Moving beyond access toward belonging
About Us
Nichols Kim Consulting LLC (NKC) was established as a new partnership in August 2026 through the conversion of Nichols Design Associates (1993-2026). The architectural-design firm was founded in Washington, DC more than three decades ago. Building on its long-standing reputation, NKC continues to be recognized for excellence in architectural and universal design, technical expertise, environmental responsibility, and a strong commitment to serving clients in both nonprofit and for-profit sectors. The firm works with organizations that support individuals with disabilities throughout the Washington, DC area and nationwide.
NKC’s operating philosophy is grounded in four core principles: maintaining responsibility to clients at all times; pursuing excellence in architectural and universal design as a deliberate objective; ensuring that successful accessible design begins with a clear understanding of each client’s needs; and honoring project budgets and schedules.
These principles guide every project and serve as the measure of the firm’s success. NKC is recognized as a well-managed consulting firm specializing in universal design, Deaf environmental design, and ADA-accessible design.
Robert Nichols, Principal Designer
Mr. Nichols has lectured and consulted on Deaf environmental design at major conferences and institutions, including the AIA Conference on Architecture, Universal Design Summits, EDspaces, Boston Architectural College, the University of Maryland, Tsukuba University of Technology and International Association of Universal Design (IAUD) in Tokyo, Japan, University of Notre Dame, and The Catholic University of America.
Contact: robert@nicholskimconsulting.com
Karen Kim, Principal Consultant
Ms. Kim brings extensive experience in accessibility consulting across the public and private sectors, specializing in onsite accessibility compliance assessments, technical assistance, and barrier remediation and closure throughout the project lifecycle. She has authored articles and presented conference papers on universal design and stairway safety, with her work published in peer-reviewed journals.
Contact: karen@nicholskimconsulting.com
“The pursuit of design solutions for human living and learning should remain infinite, continuously evolving within and beyond the environment.”
