge supports
* Fixing sections that protect the bridge from boat impacts
* Installing new piles and systems to manage floating debris
* Making structural steel repairs
* Adding fencing for safety and security

Watts is proud to be part of UrbanNY’s consultant team, helping keep this vital corridor safe and reliable for the Buffalo region.

Thanks to Inho for sharing these pics! In the photo with the red barge it shows pile driving in action. There is a photo highlighting the turbidity curtain that contains sediment, debris, and silt, preventing cloudy, polluted water from spreading. This helps protect the aquatic ecosystem and ensures environmental compliance.

04/20/2026

🎉 Help us congratulate... 🎉

Ashley Stewart of our Marketing Team! It is a great honor to share that Ashley has recently been promoted to Marketing Manager.

Ashley will be responsible for orchestrating and overseeing our proposal operations while driving the continuous improvement of our marketing efforts.
Ashley brings an exceptional level of focus, organization, and initiative to everything she does, consistently demonstrating her investment in Watts and her enthusiasm for taking on new challenges. Beyond her diligence and willingness to go the extra mile, one of Ashley’s greatest strengths is the positivity she brings to the team, especially on the days when it’s hardest to find.

Please join us in congratulating Ashley on this well‑deserved promotion. It’s been a pleasure to work alongside her, and we’re excited to see her continue to grow!

04/16/2026

Honoring Architecture Week 2026!

Watts Architects are crafting not just structures, but the future itself. A big thank you to Justina Zifchock and Katie Nelson for their contributions to the Architecture + Education Committee at the Buffalo Architecture Foundation, as they motivate the upcoming generation!