BOSTON- Annum Architects’ Senior Associate Jackie Flanigan is leading the way in higher education facilities, with her work featured in numerous public and private institutions, including University of Pennsylvania, Harvard University and Philips Exeter Academy.
In her role as Senior Associate at the minority-owned design and planning firm, Flanigan manages projects with complex stakeholder groups, balancing design excellence with technical requirements. She is a leader for the firm’s emerging professionals, taking the time and effort of mentorship and involvement with the firm’s internship program.
A leader in higher education work for Annum, Flanigan has successfully planned and designed projects for public and private institutions, including Springfield Technical Community College, University of Pennsylvania, Harvard University, Philips Exeter Academy, and Georgia Institute of Technology. Her work also extends to civic and cultural projects, including planning for the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, New Britain Museum of American Art, Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, the historic US Embassy in Manila for the Overseas Bureau of Operations, and programming for the state-of-the-art Bezos Learning Center for the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.
On March 12, 2025, Jackie Flanigan will be honored with the Outstanding Women of 2025 award at the annual Women of the Year awards gala at Burlington Marriott Hotel in Burlington, MA.
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Flanigan’s work in programming, planning, design and delivery is focused on leading collaborative design process with complex stakeholder groups to create transformation and realign resources with institutional goals and missions. She has deep experience working with challenging building renewals, thoughtfully adapting Nationally Registered Historic Landmark buildings, significant Modernist landmarks buildings and more to serve modern uses.
Recent projects of note led by Flanigan are Springfield Technical Community College and Philips Exeter Academy. At Springfield Technical Community College for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Flanigan led a collaborative planning and design process, working with 28 departments, students and other stakeholders to complete a comprehensive renovation of a 19th-century building on a historic landmark site. The award-winning design for the 100,000 SF campus center creates a new student life, library, and administrative campus hub and has been published in Architectural Record. The project received multiple awards from organizations such as AIA New England, Preservation Massachusetts, Boston Society of Architects, and the Society for College & University Planning.
For Philips Exeter Academy, Flanigan developed a strategy for phased renovations of Louis Kahn’s Class of 1954 Library as part of an initiative to modernize and enhance student and staff workspaces.
Flanigan’s work outside of higher education are equally noteworthy. At the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, she led the conceptual design of the Center for Netherlandish Art, engaging with curators and museum staff to transform a below-grade space into a vibrant center for collaboration and scholarship. She led the team through programming for the state-of-the-art Bezos Learning Center at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. She has also led master planning work for the State Department’s US Embassy in Manila, which included preservation strategies for the historic Chancery building.
Flanigan’s work in programming, planning, and design focuses on building relationships and gaining a deep understanding of client needs and goals. In addition, she is also a leader for Annum’s emerging professionals through mentorship and involvement with the firm’s internship program. She is passionate about exploring new and creative opportunities within existing historic buildings.
Flanigan holds a Master of Architecture from Northeastern University, where she has also returned to teach design studio and serve as a guest critic. She has shared her work at regional and national conferences for ArchitectureBoston, the Society for College and University Planning and the Architectural Engineering Institute. As a Senior Associate at Annum, she has directed Annum’s intern program for several years and provides mentoring in studio and through the Boston Society of Architects.
Annum Architects’ work establishes a dynamic discourse between tradition and the future, equally dedicated to contemporary architectural expression and the celebration of significant settings. Shaping and strengthening community life, establishing new directions and identities, Annum sees architecture as a transforming force for education and the arts.
Ann Beha Architects was founded in 1980 and became Annum Architects in 2022. Building on ABA’s accomplishments and expanded leadership, Annum has more than 40 years of experience in planning and architectural design for academic and cultural projects throughout the country. These projects include planning and design for both historic landmark buildings and for new buildings, with clients such as Harvard Divinity School, U.S. Department of State, Museum of Fine Arts Boston, University of Chicago, and Smithsonian Institution.
Annum is a minority-owned business dedicated to diversity, inclusion, and equity in design and the workplace with a talented and highly qualified 49-person professional staff. The firm has been named one of the Top 50 architectural practices in the United States by ARCHITECT Magazine, cited for its design leadership, stewardship, and collaborative practice.
Read our full Q&A with Jackie Flanigan below.
Boston Real Estate Times: What do you enjoy most about your work?
Jackie Flanigan: I love the people that we work with and the institutions that we serve. I’m constantly inspired by the amazing work that the faculty, staff, and students are doing, the impact that they’re making on the world and the communities that they live and work in.
I also love the types of projects that we do, working with existing buildings and adapting them to new and changing uses. There are those moments when you’ve been working on a plan or an idea for so long and you finally come up with something that just “fits” and it’s like placing that last piece in a huge jigsaw puzzle. And then having the opportunity to see that come to life and exist in the world. I think that’s something wholly unique about what we do as architects – you have the opportunity to see your ideas manifest as something physical that will hopefully last for the next 50, or even 100 years.
