BOSTON—Gensler’s Boston office is consistently ranked as the largest architectural firm in Massachusetts. Its Co-Managing Director and Principal Fran Noval, AIA, NCARB, says that the trust and confidence of her team have been the major factor in Gensler’s success.
“I feel very fortunate to have the trust and confidence of my teams and our organization’s leadership as I’ve progressed in my career,” says Ms. Noval. “This support has enabled me to feel confident and supported in pursuing my goals. As a firm, Gensler has made it a foundational principle to put people first. I believe being immersed in a culture that encourages people to pursue their passions is also a really important part of my own success.”
If given a chance, Ms. Noval would like to meet two people: mindfulness Guru Thich Nhat (1926-2022) and Florence Marguerite Knoll (1917-2019), the legendary American architect, interior designer, furniture designer, and entrepreneur who has been credited with revolutionizing office design and bringing modernist design to office interiors.
“Florence Knoll would be inspiring to talk with about her pioneering impact on our industry,” says Ms. Noval.
On March 12, 2025, Ms. Noval 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.
To buy a ticket for the gala, please click here.
As Co-Managing Director of Gensler’s Boston office, Ms. Noval is a dedicated leader with a deep commitment to the firm’s clients and teams. With nearly 30 years of experience in the industry, she has established a proven track record of delivering transformative projects that drive innovation and organizational success.
Since joining Gensler in 2007, Ms. Noval has led diverse teams on projects in practice areas including financial services, professional services, sciences, technology, and consumer goods. Her expertise in skillfully managing large and complex projects is demonstrated by her leadership on award-winning headquarters for some of the region’s leading organizations, including Foundation Medicine, Verizon, Sanofi, Reebok, Mass General Brigham, and MathWorks.
As a mentor and office leader, Ms. Noval inspires individuals and teams to achieve their highest potential. She has spearheaded the development of Gensler’s Design Management best practices, raising the bar for project delivery while cultivating the next generation of leaders. She also plays a pivotal role in managing global client accounts, building and strengthening relationships that enable seamless collaboration across offices and international markets.
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Her dedication to fostering a culture of trust and accountability resonates with colleagues and clients alike. Known for her ability to align diverse teams around shared goals, she consistently delivers results that exceed expectations. Her focus on understanding client needs and building enduring partnerships have contributed to the success of the office and the firm.
Ms. Noval has been involved with CoreNet New England, serving on the Community Reinvestment and Programs Committees, and mentoring through Women in Design programs. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology and a Master of Architecture from Columbia University.
Gensler is a global architecture, design, and planning firm with 57 locations and more than 6,000 professionals networked across the Americas, Europe, Greater China, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East. Founded in 1965, the firm works globally with more than 4,000 clients across more than 33 practice areas spanning the work, lifestyle, community, and health sectors. We are guided by our mission to create a better world through the power of design, and the source of our strength is our people. By leveraging our diversity of ideas, our research and innovation, our shared values, and our One-Firm Firm culture, we are working seamlessly as a borderless firm in over 100 countries and making the greatest impact on our communities as we continue to tackle the world’s challenges.
Recent accolades include Fast Company 2024, #6 World’s Most Innovative Companies and #1 in Urban Development and Real Estate; Interior Design 2024 Top 100 Giants, #1 Overall Firm; Interior Design 2024 Sustainability Giants, #1 Firm; Architectural Record 2023 Top 300, #1 Architecture Firm; Building Design + Construction 2023 Giants 400, #1 Architecture Firm
Since 1992, Gensler’s Boston office has provided professional planning and design services for projects across industries throughout New England and beyond, and consistently ranks as one of the top design firms in Massachusetts and New England. Notable projects include Foundation Medicine Headquarters, The Hub on Causeway and Verizon Headquarters, One Post Office Square, High Street Place, and MathWorks, as well as 100 Chestnut in Somerville and 225 Wyman in Waltham.
