From the rural cornfields of northwest Ohio, to the soaring cathedrals and stone buildings of Florence, Italy, Nicole Baden has earned an education that has had the power to define her life as well as her career.
Nicole Baden
From the moment she walked across the commencement stage at Archbold High School, Nicole knew that she wanted become an architect. She also knew that she was choosing a challenging career that was dominated by men. “At times it felt like such a long, tough road,” said Nicole. “Things didn’t always go as I thought they should, but I truly believe all things happen for a reason. I had many obstacles and things didn’t always go my way or as I had planned, but they always worked out.”
It was because of this dedication and passion that Nicole was named a 2012 Distinguished Alumni at Northwest State Community College. A 1999 graduate, Nicole came to NSCC to earn her associate of science degree before transferring to Kent State University to earn her degree in architecture. “I decided to go to NSCC immediately after high school for two reasons,” said Nicole. “I could work full-time and save money for when I transferred, and I could get my general class out of the way, allowing me to focus on my major core classes once I started at Kent State.” (I would like to use this as a pull-out quote in the publication)
Outside of the classroom, Nicole’s degree from NSCC helped her earn a part-time job at an architectural firm while completing her bachelor’s degree. “This gave me added experience in a very competitive market and made me a more valuable candidate for a permanent position following graduation,” said Nicole.
Following her passion for architecture, Nicole also earned the opportunity to study for a semester in Florence, Italy. An experience, she says, that greatly impacted her life. “When you are standing in massive, stone, man-made structures that are nearly 2,000 years old, you can’t help but think about the great feat that it would be to build them today. You have no choice but to be both humbled and inspired,” explained Nicole. “It showed me that architecture is an art. To truly be a good designer, one must understand how people move and interact in their environments. Everything must be purposeful, and placed for a reason.”
These lessons have followed Nicole through her entire career. Defying the odds, she has become one of the few licensed female architects in AIA Toledo, a chapter of the American Institute of Architects. At a young age, she also earned a partnership position at Vetter Design Group before branching off to start her own architectural firm, Baden Architecture, LLC in April of 2012.
In the 13 short years since she graduated from Northwest State Community College, Nicole has handled multi-million dollar architectural projects and earned a reputation throughout the state as a successful, innovative and dedicated architect.
