Stephen Wells Gresham, 70, architect and businessman died on April 29th, 2021 after battling cancer. Steve was a partner and founder of the Washington, D.C. office of Niles Bolton Associates, where he served for 38 years. He was born in Norfolk, Virginia to Wells Gresham and Jane McMurran Gresham on January 19th, 1951. 

He attended the University of Virginia and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Architecture in 1974. After graduating from UVA, Steve worked at Baskervill, one of the nation’s oldest architectural firms, in Richmond, Virginia. He continued his education at the Georgia Institute of Technology and graduated with a Master of Architecture in 1979. Steve received his Executive Master of Business Administration from Georgia State University in 1988. 

Throughout his career, Steve distinguished himself as a precise, stoic, and amiable leader in multi-family housing and a prodigious wearer of bow ties. Steve was dedicated to making the world a better place. As Principal-in-Charge, he led The Blair Towns in Silver Spring, Maryland, the first LEED Certified multifamily project in the country, and The Trellis House, the first LEED for Homes Multifamily Midrise project to be awarded LEED Platinum Certification in Washington, D.C. He lectured on various architectural-related subjects and testified at Congressional subcommittee hearings on the Construction Safety, Health & Education Improvement Acts of 1990 and 1991. His advice to young architects: “Think about permanence, not just the latest trends. What will the building look like to your children's, children's children?”

Steve was also a devoted community leader, advocate, and supporter of the arts. He was active in Rotary Club, where he served as President and Assistant Governor and received numerous chairman and special recognition awards at the club and district levels. He supported Murch Elementary, a District of Columbia Public School, as Co-President of the Home & School Association and received the Award for Outstanding and Dedicated Service.  

Steve is survived by Sally W. Gresham, his wife of 46 years, son, C’pher Gresham, Daughter-in-law, Morganne Rosenhaus, and grandson, Emerson Gresham. Additional survivors include Jane Gresham, his mother, and Kathy Dungan, his sister.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Rotary Foundation or the Architecture School at the University of Virginia.

A virtual memorial will be held on May 22, 2021, at 3 pm Eastern Time, RSVP below.

Fun Trivia Facts About Steve:

• Favorite Beer: Red Stripe… but sometimes Heineken

• Number of Bowties: 50+ Bowties in his collection

• Architects He Admired: Thomas Jefferson and his late Father-In-Law, James Lee Williams Jr

• Favorite Non-alcoholic Drink: Coca-cola

• Favorite Color: Orange

• Designed the First LEED Multifamily Project in the country