Here is a Q/A with Ms. Noval:
Boston Real Estate Times: What do you enjoy most about your work?
Fran Noval: I truly enjoy solving the puzzle of complex, large-scale projects. I love that there is always the challenge of balancing the details of design and construction and the overall big picture of what we are striving to accomplish for our clients. The most rewarding aspect, though, is the opportunity to learn from the diverse perspectives and deep well of talent of my colleagues and collaborators. I see my role as a choreographer for the multiple, dynamic components of a project, and focus on supporting and empowering our teams to do their best creative work. I take pride in celebrating the teams many successes, seeing our people reach their goals and experiencing joy in our work.
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BRET: What is the one thing you attribute your success to?
FN: I feel very fortunate to have the trust and confidence of my teams and our organization’s leadership as I’ve progressed in my career. This support has enabled me to feel confident and supported in pursuing my goals. As a firm, Gensler has made it a foundational principle to put people first. I believe being immersed in a culture that encourages people to pursue their passions is also a really important part of my own success.
BRET: To which charitable, community and professional groups do you belong and why?
FN: I am thankful to be here in New England where we have such a great professional community. I’ve been active in the Boston Society of Architects, supporting Women in Design, Mentorship and Caregivers groups. I’ve also benefitted from being an ongoing member of CoreNet New England, which has provided me with many opportunities to connect with our broader real estate community through sharing knowledge and supporting Community Reinvestment. As a licensed architect, I also belong to the American Institute of Architects and NCARB, enabling me to sponsor licensure candidates and work directly with our next generation of talent at a critical point in their careers. Beyond my professional groups, I am involved in a non-profit, Unbound, which works to alleviate poverty with a focus on youth and marginalized populations.
BRET: In what way do you feel you have most positively influenced or served the local community, your company/organization or professional field?
FN: Throughout my career, I have been deeply involved in client relationships. Client relationships are the backbone of our practice. I place great importance and value in cultivating real partnerships with our clients. Deeper relationships enable us to co-create even more incredible spaces and transformational places for organizations and their people. I’ve spent much of my career focused on continually learning, mentoring teams, and becoming an advocate for creating unique experiences, ensuring outstanding delivery, trust, and deep value to our clients.
BRET: What are your hobbies and interests?
FN: Traveling invigorates me. Exploring cultures and embarking on challenging adventures is a way for me to open my mind and gain new perspective. Some of my more memorable trips have been to the Arctic, Bhutan, and the villages of Italy, but no matter the destination, I enjoy the experience of being somewhere new. My husband Kevin and I are always planning our next big adventure!
BRET: Your favorite books?
FN: I enjoy diversifying my reading with a mix of professional inspiration, learning and novels. One novel that really struck me is “All the Light We Cannot See” by Anthony Doerr. It’s an amazing story of human connection, communication, and hope. Many years ago, I enjoyed “The Tao of Pooh” by Benjamin Hoff – a classic character paired with life lessons. I own many architectural and art books and enjoy leafing through them often.
BRET: Your favorite quotes?
FN: I love the Maya Angelou quotation – “We are more alike, my friends, than we are unalike.”
BRET: The one person you would like to meet and why?
FN: So many incredible people in our world! One person who would be fascinating to meet is Thich Nhat Hanh, a poet and leader in mindfulness and peace. Professionally, Florence Knoll would be inspiring to talk with about her pioneering impact on our industry.
BRET: Your core values you try to live by?
FN: I do my best every day to be authentic, empathetic, and open minded. I think this is especially important at work so that we create a culture of honesty and a sense of mutual trust.
What inspires you?
FN: I feel inspired when tackling new experiences and I’m always looking for the next opportunity to learn, whether big or small, in work or in life. Recently, this has meant taking on a new role at work, trying a new type of yoga, and learning Italian. Whatever the pursuit, I believe that we learn the most about ourselves when we move out of our comfort zone and challenge ourselves.