BRET: What is the one thing you attribute your success to?
JF: Mentorship – I’ve been fortunate to have some amazing mentors throughout my career, in my firm, in the profession and even friends. I’ve always appreciated their help in knowing when to push myself, to trust in my knowledge, skills and abilities, when to advocate for myself and also, importantly, when and where to set boundaries.
BRET: To which charitable, community and professional groups do you belong and why?
JF: Because of the immense importance of mentorship in my own career, giving back to the community through mentorship and professional development opportunities has been a priority of mine. I’ve been involved in various mentoring programs, formally and informally, including FeedBack Mentorship Program through the Emerging Professionals Network at the Boston Society for Architecture, portfolio reviews at the School of Architecture for my alma mater, Northeastern University, and participated in the Align Mentorship program through the AIA.
In addition, I’m also a member of the Society for College and University Planning, which is a fantastic forum for learning about the best practices in planning and design throughout the country.
BRET: In what way do you feel you have most positively influenced or served the local community, your company/organization or professional field?
JF: I think the planning and design work that I’ve been involved with has been one of the things that I’m the proudest of, in terms of making a lasting impact on the community. In the work that we do with historic buildings, being able to breathe new life into them unlock their potential. It allows them to not just remain a static piece of history but to really become a part of everyday life for that community, campus, institution, etc. My favorite example is a project that I worked on at Springfield Technical Community College for the Student Learning Commons. When we first arrived, it was basically a dilapidated, unused historic warehouse and after 5 years of planning, design and construction, we were able to transform it into this vibrant new Student Learning Commons. Being there now that it’s completed and seeing students and staff really make it their own, seeing the events they’re hosting on social media and what these new spaces now enable them to do. The transformation of the physical space is just one piece, but it’s what that then allows them to do, create, explore. Those are the lasting impacts that I’m really proud of.
BRET: What are your hobbies and interests?
JF: Traveling and experiencing new places, trying new recipes, reading, the NYT Sunday Crossword and more recently, my small (but expanding) vegetable and flower gardens in our backyard.
BRET: Your favorite books?
JF: In terms of all-time classics, Little Women remains to be one of those books that I return to again and again. Having grown up with all sisters, the characters and their personalities really resonate with me. Recently, I also really enjoyed James by Percival Everett, following the classic story of Huckleberry Finn.
BRET: Your favorite quotes?
JF: My sister, an English teacher, said this to me recently and it really stuck: “We may encounter many defeats, but we must not be defeated” (Maya Angelou).
For me, it’s a powerful reminder that setbacks, failure, disappointment are all a part of life, but they don’t define us. It speaks to resilience and the importance of perseverance, something we all need at different points in our lives and it’s a beautiful reminder that strength comes from how we rise after falling.
BRET: The one person you would like to meet and why?
JF: It’s tough to pick just one person, but if I had to choose, I think Michelle Obama would be at the top of my list. Beyond her incredible accomplishments, what really draws me to her is her authenticity. She’s open about the challenges she’s faced—whether in her relationships, her role as a mother, or navigating the complexities of public life. Her honesty and vulnerability make her not only a powerful figure but also relatable. I admire her ability to balance strength with compassion, and I would love the opportunity to hear her insights into leadership, resilience, and the importance of staying true to yourself.
BRET: The core values you try to live by?
JF: At the heart of my values is the importance of family—both the one you’re born into and the one you choose. These relationships offer a sense of belonging, unconditional support and love, helping to guide us through life’s highs and lows.
Humor also plays a central role in my life; when things get tough, being able to laugh at ourselves and not take everything too seriously helps to keep things in perspective.
Finally, curiosity is crucial to how I approach the world. I believe in the endless power of learning, whether it’s through new experiences or exploring different perspectives. By staying curious, you’re able to grow, deepen understanding, and tackle challenges with an open mind and a desire to truly grasp the “why” and “how” of things.
BRET: What inspires you?
JF: What inspires me most are the people I’ve had the privilege to work with throughout my career. Most of our clients are mission-based and the thoughtfulness, intellect and passion they bring to these conversations makes me appreciate even having the opportunity to be in the room and brings awareness to issues and ideas that I may have not be as attuned to in the past.
For example, this year, I’ve had the chance to work closely with clients at Harvard’s Center for Public Service and Engaged Scholarship, and it’s been incredibly inspiring. Learning about the history of public service, the impactful work they continue to do, and the communities they serve—especially with much of the work being led by students—has not only inspired the project and design process, but also personally motivated me to reflect on the impact I can have in my own community.
